Saint Rögnvald Kali Kolsson

Rögnvald Kali Kolsson (Old Norse: Rǫgnvaldr / Rögnvaldr; Nynorsk: Ragnvald Kale Kolsson), also known as Saint Ronald of Orkney (c. 1100 – 1158), was a Norwegian earl of Orkney who came to be regarded as a Christian saint. Two of the Orkney Islands are named after Rögnvald, namely North Ronaldsay and South Ronaldsay. Rögnvald's parents were lendmann Kolr Kalisson and Gunnhildr Erlendsdottir, the sister of Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney. It was through his mother, Gunnhildr, that Rögnvald had a claim on the Orkney earldom. Rögnvald Kali Kolsson may have been born in Jæren, Norway., but this seems unlikely, since his family resided in Agder and Jæren is in Rogaland. Some researchers think he may have been born in Fjære, a part of Grimstad. The king's estate at Lista is also believed to be the possible location of both his birthplace and his childhood home. Rögnvald's family owned several farms in Agder where the boy could have spent his childhood. King Sigurd I of Norway appointed him Earl of Orkney and Shetland in 1129. When he became Earl, Kali was given the name Rögnvald, after Earl Rögnvald Brusason, whom Rögnvald's mother Gunnhild thought of as the ablest of all the Earls of Orkney. It was thought this name would bring Rögnvald luck. Rognvald should have had one half of Orkney as his uncle Magnus Erlendsson had, but his second cousin Paul Haakonsson had just made himself sole ruler of the islands and would not cede any of them. Rögnvald remained in Norway as one of the leading men of King Harald Gille. Rögnvald was hailed as jarl in 1136. In 1137, Rögnvald initiated the building of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney. Rögnvald also served as a guardian to Harald Maddadsson, the five-year-old nephew of Paul Haakonsson. In 1138 Rögnvald appointed Harald Maddadsson as Earl along with him. Harald had inherited Caithness, Scotland, and thus was Rögnvald master over this area. In 1151, Earl Rögnvald set out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.