The The Orkneyinga Saga on Thorfinn
The Orkneyinga Saga > For > Iv. The Earldom In The Norse Line, 872-1231.
attestation: Thorfinn defeated Kali Hundason twice in naval battles—first off Deerness in Orkney and then at Baefiord—while Thorkel Fóstri slew Moddan at Thurso; Thorfinn then overran Scotland as far south as Fife.
"Thorfinn, however, was aware of the trap laid for him, and retired to the Islands. There Kali came up with him off Deerness, in Orkney, and a fierce battle took place, in which Kali was defeated. He fled southwards, and Thorfinn, following him, obliged him again to give battle at Baefiord, where he was again defeated, while Thorkel Fóstri fell upon Moddan at Thurso and slew him."
attestation: Thorfinn returned from Caithness, surprised Rögnvald in a house on Papa Stronsay and burned it; Rögnvald escaped but was discovered by the barking of his dog and slain by Thorkel Fóstri.
"Thorfinn, who had got secretly over to his dominions in Caithness, returned shortly afterwards, and surprising Rögnvald in a house on Papa Stronsay, burnt the house and all who were in it, except Rögnvald, who sprang over the heads of the men who surrounded him, and got away in the darkness. He concealed himself among the rocks by the shore, but was discovered by the barking of his dog, and slain by Thorkel Fóstri."
attestation: Thorfinn sought reconciliation with King Magnus by breaking bread and drinking from his cup at table, using ancient laws of hospitality as a shield before departing without formal reconciliation.
"While he lay with his fleet at Seley two war-ships rowed up to the king's vessel, and a man in a white cloak went straight aboard, and up to the quarter-deck, where the king sat at meat. Saluting the king, the man reached forth his hand, took a loaf from the table, broke it, and ate of it. The king handed the cup to him when he saw that he had broken bread at his table, and then he learned that it was Earl Thorfinn"
attestation: After King Magnus's death, Thorfinn returned to Norway and made peace with his successor King Harald Hardradi, being formally recognized as earl of Orkney by the Norwegian overlord.
"King Magnus died shortly afterwards, and was succeeded by his uncle Harald Hardradi. Thorfinn again went to Norway on hearing of King Magnus' death, and effected a reconciliation with King Harald, so that he was now established in the earldom of Orkney by consent of the over-lord, the King of Norway."
attestation: Earl Thorfinn made a pilgrimage to Rome via Denmark and Germany, obtained absolution for all his deeds, and afterwards focused on governance rather than conquest.
"From Norway he went to Denmark, visiting King Swein at Aalborg, and proceeded thence through Germany on a pilgrimage to Rome, where he obtained absolution for all his deeds. After his return from Rome it is said that he turned his mind more to the government of his dominions and the welfare of his people than he had previously done in his career of conquest."
attestation: Thorfinn built Christ's Kirk in Birsay and established the first bishop's see in the Orkneys there, dying in 1064 after a rule of 'seventy winters' as the most powerful of all Orkney earls.
"He built Christ's Kirk in Birsay, and established there the first bishop's see in the Orkneys. He died in 1064, having been Earl, by the Saga account, for "seventy winters," and the most powerful and wide-landed of all the Earls of the Orkneys."
attestation: Thorfinn's sons Paul and Erlend fought at the battle of Stamford Bridge with King Harald Hardradi, and after Harald fell they were allowed to return home by Harold Godwinson.
"Thorfinn was succeeded by his two sons, Paul and Erlend, who were with King Harald Hardradi in his unfortunate expedition to England. After the battle of Stamford Bridge, in which King Harald fell, the Orkney earls were allowed to go home by the victorious Harold Godwinson"
The Orkneyinga Saga > part large and all well equipped, was divided into two squadrons, one of > Viii. The Bishopric Of Orkney—1060-1469.
- attestation: The origin of the Orkney bishopric is obscure; the Saga states Earl Thorfinn built Christ's Kirk in Birsay and the first bishop's see was established there, but earlier bishops may have operated from elsewhere.
