Vikings / Famous Vikings / Sigurd the Stout

Sigurd the Stout

Earl of Orkney

HistoricalRaiders and warlordsNorwegians
In Old Norse
Sigurðr digri Hlǫðvisson
Lived
c. 960 – 1014
Role
Earl of Orkney

Sigurd Hlodvirsson ruled the earldom of Orkney from about 991 and extended its power over Shetland, Caithness, Sutherland and the Hebrides. Orkneyinga saga says Olaf Tryggvason forced him to accept baptism in 995 on pain of death, and that he married a daughter of Malcolm II of Scotland. He carried a raven banner, woven by his mother, said to bring victory to the army but death to its bearer. He was killed at Clontarf in 1014 fighting alongside the Dublin Norse against Brian Boru.

Known for

  • Earl of Orkney, c. 991–1014
  • Forcibly baptised by Olaf Tryggvason, according to the saga
  • Killed at Clontarf under the raven banner

In the story

Reign · Orkney Earl of Orkney c. 991 – 1014 Related realm Orkney Earls of Orkney: the full list of rulers

Places

123
  1. 1Brough of Birsay, Orkney
  2. 2Osmundwall (Kirk Hope), Hoy, Orkney
  3. 3Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
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On the timeline

Events that name Sigurd the Stout

2 events. Each opens in the timeline.

Sources

Wikipedia — Sigurd the Stout Wikipedia — Orkneyinga saga Wikipedia — Battle of Clontarf Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Sigurd the Stout

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