CONTEMPORARY PRINCES:
NORWAY: 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: 1035 William the Conqueror
SCOTAND: 1033 Duncan I; 1039 Macbeth
ENGLAND: 1035 Harald Harefoot; 1039 Horda-Knut; 1042 Edward the Confessor
GERMANY: 1039 Henry III the Black
Of Rognvald, it is said, he was in the battle of Stiklestad, where King Olaf the Holy met his death, A.D. 1030. Escaping with other fugitives, Rognvald bore from the field of battle the youthful Harald Sigurdson, the Hardrada of later times (half-brother to Olaf), who was wounded dangerously, and placed him with a husbandman, with whom he stayed till cured. Harald, when leaving for Sweden, sang thus: -
"Who knows," said he, "the day shall come,
My name shall yet be great at home ?"
NOTE - Olaf the Holy was foster-brother to Rognvald II. A prince or chief slain on his own estates was heilag, or holy. Thus Rognvald II qualified for the expression equally with his royal foster-brother.
After placing Harald in comparative safety, Rognvald crossed the Kjolen range and proceeded through Jamtaland to the Swedish court, where King Onund received him favourably. He was soon joined by Harald, and they went on to Russia, meeting in Novgorod, King Jarisleif, who gave them a hearty reception for the sake of King Olaf the Holy. Harald, Rognvald, and Erling, the son of Jarl Rognvald Ulfsson, then entered the service of Jarlsleif, as defenders of his country. Harald, however, did not long remain in Russia, but passed on to Constantinople, where he joined the Varangian guard. Rognvald remained in Russia, spending the winters in Novgorod, and in summer defending the frontiers, where he fought ten battles. Rognvald was a man of large stature and great strength, and one of the handsomest of men in appearance, and his accomplishments were such that his equal was hardly to be found. The King, as well as the people, highly esteemed him. When Ingigerd, the daughter of the Swedish king Olaf, was married to Jarisleif, she stipulated that Rognvald should accompany her to Russia, and he received the town and earldom of Ladoga. Presently, Einar Tambarskelmr and Kalf Arnason visited Russia, with the object of inducing Magnus to recover his father's throne. They met Rognvald in Ladoga, and he had nearly attacked them before they informed him of their object. Einar said that the regicide Kalf repented of haying been a party to the dethronement and death of King Olaf the Holy, and now wished to make amends to his son Magnus by restoring him to the Norwegian sovereignty, and supporting him against the Vikings in pay of the Knuts. For this purpose they sought Rognvald's intercession with the Russian King, and Rognvald, being softened by these representations, Einar now asked him to go with them to Novgorod, and introduce them and their business to King Jarisleif. When they reached Novgorod, Rognvald, Queen Ingigerd, and many of the noblemen, pleaded their cause. Jarisleif hesitated to entrust Magnus to the former enemies of his father, but at last, on receiving the oaths of twelve of the noblest Norwegians that their intentions were sincere, he consented: He confided so much in Rognvald, however, that he did not require him to swear. The Norwegians thereon accepted Magnus as their king, and swore fealty to him.
Einar and Kalf stayed in Novgorod till after Yule, and then went down to Ladoga and procured ships. As soon as the sea was open in the spring, Rognvald made ready to convey Magnus to his dominions. They went first to Sweden, then to Jamtaland, crossed the Kjol, and came to Veradal. On arriving at Drontheim all the people submitted to him. There Rognvald heard of his father's death and Thorfinn's annexation of his possessions, so he asked the permission of King Magnus to visit his island home. This was readily granted, and Magnus gave him at the same time the title of Earl and three warships, well equipped, as also the third part of the Islands formerly possessed by Earl Einar.