"The origin of the bishopric of Orkney is involved in obscurity. Its early history is complicated by the fact that there were two if not three distinct successions of bishops, only one of which is recognised by the Norse writers."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter I. > Of The Earls.
attestation: Earl Thorfinn was five years old when his father Sigurd died at Clontarf; the King of Scots gave him Caithness and Sutherland with the title of Earl.
"Thorfinn was five winters old when their father fell. When the King of Scots heard of the Earl's death he bestowed Caithness and Sutherland upon his grandson, with the title of Earl, and gave him men to rule the domain along with him."
attestation: Earl Thorfinn was large of stature, strong but ungainly, and grew up to be avaricious, harsh, and cruel, yet a very clever man; his brother Brúsi was clever, fond of company, eloquent and beloved.
"Earl Thorfinn was very precocious in the maturity of all his powers. He was of large stature and strong, but ungainly. As he grew up it soon became apparent that he was avaricious, harsh, and cruel, yet a very clever man."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Ii > Of Amundi And Thorkel.
- attestation: Earl Thorfinn, when grown, demanded his share of the Orkneys from Einar and called out men from Caithness; Brúsi mediated and peace was made with Thorfinn receiving one-third of the islands.
"When Earl Thorfinn came to man's estate, he sent to his brother Einar, and demanded from him what he considered his share of the Orkneys. Einar was not inclined to divide his possessions: so, when Earl Thorfinn heard this, he called out men from Caithness, and set out for the Orkneys."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Iii > Thorkel Slays Earl Einar.
- attestation: After Thorfinn's return to the Orkneys, Brúsi mediated another peace between Thorfinn and Einar; Thorkel Fóstri was pardoned and accepted as a friend of Einar's, and both sides agreed to give the other a banquet, with Einar to come first to Thorkel at Sandvik.
"Brúsi went to meet the two brothers, and tried to reconcile them; and once more they made peace and confirmed it with oaths. Thorkel Fóstri should be pardoned, and be a friend of Earl Einar, and each of them should give the other a banquet, and the Earl should first come to Thorkel at Sandvik."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Iv > Of Earl BrúSi.
attestation: Earl Thorfinn rushed to Norway to see King Olaf before his brother Brúsi could conclude his business, but arrived too late—Brúsi had already made his treaty and given up his dominions to the King.
"This, however, turned out otherwise than the Earl intended, for he did not see King Olaf until the treaty between Earl Brúsi and the King was fully concluded; and he did not know that Earl Brúsi had given up his dominations until he came to the King."
attribution: King Olaf demanded that Thorfinn acknowledge his suzerainty over the Orkneys as he had demanded of Brúsi; Thorfinn replied that he could not pay homage since he was already an earl and vassal of the King of Scots.
"At their first interview the King made the same claim to the dominion of the Orkneys which he had made before to Earl Brúsi; and he made the same request of Thorfinn—namely, that he should acknowledge the King's suzerainty over his portion of the islands.
The Earl gave a courteous answer to this demand, saying: "I consider your friendship of great importance; and if you think you require my assistance against other chiefs, you have well deserved it; but I cannot well pay you homage, as I am already an Earl of the King of Scots, and his vassal.""
- attestation: King Olaf perceived that Thorfinn was a man of much stronger will than Brúsi—while Brúsi agreed sincerely, Thorfinn agreed cheerfully but had resolved to act in his own way; the King distrusted him accordingly.
"The King perceived that Thorfinn was a man of much stronger will than Brúsi, and distrusted him therefore more. He saw that Thorfinn would think himself sufficiently powerful, with the aid of the King of Scots, though he broke this treaty; and the King was sagacious enough to perceive that, while Brúsi agreed to everything sincerely, and made only such promises as he intended to keep, Thorfinn agreed cheerfully to everything, while at the same time he had resolved within himself what course he would take"
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter V > Of The Earls BrúSi And Thorfinn.
attestation: Thorfinn eventually held two-thirds of the Orkneys and Brúsi one-third after Thorfinn proposed taking two-thirds in exchange for defending the whole; this occurred when Canute the Great conquered Norway after King Olaf's flight.
