Clan Sinclair Part I

The St. Clair/Sinclair were Vikings. They were decendants of Earl Rognavald of Norway.  Earl Rognavald fought alongside king Haarald Fine-Hair of Norway, For the Earls service King Haarald Fine-Hair awarded the Earl the Earldom of North More, South More and Romesdale all of which are in the vicinity of Modern Trondheim, Norway.

Earl Rognavald's son Ivor was in the service of King Haarald Fine-Hair in the conquest of the Shetlands, Orkney and Herbicide Islands. Ivor was killed while invading the Isle of man.

For Ivor's services the King awarded his father Earl Rognalvd the Earldom of the Shetlands and Orkney.

The Earl passed his rule to his brother Sigard.  Sigard and Thorstein the Red and Aud the deep minded conquered all of Cathiness, Moray Ross and a large part of Argyle in scotland.

After Sigard death his son ruled for one year and died childless.

Earl Rognvald younger son Einer became the Earl of Orkney and ruled it well.  He became known to history as Turf Eisner for discovering that turf or peat was able to be used as a fuel.  It was able to be burnt instead of wood.

Earl Rongvald son Hroff, went to France in search of new Lands. He went up the Sein River and settled in the Sein Valley.  After much conflict King Charles the Simple made his peace with him, in the hope that it would prevent future raids by the Vikings.

The treaty of 912AD, awarded Hroff the dukedom of the territories now called Normandy.  The treaty was signed in the Castle Saint Clair-Sur-Epte. 

Hroff change his name to the Latin name Rollo.  Duke Rollo was then baptised in the waters of the Spring Saint Clair.  Saint Clair was martyered at the spring in 884AD.

The Duke and his entire entourage were at that point all converted to Christenanity. The Duke then was married to the kings daughter Princess Gidele, and the lands of Normandy were then his.

The use of the Family name of Saint Clair can be traced to Richard II the fourth Duke of Normandy.  In this time it was common to name the Lord after the name of the land he owned.

Duke Rollo was childless with Princess Gidle and he remarried to the daughter of the Count of Bayeaux, Poppe. They had a son known to history as William Longsword. William was succeeded by his son, Richard I.