In the previous lesson, we briefly explored the history of Scotland leading up to Viking involvement, which included a small introduction to the Picts and the Dál Riata, the Irishmen who settled parts of Scotland as early as 500 CE. Now we will enter into the realm of Viking involvement, with particular emphasis on the relatively powerful Viking ‘kingdom’ of Orkney, a set of islands just north of the mainland.
CONTENTS:
I. The Arrival
II. The Hebrides and Shetland
III. The Earldom of Orkney
I. THE ARRIVAL:
The historical record regarding that arrival of the Vikings in Scotland began in the year 795 CE, when the monastery of St. Columba on Iona was attacked.1
An image of St. Columba’s Abbey today:
Raids occurred primarily on the west coast for the next 50 years, but, by the mid-ninth century, the focus soon turned towards permanent settlement. The areas circled in green in the map above represent these Viking settlements between the ninth and tenth centuries. Unfortunately, little details are known in regards to the process of settlement, but they likely began in a similar was as Dublin, which was as a raiding camp of sorts.
There were three major areas of Viking settlement in Scotland, one of which will be covered more extensively than the other two:
- Orkney
- The Hebrides
- Shetland
In regards to the settlements in Orkney and Shetland, the native Celtic population was almost completely overtaken by an overwhelming Norse presence. Now, before making any hasty conclusions, the size of the pre-existing Celtic population would have to be considered, at least to truly understand the nature of this influx. As for the Hebrides, however, the situation as similar to that seen in Dublin, where the native Celtic population was soon “intermarrying with the Norse to produce a hybrid people known to the Irish as the ‘Gall-Gaedhil’ (‘foreigner Gael’), from which Galloway gets its name.” This actually did have an impact on the settlement, resulting in many of the Norse settlers to adopt Christianity before 900 CE, much earlier than their homeland.2
II. THE HEBRIDES AND SHETLAND:
Since most of this lesson will focus on the settlement of Orkney, a moment should be taken to give some attention to the other two most prominent areas of settlement.
THE HEBRIDES:
Before the earldom of Orkney claimed sovereignty over the Vikings living in the Hebrides, a man named Ketil Flat-nose ruled there between 840 and 880.3 Some of his story is told in The Saga of the People of Laxardal:
“Ketil Flat-nose made land in Scotland, where he was well received by the men of high rank, being both renowned and of a prominent family. They offered him to settle wherever he wished. Ketil and the rest of his kinsfolk made their homes there, with the exception of Thorstein, his grandson.”4
More is talk in The Saga of the People of Eyri:
“He took over the Hebrides and became the leader there, making settlements with the most powerful leaders in the Western Isles and forming strong alliances with them.”5
Shortly thereafter, King Harald Fair-hair confiscated Ketil’s possessions (giving them to Orkney instead), because it was meant to be an extension of the Norwegian kingdom, but instead became more of Ketil’s own kingdom.6
SHETLAND:
There is a famous site in Shetland called Jarlshof, although it is not only known for the presence of Vikings. It actually has remains of late Neolithic and Bronze Age houses.7 The Norse settlement likely came in the ninth century, and consisted of a longhouse, which was in use for several generations, and later expanded with the addition of more longhouses, barns, and byres.8
There is also a famous modern-day tradition that take place in Shetland, called Up Helly Aa, which speaks back to the Norse heritage that the people of Shetland still embrace. Here is a video on this festival: https://safe.txmblr.com/svc/embed/inline/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fi4M7e_pG2a0#embed-6705cad098f6d628129503-partied
III. THE EARLDOM OF ORKNEY:
Orkney was undoubtable the most powerful Viking settlement in Scotland, having expanded multiple times throughout the Viking Age, as indicated by the pink, orange, and yellow areas on the map shown at the beginning of this lesson. In fact, this settlement even has a saga dedicated to it, called Orkneyinga saga, which as written around the year 1200 in Iceland.9 The historical value, however, is limited because the text is clearly geared towards propaganda, leaving more to be desired in regards to the establishment of the earldom. Nonetheless, here is an except of how it may have happened:
“One summer, Harald Finehair sailed west on a punitive expedition against some Vikings, for he was growing tired of the lawless behavior of these men who were raiding in Norway over the summer and spending the winters in the Orkneys and Shetlands. Harald brought the Shetlands, Orkneys, and Hebrides under his control, and then he sailed west as far as the Isle of Man where he laid waist the settlements. He fought many battles there and took possession of lands further than any Norwegian king has done since. In one of these battles, Earl Rognvald’s son Ivar was killed. So when King Harald sailed east again, he gave Earl Rognvald the Orkneys and Shetlans as compensation for the loss of his son. Rognvald gave both territories to his brother, Sigurd, who was the forecastle-man on King Harald’s ship. And when the king left for Norway, he gave Sigurd the title of earl, and Sigurd stayed in the west.”10
The most prominent man to discuss in regards to the Orkneys, then, is Earl Sigurd. He was the first earl of Orkney, as told above, and a bit his character and some of his actions are recounted in Njal’s Saga (the following text is the entire eighty-fifth chapter):
“Sigurd was the name of the earl who ruled over Orkney. He was the son of Hlodver, the son of Thorfinn Skull-splitter, the son of Turf-Einar, the son of Earl Rognvald of More, the son of Eystein Glumra.