"Then Thorfinn proposed to Brúsi to take two-thirds of the Islands, undertaking the defence of the whole, and leave Brúsi one-third. Although this division did not take place immediately, yet it is said in the History of the Earls that it did take place, and that Thorfinn had two-thirds of the Islands, and Brúsi one-third, when Canute the Great conquered Norway, after the flight of King Olaf."
attestation: Earl Thorfinn was a man of very large stature, uncomely, sharp-featured, dark-haired, and sallow in complexion; yet martial, greedy of wealth and renown, bold and successful in war. He was five years old when he received the earldom and revenues of Caithness from his grandfather King Malcolm, and fourteen when he first went on maritime expeditions.
"Earl Thorfinn now became a powerful chief. He was a man of very large stature, uncomely, sharp-featured, dark-haired, and sallow and swarthy in his complexion. Yet he was a most martial-looking man, and of great energy; greedy of wealth and of renown; bold and successful in war, and a great strategist. He was five years old when he received the title of Earl and the revenues of Caithness from King Malcolm, his grandfather, and fourteen when he went forth from his own territory on maritime expeditions"
attestation: Thorfinn subdued Sutherland and Ross and plundered far into Scotland, then returned to Caithness with five war-ships; King Karl sailed north with eleven war-ships after sending Moddan by land, intending to trap Thorfinn between two armies.
"Earl Thorfinn subdued Sutherland and Ross, and plundered far and wide in Scotland, and returned again to Caithness, and Thorkel went back to the Islands; their men also returned home. Earl Thorfinn stayed at Dungalsbæ, in Caithness, where he had five war-ships and followers numerous enough to man them."
attestation: Thorfinn sailed to the Orkneys to escape King Karl's eleven ships, moored at Dyrness, and sent word to Thorkel to collect troops; at dawn King Karl arrived with his eleven ships and Thorfinn chose to fight rather than abandon his ships.
"Earl Thorfinn directed his course to the east of the Orkneys, intending to go to Sandvik. He moored his ships on the east side of Dyrness, and immediately sent word to Thorkel to collect troops.
Earl Thorfinn arrived at Dyrness late in the evening; but as soon as it was daylight next morning, King Karl came upon them unawares with eleven war-ships. There were only two alternatives—one to run on shore, and leave the ships with all their valuable contents to the enemy; the other was to meet the King, and let fate decide between them."
- attestation: Earl Thorfinn fought King Karl's eleven ships with five near Sandwick; after fierce fighting Thorfinn boarded the King's ship and King Karl jumped to another vessel and ordered flight; Thorfinn pursued them and Karl fled south to Breidafiord.
"King Karl, perceiving this, gave orders to his men to cut the ropes, and get the ships away instantly; to take to their oars, and bear away. At the same time Thorfinn and his men fastened grappling-hooks in the King's ship. He called for his banner to be borne before him, and a great number of his men followed it. King Karl jumped from his ship into another vessel, with those of his men who still held out; but the most part had fallen already. He then ordered them to take to their oars; and the Scots took to flight—Thorfinn pursuing them."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Vi > Of The Orkneymen.
attestation: At the Battle of Torfnes, Thorfinn wore a gold-plated helmet, bore a sword and spear, and was said to be foremost of all his men; he first routed the Irish division, then drove back Karl's standard in the fiercest struggle, causing the King's flight and possibly his death.
"Earl Thorfinn was among the foremost of his men; he had a gold-plated helmet on his head, a sword at his belt, and a spear in his hand, and he cut and thrust with both hands. It is even said that he was foremost of all his men. He first attacked the Irish division, and so fierce were he and his men, that the Irish were immediately routed, and never regained their position. Then King Karl had his standard brought forward against Earl Thorfinn, and there was the fiercest struggle for a while; but it ended in the flight of the King; and some say he was slain."
attestation: After the Battle of Torfnes, Thorfinn drove the fugitives through Scotland and subdued the country all the way south to Fife; when Scots who had submitted tried to betray him he burned the whole district in retaliation, killing many and taking captives.
