Ragnvald I 'the Wise' Eysteinsson Earl of Møre ¹

  General Notes:

Also known as Ragnvald "the Mighty"

Counsellor and lifelong friend of Harold Hårfagre, King of Norway.

Ragnvald was earl of Møre. His father was Øystein Glumra. He lived in Harald Hårfagre's time, and was by him enlarged with Nordmøre, Romsdal og Sundmøre in 865. Han var av sine samtidige høyt ansett for sin klokskap og ble kalt "the mighty". It was he who cut Harald's hair that wasn't cut for 10 years.

From Snorre Sturlasson: Harald Hårfagre's saga:

"10. BATTLE AT SOLSKEL

... Ragnvald Earl of Møre, a son of Eystein Glumra, had the summer before become one of Harald's men; and the king set him as chief over these two districts, North Møre and Raumsdal; strengthened him both with men of might and bondes, and gave him the help of ships to defend the coast against enemies. He was called Ragnvald the Mighty, or the Wise; and people say both names suited him well. King Harald came back to Throndhjem about winter."

"23. HARALD HAS HIS HAIR CLIPPED.

After King Harald had subdued the whole land, he was one day at a feast in Møre, given by Earl Ragnvald. Then King Harald went into a bath, and had his hair dressed. Earl Ragnvald now cut his hair, which had been uncut and uncombed for ten years; and therefore the king had been called Lufa (i.e., with rough matted hair). But then Earl Ragnvald gave him the distinguishing name -- Harald Harfager (i.e., fair hair); and all who saw him agreed that there was the greatest truth in the surname, for he had the most beautiful and abundant head of hair."

Ragnvald was burnt to death in his farmhouse along with 60 men of Halvdan Hålegg and Gudrød Ljome, two of Harald's sons, who wished to be earls over Møre. But Harald set Ragnvald's son, Tore, as earl of Møre.

He was an Earl of Møre (Earl of Romesdal) in Norway.

[source: Ketil Ken Nygaard's Genealogy, http://nygaard.howards.net/]

Ragnvald married Hild Rolfsdottir, daughter of Rolf Nefia, on an unknown date.