[Discovery of Greenland by the Norsemen.] 986. [Discovery of America (Vinland) by the Norsemen.] =995.= Conversion of Sigurd to Christianity by Olaf Tryggvason. 998. [Olaf Tryggvason, King of Norway.] =1014.= Battle of Clontarf—Death of Earl Sigurd. — Sumarlid, Einar II., Brusi, and (later) Thorfinn II., Sigurd’s sons, joint-earls. 1015. [Olaf the Saint King of Norway.] =1015.= Death of Earl Sumarlid. 1017. [Knut (Canute) King of England.] =1020.= Murder of Einar II. 1027. [Norse kingdom established in Southern Italy.] 1030. [Battle of Sticklestad—Death of St. Olaf.] =1031.= Death of Earl Brusi—Thorfinn II. sole earl. — Rognvald, Brusi’s son, claims a share of the earldom. =1045.= Battle in the Pentland Firth between Rognvald and Thorfinn. =1046.= Murder of Rognvald in Papa Stronsay. 1056. [Malcolm Canmore King of Scotland.] =1057.= Christ’s Kirk in Birsay founded. =1064.= Death of Thorfinn; his sons Paul I. and Erlend II. joint-earls. =1066.= Harald Hardradi visits Orkney. — Harold, Godwin’s son, King of England. — Battle of Stamford Bridge. — Invasion of Duke William of Normandy—Battle of Hastings. 1087. [Moorish Empire established in Spain.] 1096. [First Crusade.] =1098.= Magnus (Barefoot), King of Norway, sends the Orkney earls to Norway, and makes his son Sigurd “King” of Orkney. 1103. [Death of Magnus—Sigurd King of Norway.] =1103.= Hakon, Paul’s son, and Magnus, Erlend’s son, joint-earls. =1115.= Murder of Earl Magnus (St. Magnus) in Egilsay. =1122.= Death of Earl Hakon; his sons Harald I. and Paul II. joint-earls. =1127.= Death of Harald—Paul sole earl. =1129.= Rognvald II. (Kali) appointed joint-earl by King Sigurd. =1135.= Rognvald’s first expedition to claim the earldom. — St. Magnus Church, Egilsay, founded. =1136.= Rognvald’s second expedition—Earl Paul kidnapped by Sweyn Asleifson. =1137.= St. Magnus Cathedral founded. =1139.= Harald II. (Maddadson) joint-earl. =1151.= Crusaders winter in Orkney. =1152.= Earl Rognvald’s Crusade to Jerusalem. =1154.= Erlend III. joint-earl. =1156.= Death of Erlend III. =1158.= Earl Rognvald killed. =1171.= Sweyn Asleifson’s last cruise and death at Dublin. 1171. [English invasion of Ireland.] =1175.= Abbot Laurentius transferred from Orkney (Eynhallow) to Melrose. 1194. [Battle of Floravoe, near Bergen; defeat of the “Island-beardies.”] =1196.= Shetland separated from the Orkney earldom. =1197.= Harald III. (the Young), grandson of Rognvald, joint-earl.