"Earl Thorfinn drove the fugitives before him through Scotland, and subdued the country wherever he went, and all the way south to Fife. Then he sent Thorkel Fóstri away with some of his men."
attestation: After burning Scottish districts in retaliation for treachery, Thorfinn went north through Scotland to his ships, then spent the winter in Caithness; every season after this he went out on expeditions and plundered in summer.
"After this Thorfinn went through Scotland to the north, till he reached his ships, and subdued the country wherever he went, and did not stop till he came to Caithness, where he spent the winter; but every season after this he went out on expeditions, and plundered in the summer time with all his men."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Vii > Of The Famous Deeds Of Earl Thorfinn.
- attestation: Earl Thorfinn became famous by entertaining his men and many men of note throughout the winter in the Orkneys at his own expense; about this time Earl Brúsi died and Thorfinn took possession of all the islands.
"EARL THORFINN made himself famous in the Orkneys by entertaining his own men and many other men of note throughout the winter, so that no one had to go to inns—providing food and drink at his own charges, in the same manner as chiefs in other countries, Kings, and Earls entertain their henchmen and guests at Christmas time. About this time Earl Brúsi died, and Earl Thorfinn took possession of all the islands."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter X > Of Rognvald'S Voyage.
- attestation: Thorfinn yielded two-thirds of the Orkneys to Rögnvald on condition they be allies, saying Rögnvald's assistance was worth more than the revenues; Rögnvald accordingly took possession of two-thirds of the islands and the arrangement held for eight winters.
"Upon this the messengers returned, and said he had yielded up to Rögnvald two-thirds on condition that they should be allies, as it was right they should be, on account of their relationship. Rögnvald said, however, that he did not demand more than what he considered his own; but as Thorfinn had so willingly given up the lands, he would indeed assist him, and be his firm friend, which was but natural, as they were so nearly related. Accordingly Rögnvald took possession of two-thirds of the islands."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xi > The Battle Of The Kinsmen Thorfinn And Rognvald.
- attestation: Thorfinn and Rögnvald joined forces for summer plundering expeditions in the Hebrides, Ireland, and Scotland's Fiord; they won a great battle at Vatnsfiord and Rögnvald held two-thirds of the Orkneys without dispute for eight winters.
"During the summer they plundered in the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and in Ireland, and in Scotland's Fiord; and Thorfinn conquered the land wherever he went. They had a great battle at a place called Vatnsfiord. It began early in the morning, and the kinsmen gained the victory. After this battle they returned to the Orkneys, and stayed at home during the winter. Thus eight winters passed that Earl Rögnvald had two-thirds of the islands without any objection on the part of Earl Thorfinn."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xii > Of Earl Thorfinn'S Warfare.
- attestation: Thorfinn sent men to foray in England; they were defeated by the English who took their cattle, killed the notable men, and sent survivors back with insulting words; Thorfinn resolved to repay this the following summer.
"ONE summer Earl Thorfinn made war in the Sudreyar (Hebrides) and in Scotland. He had sent men into England to foray, and they carried away all the spoil they could find. But when the English became aware of the presence of the Vikings, they gathered together and attacked them. They took from them all the cattle, and killed all the men that were of any note, but sent back some of the reivers, and requested them to tell Earl Thorfinn how they had made the Vikings tired of plunder and rapine, to which they added many insulting words."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xiii > Of Earl Thorfinn'S Expedition To England.
- attestation: In the time of Hardicanute, Thorfinn levied forces from Caithness, the Orkneys, Scotland, Ireland, and the Hebrides and sailed to England with Rögnvald; they won a great battle and plundered far and wide, burning dwellings and slaying men, with Thorfinn fighting two pitched battles there.
"Earl Thorfinn collected troops in Caithness and the Orkneys. He also had many from Scotland and Ireland, and from the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and with all these forces he sailed to England as he had promised. Hardicanute was in Denmark at the time. As soon as the Earls came into England they began to harry and plunder; but the chiefs whose duty it was to defend the land went to meet them with an army. There was a great and fierce battle, in which the Earls gained the victory. After this they plundered far and wide in England, slaying men, and burning the dwellings of the people."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xiv > Kalf Flees To The Orkneys.
