Rognvald was taken by his father to
Norway, to the court of
Olaf Haraldsson, when Brusi and Thorfinn went there to have the inheritance of
Einar Wry-mouth's third-share of the Earldom settled. Olaf kept Einar's share for himself, appointing Brusi to administer it, and kept Rognvald at his court. The
Orkneyinga Saga says of Rognvald:Rognvald was one of the handsomest of men, with a fine head of golden hair, smooth as silk. At an early age he grew to be tall and strong, earning a great reputation for his shrewdness and courtesy ... Rognvald was a supporter of Olaf Haraldsson, later Saint Olaf, sharing his exile in
Kievan Rus, and helping his brother
Harald Sigurdsson, better known as Harald Hardraade, escape after the
Battle of Stiklestad in 1030. While Harald went on to
Constantinople, Rognvald and other exiles remained in Rus, in the service of
Yaroslav the Wise. Rognvald returned to Norway with Olaf's son
Magnus the Good in 1035. While Rognvald was abroad, his father had died and
Thorfinn Sigurdsson was ruling all of the Earldom of Orkney. Rognvald asked King Magnus for his third part of the Earldom, and Magnus agreed, giving him three ships and granting him the stewardship of Magnus's own third share. When Rognvald arrived in Orkney, he sent to his uncle Thorfinn asking him for the two thirds of the Earldom which Magnus had given him. Thorfinn agreed to give Rognvald his father's third, and the third which Magnus claimed into the bargain, although he claimed not to recognise Magnus's claim and presented this as a gift in return for Rognvald's assistance. Thorfinn and Rognvald worked closely together for eight years, fighting against enemies in the
Hebrides and raiding
Scotland and
England. However, the earls eventually fell out. The proximate cause of their quarrel, according to the saga, was the arrival of
Kalf Arnesson, the uncle of Thorfinn's wife
Ingibiorg Finnsdottir.Kalf had a large following which placed a heavy burden on the Earl's finances. Plenty of people told him that he shouldn't let Rognvald have two-thirds of the islands, considering his heavy outlay. Rognvald and Kalf Arnesson were not friends. The
Orkneyinga Saga reports that Rognvald, a staunch supporter of Saint Olaf, came close to attacking Kalf in Rus, who alone among the Arnessons had betrayed Olaf, when he came to pledge his support to Magnus. For that reason, if for no other, Rognvald refused to hand over the third which Thorfinn asked for. From then onwards, relations deteriorated. Rognvald was defeated in a sea-battle and sought refuge in Norway with Magnus while Thorfinn took control of the earldom. With a single ship, and a crew of picked men, Rognvald returned to Orkney hoping that surprise would enable him to retake the earldom. He succeeded, but not entirely as Thorfinn was able to flee to
Caithness. However, soon afterwards, Rognvald was surprised in his turn, but was killed by Thorkell the Fosterer while escaping, given away by the barking of his
lap dog. Rognvald was buried on
Papa Westray. The
Orkneyinga Saga offers this assessment of Rognvald: 'Everyone agrees that of all the Earls of Orkney he was the most popular and gifted, and his death was mourned by many." ==Insular geography==