Overview of the Orkneys

The Norse earldom of the Orkneys was established towards the end of the 9th century. By the late 10th century the earldom included Shetland, the Northern mainland of Scotland and the Western Isles. There was also some authority over the Isle of Man.

The Orkneyinga Saga is believed to have been compiled by an Icelander based in Thurso. The saga was originally called the Jarl's Saga as it is about the earls (jarls) of Orkney.

According to the sagas Harald Finehair (a Norwegian king) established the earldom of Orkney. Raids on the Norway coast by Vikings from the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland led to a punitive expedition by Harald reaching as far south as the Isle of Man. Harald granted the earldom of Orkney and Shetland to a Norwegian earl Rognvald of More. He in turn gave the earldom to his brother Sigurd, with Harald's agreement.

The saga tale is unlikely to be true. Harald had problems keeping control of the west coast of Norway. It seems unlikely that he could afford to go overseas on such an expedition. There is also no mention of any of this in the Irish written sources.

Other sources, of a similar date to the sagas, but from a Norse tradition in Scotland suggest that the Earl of More took the Northern Isles himself establishing the earldom. This action made the family very powerful and accounts for their bad relationship with the Norwegian kings.