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c.650 - c.825 Settlement by
Celtic monks.
c.825 Norse conquest and settlement.
970 - 1280
Republic (periodically a dependency of Orkney).
1035 Norwegian rule.
24 Jun 1298 First local constitutional law ("Sheep Letter").
11 Sep 1380 Danish rule begins (from 1396, part of Denmark's
Sjaelland County).
1655 - 1708
Granted as a feudal estate to the von Gabel family by
the King of Denmark.
1708 Danish crown again takes possession.
06 Mar 1720 - 06 Mar 1775 Administered as part of Iceland.
1776 Administered as part of Sjaelland (Sealand) County of
Denmark.
24 Jan 1814 Recognized as Danish possession by the Treaty of Kiel.
1816 Faroe Islands become a separate County.
22 Jun 1919 Flag adopted.
12 Apr 1940 - 16 Sep 1945 British occupation.
14 Sep 1946 Referendum votes independence 48.7% to 47%; independence
is declared on 18 Sep 1946, declaration is annulled
by Denmark on 20 Sep.
30 Mar 1948 Self-government granted.
01 Apr 1948 Home Rule Act |
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| The Faroe
Islands (Faroese: Føroyar, Danish: Færøerne), literally meaning Sheep
Islands. These are an island group and archipelago, a self-governing
community under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, situated between
the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway
between Norway and Iceland. The 17 inhabited islands and numerous islets and
reefs have an area of approximately 1,400 km2 (540 sq mi). The Faroe Islands
have been a self-governing country (except for an appointed
governor-general) with their own legislature, executive and flag within the
Danish Realm since 1948. Over the years, the Faroese have taken control of
most domestic matters. Areas that remain the responsibility of Denmark
include military defence, police, justice, currency and foreign affairs. The
Faroe Islands also has representatives in the Nordic Council as members of
the Danish delegation. While it is thought that Irish hermits lived on the
islands in the 7th and 8th centuries, the present inhabitants are descended
from 6th century Norse settlers. The Faeroe Islands became a Norwegian fief
in 1035 and became Danish in 1380 when Norway and Denmark were united. They
have ever since remained in Danish possession. The islands were associated
with and taxed by Denmark and Norway up to 1814, when Norway fell under the
rule of Sweden. Scandinavia was in political turmoil following the Sixth
Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars, when the Treaty of Kiel granted Denmark
control over the Faroes, Iceland and Greenland in 1814. The Danish trade
monopoly ended in 1856. The principal industries are fishing and livestock.
Fish and fish products are exported. Capital
and largest city:
Tórshavn. |
| Territorial
Dispute: Because anticipated offshore
hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for
full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the U.K., and Ireland dispute
Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200
nm. |
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- The local legislature, the Lagting, has met every
year since 970, except for the period 1816-1852. Sporadic Celtic settlement
from prehistory; settlement by Irish monks c.600-800 CE
-
Norse conquest and
settlement....................c. 800 - c . 900 CE
- Republic, dominated by powerful
chieftains c. 800-1280
-
Grim Kamban the
Lame......................................fl. c. 800
- Grim was supposedly the first Nordic settler on
the islands, but according to Faereyinga Saga he did not arrive in Faeroe
until the reign of Harald Fairhair. Scholars are divided on both his
historiocity and the date of his actual arrival in the islands. He seems to
have been worshipped after his death by the islanders, who believed he could
give them good weather. About the ninth and early tenth century history of
the islands almost nothing is known, but by the 960's they had largely
fallen under the control of the Gataskegg family, whose feuds and
internacine squabbles are the subject of the main part of the Faereyinga
Saga.
-
Halfgrim (in Sudrey)............................c.
950 - c. 970 with...
-
Breste Gataskeggi (in
Skúvoy)...................c. 950 - c. 970
and...
-
Breine Gataskeggi (in
Skúvoy)...................c. 950 - c. 970
-
Sigmundur
Brestisson............................c. 980 - 1005 opposed by...
-
Tróndur í Gøtu..................................c.
970 - 1035 with...
-
Ossur Halfgrimsson
(in Sudrey)..................c.
970 - 1000
- The feud between Thrond
and Sigmund had great significance; Sigmund was a Christian and a vassal of
Jarl Haakon, and later Olaf Tryggvasson of Norway, while Thrond was a pagan
and stubborn nationalist. Sigmund raided Thrond's f arm and forcibly
converted him to Christianity. Several years later Thrond took his revenge
by attacking Sigmund at night, forcing the latter to swim across the sea to
Sandvik. There Sigmund was murdered by a farmer for the gold arm-ring he
wore; the disgusted Thrond had the murderer hanged. Although Thrond and his
protege Leif Ossurarson thereafter became paramount chieftains in the
Faeroes, their power continued to be challenged both by the Faeroese
themselves and by the growing influence of the Norwegian crown.
