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The Slaying of the Spaniards (also known as the Spanish Killings; Icelandic: Spánverjavígin[ˈspaunˌvɛrjaˌvijɪn]) was the last documented massacre in Icelandic history. Some Basque whalers went on a whaling expedition to Iceland and were killed after a conflict in 1615 with local people in the region of the Westfjords.
In the first half of the sixteenth century, Spanish whalers set up the world's first large-scale whaling industry in Newfoundland. The center of this industry was some ten ports on the southern coast of Labrador. During the peak years of the 1560s and 1570s, the fleet comprised around 30 ships manned by up to 2,000 men, who killed approximately 400 whales each year. By the beginning of the seventeenth century, Spanish whaling had reached Iceland.[1]
The year 1615 was a difficult year in Iceland with ice up to shores until late summer and considerable loss of livestock. In mid-summer, three Spanish whaling vessels came into Reykjarfjörður in Westfjords. The Icelanders and the Spaniards had a mutual agreement at the beginning as both parties benefited from the enterprise. When the ships were ready for departure in late September, a terrible gale arose and the ships were driven on the rocks and crushed. Most (approximately 80) of the crew members survived. Captains Pedro de Aguirre and Esteban de Telleria wintered at Vatneyri (Patreksfjörður) and left for home the following year. The crew of Captain Martín de Villafranca's ship split into two groups; one entered Ísafjarðardjúp while the other went to Bolungarvík and later to Þingeyri.
The first conflict arose when one group entered the empty house of a merchant of Þingeyri and stole some dried fish. As retaliation, on the night of October 5th, a group of Icelanders entered the hut where the Spaniards were sleeping and killed 14 of them. Only one young man called García escaped. Captain Martín de Villafranca of San Sebastián, whose father and grandfather had both been involved in Terra Nova whaling, was among those who were killed. The bodies were mutilated and sunken into water. Jón Guðmundsson the Learned wrote about the unjust and cruel deaths "dishonored and sunken into sea, as if they were the worst pagans and not innocent Christians". Three days after the first slaying, Ari Magnússon summoned a council at Súðavík and twelve judges agreed to declare all the Spaniards as outlaws.
On the 13th of October, Martín and the other 17 of his group were killed at Æðey and Sandeyri in Ísafjarðardjúp while they were fishing by the troops commanded by Ari Magnússon. According to Jón Guðmundsson, the victims were stabbed in the eyes, ears and noses and had their genitals mutilated. The captain, Martín de Villafranca, was injured in the shoulder and chest with an axe but managed to escape into the sea. However, he was stoned in the water and dragged to the shore where he was tortured to death.
Two verdicts were instigated by Sheriff Ari Magnússon of Ögur, Ísafjarðardjúp, in October 1615 and January 1616. The Spaniards were considered criminals after their ships were wrecked and in accordance with the Icelandic law book of 1281, it was decided that the only right thing to do was to kill as many of them as possible. An estimated 32 Spaniards were killed.[2][3]
Aftermathedit
Jón Guðmundsson the Learned (1574–1658) wrote a critical account condemning the decision of the local sheriff to order the killings: A True Account of Spanish Men's Shipwrecks and Slayings. Jón says that they were unjustly killed; not wishing to take part in an attack on them, he fled south to Snæfellsnes.
On April 22, 2015, a descendant of one of the victims, Xabier Irujo, set up a stele in Hólmavík in memory of the massacre, along with Magnus Raffnson, whose ancestor was a perpetrator.[2] The opening ceremony was attended by Westfjords district commissioner Jónas Guðmundsson and Martín Garitano [es], then governor of the Gipuzkoa province in the Basque Country, Spain. At the occasion, Guðmundsson formally revoked Ari Magnússon's 1615 decree.[3][2][4]
^Melton, Zachary (25 June 2023). "The Slaying of the Spaniards". What's On in Reykjavík. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
^ abc"Islande: un permis de tuer supprimé". LEFIGARO (in French). 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
^ ab"Basques safe in Iceland as district repeals decree to kill them on sight". The Guardian. 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
^"L'Islande met fin à l'impunité qui permettait de tuer les Basques". BFMTV (in French). Retrieved 2022-02-14.
