Aud the Deep-Minded (Ketilsdóttir) facts for kids
Aud the Deep-Minded (also known as Unn, Aud Ketilsdatter, or Unnur Ketilsdottir) was a brave and strong leader. She lived in the 800s during the time when Iceland was first being settled. She was known for her wisdom and her long journeys across the sea.
Aud's Life Story
Aud was the second daughter of Ketill Flatnose, a powerful Norwegian chief. Her mother was Yngvid Ketilsdóttir. Aud married Olaf the White, who became the King of Dublin in Ireland.
Aud and Olaf had a son named Thorstein the Red. After Olaf was killed in a battle in Ireland, Aud and Thorstein moved to the Hebrides, a group of islands near Scotland.
Thorstein grew up to be a great warrior king. He conquered lands in northern Scotland. He also got married and had six daughters and one son. Sadly, Thorstein was later killed in battle after some of his own people betrayed him.
When Aud heard about her son Thorstein's death, she was in a place called Caithness in Scotland. She decided to build a special ship called a knarr. This type of ship was often used for long trips across the Atlantic Ocean. She had the ship built secretly in a forest.
After the ship was ready, Aud became its captain. She sailed first to Orkney, another group of islands. There, she arranged for one of her granddaughters, Groa (Thorstein the Red's daughter), to get married. Then, Aud continued her journey, sailing all the way to Breiðafjörður in Iceland.
Aud was a respected and strong leader. She had twenty men working for her on her ship. She also brought other men who had been captured during Viking raids. When they arrived in Iceland, Aud gave these men their freedom. She also gave them land so they could farm and make a living. One of these freed men was Vifil, who received land in a place now called Vifilsdal.
When Aud arrived in the western part of Iceland, she claimed a large area of land for her family. This land was between two rivers, the Dagverdara and the Skraumuhlaupsa.
Unlike many other early settlers in Iceland, Aud was a Christian. She built crosses on a hill within her new lands so she could pray. This hill is still known today as Krosshólar.
Aud brought her grandson, Olaf Feilan, with her to Iceland. She passed away during the three-day celebration of his wedding feast.
People have wondered why Aud made such a long and difficult journey. Some stories say that after her son Thorstein died, Aud felt she had lost her power and position. So, she secretly built her ship and gathered her family, friends, and freed people. She led them on an amazing journey through Orkney and the Faroe Islands to start a new life in Iceland in her old age.
Primary Sources
Aud's story is told in several old Norse sagas. These are important historical writings from Iceland. Some of the sagas that mention her include Landnámabók, Njáls saga, Laxdæla saga, and Eyrbyggja saga.
See also
- Laxardal