Rognvald landed first in those parts which had belonged to his father, whence he sent word to his uncle, Earl Thorfinn, informing him of the position, and demanding the two-thirds of the Isles. Thorfinn at that time was constantly warring with the Hebrideans and the Irish, and felt himself greatly in want of assistance. He therefore gave the following spirited reply to Rognvald's embassy: "Rognvald may take possession of the third which rightly belongs to him. As for the third which King Magnus calls his own, we surrendered that to King Olaf the Holy because we were then in his power, not because we thought it just. I and my kinsman Rognvald will agree all the better the less we talk of that third which has been long enough a cause of dispute. But, if Rognvald wishes to be my faithful friend, I consider those possessions in good hands which he has for his pleasure and for the good of us both. His assistance will soon be of greater value to me than the revenues which I derive from them. " This answer was satisfactory to Rognvald, who then entered into possession of the two-thirds, and became the ally of Thorfinn.
Early in the ensuing spring Thorfinn gave Rognvald a call for an expedition, to which the latter promptly responded, and in the summer they ravaged in the Hebrides, in Ireland, and in Scotland's Firth conquering wherever they went. At Loch Vatten they had a great victory, celebrated in verse by Arnor, the skald [court bard to the King or Jarl] of Thorfinn. After this they returned to winter in the Orkneys. Thus Rognvald passed eight winters, without Thorfinn demurring. Every summer they went on a corsair cruise - sometimes jointly, sometimes severally, as Arnor says;-
"The chief beloved did many deeds.
Everywhere there fell before him
Irishmen or British people
Fire devoured the Scottish kingdom."
The kinsmen agreed well whenever they met, but when evil men came between them dissensions often arose. Thorfinn dwelt chiefly in Caithness. One summer Thorfinn made war in the Hebrides and in Scotland. Lying at Galloway, where Scotland and England meet, he sent forces to foray in England, and there they collected a lot of spoil, but the English rallied and recaptured it, slaying many of the Orcadians. Some they spared to convey the news to the Earl. Thorfinn was greatly annoyed, and determined to make reprisals as soon as possible. At that time Hurda-Knut was King of England and Denmark. The Earl wintered in the Orkneys, but early in the spring. he called out a levy from all his domain, and sent word to Rognvald to co-operate. Rognvald assenting, called out his men, and uniting with those Thorfinn had collected from the Isles, Caithness, the Hebrides, Ireland and Scotland, the host set sail for England. Horda-Knut was then in Denmark, but Thorfinn and Rognvald, besides many casual encounters, had two pitched battles with the royal army, defeating it with great slaughter". Thorfinu, in fulfilment of his vow, stayed in England throughout the summer, and returned in autumn to his island throne.
About this time King Magnus banished Kalf Arnason, who sought refuge with his nephew-in-law Thorfinn. Between them there was great friendship, for Thorfinn had married Ingibiorg, daughter of Earl Finn Arnason. Through the increased demand upon his hospitality, Thorfinn began to wish for the third of Orkney he had formerly allowed to Rognvald, and send an embassy to demand its restoration. Rognvald convened his supporters in council, but found them dubious as to his chances of success with troops from two-thirds of the Islands, against those Thorfinn could muster from one-third of the Isles, Caithness, the Hebrides, and that vast part of Scotland of which he was over-lord. Being thoroughly determined to resist the claim, he announced his intention of going to Norway, to solicit the assistance of his foster-brother King Magnus. So thither he went, and Magnus supplied him with a large and well-equipped army, sending word also to Kalf Arnason that if he sided with Rognvald against Thorfinn, his sentence of banishment should be cancelled and his Norwegian estates restored.
Rognvald first landed in Shetland, where he collected men, and went thence to the Orkneys, where he drew more to his flag. Thorfinn was in Caithness when the news reached him, but at once summoned men from Caithness, Scotland, and the Hebrides. Rognvald sent the royal message to Kalf, who apparently received it. well, and followed up his communication by steering for Caithness with a fleet of thirty large ships. He met Earl Thorfinn in the Pentland Firth, off Raudabiorg (red cliff), and both sides prepared for battle, Kalf Arnason remaining neutral with his six large ships. The battle was fiercely fought between these veteran warriors. Thorfinn's smaller vessels placed him at a disadvantage, and the day was going against him, when be successfully appealed to Kalf to join his squadron, and their united forces won the day. Rognvald retreated, and darkness coming on, stood to sea, making for Norway, where he was welcomed by King Magnus. Thorfinn, meantime, subdued the Isles, took up his residence in them, and compelled all the Islesmen to renounce their allegiance to Earl Rognvald. He kept a great number of men about him, be imported provisions from Caithness, and sent Kalf to the Hebrides to maintain his authority there.