-
Leif Ossurson [Leivur
Øssurarson]..................1035
- c. 1060
- In around 1040 Leif, who
had been acknowledged as the paramount chieftain in the islands, traveled to
Norway and pledged himself as a vassal of King Magnus. The islanders
resisted Norwegian overlordship for another two centuries, going so far as
to starve a Norwegian-appointed bishop to death in his unfinished cathedral
in 1308.
-
Norwegian influence from 1040's
- unknown ruler
-
Hroar (Roe) (as
Bishop of Faeroes)............1162 - c. 1180
- The islands win a passing notice from Norwegian
historians in connection to King Sverre (r. 1177-1202), the nephew of the
above-mentioned Hroar. Sverre, the son of a high-born Norwegian lady,
claimed to be an illegitimate son of Sigurd II. His mother, however, was
married to a Faeroese comb-maker named Unas, and Sverre spent much of his
childhood in the islands.
-
Norwegian dependency...............................1280 - 1380
-
To Denmark.........................................1380 - 1940
- The Faeroes were under their own governors from
1280-1553, and under the administration of Danish bailiffs from 1553-1655.
Earldom of Faeroe A feudal arrangement. The Danish government assumed full
authority over the islands once more in 1709.
- von GABEL
-
Christopher............................06
Jan 1655 - 18 Apr 1670
-
Frederik...............................18
Apr 1670 - 21 Jun 1708
- From 1709 until 1720 the islands were administered
by a committee consisting of Jørgen Kristian Klein (to 1715), Didrik
Markussen (from 1715), Rasmus Juel and Samuel Pedersen. In 1720 they were
placed under the jurisdiction of the governors of Iceland, and in 1776
transferred to the control of the Prefects of Sjaelland. In 1816 local rule
was restored under prefects appointed by the Danish crown. Since 1948 the
islands have been internally self-governing, with the Crown being
represented by a High Commissioner.
-
Military Protectorate of Great Britain......12 Apr 1940 - 16 Sep 1945
- British Naval
officers-in-charge
- William Reginald Denys
Crowther........16 Apr 1940 - 01 Apr 1941
- Richard Thornton
Down..................01 Apr 1941 - 27 Nov 1941
- Noel Marcus Francis
Corbett............27 Nov 1941 - 25 Feb 1945
- Horace George
Gorton...................25 Feb 1945 - Apr 1945
-
Denmark.....................................16 Sep 1946 - date
- Prefect
- Cai A. Vagn-Hansen............................1945
- 1948
-
Self-governing dependency of Denmark...30
Mar 1948 - date
- High Commissioners (Rigsombudsmand)
- Cai A. Vagn-Hansen (continued).................1948
- 1954
- Niels Elkær-Hansen.............................1954
- 1961
- Mogens
Wahl....................................1961 - 1972
- Leif Groth.....................................1972
- 1981
- Niels
Bentsen..................................1981 - 1988
- Bent Klinte....................................1988
- 1995
- Vibeke Larsen (female).........................1995
- 01 Nov 2001
- Birgit Kleis (female)...................01
Nov 2001 - 01 Aug 2005
- Søren
Christensen.......................01 Aug 2005 - 01 Jan 2008
- Dan Michael
Knudsen.....................01 Jan 2008 - 15 May 2017
- Lene Moyell Johansen (female)...........15
May 2017 - date
- She was acting to 01 Aug 2017.
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- Løgmenn
-
Løgmenn of the Faeroes These individuals were
responsible for organizing the Althing of the islands and served in a
similar capacity to the law-speakers of Iceland. The post has evolved into
the current prime ministership of the islands.
-
Norway..............................................1035 - 11 Sep 1380
-
Gilli......................................................late 1200's
-
Sjúrdur....................................................early
1300's
-
Símun......................................................fl. 1350
-
Denmark......................................11
Sep 1380 - date
-
Dagfinnur Halvdanarson.....................................c. 1400
-
Haraldur [Harald] Kálvsson.................................fl. 1412
-
Roald......................................................c.