- attestation: Thorfinn demanded from Rögnvald the third of the islands that had belonged to Earl Einar Rangmuth, after advisers urged him not to leave two-thirds with Rögnvald given his own large expenses; Rögnvald replied that he held that portion as a fief from King Magnus and would not give it up.
"Then there were many who advised him not to leave two-thirds of the Islands to Rögnvald, since his own expenses were so large. Thereupon Earl Thorfinn sent men into the Islands to demand from Rögnvald that third portion which had belonged to Earl Einar Rangmuth (wry-mouth).
Upon receiving this message, the Earl (Rögnvald) consulted with his friends. Then he called Earl Thorfinn's messengers, and told them that he had received that portion of the Islands which they claimed as a fief from King Magnus, and that the King called it his patrimony."
- attestation: Thorfinn became enraged at Rögnvald's refusal and collected an army from the Hebrides and Scotland, declaring he would use force to take what he could not get by asking peacefully.
"Now Earl Thorfinn became so enraged that he straightway sent men to the Hebrides and to Scotland, and collected together an army, making it known that he would march against Rögnvald, and demand that without abatement which he had not got when he asked peacefully for it."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xv > Battle Of Raudabiorg.
attestation: In the sea battle at Raudabiorg, Thorfinn's smaller ships put him at a disadvantage and many of his men were killed; Rögnvald commanded boarding but Thorfinn cut ropes and rowed to shore, removing seventy dead from his ship.
"When the fighting had thus continued for a while, the loss of men began to be heaviest on Earl Thorfinn's side, the chief cause being the great difference in the height of the ships. Thorfinn himself had a large ship, well equipped, in which he pressed forward with great daring; but when the smaller vessels were cleared, the Earl's ship was attacked from both sides, and they were placed in great danger. Many of the Earl's men were killed, and others dangerously wounded. Then Earl Rögnvald commanded his men to leap on board; but when Thorfinn perceived the imminent danger, he caused the ropes to be cut with which his ship was fastened to the other, and rowed towards the shore. He had seventy dead bodies removed from his ship"
attribution: Thorfinn persuaded Kálf Arnason to join him by arguing that Rögnvald and King Magnus would not welcome Kálf in the west if they won, but that Thorfinn would reward him if victorious, and that their close kinship by marriage made mutual aid fitting.
"You may be sure that if Rögnvald overcomes me, and he and King Magnus become masters here in the west, you will not be welcome in this quarter, but if I come off victorious you shall lack nothing that it is in my power to give you. If we two keep together we shall be a match for any one here in the west, and I hardly think you will allow yourself to lie crouching aside like a cat among stones while I am fighting for behoof of us both."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xvi > Earl Thorfinn Subdues The Islands.
- attestation: After the battle, Thorfinn hunted down fugitives across all the islands, killed many, pardoned some, and made all inhabitants his subjects including those who had sworn allegiance to Rögnvald; he fixed his residence in the Orkneys and sent Kálf Arnason to the Hebrides to hold his authority there.
"NOW it is to be told of Earl Thorfinn that on the morning after the battle he sent boats to all the islands to search for the fugitives. Many were killed, and some were pardoned. Earl Thorfinn subdued all the Islands, and made all the inhabitants his subjects, even those who had sworn allegiance to Earl Rögnvald. Thorfinn then fixed his residence in the Orkneys, keeping a great number of men about him; he imported provisions from Caithness, and sent Kálf Arnason to the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and ordered him to remain and maintain his authority there."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xvii > RöGnvald Comes To The Islands.
- attestation: Thorfinn escaped the burning house by breaking down woodwork, leaping out with his wife Ingibiorg in his arms, getting away unseen in the darkness of night, and rowing alone in a boat to Caithness; Rögnvald and everyone else believed Thorfinn had perished in the fire.