NOTE - Pentland Firth: Scottish scribes have corrupted this word - always appearing as Pettland (i.e., Pict-land) in the Sagas - to an assimilation with the Pentlands, a range of hills near Edinburgh, and conversely the latter are often found spelt Petland.
This time Rognvald resolved to try and regain the Isles by coming on Thorfinn by surprise, so, early in the winter, he sailed for Orkney with a picked crew. At Hjaltaland he heard that Thorfinn was in the Orkneys with a few men, relying on the season for freedom from attack, so Rognvald pushed on for the Orcadian mainland, and ascertaining where he was, stole secretly to the place under cover of darkness, and fired the house. The night was pitch dark, favouring the surprise; but it also helped Thorfinn, who managed to elude his assailants by breaking down part of the woodwork of the house, and with Ingibiorg, his consort in his arms, got away unperceived in the smoke, and during the night rowed unattended in a boat to Caithness. All thought he had perished in the flames. After this Rognvald took possession of all the Isles, and sent word to Caithness and the Hebrides that he intended to have all the dominions of Thorfinn. Thorfinn, all the while, remained in hiding in Caithness. Rognvald now established his court at Kirkwall, entertaining liberally. A little before Yule he went to Papa Stronsay, and one evening when warming themselves round the fire, an attendant said they were running short of fuel. The Earl said, "We shall be old enough when these fires are burnt out", intending to have said they would be warm enough. Noticing his blunder, he continued, "I made a slip of the tongue in speaking just now; I do not remember that I ever did so before, and now I recollect what my foster-father, king Olaf, said at Stiklastad * when I noticed one which he made, namely, that if it ever so happened that I should make a slip in my speech, I should not expect to live long after it. It may be that my kinsman Thorfinn is still alive". At that moment the house was surrounded by Thorfinn and his men. Heaping a large pile before the door, they fired it immediately. Rognvald nevertheless effected his exit, and placing his hands upon a wall, by his great strength vaulted over it, disappearing immediately in the darkness of the night. Thorfinn recognised him, saying, "There went the earl, for that is his feat and no other man's". Search parties patrolled the beach, and Rognvald was presently traced by the baying of his favourite hound. Thorkell Foster had him seized, and offered a reward to the man who would kill him, but all refused. So Thorkell, the Earl-killer, did it himself. Thorfinn and his men then occupied Rognvalds barge and rowed for the capital, where they surprised, seized, and slew thirty of Rognvald's followers, mostly henchmen and friends of king Magnus. To one Thorfinn gave quarter, sending him east to Norway to tell king Magnus the tidings. The remains of Rognvald were interred in Papa Westray. Men said he was one of the most accomplished and best beloved of all the Orcadian earls, and his death was greatly lamented throughout the Isles. Thorfinn now took possession of the whole islands, and none withstood him. The news reached king Magnus in early spring, and he was much affected. He regarded the death of Rognvald, his foster-brother, as a great loss, which he would by-and-bye avenge, but just then he was at war with King Sweyn of Denmark.
