EFL - Enciclopedia delle Famiglie Lombarde

Halfdan II Midi Eysteinsson, “the Old”, also known as Halfdan th e Stingy, was King of Vestfold. He was born about 762. He married Hl if Dagsdottir , and their children probably included Gudrodr Veidikonu ng Halfdansson and Ivar . Halfdan II Midi Eysteinsson died about 800 . http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORWEGIAN%20NOBILITY.htm The openi ng chapters of ''Orkneyinga Saga'', probably written not long after 12 00 and predating Snorre´s ''Heimskringla'' although the precise evolu tion of each work is complicated because the later reviser of ''Orkney inga Saga'' made use of Snorre´s text [1], trace the descent of “Ea rl Rognwald the Powerful” from “the Sea-Kings” in Norway [2]. A s with all the Sagas, it is impossible to distinguish the precise poin t where folk-legend gives way to historical fact in the narrative. Thi s document sets out the descent from Halfdan the Old, but the individu als in the first few generations are shown in square brackets as no co rroboration for their historical existence, or their relationship to e ach other, has been found in any primary sources, other than Sagas, s o far consulted. The emphasis on social continuity in the narratives o f the Sagas also suggests that relationships between historical figure s could have been simplified or even fabricated in the text to give th e impression that succession remained within the same family. For exam ple, ''Orkneyinga Saga'' names “Hrolf who conquered Normandy” as s on of “Earl Rognwald” and his wife “Ragnhild the daughter of Hro lf Nose” [3]. Snorre repeats the same statement. However, the ''Hist oria Norwegie'' records that, after Orkney was conquered by "princip i Rogwaldi" and his followers, "de quorum collegio… Rodulfus" captur ed Rouen in Normandy [4], making no reference to any blood relationshi p between "Rodulfus" [Rolf/Rollo] and "principi Rogwaldi". Precise chr onology is also difficult to assess from the Sagas. In particular, a c lose analysis of the chronology of the reported events in the lives o f Ragnvald and his sons, in particular his youngest reported illegitim ate son Turf-Einar, shows considerable difficulties, as explained furt her below. The conclusion must be that the tight family network descri bed in the Sagas is unlikely to be correct and that the relationship s shown below should be treated with considerable caution. [HALFDAN