Name Beinta Broberg | Died February 17, 1752 | |
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Illa Beinta, sum kanska ikki var so ill alíkaval.
Bente Christine Broberg, known as Beinta Broberg, (1667 – 15 February 1752), is perhaps the best known woman from the history of the Faroe Islands. She has been the inspiration for novels and a film.
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Biography
Beinta was born in Torshavn, the daughter of Peder Sorensen and Birgitte Marie Jensdatter Bogvad, both of whom belonged to the Danish upper class of officials on the islands. She was married three times: in 1695 to vicar Jonas Jonasen (1660–1700) of Viðareiði, 1702 to vicar Niels Gregersen Aagaard (1672–1706) of Miðvagur in Vagar, and 1706 to vicar Peder Ditlevsen Arhboe (1675–1756), of Vagar.
In contrast to most of the widows of vicars in the period, she did not marry her husband's successor after the death of her first spouse in 1700, as was otherwise customary, but chose to stay on the vicarage during he widowyear and thereafter marry the next Danish vicar sent to the islands. Her last spouse was deposed as vicar after conflicts with his parish in 1718. Judging by the investigation leading to his deposition, he seem to have been mentally ill. After this, they lived in poverty in Vagar.
She had one son and three daughters: only the name of one of her daughters, however is known.
In folklore
In tradition and saga, Beinta is called Illa Beinta (Wicked Beinta), and is given the blame for the death of her first two spouses and the insanity of the third, as a bad employer for her servants, and as a witch. Contemporary documents describes her only indirectly, and does not confirm how true or false the popular image of her, is or how active she was in the events of her life. Her true character is widely overshadowed by the many myths and legends surrounding her.