Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Scandinavian Britain - III. The Norse Settlements - 6. The Earldom of Orkney
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of the jarldom. For eight years there was peace
between the two jarls ; after the sea-fight off Raudabjörg
(1045) Ragnvald fled to Norway, and returning
burnt Thorfinn’s house at Orphir. Ragnvald himself
lived at Kirkwall (Kirkju-vágr), where he perhaps
founded the town which, Dietrichson remarks, is laid
out on the plan of old Norse towns. At Birsay
Thorfinn’s wooden hall was no doubt on the site of the
later stone structure, which again was replaced by
Robert Stuart’s palace, built in the sixteenth century.
Thorfinn’s escape from the burning hall at Orphir,
with his wife Ingibjörg in his arms, and his voyage to
Caithness, is one of the most picturesque episodes of
the Orkneyinga-saga, full as it is of picturesque detail.
After the death of Ragnvald he was recognised by
Harald Hardrádi ; made a pilgrimage to Rome,
founded the bishopric of Orkney, and died in 1064.
His sons Paul and Erlend accompanied Harald
Hardrádi on the invasion which ended at Stamford
Bridge. In their time, according to Dietrichson, St.
Peter’s at Birsay and a church at Deerness, now
destroyed, were built in stone, imitating the plan and
detail of old Norse wooden churches. Hákon, the
son of Paul, induced King Magnus Barefoot to invade
Orkney for the furtherance of his personal interests ;
but Magnus deposed Paul and Erlend, who shortly
died in Norway, and he placed his own son Sigurd
over Orkney (1098). When Sigurd became king of
Norway (1103), Hákon and his cousin Magnus
Erlendsson held the jarldom jointly. Dissension
broke out : they met for battle at Thingwold in
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