* King Olaf and Rognvald were standing on a mound where there were berries, of which the king took some, and squeezed them in his palm. Then, seeing where the banner of the freemen was set up, "Wretched berries," said he, to which Rognva1d remarked, "You made a slip of speech just now, king, you must have meant to say people". "You are right, earl," said the king, "when you have but a short time to live, you will make a slip of speech no less than mine". [From Orkneyinga Saga]
About this time Harald Hardradi arrived in Norway, and king Magnus gave him half the kingdom. One winter, when the two kings' vessels were in Seley, off Lindesness, two war-ships came into the harbour, and rowed up to king Magnus' ship. They were those of Thorfinn, who, having thought it probable that the Norwegian fleet might be diverted from the Danish expedition to the Orkney's, came to offer his assistance, thus hoping to disarm the resentment of King Magnus. He was succeeding in his purpose, when the Norwegian whom he had spared in Kirkwall and sent to Norway with word of the death of Rognvald, put in an appearance, and demanded compensation for his brother, who had been slain by Thorfinn. The Earl reminded the claimant that he should be thankful his own life was spared, and told him he should know that he was not in the habit of paying money for those whom he had caused to be killed, as he had always good reason for such actions. This incident disturbed the relations between Magnus and Thorfnn, the king thinking the earl displayed too little compunction over the matter, and the king turned blood-red with anger. Thorfinn was ostensibly sailing to Jutland with Magnus and the Norwegian fleet, but after this incident judiciously steered further out to sea, and made for the Isles over which he was now sole ruler. Kalf Arnason was frequently with him. Sometimes he made viking trips to the west and plundered in Scotland and Ireland. He was also in England, and at one time was President of the Orcadian Thingman. [A general assemblage of Free men]
On the death of Magnus, Thorfinn sent a friendly message to king Harald Hardradi, which was favourably received, and Harald, the renowned warrior-king, promised Thorfinn his friendship. So the earl went to Norway with two ships of twenty benches each, and more than one hundred men, all fine troops. He found Harald in Hordaland, and on parting received handsome presents from him. Thence Thorfinn went to Denmark, meeting king Sweyn at Aalborg. He invited the earl to stay, and made a splendid feast for him. Then Thorfinn announced he was going to Rome. He called on Henry III, Emperor of Germany, who received him exceedingly well, and gave him many valuable presents, as also many horses; and the earl rode on south to Rome and saw Pope Leo IX, from whom he obtained absolution for all his sins.
Thorfinns pilgrimage is assigned to the year 1050, the same in which "the peerless Macbeth" visited Rome (the only Scottish sovereign who ever did so), and as these two potentates were close friends and allies, it is assumed they went together. Returning safely, he ceased his corsair career, and turned his attention to the government of his people and his dominions, and the making of laws. He resided frequently in Birsay, and built there Christ's Kirk, a splendid church, and there was the first bishop's see in the Orkneys.
Thorfinn's wife was Ingibiorg, called "the mother of the earls". They had two sons who arrived at manhood. One was called Paul and the other Erlend. They were men of large stature, fine looking, wise and gentle, more resembling their mother's relations. They were much loved by the earl and all the people. Thorfinn retained all the dominions of the Orcadian realm till his dying day, and it is truly said he was the most powerful of the Earls. He obtained possession of or rendered tributary nine earldoms in Scotland, all the Hebrides, and a large territory in Ireland. So says Arnot:
"Unto Thorfinn ravens'-feeder
Armies had to yield obedience,
From Tuscar Rocks right all to Dublin
Truth I tell, as is recorded".
[From Orkneyinga Saga]
Thorfinn was five winters old when his grandfather, Malcolm II, gave him the title of earl, and was earl after that for seventy winters, dying towards the end of Harald Hardradi's reign. He was buried at Birsay, in Christ's Kirk, his own erection, and was much lamented in his hereditary dominions; but in those parts which he had conquered by force of arms, many considered it hard to be under his rule, and after his demise many provinces transferred their allegiance to the native chieftains. It then soon became apparent how great a loss Thorfinn's death was to Orcadia,
The bright sun swarthy shall become,
In the black sea the earth shall sink,
Austri's labour shall he ended,
And the wild sea hide the mountains,
Ere there be, in those fair Islands -
Born a chief to rule the people,
(May our God both help and keep them)
Greater than the lost Earl Thorfinn".
[From Orkneyinga Saga]
His dowager subsequently married Malcolm Canmore, and their son was Duncan I, father of William Fitz-Duncan, who was father of William the Aetheling, known as the "Boy of Egremont", whom all the Scots wished to take for their prince.