Kari was one of Earl Sigurd’s followers and had been collecting tribute for him from Earl Gilli of the Hebrides. Kari asked Grim and Helgi (Icelanders raiding and serving abroad) to go along to the mainland and said that Earl Sigurd would give them a warm welcome. They agreed to this and went with Kari and came to Mainland. Kari brought them to meet the earl and told him who these men were.
‘How did they happen to meet you?’ said the earl.
Kari answered, ‘I found them in the Scottish firths, fighting with the sons of Moldan. They were putting up a good defense; they moved swiftly from one spot on the ship to another, and were always there where the need was greatest. I wish now to ask a place for them among your followers.’
‘You shall have your way,’ said the earl; ‘You’ve already done so much for them.’
They stayed with the earl that winter and were well treated.
Helgi became silent as the winter passed. The earl had no idea what caused this and asked him why he was silent and whether he was not happy there.
‘I’m quite happy here,’ said Helgi.
‘Then what’s on your mind?’ said the earl.
‘Do you have any land to protect in Scotland?’ said Helgi.
‘So we think,’ said the earl, ‘but what about it?’
Helgi answered, ‘The Scots have taken the life of your man in charge there and blocked any messages from crossing Peatland Firth.
The earl spoke: ‘Do you have second sight?’
Helgi answered, ‘There’s been little proof of that.’
‘I shall add greatly to your honor,’ said the earl, ‘if this proves to be true. Otherwise you will pay.’
‘He’s not that sort of man,’ said Kari. ‘His words will come true, for his father has second sight.’
The earl then sent men south to Stroma to Arnljot, his man in charge there. then Arnljot sent men south across the Peatland Firth, and they found out that Earl Hundi and Earl Melsnati had taken he life of Havard, Earl Sigurd’s brother-in-law, at Freswick. Arnljot sent word to Earl Sigurd to come south with a large band of men and drive these earls from the land. When the earl heard this, he gathered an army from all the islands.”11
CONCLUSION:
In Scotland, there was without a doubt great destruction and turmoil caused by the Vikings. Yet, there were also powerful settlements that arose from their destructive wave, that, although subjugating local populations, attests to the ambition and power these Norsemen exercised. Although their ruthlessness cannot be fully excused, their actions were calculated and not for the purpose of mindless chaos. The story of the Vikings in Scotland have revealed great and powerful men, such as Ketil Flat-nose of the Hebrides and Earl Sigurd of Orkney. The impression that the Viking made on Scotland still live on today, both in their flags and even their festivals, such as that of Up Helly Aa.
Footnotes
- John Haywood, The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings. (London, Penguin Books, 1995), 77. ↩︎
- Ibid., 76. For clarity, everything in section 1 was derived from this source. The original version of this lesson, still located on Tumblr, contained several citations repeating “ibid” a dreadful amount of times, so I made it more concise here. ↩︎
- Ibid. (Of course.) ↩︎
- Keneva Kunz trans., The Saga of the People of Laxardal, in The Complete Sagas of Icelanders: Including 49 Tales, Vol. V, edited by Viðar Hreinsson, Robert Cook, Terry Gunnell, Keneva Kunz, and Bernard Scudder, (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiríksson Publishing, 1997), 3. (Chapter 4) ↩︎
- Judy Quinn and Kristin Hafsteinsdóttir trans., The Saga of the People of Eyri, in The Complete Sagas of Icelanders: Including 49 Tales, Vol. V, edited by Viðar Hreinsson, Robert Cook, Terry Gunnell, Keneva Kunz, and Bernard Scudder, (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiríksson Publishing, 1997), 132. (Chapter 1) ↩︎
- Ibid. ↩︎
- Jarlshof | Shetland Heritage. ↩︎
- Ibid. ↩︎
- Angus A. Somerville and R. Andrew McDonald ed., The Viking Age: A Reader, 2nd ed. (University of Toronto Press, 2014), 249. (Passage from Orkneyinga saga) ↩︎
- Ibid. ↩︎
- Robert Cook trans., Njal’s Saga, in The Complete Sagas of Icelanders: Including 49 Tales, Vol. III, edited by Viðar Hreinsson, Robert Cook, Terry Gunnell, Keneva Kunz, and Bernard Scudder, (Reykjavík: Leifur Eiríksson Publishing, 1997), 97-8. (Chapter 85) ↩︎
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