Ragnhild "The Wicked" Eiríksdóttir

Ragnhild Eiriksdotter (2) (Ragnhildur Eiríksdóttir)

(In English: Ragnhild daughter of Eirik)

B.Brox: DONT MIX WITH HER GRANDMOTHER!

Ragnhild Erikdotter was the daughter of Eric Bloodaxe and his wife, Gunnhild

Ragnhild Eriksdotter (– c. 984) was the daughter of Eric Bloodaxe and his wife, Gunnhild. According to the Orkneyinga Saga, she was an ambitious and scheming woman who sought power through the men of the family of Thorfinn Torf-Einarsson, who was Earl of Orkney. The period after Thorfinn's death was one of dynastic strife.

Thorfinn had five sons: (Arnfinn, Havard, Hlodvir, Ljot, Skuli) and at least two daughters, each of whom had a son called Einar. In Orkneyinga Saga it is stated that Ragnhild Eriksdotter first married Arnfinn Thorfinnsson, eldest son of Thorfinn. Her husband was subsequently murdered at Murkle in Caithness sometime around 979.

Her next husband was Arnfinn's brother, Havard Thorfinnsson who may have been involved in his brother's murder. Havard became Earl of Orkney and promptly married his brother's widow. Next Ragnhild convinced Thorfinn grandson, Einar Klining, to kill Havard for which she would marry him and make him Earl. Havard was killed at Stenness on Orkney, though the date is uncertain. Before Einar Klining could marry her, Ragnhild had promised Einar Hardkiopt, another grandson of Thorfinn, the same thing, if he would kill Einar Klining. This he did, but then Ragnhild took Havard's younger brother Liot Thorfinnsson as her husband. After Liot went on to defend Orkney and claim the Earldom, he died of his wounds from the battle of Skidmoor in Caithness. No more is heard of Ragnhild after that event. Hlodvir Thorfinnsson then became Earl of Orkney. In time, he was succeeded by his son, Sigurd the Stout. Source: Wikipedia by Janet Milburn 10/17/18

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnhild_Eiriksdotter

http://lind.no/nor/index.asp?lang=gb&emne=nor&person=Ragnhild%20Eir...

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORWAY.htm#RagnhildEriksddied928

NB: Må ikke forveksles med sin bestemor, en av Harald Hårfagres hustruer: Ragnhild «Den mektige» Eiriksdatter.

RAGNHILD Eriksdatter ). Snorre names (in order) "Gamle the oldest, then Guthorm, Harald, Ragnfrod, Ragnhild, Erling, Gudrod and Sigurd Sleva" as the children of King Eirik & his wife[156].

Orkneyinga Saga records that Gunnhild, widow of ex-King Eirik of Norway, arranged the marriage of their daughter Ragnhild to “Earl Thorfinn Skull-Splitter” before she and her sons left Orkney[157], which can probably be dated to [955] or soon after.

Snorre records the marriage of "King Eirik's daughter, Ragnhild" and "Arnfin, a son of Thorfin Hausakljufer" at the time the king's sons left Orkney[158].

Orkneyinga Saga records that “Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter plotted the death of her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness” before marrying “his brother Havard the Fecund who succeeded to the earldom”, but that she plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread, but that she finally married “Ljot the brother of Arnfinn and Havard”[159].

m firstly ([954/55]%29 ARNFINN Torfinnsson, son of THORFINN I "Hausakliffer/Skullcleaver" Jarl of Orkney & his wife Grelad of Caithness (-murdered). He succeeded his father in [976] as Jarl of Orkney [and Caithness]. He was murdered on the orders of his wife.

m secondly HAVARD Torfinnsson "Season-prosperous" Jarl of Orkney, son of THORFINN I "Hausakliffer/Skullcleaver" Jarl of Orkney & his wife Grelad of Caithness (-murdered, bur Stennis, Hrossey). He was murdered on the orders of his wife.

m thirdly LJOT Torfinnsson Jarl of Orkney, son of THORFINN I "Hausakliffer/Skullcleaver" Jarl of Orkney & his wife Grelad of Caithness (-killed in battle).

___________

  EINAR m ---.  The name of Einar´s wife is not known.  

