Iceland review - 2019, Síða 42

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Iceland Review
Afterwards, Ari, his militia, and a local priest
went back to the mainland, to Sandeyri peninsula,
and surrounded houses where the Basques were
known to be staying. Spotting the Basque sailors as
they approached, the Icelanders shot through the
windows with their flintlock guns, but failed to find
their targets. The captain of the Basques, Martin
de Villafranca, beardless and just 27 years old,
immediately came out of the building. Holding his
sword in front of him, he declared loudly that while
his men had committed some misdemeanours,
their guilt was surely not so great that they should
face such persecution and be killed in cold blood.
The bold young captain demanded a parlay, to
which the Icelanders acquiesced. Ari told his men
to stand down, temporarily. Reverend Jón of Árnes
spoke with De Villafranca and translated for Ari.
Ari nodded and made it known that the Basque
sailors would be spared if they threw down their
weapons and surrendered, which after a moment’s
hesitation, they did on their captain’s orders. Ari
ordered three men to take the captain and lead
him away. The remaining Icelanders, however,
were fierce, furious, and wanted blood. Ignoring
the sheriff, they attacked Captain de Villafranca
in a frenzy, killing him. After this murder, De
Villafranca’s men fought desperately for their
lives and it began to look as if they might hold off
the attacking sheriff’s militia until Ari’s 16-year-
old son, Magnús, dropped the remaining Basque
sailors one by one with gunshot from his flintlock.
Not satisfied with their death alone, the militia then
mutilated their bodies and finally threw the bloody
corpses, along with that of their captain, uncere-
moniously into the sea. After the raids, the Sheriff
and his army went back to Æðey island where they
got drunk and celebrated their victory over the
foreign scourge.
Why did the Icelanders treat the Basques so cruelly?
Given the astounding level of cruelty and unneces-
sary physical violence visited upon the Basques by
the Icelandic militia, it is likely that they fell victim
to mob mentality, a well-documented sociological
phenomenon. Dire circumstances in Iceland had
contributed to the rage that occurred during these
gruesome events. Significantly colder weather
in the 17th century had decimated the Icelandic
population. There were no cities or even towns to
speak of and virtually no central authority. Nearly
everyone eked out a living working on farms and
fishing in open boats. At this time, there were only
50,000 people throughout Iceland and they were
overwhelmingly vulnerable to starvation, disease,
and exploitation. In the early summer of 1615, for
example, sea ice was so thick that fishing boats
couldn’t be deployed. Starvation was not uncom-
mon. Short growing seasons and frozen soils meant
basic crops could no longer be harvested. Livestock
was dying off in disproportionate numbers. Fatal
diseases were common; more than half of all chil-
dren died before the age of five.
Fear of the Basque sailors, while not universal,
was widespread and at least partly justifiable. In
a few instances, the Basques committed outright
theft and even kidnapped children, ostensibly to
educate them in order to facilitate trade. Starting
in 1613, Basque sailors were known to come ashore
in the Westfjords in hope of bartering with local
farmers. It is clear from
Icelandic and Spanish
sources that whaling and
local people's relations were
not wholly peaceful, with
disputes and accusations
on both sides. However, the
benefits of trade were clear
because the Basque whalers
constantly needed fresh
water, food supplies, and
driftwood, and had vari-
ous wares that Icelanders
wanted, such as hammers,
axes, iron, and burlap for
sails, which were traded for
dairy products, mutton,
hand-knitted garments, and even dogs. Tobacco,
previously unknown in Iceland, became widely
popular in the Westfjords to the point that in the
mid-17th century a local priest had to ban smoking
during church services.
Most Icelanders were aware of the severe pun-
ishments for those who broke the trade monopoly
laws; any trade with the Basques was, after all,
illegal. Therefore, when the Icelanders would refuse
to deal or simply drive a hard bargain they would
occasionally be threatened with violence or the
Basques would outright steal the Icelanders’ goods.
In addition, whether the stranded Basques had
behaved well and respected Icelandic laws or not,
the locals (who would have had no experience what-
soever with armed violent assault) were terrified at
the thought of over 80 hungry, armed and poten-
tially violent men roaming around the Westfjords
all winter long. They foresaw deadly forces robbing
and pillaging the nearly defenceless locals.
Nevertheless there was understandable resis-
tance to joining the militia to take on the Basques.
Realising the need to incentivise his militia
composed of inexperienced, dirt-poor farmers
NO BASQUE
WHALERS RETURNED
TO ICELAND FOR A
DECADE AFTER THE
MASSACRE OF 1615.