CONTEMPORARY PRINCES:
NORWAY: 1030 St.Olaf; 1035 Swein; 1047 Magnus the Good
[First appearance of the name Magnus in Norse history; stated to be after and in admiration of CharleMagne]
NORMANDY: 1028 Robert the Devil; 1035 William the Conqueror
SCOTAND: 1003 Malcolm II; 1033 Duncan I; 1039 Macbeth; 1056 Malcolm III Canmore
ENGLAND: 1016 Knut; 1035 Harald Harefoot; 1039 Horda-Knut; 1042 Edward the Confessor
GERMANY: 1039 Henry III the Black
ROME: 1049 Leo X
THORFINN now had supreme sway throughout Orcadia, and became a powerful ruler of large stature, his visage was stern and forbidding and his features sharp and uncomely. Yet he was a most martial-looking man, and of great energy, emulous of wealth and renown, bold and successful, and a great strategist. He was five years of age when his maternal grandfather, King Malcolm II, assigned to him the comitial dignity and revenues of Caithness; at fourteen he issued from his own territories on maritime expeditions against neighbouring chiefs, and having the assistance of the King of Scots tended to increase his power in the Orkneys.
Soon after the reconciliation of the Earl brothers the King of Scotland died, and the Sagas tell us that Karl Hundason succeeded him. This, however, is in conflict with Scottish history, from which we learn that Malcolm II was peaceably succeeded by Duncan Crinanson, his grandson. The Saga continues: - King Karl demanded tribute for Caithness, which Thorfinn refused, and war broke out between them. Karl created earl his sister's son Moddan, and appointed him over Caithness. Moddan collected forces in Sutherland, Thorfinn in Caithness, and the latter was re-inforced by an Orcadian contingent brought over by Thorkell Foster. The Scots being outnumbered retreated, and Thorfinn advancing subdued Sutherland and Ross, and ravaged in Scotland far and wide. Moddan reported his failure to the Scottish King, who was vastly displeased, and started north immediately with eleven warships and a numerous army to punish the defiant Thorfinn. Despatching Moddan landwards for Caithness, he sailed north, hoping to engage Thorfinn between the two forces. The Earl had just embarked for the Isles, when King Karl's navy hove in sight at nightfall. Continuing his course Thorfinn moored his five vessels off Deerness, and immediately sent word to Thorkell to summon the Islesmen. Brusi had the northernmost lot of the isles, and was then there. At daylight next morning King Karl with his eleven ships came suddenly on the scene, and the Earl decided to accept battle. The victory was with the Earl, and the King fled to the Moray Firth, where Thorfinn followed in pursuit as soon as Thorkell had arrived with more men. Hearing that Moddan was at Thurso with a large army, and bad sent for men to Ireland, where he had many relatives and friends, it was thought advisable to divide the Orcadian army, Thorkell proceeding to Caithness with one division while Thorfinn plundered in Scotland with the other. Thorkell surprised Moddan in Thurso by night, setting his house on fire, and while that general attempted to escape, hewed off his head. His men then surrendered, but some got away. Many were slain, others admitted to quarter. Thorkell then hastened with all the troops he could collect in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, and effected a junction with the Earl in Moray, receiving hearty thanks for his success.
King Karl having levied a fresh army, and the Irish auxiliaries expected by Moddan having arrived, he advanced to renew the war with Thorfinn. The contending parties met at Torfness, south of Baefiord, that of the King outnumbering the Earl's. Thorfinn fought valiantly, foremost of all his men. He had a gold-plated helmet on his head, a sword at his belt, a spear in his hand, and he cut and thrust with both hands. First attacking the Irish wing, it was immediately routed and never regained position. Then King Karl advanced his standard against the Earl, and round it the fiercest struggle ensued, but it ended in the flight of the King, and some say he was slain. Thorfinn drove the fugitives before him through Scotland, subduing the country wherever he went all the way south to Fife - returning with great booty to Caithness, where he spent the winter.
Every summer Thorfinn went ravaging foreign lands, and in winter made himself famous in the Isles by the immense host he entertained, not only at Yule, as Kings and Earls of other countries did, but throughout the entire winter. In his time one Hrafn Limiricepeta, so called from his frequent voyages to Limerick: in Ireland - a Limerick trader - related to Earl Thorfinn some accounts of a Great Ireland in the Western Ocean. [From Sturleson's Heimskringla, page 190]
It was about this time that Earl Brusi died and Thorfinn took possession of all the Isles, but as Brusi left issue we will here refer to his son, whose many notable deeds and transactions with Thorfinn need illustration.