The The Orkneyinga Saga on Magnus

The Orkneyinga Saga > For > Iv. The Earldom In The Norse Line, 872-1231.

• attestation: King Magnus Barelegs deposed the Orkney earls Paul and Erlend, carried them to Norway, and placed his own young son Sigurd over the Orkneys.

  "King Magnus, fired with the love of conquest, did make the expedition, but he deposed Paul and Erlend, and carried them to Norway, placing his own son Sigurd, a mere child, over the Orkneys."

• attestation: King Magnus Barelegs made three expeditions to Scotland; in his second expedition of 1098 he carried off earls Paul and Erlend and made his son Sigurd Earl of Orkney.

  "In his second expedition in 1098 he carried off the Earls Paul and Erlend, and made his own son Sigurd Earl of Orkney."

• attestation: King Magnus took Magnus Erlend's son (later St. Magnus) on his second expedition to Scotland and ravaged Lewis, Skye, Uist, Tiree, and Mull but spared Iona for its sanctity.

  "King Magnus took with him from the Orkneys Magnus Erlend's son (afterwards St. Magnus), and proceeded southwards to the Hebrides, where he ravaged Lewis, Skye, Uist, Tiree, and Mull, sparing Iona on account of its sanctity."

The Orkneyinga Saga > part large and all well equipped, was divided into two squadrons, one of

• attestation: Magnus V, son of Earl John and last of the Angus line, subscribed the famous 1320 letter to the Pope asserting Scottish independence as Earl of Caithness and Orkney.

  "Earl John's successor in the earldom of Orkney and Caithness was his son Magnus, the fifth of the name, and last of the Angus line. He first appears on record in 1312 in the treaty between King Robert Bruce and Hakon Magnusson, concluded at Inverness. In 1320, as Earl of Caithness and Orkney, he subscribed the famous letter to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland."

• attestation: After Magnus V's death, his widow Katharina executed charters as Countess of Orkney and Caithness in 1329, purchasing lands in Rögnvaldsey including the Pentland Skerries.

  "He was certainly dead in 1329, for in that year Katharina, as his widow, executes two charters in her own name as Countess of Orkney and Caithness, by which she purchases from the Lord High Steward (Drottset), Herr Erling Vidkunnson, certain lands in Rögnvaldsey, including the Pentland Skerries."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xx > Earl Thorfinn Comes To King Harald.

• attribution: King Magnus told Thorfinn that he had intended to act against him if they met, but that it was beneath his dignity to have him slain; he accepted Thorfinn into his company and said the terms of their reconciliation would be declared later.

  ""It is true, Earl Thorfinn" (said the King), "that I intended, in case we should meet, that you should not have to tell of our parting, but now matters stand so that it does not become my dignity to have you slain, and you shall go with me now, but the terms of our reconciliation I will declare when I am more at leisure.""

• attestation: When King Magnus turned red with anger at Thorfinn's unapologetic remarks about killing his henchmen, Thorfinn abruptly left the King's ship; the next morning a fair wind arose and Thorfinn's ship quietly departed westward while the King's fleet sailed south to Jutland.

  "The King looked at the Earl and said: "There it comes out still, Earl Thorfinn, that you think you have killed too few of my henchmen without compensation." While saying this the king turned blood-red [with anger]. The Earl started up and left the poop, and returned to his own ship, and all was quiet during the evening. In the morning, when the men awoke, a fair wind had sprung up, and they rowed away from the harbour. The King sailed south to Jutland with the whole fleet."

• attestation: King Magnus died from illness while on campaign in Denmark that summer; before dying he declared the whole kingdom of Norway to his uncle Harald.

  "King Magnus and Harald sailed to Denmark, and spent the summer there. King Swein was unwilling to meet them, and stayed in Skàney with his army. That summer King Magnus was seized with an illness of which he died; but he had previously declared that he gave the whole kingdom of Norway to his uncle Harald."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxviii > Hakon'S Interview With King Magnus.

• attestation: King Magnus prepared a great expedition westward, taking his eight-year-old son Sigurd with him; preparations were made throughout Norway.

  "Preparations were made for the expedition throughout the whole kingdom. King Magnus took with him his son Sigurd, who was eight winters old, and a hopeful boy."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxix > The Western Expedition Of Magnus Barelegs.