1450
-
Jørundur
Skógdrívsson...............................1479 - 1524
-
Tormódur
Sigurdsson.................................1524 - 1531
-
Andras Guttormson...................................1531 - 1544
-
Guttorm Andrasson...................................1544 - 1571
-
Jógvan Heinason [Joen
Heinesen].....................1572 - 1583
-
Ísakur Gottormsson..................................1583 - 1588
-
Pætur Jákupsson.....................................1588 - 1601
-
Tummas Símunarson...................................1601 - 1608
-
Sakaris
Tórmódarson.................................1608 - 1629
-
Jógvan Justinussen..................................1629 - 1654
-
Jógvan Pálsson [Poulsen] (1st
time).................1654 - 1655
-
Baltsar Jacobsen....................................1655
- 1661
-
Jógvan Pálsson
[Poulsen] (2nd time).................1662
- 1677
-
Jakup Joanson [Jógvansson]..........................1677 - 1679
-
Jóhan Hendrik
Weyhe.................................1679 - 1706
-
Sámal Pætursson.....................................1706 - 1752
-
Hanus Jákupsson
Debes...............................1752 - 1769
-
Thorkild Fieldsted..................................1769 - 1772
-
Jacob Hveding.......................................1772 - 1786
-
Johan Michael Lund..................................1786 - 1805 d. 1824
-
Jørgen Frants
Hammershaimb..........................1806 - 1816 d. 1820
-
Post abolished 1816-1946
-
Chairman of the
Lagting
-
Thorstein
Petersen...........................18 Sep 1946 - 20 Sep 1946
- Prime Ministers
-
Andras Samuelsen.............................12
May 1948 - 15 Dec 1950
-
Kristian Djurhuus
(1st time).................15
Dec 1950 - 08 Jan 1959
-
Peter Mohr Dam (1st
time)....................08 Jan 1959 - 04 Jan
1963
-
Hákun Djurhuus...............................04
Jan 1963 - 12 Jan 1967
-
Peter Mohr Dam (2nd
time)....................12 Jan 1967 - 19 Nov
1968
-
Kristian Djurhuus
(2nd time).................19
Nov 1968 - 12 Dec 1970
-
Atli P. Dam (1st
time).......................12 Dec 1970 - 05
Jan 1981
-
Pauli Ellefsen...............................05
Jan 1981 - 10 Jan 1985
-
Atli P. Dam (2nd
time).......................10 Jan 1985 - 18
Jan 1989
-
Jógvan Sundstein.............................18
Jan 1989 - 15 Jan 1991
-
Atli P. Dam (3rd
time).......................15 Jan 1991 - 18
Jan 1993
-
Marita Petersen (female).....................18
Jan 1993 - 15 Sep 1994
-
Edmund Joensen...............................15
Sep 1994 - 15 May 1998
-
Anfinn Kallsberg.............................15
May 1998 - 03 Feb 2004
-
Jóannes Eidesgaard...........................03
Feb 2004 - 26 Sep 2008
-
Kaj Leo Johannesen...........................26
Sep 2008 - 15 Sep 2015
-
Aksel Vilhelmsson
Johannesen.................15 Sep 2015 - 16 Sep 2019
-
He is a Faroese lawyer and politician for the Social
Democratic Party (Javnaðarflokkurin). He is former president of the football
club of Klaksvík, Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, where he used to play football
in his youth. He was also a noted runner of 100 meters champion in 1994. He
also played volleyball for Mjølnir, the club of Klaksvík.
-
Bárdur á Steig
Nielsen.......................16 Sep 2019 - date
-
On 31 August 2019, parliamentary elections, the
People's Party wins 24.5% of the vote (8 of 33 seats), the Social Democratic
Party 22.1% (7), the Union Party 20.3% (7), Republic 18.1% (6), the Centre
Party 5.4% (2), Progress 4.6% (2), and Self-Government 3.4% (1). Turnout is
89.7%. On 14 September 2019, a new government is agreed on with Bárdur á
Steig Nielsen to be prime minister, Jenis av Rana foreign minister, and
Jørgen Niclasen finance minister. The government takes office on 16
September 2019.
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Monetary standard:
Faroese [føroysk] Króna and
coinage in
Danish Krone = 100 Øre. |
| The Faroe
Islands use standard Danish coinage, but the region has experienced a
shortage of small currency on several occasions, leading to non-standard
issues. During the late 19th century, German national C.F. Siemsen, a
merchant conducting business in both the Faroe Islands and Iceland, issued
his own private coinage. This issue is brass, one side carrying the
inscription: CFS and the other side the denomination: 4 or 16 skilling in
goods ("x SKILLING I VARE"). Due to a shortage of currency in 1929-33, two
merchants issued their own coins as well; J.F. Kjølbro in Klaksvík and S.P.
Petersens Eftf in Fuglafjørður. The Kjølbro issue is aluminium coins with
denominations of 10, 25 and 50 øre, and 1, 2, 5, and 10 kroner. S.P.