Einar [& his wife] had [three] children:  

1.           ARNKEL (-killed Stainmore, Westmoreland 954).  
2.           ERLEND (-killed Stainmore, Westmoreland 954).  
3.         THORFINN "Hausakliffer/Skullcleaver" ([910/20]-[soon after 977], bur Hoxa, North Ronaldsway).
m ([941]%29  GRELAD of Caithness, daughter of   DUNGAD [Duncan] Mormaer of Caithness & his wife  Groa.  
 Thorfinn & [his wife] had [seven] children:  (Cawley's Medlands)

a)          daughter .  If the reports of the plots involving her son are correct, she was probably older than her brothers.  m ---.  One child:]  (Cawley's Medlands)

i)           EINAR "Klining/Buttered-Bread" (-murdered).  Orkneyinga Saga records that “ Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter” plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread[825].]  (Cawley's Medlands)

b)          daughter.  If the reports of the plots involving her son are correct, she was probably older than her brothers.  m ---.  One child:]  (Cawley's Medlands)

i)            EINAR "Hardchaft/Hard-Jaw" (-murdered).  Orkneyinga Saga records that “ Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter” plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew… Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread, but that she finally married “ Ljot the brother of Arnfinn and Havard” who “had Einar Hard-Mouth put to death”[826].]    (Cawley's Medlands)

c)          ARNFINN Torfinnsson (-murdered Murkle, Caithness ----).  Orkneyinga Saga names (in order) “Arnfinn…Havard the Fecund…Hlodvir…Ljot…Skuli” as the five sons of Thorfinn[827].  Snorre names "the Earls Hlodver, Arnfid, Ljot and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer" as rulers in Orkney when Queen Gunhild [mother of Ragnhild] and her sons returned to Orkney[828].  In a later saga, Snorre names (in order) "Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver, Liot and Skule" as sons of Thorfin "Hausakljufer"[829].  He succeeded his father in [976] as Jarl of Orkney [and Caithness].  Orkneyinga Saga records that “  Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter plotted the death of her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness” before marrying “his brother Havard the Fecund who succeeded to the earldom”[830].  
m ([954/55]%29 as her first husband,  RAGNHILD Eiriksdatter, daughter of ERIK I "Blodøks/Blood-axe" King of Norway & his wife Queen Gunhild  Gormsdatter.  Orkneyinga Saga records that Gunnhild, widow of ex-King Eirik of Norway, arranged the marriage of their daughter Ragnhild to “Earl Thorfinn Skull-Splitter” before she and her sons left Orkney[831], which can probably be dated to [955] or soon after.  Snorre records the marriage of "King Eirik's daughter, Ragnhild" and "Arnfin, a son of Thorfin Hausakljufer" at the time the ex-king's sons left Orkney[832].  She married secondly her brother-in-law, Havard Jarl of Orkney.  Orkneyinga Saga records that “Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter plotted the death of her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness” before marrying “his brother Havard the Fecund who succeeded to the earldom”, but that she plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread, but that she finally married “Ljot the brother of Arnfinn and Havard”[833].  She married thirdly her brother-in-law, Ljot Jarl of Orkney.]  (Cawley's Medlands)
d)          HAVARD Torfinnsson "Season-prosperous" (-murdered, bur Stennis, Hrossey).  Orkneyinga Saga names (in order) “Arnfinn…Havard the Fecund…Hlodvir…Ljot…Skuli” as the five sons of Thorfinn[834].  Snorre names "the Earls Hlodver, Arnfid, Ljot and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer" as rulers in Orkney when Queen Gunhild and her sons returned to Orkney[835].  In a later saga, Snorre names (in order) "Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver, Liot and Skule" as sons of Thorfin "Hausakljufer"[836].  He succeeded his brother as Jarl of Orkney.  Orkneyinga Saga records that Havard was killed by his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” at “Stenness on Mainland”[837].  
m as her second husband, RAGNHILD Eiriksdatter, widow of ARNFINN Torfinnsson Jarl of Orkney, daughter of ERIK I "Blodøks/Blood-axe" King of Norway & his wife Gunhild Gormsdatter.  Orkneyinga Saga records that “Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter plotted the death of her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness” before marrying “his brother Havard the Fecund who succeeded to the earldom”, but that she plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread, but that she finally married “Ljot the brother of Arnfinn and Havard”[838].  She married thirdly her brother-in-law, Ljot Jarl of Orkney.]  (Cawley's Medlands)
e)           LJOT Torfinnsson (-killed in battle).  Orkneyinga Saga names (in order) “Arnfinn…Havard the Fecund…Hlodvir…Ljot…Skuli” as the five sons of Thorfinn[839].  Snorre names "the Earls Hlodver, Arnfid, Ljot and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer" as rulers in Orkney when Queen Gunhild and her sons returned to Orkney[840].  In a later saga, Snorre names (in order) "Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver, Liot and Skule" as sons of Thorfin "Hausakljufer"[841].  He succeeded his brother as Jarl of Orkney.  Orkneyinga Saga records that, after the death of “Skuli, Ljot´s brother” whose invasion of Orkney was repelled, “Earl Ljot took over in Caithness” and defeated “Earl Macbeth [who] came north from Scotland with a large army…at Skitten in Caithness” but died from his wounds after returning to Orkney[842].  It is assumed that “Earl Macbeth” was not the future Scottish King Macbeth, who was Mormaer of Moray in the early 1030s, but an earlier earl of the same name who has not yet been identified in other primary sources.  Otherwise the chronology of Orkneyinga Saga must be even more shaky than appears, and the family relationships of the Jarls of Orkney as described therein even less likely to be correct.  
m as her third husband, RAGNHILD Eiriksdatter, widow firstly of ARNFINN Torfinnsson Jarl of Orkney and secondly of HAVARD Torfinnsson Jarl of Orkney, daughter of ERIK I "Blodøks/Blood-axe" King of Norway & his wife  Gunhild Gormsdatter.  Orkneyinga Saga records that “Ragnhild Eirik´s daughter plotted the death of her husband Arnfinn at Murkle in Caithness” before marrying “his brother Havard the Fecund who succeeded to the earldom”, but that she plotted her second husband´s death with his “nephew…Einar Buttered-Bread” (whom she promised to marry), that she then plotted with “Einar Hardmouth, the son of another of Havard´s sisters” to kill Einar Buttered-Bread, but that she finally married “Ljot the brother of Arnfinn and Havard”[843].]  (Cawley's Medlands)
f)           HLODVIR Torfinnsson ([945/50]-[988], bur Hofn, Caithness).  Orkneyinga Saga names (in order) “Arnfinn…Havard the Fecund…Hlodvir…Ljot…Skuli” as the five sons of Thorfinn[844].  Snorre names "the Earls Hlodver, Arnfid, Ljot and Skule, the sons of Thorfin Hausakljufer" as rulers in Orkney when Queen Gunhild  and her sons returned to Orkney[845].  In a later saga, Snorre names (in order) "Arnfin, Havard, Hlodver, Liot and Skule" as sons of Thorfin "Hausakljufer"[846].  Orkneyinga Saga records that “after Ljot´s death, Hlodvir took charge of the earldom”, presumably indicating Ljot´s brother but this is not explicitly stated in the text, recording that “he died in his bed” and was buried “in a burial mound at Ham in Caithness”[847]. 

