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Sub-Project of MEDIEVAL SCOTLAND MEDIEVAL ORKNEY The foundation of the medieval Orkney state, allegedly in the late 9th century by Norse settlers who were granted the title “jarl” by the Norwegian kings, and the succession of Norwegian leaders in the islands until the mid-12th century is described in Orkneyinga Saga[781]. This work was probably written not long after 1200 and predates Snorr...
The Earl of Orkney was originally a Norse jarl ruling Orkney, Shetland and parts of Caithness and Sutherland. The Earls were periodically subject to the kings of Norway for the Northern Isles, and later also to the kings of Alba for those parts of their territory in mainland Scotland (i.e. Caithness and Sutherland). The Earl's status as a Norwegian vassal was formalised in 1195. In 1232 a Scott...