"Earl Thorfinn bethought him of a plan, and broke down part of the woodwork of the house and leaped out there, carrying Ingibiorg, his wife, in his arms. As the night was pitch dark he got away in the smoke unperceived by Earl Rögnvald's men, and during the night he rowed alone in a boat over to Ness (Caithness). Earl Rögnvald burnt the house, with all who were in it, and no one thought otherwise than that Earl Thorfinn had perished there."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xviii > Earl RöGnvald Slain.
attestation: Thorfinn and his men surrounded the house in Papey and set it on fire; a man in linen clothes—recognized as Rögnvald by Thorfinn because of his feat of vaulting—escaped into the night; Thorkel Fóstri tracked him by his dog's barking and killed him personally.
"Thorfinn permitted all others to come out except Earl Rögnvald's men, and when most of them had gone out a man came to the door dressed in linen clothes only, and asked Earl Thorfinn to lend a hand to the deacon; this man placed his hands on the wall and sprang over it and over the ring of men, and came down a great way off, and disappeared immediately in the darkness of the night. Earl Thorfinn told his men to go after him, saying: "There went the Earl, for that is his feat and no other man's." They went away, and divided into parties to search for him. Thorkel Fóstri with some others went along the beach, and they heard the barking of a dog among the rocks by the sea. Earl Rögnvald had had his favourite dog with him. Thorkel had the Earl seized, and asked his men to kill him, offering them a reward in money. But no one would do it. So Thorkel Fóstri slew Earl Rögnvald himself, as he knew that one of the two (Earls) must die."
attestation: The next morning Thorfinn rowed to Kirkwall using Rögnvald's shields on the bulwarks to deceive his men; he seized thirty of Rögnvald's henchmen and slew them, but spared one of King Magnus's henchmen and sent him to Norway to report the tidings.
"Next morning they took a barge and filled it with malt; then they went on board and ranged the shields which had belonged to Earl Rögnvald and his men along the bulwarks, neither had they more men in the barge than Rögnvald had had. So they rowed to Kirkiuvag (Kirkwall); and when those of Rögnvald's men who were there saw the vessel they thought it was Earl Rögnvald and his men returning, and they went unarmed to meet them. Thorfinn seized thirty of them and slew them; most of them were henchmen and friends of King Magnus. To one of the King's henchmen the Earl gave quarter, and told him to go east to Norway and tell King Magnus the tidings."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xix > Earl RöGnvald'S Burial.
- attestation: After Rögnvald's death, Thorfinn took possession of all the Orkneys without opposition; King Magnus regarded Rögnvald's death as a great loss and vowed vengeance but was then at war with King Swein.
"After this Earl Thorfinn took possession of the whole of the Islands, and no one spoke against him.
Early in the spring these tidings came east to Norway to King Magnus. He regarded the death of Rögnvald, his foster-brother, as a great loss, and said he would avenge him by and by, but just then he was at war with King Swein, Ulf's son."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xx > Earl Thorfinn Comes To King Harald.
attribution: Earl Thorfinn approached King Magnus in Seley while the King's fleet lay there on the way to Denmark; he introduced himself with two ships and twenty benches, humbly submitting himself to the King's mercy for his misdeeds.
""My name is Thorfinn," he said. "Art thou Earl Thorfinn?" said the King. "So am I called in the west," he said, "and I am here with two ships of twenty benches, well manned considering our means, and I wish now to join in this expedition with you, if you will accept my assistance; all my men and I myself are in God's power and yours, my lord, on account of my great misdeeds by which I have offended you.""
attestation: One of King Magnus's henchmen whose brother had been killed at Kirkwall by Thorfinn's orders confronted Thorfinn on the King's ship, demanding compensation; Thorfinn refused, saying it was not his wont to pay money for men he had killed.
"He said: "I have come to see you, Earl Thorfinn." "What is your business with me?" said the Earl. "I wish to know what compensation you intend to give me for my brother who was killed by your orders out west in Kirkiuvag (Kirkwall), along with others of King Magnus's henchmen.""
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxi > Earl Thorfinn'S Message To King Harald (Hardradi).
attestation: After Magnus's death, Thorfinn sent friendly messengers to King Harald of Norway who promised friendship in return; Thorfinn then visited King Harald in Hördaland and received handsome presents at parting.
