His name was Einar, but was known as Torf-Einer because he introduced "turf" (peat) as a fuel to the islanders. After his brother, Hallad, failed to control the Danish pirates, he asked his father to let him try. He not only freed the Orkneys from Danish pirates but also fought Halfdan Haaleg (a son of Harald Hårfagre who had killed Einar's father, Ragnvald). Halfdan had invaded the Orkneys but Einar prevailed. In an old viking rite, he carved an eagle on the back of Haldan and sacrificed him to Odin. Harald Hårfagre, came and demanded compensation for Halfdan's death but allowed him to remain ruler of the Orkneys. Although Einar is described as ugly, he is remembered as a strong ruler.
Rognvald was the jarl (like present day prime minister) for King Harald Hårfagre. Many stories about him and his work with Harald in the Heimskringla. During the wars in which Harald Hårfagre established a united Norway, many Norse fled Norway and settled in the Shetlands and Orkneys (called the Nordreys by the Norse. Hebrides and Man were called the Sudreys). They used these islands as a base to attack Norway. Traditions say that Harald sent Ragnvald to the Nordreys to bring them under his authority to stop the raids. While there a son of Ragnvald's was killed and Harald gave the islands to Ragnvald in recompense. Ragnvald prefered to live in Norway and so gave the islands to his brother Sigurd. Ragnvald was killed by two of Harald's sons. Ragnvald's wife, Hild was a daughter of Rolf (Hrolf) "Nefja".
Ragnvald Eysteinsson ble født omkring 855. Han eide øya Godøy i Sunnmør og var en etablert jarl før han sluttet seg til kong Harald Hårfagre. For sin støtte til Harald i dennes anstrengelser med å samle de norske provinsene til en nasjon, fikk Ragnvald tildelt seg området Nord Møre og Romsdal. Ragnvald og Harald ble nære venner, men enden på det ble mere dramatisk enn Harald egentlig ønsket da Ragnvalds eldste sønn, Rolf (Rollo av Normandie) ble lyst fredløs. Ragnvald ble stamfar til Orkneyjarlene og de senere Normanniske kongene i England. Ragnvald og Hild Rolfsdtr. hadde foruten Rolf også sønnene Ivar og Tore. Ivar ble drept i Harald Hårfagres felttog mot vikingeangripere på Orkneyene og øyene i vest. Som erstatning for dette tapet ble Ragnvald gitt jarledømmet på Orkneyene, som han sener overførte til sin bror Sigurd. Ragnvald hadde også tre eldre sønner, antagelig med en tidligere hustru eller konkubine som man antar het Tordis.
Ca 858 - 920 (62 år)