Norsemen had settled the Faroe Islands around 800, bringing the Old Norse language that evolved into the modern Faroese language.

According to Icelandic Sagas such as Færeyjar Saga, one of the best known men in the island is Tróndur í Gøtu, a descendant of Scandinavian chiefs who had settled in Dublin, Ireland.

Tróndur leads the battle against Sigmundur Brestisson, the Norwegian monarchy and the Norwegian church.

According to the Færeyinga Saga, emigrants who left Norway to escape the tyranny of Harald I of Norway had settled in the Faroe Islands about the beginning of the ninth century.

Early in the eleventh century, Sigmundur, whose family had flourished in the southern islands but had been almost exterminated by invaders from the north, had been sent back to the Faroe Islands, whence he had escaped, to take possession of the islands for Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway.

Sigmundur is the first Faroe-man to convert to the Christian faith, bringing Christianity to the Faroes at the decree of Olaf Tryggvason.

Initially Sigmundur had sought to convert the islanders by reading the decree to the Alting in Tórshavn, but was nearly killed by the resulting angry mob.

He had then changed his tactics, went with armed men to the residence of the chieftain Tróndur í Gøtu and broke in his house by night.

He offered him the choice between accepting Christianity or face beheading; he chose the former.

Later on, in 1005, Tróndur í Gøtu attacks Sigmund by night at his yard in Skúvoy, whereupon Sigmundur flees by swimming to Sandvík on Suðuroy.

He reaches land in Sigmundargjógv in Sandvík, but a farmer in the village kills the exhausted Sigmundur, and steals his precious golden arm ring.

According to tradition, his gravestone is located in the so-called Sigmundarsteinur in Skúvoy.

It bears a carved cross and is part of the old church.