"When Earl Thorfinn heard of the death of King Magnus, he sent men to Norway to King Harald with a friendly message, saying that he wished to become his friend. When the messengers reached the King he received them well, and promised the Earl his friendship. When the Earl received this message from the King he made himself ready, taking from the west two ships of twenty benches, with more than a hundred men, all fine troops, and went east to Norway. He found the King in Hördaland, and he received him exceedingly well, and at their parting the King gave him handsome presents."
attestation: Thorfinn made a pilgrimage to Rome via Denmark and Saxony, meeting Emperor Heinrich who gave him many presents and horses; the Pope granted him absolution for all his sins.
"Then the Earl made it known that he was going to Rome; but when he came to Saxland he called on the Emperor Heinrek, who received him exceedingly well, and gave him many valuable presents. He also gave him many horses, and the Earl rode south to Rome, and saw the Pope, from whom he obtained absolution for all his sins."
attestation: After returning from Rome, Thorfinn gave up warfare and devoted himself to governing his land and people and making laws; he resided often at Birsay and built Christ's Kirk there, which became the first Bishop's see in the Orkneys.
"Then the Earl returned, and arrived safely home in his dominions. He left off making war expeditions, and turned his mind to the government of his land and his people, and to the making of laws. He resided frequently in Birgishérad (Birsay), and built there Christ's Kirk, a splendid church; and there was the first Bishop's see in the Orkneys."
attestation: Thorfinn's wife was Ingibiorg the mother of the Earls; they had two sons Paul and Erlend, men of large stature, fine-looking, wise, and gentle, who resembled their mother's relations.
"Thorfinn's wife was Ingibiorg, [called] the mother of the Earls. They had two sons who arrived at manhood; one was called Paul, 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."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxii
attestation: Earl Thorfinn was the most powerful of all Earls of the Orkneys, holding eleven earldoms in Scotland, all the Hebrides, and large territory in Ireland; Arnór Jarlaskáld attests his dominion extended from Thussasker to Dublin.
"EARL THORFINN retained all his dominions to his dying day, and it is truly said that he was the most powerful of all the Earls of the Orkneys. He obtained possession of eleven Earldoms in Scotland, all the Sudreyar (Hebrides), and a large territory in Ireland."
attestation: Earl Thorfinn was given the title of Earl at age five by King Malcolm of Scots his maternal grandfather, held the earldom for seventy winters, and died towards the end of Harald Sigurdson's reign; he was buried at Christ's Kirk in Birsay which he had built.
"Earl Thorfinn was five winters old when Malcolm the King of Scots, his mother's father, gave him the title of Earl, and after that he was Earl for seventy winters. He died towards the end of Harald Sigurdson's reign. He is buried at Christ's Kirk in Birgishérad (Birsay), which he had built."
attestation: After Thorfinn's death, many provinces he had conquered by force turned away and sought other chiefs; his death was lamented in his hereditary domains though those he had conquered considered his rule very hard.
"He was much lamented in his hereditary dominions; but in those parts which he had conquered by force of arms many considered it very hard to be under his rule, and [after his death] many provinces which he had subdued turned away and sought help from the chiefs who were odal-born to the government of them."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxiii > Of The Earls Paul And Erlend, And Genealogies.
- attestation: Thorfinn's sons Paul and Erlend succeeded him; Paul was the elder, governed for both, and they almost always agreed without dividing their possessions.
"NOW the sons of Earl Thorfinn succeeded him. Paul was the elder of the two, and he ruled for both of them. They did not divide their possessions, yet they almost always agreed in their dealings."
The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Cxvii > The Murder Of Havard.
- attestation: Thorfinn Hausakliuf had five sons: Hávard Arsæli, Hlödver, Liót, Skúli, and Arnfinn; Ragnhild daughter of Eirík killed her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness then married his brother Hávard Arsæli.
"Thorfinn had five sons. One was named Hávard Arsæli (blessed with good seasons), the second Hlödver, the third Liót, the fourth Skúli, and the fifth Arnfinn. Ragnhild, the daughter of Eirík, killed her husband Arnfinn at Myrkhol (Murkle), in Caithness, and then she married Hávard Arsæli, his brother."