Pål (or Paul) was the elder son of Thorfin the Mighty and shared the kingdom of the Orkneys with his brother Erlend after their father's death. They ruled together quite congenially until their children became old enough to get involved in politics. It came to be that Paul's son, Haakon was eventually banished from the Orkneys (1093) and he stayed in Sweden and Norway for the next few years. It was the visits from Haakon that eventually persuaded King Magnus of Norway to install his own son, Sigurd (to become known as Sigurd Jorsalafari - the Crusader) as King of the Orkneys.
Torfinn the Black, also called Torfinn the Mighty, Earl of Orkney, Earl of Caithness. He was born about 1000 and died about 1064. He became Orkenøyjarl after older brother. He was large, strong and wise according to Snorre. He was also king in part of Scotland and Yorkshire in 1035. In Yorkshire his seat was at Wassington. Family squabbles with his half brothers marred the early part of his reign. Later his main rival was a man called Karl Hundisson the Scottish King (whom Ashley believes is the same as Duncan), Duncan/Hundisson invaded Thorfin's territory twice, loosing both times, resulting in Duncan's death which provided the opportunity for Thorfin to take over Duncan's realm. Thus he became ruler of much of northern Scotland. Later in life, Thorfin became converted to Christianity, although no records indicate his baptism. He went on a tour to Rome, visited the Pope who forgave him all his past sins. He established a church at Birsay, int he Orkneys. He was probably involved in Rollo's family's conquest of England (William of Normandy). After his death his kingdom was shared by his two sons, Erland and Paul.
Torfinn ble også kalt Torfinn Mektige. Han var født ca år 1000 og døde ca 1064. Han ble Orkenøyjarl etter eldre brødre. Han var stor, sterk og stygg og en grisk og strid mann, men svært klok ifølge Snorre. Men han betegnes også som den gjeveste jarl som hadde vært på øyene og den som hadde størst makt. Han var også konge i en del av Skottland og i Yorkshire i 1035. I Yorkshire hadde han sete i Wassington. Han var sannsynligvis engasjert i Rollo-ættlingenes erobring av England. Han hadde flere betydningsfulle sønner, bl. a. Hugh of Maine som ble stamfar til det tyske huset Oldenburg, som de nåværende norske kongelige stammer fra.
Erlend II Torfinnsson ble født , Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland; døde 1099, Nidaros, , Sør-Trøndelag, Norway; ble begravet , Nidaros, , Sør-Trøndelag, Norway.
