Viking Jarl

Rognvald Eysteinsson, Jarl of Møre

Born around 830 in Norway

Active years were around 865

Died around 892

This week's Viking story is actually a continuation of last week's Tale.

That Tale's Norman Conqueror, Roger Bigod, descended from this Rognvald, who was his 4X great grandfather.

During the early Viking Age, Norway consisted of a number of petty kingdoms. A man named Harald was able to unite them all after winning the Battle of Hafrsfjord (sword monument pictured here) in 872. Subsequently, King Harald I granted land to his sons and other earls (jarls) who swore fealty to him.

One of those earls was our 37X great grandfather and the first Jarl of Møre -- Rognvald Eysteinsson, See the map for Rognvald's domain.

Rognvald is also called Rognvald Mørejarl in the Heimskringla and Orkneyinga sagas.

Rognvald came to a fiery end when King Harald’s sons ambushed him in his hall and burned it down.

During this time the Viking invaders were called "Danes", but they came from Norway and Sweden as well as Denmark. Our grandfather is called Rongwald the Dane, but his roots were in Norway, not Denmark.

The name "Viking" comes from the Old Norse language. It means "a pirate raid". People who went off raiding in ships were said to be "going Viking". Raiding was a normal part of life's ebb and flow during our story. Families would plant the field, then the men would take the boats and go raiding until time for the harvest. The wives were in charge of the household and lands until the men returned with their plunder and slaves.

Rognvald had a son named Hrolf (our 36X great grandfather). Hrolf went with his Uncle Rollo to raid the Normandy region of France sometime before 911. That area takes its name from them, as they were called Normanni, which means ‘men of the North.' They stayed there and prospered. Hrolf's 4X great grandson, Roger Bigod, fought alongside Duke William of Normandy and helped take the English throne for him in 1066. We learned about Roger in an earlier Tale called Norman Conqueror.

This image shows Uncle Rollo (who is another grandfather of ours through a different line), as depicted on the roll of the dukes of Normandy. Rollo established the settlement of Norsemen in western France.

For a quick run-down on the Vikings from a British perspective, look here.

For serious history lovers

I have to mention Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcasts. His stories go deep. That velvet voice and turn of phrase allow your internal "eye" to really experience history. I usually listen when on a long walk or while doing gardening chores. His presentations are NOT quick 10 minute overviews LOL. His recent five hour tale "Twilight of the Aesir" fills in a lot of the Viking backstory.

Viking Legacy

The Scandinavian raiders would eventually settle in a variety of countries. France, England, Scotland, and Ireland to name a few.

Amongst the Shetland Islands in Scotland the people celebrate their Viking heritage with a festival called Up Helly Aa. It is said to be Europe’s largest fire festival. I watched the most recent one live on YouTube (January 31, 2023). In the dead of winter, 1000 torchbearers march through small towns and burn Viking ships. Followed by fireworks and revelry.

My goal in all of the Dead Family Tales is to present stories that would have been told around a kitchen table or campfire during family gatherings.

A new Dead Family Tale is posted every Monday.

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Do you have more tales of our Koprek, Haupt, Revis, or Oswald lines?

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