after harald finehair took control of all norway, many of his opponents fled, some to orkney and shetland. from the northern isles they continued to raid scotland and norway, prompting harald hårfagre to raise a large fleet which he sailed to the islands. in about 875 he and his forces took control of shetland and orkney. ragnvald, earl of møre received orkney and shetland as an earldom from the king as reparation for his son's being killed in battle in scotland. ragnvald gave the earldom to his brother sigurd the mighty.