When Jarl Gissur Þorvaldsson died in 1268, he donated his holdings in Reynistaðar to the Catholic Church, to house a religious community.
It took three decades for this to happen, when finally Bishop Jörundur Þorsteinsson – together with Hallbera Þorsteinsdóttir, later Abbess, and a number of other wealthy women – took the initiative to found the convent once and for all.
The convent declined significantly during the Black Death, and for several years there was no Abbess present.
The monastery's lands and properties were confiscated during the introduction of Protestantism, causing Solveig to lose her authority.
This article about a Catholic monastery, abbey, priory or other religious house is a stub.