Ljótólfr
According to research fellow Ian Beuermann, the saga is useful not for the specific events it describes, but rather for what it reveals about "the ideas shaping the texts during the periods of composition or revision".[13] Historian Magnús Stefánsson described the political situation of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man during the 11th and early 12th century as being unstable, and suffering from the rivalries of petty kings and chieftains.[16] With Magnús' death, the Outer Hebrides were brought back under the control of the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles,[17] whose kings tactfully recognised Norwegian sovereignty.[18] One of the most prominent characters of the Orkneyinga saga is the Viking chieftain Sveinn Ásleifarson, who lived on the island of Gairsay, in Orkney.[20][note 3] Óláfr was later burned to death inside his own house by Ölvir,[22] the grandson of Frakökk, an ambitious woman, portrayed as a villain in the saga.The bishop protected Sveinn by sending him away to the Suðreyjar, into the care of Holdboði Hundason, a chieftain on the Inner Hebridean island of Tiree.[24] Later, in early spring,[note 4] the saga relates how Sveinn travelled to Atholl, where he stayed for a long period of time.[26][note 5] Further on in the saga, it is stated that Sveinn's brother, Gunni Óláfsson, had children with Margrét Hákonardóttir, mother of Haraldr Maddaðarson, Earl of Orkney, Mormaer of Caithness.[38][note 8] This name is derived from the Old West Norse word ljótr, meaning "foul", "ugly", "misshapen" or alternatively “shining”, “bright”.
Orkneyinga sagaflourishedearls of OrkneynoblemanOuter HebrideanIsle of LewisHebridesKingdom of Mann and the IslesVikingSveinn ÁsleifarsonbanishedOrkneyClan MacLeodeponymousIcelanderoral traditionresearch fellowÞormóður TorfasonÞórfinnr SigurðarsonCaithnessSutherlandpetty kingsGofraidh CrobhánMagnús Óláfssonhis sonNorwegian kingSomhairle mac Gille BrighdeGofraidh mac AmhlaibhIsle of Manthe throneGairsayPáll HákonssonEarl of OrkneyÖlvir RóstaRögnvaldr KolssonEarldom of OrkneyBishop of OrkneyInner HebrideanAthollThursoIrish SeaHaraldr MaddaðarsonMormaer of CaithnessGaelicF. W. L. ThomasantiquarianMacLeodOld NorseOld West NorseGermanicdistaffÞórketillScottish GaelicTormodSìol ThorcaillTorcallLate Middle Ageskings' sagaHákonar saga HákonarsonarÞórketill ÞórmóðssonIsle of SkyeÞórmóðr ÞórkelssonHistory of the Outer Hebridesrunic inscriptionpre-Conquest EnglandbynameAlan Orr AndersonChronicle of MansherifflinguistJohn Joseph KneenManx GaelicVigfussonIcelandicfootnoteAnglicisedCANMOREOlney, MarylandEdinburghSellar, W. David H.Ancestry.comOxford University PressAnderson, Alan OrrHanks, PatrickOxfordLondonPenguin GroupHudson, Benjamin T.Kneen, John JosephFoote, PeterGraham-Campbell, JamesViking Society for Northern ResearchUniversity College LondonPaisleyPálsson, HermannPenguin ClassicsHelle, KnutCambridge University PressTorfæus, ThormodusThomas, F.W.L.Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of ScotlandVigfusson, GudbrandLeidenWoolf, AlexBirlinnClan MacLeod of Harris and DunveganClan MacLeod of LewisMacLeod of Harris and Dunvegan(MacLeod of MacLeod)MalcolmIain CiarWilliam CleireachIain BorbWilliam DubhAlasdair CrotachSir Rory MorNormanJohn NormanNorman MagnusSir ReginaldDame FloraHugh MagnusTorquilRoderickDunvegan CastleDunscaith CastleChurch of St Clement