THE NORSE OCCUPATION. 15 



a hybrid creed which was very common among the 

 Norwegians in the early days of their Christianity. Aude, 

 the widow of Olaf the White, was another emigrant to 

 Iceland ; it is clear, indeed, that Iceland was colonised by 

 its first settlers chiefly from the Hebrides, rather than from 

 Norway. The emigrations of Ketil Flatneb's descendants 

 show that the sovereignty established by that powerful 

 Viking fell to pieces soon after his death. It is probable 

 that his son Helgi and all his relatives were chased out 

 of the Hebrides by Harald Harfager during his punitive 

 expedition ; and thus the dynasty of the flatnosed warrior, 

 which he set up in opposition to the despot of Norway, 

 ended abruptly in the person of his son. 



One of King Harald's principal commanders in his 

 expedition was Rognevald (Ranald) Jarl of Moeri, a man 

 remarkable for bravery and wisdom, and a staunch adherent 

 of the King, who trusted him implicitly. It was one thing 

 to conquer the islands : it was another thing to secure the 

 conquests and maintain the authority of Norway. Ivar, 

 son of Rognevald, having fallen in one of the fights which 

 occurred during the expedition, Harald decided to recom- 

 pense Rognevald for his loss, and at the same time secure 

 his newly acquired dominions, by offering to appoint the 

 trusty Jarl as his Viceroy over the islands. Rognevald, 

 however, declined the offer, preferring his Norwegian 

 Jarldom, but he recommended his brother Sigurd to the 

 King as a fitting substitute. To this Harald agreed, and 

 Sigurd was appointed first Jarl, or Earl, of the Orkneys. 



There is reason to believe that this Jarldom carried with 

 it supreme authority over the whole of the islands from 

 the Shetlands to Man, and that lieutenants were appointed 

 to govern the Hebrides, who acknowledged Sigurd as their 

 Superior, and paid him tribute as representing their Royal 

 master. One Jarl Tryggvi was appointed governor of 

 the Western Islands, and after him, Asbjorn Skerjablesi, 

 both of whom were killed by the Vikings, who swarmed 

 back to their old haunts as soon as King Harald returned 

 to Norway. Asbjorn was attacked and slain by two 



D 2 



