page_title: Rognvald Eysteinsson
section_title: Sources
hierarchical_section_title: Rognvald Eysteinsson / Traditional accounts / Sources
caption_attribution_description: Christian Krogh: Illustration for Heimskringla 1899-edition. «Snorre Sturluson»
context_page_description: Rognvald Eysteinsson was the founding Jarl of Møre in Norway, and a close relative and ally of Harald Fairhair, the earliest known King of Norway. In the Norse language he is known as Rǫgnvaldr Eysteinsson and in modern Norwegian as Ragnvald Mørejarl. He is sometimes referred to with bynames that may be translated into modern English as "Rognvald the Wise" or "Rognvald the Powerful".
  The earliest available sources regarding Rognvald are mutually contradictory and were compiled long after he died. The best known are the Norse Sagas, although modern scholars highlight many inconsistencies and improbable claims regarding Rognvald in the sagas, and believe that they must be treated with caution: The texts of the sagas were compiled three centuries after the events described and their accuracy in regard to Rognvald's life and historical significance is now questioned. Hence some scholars instead emphasise other accounts, closer to the historical period in question, such as Irish and Scottish sources.
context_section_description: The oldest account that may refer to Rognvald and the Earldom of Orkney appears to be the Fragmentary Annals of Ireland. These annals are believed to date from the lifetime of Donnchad mac Gilla Pátraic, who died in 1039, although they survive only as incomplete copies made by Dubhaltach Mac Fhirbhisigh (17th century).
  These events are placed after an account of the devastation of Fortriu, dated to around 866, and the mention of an eclipse confirms a date of 865.
  Dating the Orkneyinga saga has proven to be controversial but a recent analysis has the "majority of scholars in favour of dates between 1170 and 1220" whilst admitting that "it remains to be established when, why, where, for whom and by whom it was written". Much of the information it contains is "hard to corroborate". 
  Rognvald is also referred to in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla (written c. 1230), written in Iceland. 
  While the Historia Norvegiae (written c. 1505) includes an account of the foundation of the Orkney earldom, as well as some questionable details about pre-Viking Orkney, it has relatively little to say about Rognvald.
caption: Christian Krohg's portrait of Snorri Sturluson, 13th century compiler of the Heimskringla.
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