The Town Hall Windows - The Oriel Window
The histories of St. Olaf, Jarl Rognvald and Queen Margaret the "Maid of Norway" :
Olaf II Haraldson, born 995, son of Harald Gudrødson Grenske, one of Harald Hårfagri's great-grandsons and Åsta Gudbrandsdottir, was king in Norway from 1015 to 1030. He was bold, eager, masterful and ambitious, and excelled in all manly accomplishments. His earnest efforts to introduce Christianity into the upland districts of his Kingdom -- efforts, however, often attended with great cruelty -- and his attempt to enforce the payment of land-tax, excited considerable hostility towards him. The Bonders and Udallers revolted against him, and he was killed by Tore Hund of Bjarkøy in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030.
Appreciations of his merits grew after his death, and did much efforts to spread Christianity in Norway.
Rognvald Brusison became Jarl of Orkney and Shetland in 1035. He was a friend of Olaf and took part in the battle of Stiklestad, and there he rescued the young Harald, Olaf's brother, who later became Harald III Hardråde. His disputes with Thorfinn Einarson, Joint Jarl of Orkney with him and Earl of Caitness, finally cost him his life.
Margaret, "The Maid of Norway", born April 9th 1283. Granddaughter of Alexander III of Scotland, daughther of King Eirik II Magnusson of Norway and Margrete Alexandersdaughther. She became Queen of Scotland March 19th, 1286, only three years old. Her grandfather died, leaving no other heir, both his sons had died childless. In 1290 she was on her way from Bergen to Scotland, accompanied by Narve, Bishop of Bergen, to be married to Edward, (later Edward II) the eldest son of the English king Edward I. Storm drifted the ship to South Ronaldsey, Orkney, and here Margaret dies on the 26th of September. Her body was returned to Norway and she was buried beside her mother, who had died giving birth to her, in the north side of the choir in Kristkirken in Bergen. With her the House of Dunkeld comes to an end as rulers of Scotland, and years of bloody fighting starts with 13 claimants to the Scottish throne.