m  EITHNE,

g)          SKULI Torfinnsson (-killed in battle).  

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Ragnhild ble gift tre ganger, med brødrene Håvard, Ljotn og Arnfinn Torfinnsson, sønner av Thorfinn I Rollo (Brico) "Hausakliffer" Einarsson og Grelod Duncansdatter.

Arnfinn's wife, Ragnhild Eiriksdatter, had Thorfinn I "Hausakljufer" Einarsson, Earl of Orkney killed, then married Havard. Ragnhild later convinced Havard's nephew, Einar Buttered-Bread, to kill Havard in return for her hand in marriage. This made Einar very unpopular, so Ragnhild would have nothing to do with him. She sent for another of Havard's nephews, Einar Hard-Mouth, whom she talked into killing Einar Buttered-Bread. She abandoned Einar Hard-Mouth and married Havard's brother, Ljot. Einar tried to take the islands by force, but the people preferred the sons of Thorfinn Skull-Splitter. Earl Ljot later had Einar put to death. Skuli was killed in battle trying to take Orkney from Ljot. Ljot died from a wound he got in a battle (which he won) with Earl (later King) Macbeth of Scotland, who had supported Skuli and was embarrassed by the defeat.

Blodig arv : roman av Ragnhild Magerøy

http://www.bokkilden.no/SamboWeb/produkt.do?produktId=3198194

http://lind.no/nor/index.asp?lang=gb&emne=nor&person=Ragnhild%20Eir...