Rognvald Eysteinsson (840-892) was Jarl of Orkneyar from 872 to 875, preceding Sigurd Eysteinsson. He was a loyal follower of King Harald Fairhair during his unification of Norway, and, as recompense for the death of Rognvald's son, King Harald granted Rognvald and his family the jarldom of Orkney. While Rognvald returned to Norway three years later, having given the jarldom to his brother, his descendants would rule Orkneyar until the 13th century. Rognvald was killed in an ambush by Harald's rebellious son Halfdan Long-Leg in 890.
Biography[]
Another portrait of Rognvald
Rognvald Eysteinsson was born in Norway in 840, the son of the petty king Eystein Glumra. He married a daughter of Hrolfr Nose and fathered six sons, including Hallad, Torf-Einarr, Thorir, and Rollo. Rognvald was named Earl of Møre by King Harald Fairhair, and he gave the King his name by cutting his hair as a reward for his unification of Norway. Rognvald then accompanied the King on his great military expedition to the British Isles, clearing Shetland and Orkney of Vikings who had been raiding Norway, before continuing on to Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. Rognvald's son Ivarr was killed in the process, and, in compensation, Harald granted Rognvald the jarldom of Orkneyar. However, Rognvald decided to return to Norway shortly after, giving the jarldom to his brother, Sigurd Eysteinsson. After Sigurd's death from a curious illness in 892 and his son Guthorm Sigurdsson died months later in 893, Rognvald's son Hallad inherited the title, but he was unable to constrain Danish raids on Orkney and was forced to return to Norway. Rognvald then had his son Torf-Einarr travel to Orkney to assume the jarldom, and Rognvald's descendants would rule Orkney into the 13th century. In 892, Harald Fairhair's son Halfdan Long-Leg engineered a sudden attack on Rognvald's home, burning it to the ground with Rognvald and 60 of his men inside it. Harald retaliated by exiling his son, who was then killed by Torf-Einarr on Orkney.