External links and sourcesedit
Slaying of Spaniards
Whaling in Iceland history
1615.info
November 25, 2023
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Slaying of the Spaniards news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2022 The Slaying of the Spaniards also known as the Spanish Killings Icelandic Spanverjavigin ˈspaunˌvɛrjaˌvijɪn was the last documented massacre in Icelandic history Some Basque whalers went on a whaling expedition to Iceland and were killed after a conflict in 1615 with local people in the region of the Westfjords Contents 1 Background 2 Massacre 3 Aftermath 4 See also 5 References 6 External links and sourcesBackground editIn the first half of the sixteenth century Spanish whalers set up the world s first large scale whaling industry in Newfoundland The center of this industry was some ten ports on the southern coast of Labrador During the peak years of the 1560s and 1570s the fleet comprised around 30 ships manned by up to 2 000 men who killed approximately 400 whales each year By the beginning of the seventeenth century Spanish whaling had reached Iceland 1 Massacre edit nbsp The WestfjordsThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message The year 1615 was a difficult year in Iceland with ice up to shores until late summer and considerable loss of livestock In mid summer three Spanish whaling vessels came into Reykjarfjordur in Westfjords The Icelanders and the Spaniards had a mutual agreement at the beginning as both parties benefited from the enterprise When the ships were ready for departure in late September a terrible gale arose and the ships were driven on the rocks and crushed Most approximately 80 of the crew members survived Captains Pedro de Aguirre and Esteban de Telleria wintered at Vatneyri Patreksfjordur and left for home the following year The crew of Captain Martin de Villafranca s ship split into two groups one entered Isafjardardjup while the other went to Bolungarvik and later to THingeyri The first conflict arose when one group entered the empty house of a merchant of THingeyri and stole some dried fish As retaliation on the night of October 5th a group of Icelanders entered the hut where the Spaniards were sleeping and killed 14 of them Only one young man called Garcia escaped Captain Martin de Villafranca of San Sebastian whose father and grandfather had both been involved in Terra Nova whaling was among those who were killed The bodies were mutilated and sunken into water Jon Gudmundsson the Learned wrote about the unjust and cruel deaths dishonored and sunken into sea as if they were the worst pagans and not innocent Christians Three days after the first slaying Ari Magnusson summoned a council at Sudavik and twelve judges agreed to declare all the Spaniards as outlaws On the 13th of October Martin and the other 17 of his group were killed at AEdey and Sandeyri in Isafjardardjup while they were fishing by the troops commanded by Ari Magnusson According to Jon Gudmundsson the victims were stabbed in the eyes ears and noses and had their genitals mutilated The captain Martin de Villafranca was injured in the shoulder and chest with an axe but managed to escape into the sea However he was stoned in the water and dragged to the shore where he was tortured to death Two verdicts were instigated by Sheriff Ari Magnusson of Ogur Isafjardardjup in October 1615 and January 1616 The Spaniards were considered criminals after their ships were wrecked and in accordance with the Icelandic law book of 1281 it was decided that the only right thing to do was to kill as many of them as possible An estimated 32 Spaniards were killed 2 3 Aftermath editJon Gudmundsson the Learned 1574 1658 wrote a critical account condemning the decision of the local sheriff to order the killings A True Account of Spanish Men s Shipwrecks and Slayings Jon says that they were unjustly killed not wishing to take part in an attack on them he fled south to Snaefellsnes On April 22 2015 a descendant of one of the victims Xabier Irujo set up a stele in Holmavik in memory of the massacre along with Magnus Raffnson whose ancestor was a perpetrator 2 The opening ceremony was attended by Westfjords district commissioner Jonas Gudmundsson and Martin Garitano es then governor of the Gipuzkoa province in the Basque Country Spain At the occasion Gudmundsson formally revoked Ari Magnusson s 1615 decree 3 2 4 See also editHistory of Basque whaling in Iceland History of Iceland Timeline of Icelandic historyReferences edit Melton Zachary 25 June 2023 The Slaying of the Spaniards What s On in Reykjavik Retrieved 16 August 2023 a b c Islande un permis de tuer supprime LEFIGARO in French 2015 04 30 Retrieved 2022 02 14 a b Basques safe in Iceland as district repeals decree to kill them on sight The Guardian 2015 05 25 Retrieved 2020 08 28 L Islande met fin a l impunite qui permettait de tuer les Basques BFMTV in French Retrieved 2022 02 14 External links and sources editSlaying of Spaniards Whaling in Iceland history Eddurit Jons Gudmundssonar laerda 1615 info Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slaying of the Spaniards amp oldid 1183439475, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
