Rognvald Kali Kolsson (d. 1158), also known as Rognvald the Crusader, is one of the most important and colourful Earls of Orkney, and his exploits are depicted in Orkneyinga saga. He invaded Orkney in 1135, and promoted the cult of St Magnus with the…
Haakon Haakonsson (Hákon Hákonarson, Håkon Håkonsson, Haakon the Old) was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263, and died in Orkney and is buried in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.
This window in Lerwick Town Hall in Shetland depicts the early tirteenth-century King of Norway, Haakon Haakonsson (Hákon Hákonarson, Håkon Håkonsson, Haakon the Old), who died in Orkney and is buried in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall. The other…
Rögnvald Brusason shared the Earldom of Orkney with Thorfinn Sigurdsson from c. 1037 until his death in conflict with Thorfinn in 1046, and his eventful life is recorded in some detail in Orkneyinga saga. More information about the Oriel Window can…
Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði) was King of Norway from 1046 until 1066 and led an unsucessful invasion of England in 1066. He was killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge. This…
Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. The Cathedral in Kirkwall was dedicated to him after his death at the hands of Hákon Pálsson.
This window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts Magnus Erlendsson (later Saint Magnus) who ruled Orkney and Shetland from c. 1106 to 1115. On the right is Harald Sigurdsson (Haraldr Sigurðarson) more commonly known as Harald Hardrada (Haraldr harðráði),…
Thyra of Denmark (Tyri Haraldsdatter) was daughter of Harald Bluetooth of Denmark, and final wife of Olaf Tryggvason, who she married against the will of the Danish King. More information about the window can be found at…
The Olaf and Thyra Window in Lerwick Town Hall depicts the Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason (Óláfr Tryggvason) who officially brought Christianity to Shetland in 995. See item 624 for Thyra and…
Detail from the Thoms Window, depicting the coronation of King Magnus Erlingsson of Norway in 1162. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Thoms-Window.asp
Stained glass window depicting the third Bishop of Trondheim, Eysteinn Erlendsson and the first bishop of Ornkey and Shetland, William the Old, who probably acceded to the Bishopric around 1102. He is pictured here with a model of St Magnus…
Rognvaldr, Earl of Møre and of Orkney, is said to have gifted Shetland (the Earldom of which he was offered by Harald fairhair) to his brother, Sigurd Eysteinsson (Sigurd the Mighty), who ruled c. 875–892. He is depicted here being invested with…
Depiction of Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre) arriving in Shetland. He rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
Harald Fairhair (Haraldr Hárfagri / Harald Hårfagre), who rained in Norway c. 872 to 930, and conquered Shetland around c. 870. More information at http://www.shetland.gov.uk/lerwick-town-hall/Zetland-Window.asp
The Zetland Window depicts Haraldr Hárfagri (Harald Fairhair), first King of Norway, who conquered Shetland in around 870, and Rognvald Eysteinsson, who was offered the first Earldom of Shetland but declined in favour of his brother Sigurd. For more…
Boat names in Scandinavia often make references to the Norse past, and particularly to the seafaring culture of the Vikings. It is less common to come across boats with Viking names elsewhere - this one is registered in Elburg in the Netherlands and…