Petersens Eftf's issue was made of brass in denominations of 5, 10 and 25
øre, and 1, 2 and 5 Kroner. During World War II, the Faroe Islands were
separated from Denmark proper due to the occupations by the United Kingdom
and Germany respectively. In 1941, a set of coins (1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 øre)
was minted in London to alleviate a shortage of small change. This issue was
identical to the pre-war Danish coinage already circulating, but is easily
identified: the coins minted in London were made of bronze and
copper-nickel, while the comparable coins minted in Denmark in 1941 were
made of aluminium and zinc (with one exception). In addition, the British
made set lacks both the mark of the Royal Danish Mint (a small heart) and
the initials of the engraver and the mint master in Copenhagen. These coins
dated in 1941 for Faeroe Islands are also reported to be minted in 1942 with
the same dies. |
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1941 issues by United Kingdom during World War II. |
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KM#2 2 Ore. Year:
1941. Weight:
3.80g. Metal:
Bronze. Edge:
Plain. Diameter:
21.00 mm; hole in the center.
Alignment:
Medal. Mint:
British Royal Mint.
Obverse:
"DANMARK" written above with Year below it. Design on both
sides. Value "2 ØRE" at the bottom.
Reverse:
Crowned monogram of Christian X in the center. "KONGE AF" (King of)
on the left side clockwise and "DANMARK" on the right side
clockwise.
Mintage:
200,000 (estimated).
Minted Years: One year
type. |
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KM#3 5 Ore. Year:
1941. Weight:
7.59g. Metal:
Bronze. Edge:
Plain. Diameter:
26.50 mm; hole in the center.
Alignment:
Medal. Mint:
British Royal Mint.
Obverse:
"DANMARK" written above with Year below it. Design on both
sides. Value "5 ØRE" at the bottom.
Reverse:
Crowned monogram of Christian X in the center. "KONGE AF" (King of)
on the left side clockwise and "DANMARK" on the right side
clockwise.
Mintage:
200,000 (estimated).
Minted Years: One year
type. |
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KM#4 10 Ore. Year:
1941. Weight:
3.01g. Metal:
Copper-Nickel. Edge:
Reeded. Diameter:
18.00 mm; hole in the center.
Alignment:
Medal. Mint:
British Royal Mint.
Obverse:
Crowned monogram of Christian X in the center. with Year below it.
"DANMARK" written at the bottom.
Reverse:
Numeral "10" written at the top. Ornaments design in the center. "ØRE"
written at the bottom.
Mintage:
200,000 (estimated).
Minted Years: One year
type. |
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KM#5 25 Ore. Year:
1941. Weight:
4.44g. Metal:
Copper-Nickel. Edge:
Reeded. Diameter:
23.00 mm; hole in the center.
Alignment:
Medal. Mint:
British Royal Mint.
Obverse:
Crowned monogram of Christian X in the center. with Year below it.
"DANMARK" written at the bottom.
Reverse:
Numeral "25" written at the top. Ornaments design in the center. "ØRE"
written at the bottom.
Mintage:
200,000 (estimated).
Minted Years: One year
type. |
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| Banknotes:
When German forces occupied Denmark on 9 April 1940,
the Danish krone was used in the Faroes. However, all exchange between the
Faroes and Denmark halted as a result of the occupation, leaving one
currency to develop in two markets independently of each other. On 31 May
1940, special Faroese banknotes were introduced. They consisted of Danish
notes with a special stamp. These notes replaced unstamped Danish at par.
From 14 October 1940, new banknotes were printed "on behalf of the National
Bank of Denmark". The value of these new banknotes was the same as those
already in use. On 18 December 1940, the Faroese króna was pegged to the
British pound at a rate of 22.4 krónur = 1 pound. This rate was officially
accepted by the British government in a treaty titled "Agreement between His
Britannic Majesty's Government and the Administration of the Faroe Islands,
for Regulating the Financial Relations between the United Kingdom and the
Faroe Islands" which came into force on 27 March 1941. As of 12 April 1949,
the Faroese króna was separated from the pound sterling and fixed to the
Danish krone at parity. This arrangement is still in effect. Although
Faroese banknotes were issued "on behalf of the National Bank of Denmark",
the National Bank of Denmark does not claim any rights to Faroese banknotes
issued prior to 1951. Danish kroner are exchanged to Faroese krónur and vice
versa by the National Bank of Denmark free of charge. While normal Danish
bank notes are no longer intended as legal tender in the Faroes, they are
accepted there in most situations. In Denmark proper, existence of the
Faroese króna is poorly known, particularly the fact that it is officially
the same currency as the Danish krone and that the notes can be exchanged by
any Danish bank without charge. Consequently, very few Danish stores will
accept Faroese notes. People travelling from the Faroes to Denmark are often
advised to exchange their cash prior to embarking in order to prevent
potential complications arising from this situation. |
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Countries
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Chiefa Coins |
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