| Yrsa II | |
|---|---|
| |
| Yrsa II | |
| Queen of Álengiamark | |
| Reign | 29th December, 1510 - 2nd July, 1529 |
| Predecessor | Brynhildur I |
| Successor | Thorey III |
| Born | 4th November, 1482 Nanticokeland, Álengiamark |
| Died | 2nd July, 1529 Nanticokeland, Álengiamark |
| Spouse | Páll Kristinnsson |
| Issue | Reynir Pállsson |
| Full name | |
| Yrsa Hlynursdottír | |
| House | Eiriksdottír |
| Father | Hlynur Reynirsson |
| Mother | Sigríður Ragnarsdottír |
Yrsa II reigned over Álengiamark for almost two decades in the early 16th century. Her actual ability to govern was severely hamstrung by a lack of connections to existing power structures and physical distance from the core centres of Álengsk power. Many historians regard her time on the throne as the absolute nadir of the late-medieval Álengsk crown.
The sister of the Earl of Nanticokeland, Ingvar Hlynursson, Yrsa's election was as much a reaction to Brynhildur I's moribund reign as a political act; Earl Ingvar had pledged considerable money and manpower to Margirhaedeyja and Quiripiland for an ultimately unsuccessful series of wars against Powhatanland, and allowing Yrsa to succeed to the devalued throne was seen as fair compensation.
She attempted to rule from St. Hafdiss for a year but neither her nor her chancellor Kristófer Snorrisson could bend the otherwise supine Althing or the 'Mayors of Palace', who governed the Royal Domain, to their will. As soon as the snows melted in 1512 Yrsa would return south to Nanticokeland leaving Snorrisson to be largely ignored by the sclerotic Althing and independently-minded earls.
Despite Yrsa's political insignificance her reign was quite a pivotal period for Álengiamark in other areas. The Earl of Ontario had been in Europe in 1521 and speaking on behalf of all Leifia had been part of the Diet of Worms which denounced Luther and his teachings. However Lutheran texts were already appearing in Álengiamark via Iceland and Vinland is generally held that due to Álengiamark's disunity it allowed Lutheranism to take hold in various localities where the rulers were either absent, undecided or supportive.
Whether Yrsa could have affected Lutheranism's development had she been resident in St. Hafdiss is a moot point. She appeared vehemently anti-Lutheran and issued a vitrolic letter to Isafjordhur in 1529 following Thorey IV's public conversion however did not seem to see the growing Lutheran problem in her own country.
Yrsa would die in 1529 and was succeeded by the much-more politically astute Thorey III.
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