The Orkneyinga saga played a significant role in preserving history, particularly the history of the Orkney and Shetland islands and their relationship with other local polities, especially Norway. It serves as both a historical chronicle and a literary fantasy, providing a rich narrative of the history of the Orkneymen, Earls, and Odallers of Norwegian extraction who established an Earldom of Norway in the Northern Scottish islands. The saga is a valuable source of information about the Viking era, Norse culture, and the political and social dynamics of the time. It includes tales of Viking warriors, such as Sigurd the Powerful and St Magnus the Martyr, and their exploits, which have been instrumental in fostering a sense of community among the islanders and preserving knowledge about their past. Written in the 13th century by an Icelandic monk, the Orkneyinga saga is a key historical document that has helped to represent the impact of the spread of culture between peoples and has been crucial in understanding the history and heritage of the Northern Isles.