Thorstein the Red: The Viking Who Conquered Scotland

Thorstein the Red (Old Norse Þorsteinn rauðr) was the son of Olaf the White, the Viking king of Dublin, and of Aud the Deep-Minded. He lived in the late 9th century and became a mighty war lord himself – this time not in Ireland, but in the north of Scotland.

Conqueror in northern Scotland

According to the Icelandic sources, Thorstein allied with Sigurd the Mighty, the jarl of Orkney, and conquered large parts of northern Scotland – Caithness, Sutherland and more. The Landnámabók even calls him for a time "king" over this territory. For a moment a Norse realm seemed to be forming in the Scottish north.

Betrayal and death

But the rule was fragile: Thorstein fell victim to the treachery of the Scots and was slain. His early death triggered one of the most famous migrations of the Viking Age: his mother Aud had a ship built in secret and led the family and their followers across the sea – first to Orkney and the Faroes, finally to Iceland, where she became one of the great first settlers.

"Wits must he have who wanders wide, but all is easy at home."Hávamál 5, after Henry A. Bellows 1923 (public domain)

Thorstein the Red links the Viking worlds of Dublin, Scotland and Iceland in a short, dramatic life. Continue with his mother Aud the Deep-Minded.

Read more with us

Aud the Deep-Minded · Olaf the White · Erik the Red · Leif Erikson · Ragnar's sons.

Sources & literature

Landnámabók; Laxdæla saga; Orkneyinga saga; quote public domain (Bellows 1923).

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