Magnus Heinason

Magnus Heinason (or Mogens Heinesøn) (1548 – 18 January 1589) was a Faroese naval hero, trader and privateer. He was the son of Heine Havreki, a Norwegian priest from Bergen who emigrated to the Faroe Islands and who helped introduce the Lutheran Reformation to the Faroe Islands, and Gyri Arnbjørnsdatter, Havreki's second wife from a powerful and weathly Norwegian clan.

Magnus Heinason was engaged three times and married twice. Magnus had a son with a Faroese lady Kollfina around 1560. Rasmus Magnussen (1560–1670) lived to the age of 110 years old, and at the age of 103 he became the father of a son. In 1580 Magnus met a Norwegian noble lady Margrethe Axeldatter Gyntersberg or von Güntersberg (1565–1589). They had a child Mogensbarn that died as child. They did not marry, because she accused him of rape. The noble family then demanded that he marry Margrethe's younger sister, Sophie Axeldatter Gynhterberg (1566–1607). They married in 1582 in Bergenhus, Bergen and had one daughter, Elsebeth Magnusdatter (1584–1645). She later married Anders Matsen Ǣnes and lived at Ǣnes in the Hardangerfjord in Norway.

Magnus Heinason served William the Silent and his son Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange for 10 years as a privateer, fighting the Spanish in the Dutch Revolt. Magnus Heinason was given the trading rights to the Faroe Islands by Frederick II of Denmark and Norway from 1559 to 1588. Later he received letters of marque to sink or capture pirate ships and English merchant ships.

Magnus built the first fortifications in Tórshavn. Only one year later, he was captured and sent to Copenhagen on the orders of the Danish treasurer and statholder, Christofer Walkendorf who was ruling Denmark after the sudden death of Frederick II. Magnus Heinason was tried, and was beheaded 18th. january 1589. His widow, Sofie von Günsterberg, and his good friend Johannes Lindenov contested this act and brought the matter to the "Herrendag" in Kolding. Magnus Heinason's death sentence was declared void, the 6th of August 1590, and posthhumously he was rehabilitated. Valkendorff was suspended from his duties and was forced to pay 3000 Reichsthaler to the heirs. Magnus Heinason's remains were exhumed and taken to Ørslev Monastery on Lindenovs estate where they lie under the floor of the monastery church until this day.