Sweyn Rolfi (Olafson) Asleifsson (abt. 1115 - 1171)

Born about 1115 in Caithness, Scotland

Descendants

Died 1171 at about age 56 in Dublin, Ireland

Biography

Svein Olafson, or Sweyn Asleifsson, the son of Olaf Hrolfsson and Asleif Gairsay began using his mother's name following the death of his father Olaf, who died in a hall burning at Dungalsbae (Duncansbay), Caithness. ^[1] In the Orkneyinga Saga, he may be found as Sweyn (Sveinn) Olafsson. ^[2]

Svein Asleifarson was from one of the wealthy families. His father, Olaf Hrolfsson had a farm in Gairsay, a small island between Mainland and Rousay in Orkney. Olaf also had lands at Duncansby in Caithness. ^[3]

Sweyn Asleifsson was referred to as " The Ultimate Viking " by the Orcadian writer Eric Linklater.

He was a charismatic warrior with a streak of ruthlessness and was heavily involved in the power politics of the Earldom of Orkney. He was at first sworn to Earl Paul, later switching his allegiance to Earl Pauls’s cousin and rival, Earl Reginald (Kali Kolson).

Around 1135, during a feast in the company of the Earl, Sweyn was most unhappy that his ale allocation was not what it should be and the Cup Bearer was murdered by Sweyn. He did not really have the Festive Spirit at the time. The Bishop present just said it was a good riddance as the man was irritating!

The Orkneyinga Saga refers to Sweyn's year. Crops sown in spring then some raiding followed by the harvest. Then some more raiding.

In winter, it was feasting drinking. Sweyn's guests would have been wise to avoid potentially lethal arguments.

He was such a charismatic man, he seemed to walk into the Scottish Kings presence at any time and be accepted as a friend.

On his last raid in 1171, he was killed in Dublin. He went raiding with seven large long-ships, accompanied by Hákon, the son of Earl Harald. They went first to the Hebrides, then on to Ireland, marauding their way down the coast. Arriving at Dýflin (Dublin), they took the inhabitants by surprise 'so that they did not know till they were in the town' and Dublin surrendered to Swein; who returned with his men to their ships for the night. During the night, the townspeople developed a plan to avoid passing over hostages, paying off the men from Orkney and surrendering the town. The Dubliners dug large pits inside of the city gates and in the paths between the houses where Swein's men could be expected to pass when they returned in the morning. Armed men were hidden in the houses and the pits were covered with straw to trap the Orkney men. In the morning, the men of Dublin stood behind the pits, as if to receive Swein and his men, who, not suspecting a trap, fell into the pits as they approached. The Dubliners attacked Swein and his men as they were trapped. It has been remembered that Swein was the last man to fall, those who survived returned to Orkney, where Sweins sons, Olaf and Andrés divided Swein's property and built a large drinking-hall on the old farm on Gairsay. ^[4]

Swein's last raid may have been the raid translated In the Annals of Ulster as "Ath-cliath (Dublin) was destroyed by Diarmait Mac Murchadha and by the transmarine men (Gallowglass, Norse–Gaelic mercenaries) he brought with him from the east to destroy Ireland, in revenge for his expulsion over sea out of his own land and of the killing of his son. Howbeit, they inflicted slaughter upon the Foreigners (Vikings) of Ath-cliath (Dublin) and Port-lairgi (Waterford) and, on the other hand, many slaughters were inflicted upon themselves. Moreover, Leinster and the country of Meath, both churches and territories, were destroyed by them and they took Ath-cliath and Port-lairgi. ^[5]

sons - ^[6]

Olaf - by his first wife, Ragnhild,

Andreas by his second wife, Ingirid, who married Frída, the daughter of Kolbein Hruga, and sister to Bishop Bjarni. ^[7]

Somewhere about 1158, Svein Asleifson adopted Haakon, the second son of Earl Harald Maddadson, and took him on Viking expeditions. ^{[8] [9]}

Notes

His second name was also known as ASLEIFARSON.

In the Orkneyinga Saga, Sweyn (Sveinn) had the second name of Olafsson but it was eventually changed to Asleifsson or Asleifarson.

A tale of Swain at his father's place at Dungalsbae, Caithness, features in "A Complete Novelette" by Arthur D. Howden published online by Wikisource - Swain's Stone

It is interesting that he has been attributed the same year of death as Diarmait Mac Murchadha

This family line is important in the history of Caithness and Sutherland. quoting The Project Gutenberg eBook of Sutherland and Caithness in Saga-time, or, The Jarls and the Freskyns; by James Gray (1922), page number: 57 - Paul Thorfinnson had four daughters, of whom the third was Herbjorg / who had a daughter Sigrid / who in turn had a daughter Herbjorg / who married Kolbeinn hrúga. One of their sons was Bishop Bjarni and their youngest child was a daughter Frida / who married Andres / Sweyn Asleifarson's son / and their son was Gunni, spouse of / Ragnhild (Jarl Harald Ungi's sister) and parents of Snaekoll Gunnison.

Sources

1. ↑ The Isle of Man under the Norse by George Vaughan Chichester (Barney) Young O.B.E. pub: in "The Family History of the Kings, Prince’s and Noblemen, descendant from the Early Viking Rulers and Kings around the Irish Sea" - The Turbulent career of Svein Olafson - p: 240 in a pdf draft (2013) by George Vaughan Chichester (Barney) Young O.B.E. and Johanna Wilhelmina (Hanneke) Young-Tammel,
2. ↑ profile by Michael Thomas
3. ↑ Fiona Grahame writing in The Orkney News] September 13, 2021
4. ↑ Orkneyinga saga chapter CXll page 192 - Swein, Asleif's son's Fall
5. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster U1170.5
6. ↑ page 260 The Isle of Man under the Norse by George Vaughan Chichester (Barney) Young
7. ↑ Orkneyinga saga chapter CXll page 192 - Swein, Asleif's son's Fall
8. ↑ pdf - The Isle of Man under the Norse by George Vaughan Chichester (Barney) Young O.B.E. Page: 259
9. ↑ Orkneyinga saga chapter: ClX p:189 - of Harald and Swein

• A Tale of Two Sveins was re-told in TheOrkneyNews on September 13, 2021 by Fiona Grahame, Images by Martin Laird
• gutenberg.org (English translation) Orkneyinga saga
• Wikipedia - Orkneyinga Saga
• Wikipedia - Sweyn_Asleifsson

• Ancestry.com, Public Member Trees (Name: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;;), www.ancestry.com, Database online.. Record for Andres Andreas Sweinsson.