• attestation: When King Magnus came to the Orkneys he seized Earls Paul and Erlend and sent them to Norway; he placed his son Sigurd over the islands and took Magnus and Erling the sons of Erlend, and Hákon Paul's son on his expedition to the Hebrides.

  "When King Magnus came to the Orkneys, he seized the Earls Paul and Erlend, and sent them east to Norway, but placed his son Sigurd over the Isles, and gave him counsellors. King Magnus went to the Sudreyar (Hebrides), accompanied by Magnus and Erling, the sons of Earl Erlend, and Hákon, Paul's son."

• attestation: In a sea battle in Anglesea Sound, Magnus Erlend's son refused to arm himself, sat on the foredeck singing psalms, and did not shelter himself; King Magnus scorned him for this.

  "when King Magnus came to the Islands, he began hostilities first at Liódhús (Lewis), and gained a victory there. In this expedition he subdued the whole of the Sudreyar, and seized Lögman, the son of Gudröd, King of the Western Islands. Thence he went to Bretland (Wales), and fought a great battle in Anglesea Sound with two British chiefs—Hugh the Stout and Hugh the Bold. When the men took up their arms and buckled for the fight, Magnus, Erlend's son, sat down on the foredeck, and did not take his arms."

• attestation: Hugh the Bold wore armour covering him entirely except his eyes; King Magnus and a man from Hálogaland shot at once, one arrow struck the nose-piece and the other pierced the eye, killing Hugh.

  "Hugh the Bold fought valiantly. He had a suit of armour which covered him entirely, except his eyes. King Magnus ordered the man from Hálogaland to shoot at the same time as he did, and they shot both at once. One of the arrows struck the nose-piece of the helmet, and the other pierced the eye, and that was said to be the king's arrow."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxx > Kali'S Death.

• attestation: King Magnus won a great victory at Anglesea Sound over the British; Magnus Erlend's son fled and hid in woods, eventually going to the court of Malcolm King of Scots because he had incurred the King's displeasure for not fighting.

  "After the battle in Anglesea Sound the king showed that Magnus had incurred his serious displeasure. He had not been wounded, although he had not sheltered himself. During the night he stole away from the King, and hid himself for some time in the woods, while the King's men made a search for him. Magnus made his way to the court of Malcolm, the King of Scots, and remained there a while."

• attestation: King Malcolm sent messengers to King Magnus offering all islands west of Scotland between which and the mainland a vessel could pass with rudder shipped; Magnus had a boat drawn across Kintyre isthmus holding the helm himself, thereby claiming Kintyre as his possession.

  "King Magnus held northward, along the coasts of Scotland, and messengers came to him from Malcolm, the King of Scots, to ask for peace. They said that the King of Scots was willing to give him all the islands lying west of Scotland, between which and the mainland he could pass in a vessel with the rudder shipped. Thereupon King Magnus landed in Satiri (Kintyre), and had a boat drawn across the neck (isthmus) of Satiri, he himself holding the helm"

• attestation: While wintering in the Hebrides, King Magnus arranged the betrothal of his nine-year-old son Sigurd to Biadmonia, five years old, the daughter of Mýrkiartan King of Connaught; Kali died that winter from wounds received at Anglesea.

  "When King Magnus was in the Sudreyar, he obtained the hand of Biadmonia, the daughter of Mýrkiartan, the son of Thiálbi, the King of the Irish in Kunnáttir (Connaught), for his son Sigurd, who was then nine winters old, and she five. This winter Kali died from his wounds."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxi > Birth Of Kali, Son Of Kol.

• attestation: King Magnus returned to the Orkneys in spring and learned of the deaths of both earls: Erlend died in Nidaros and Paul died in Bergen.

  "EARLY in the spring King Magnus left the Sudreyar, and went first to the Orkneys, where he heard of the death of the Earls. Erlend died in Nidaros, and was buried there; and Paul died in Biörgvin (Bergen)."

• attestation: King Magnus married Gunnhild daughter of Earl Erlend to Kol son of Kali, with possessions in the Orkneys including a farm at Papul as her dowry; Kol became Magnus's vassal at the wedding. Kol and Gunnhild had a son named Kali and a daughter named Ingirid.

  "Then King Magnus married Gunnhild, the daughter of Earl Erlend, to Kol, Kali's son, in order to compensate him for (the loss of) his father. Her dowry consisted of possessions in the Orkneys, including a farm at Papul.

Kol and Gunnhild had two children; their son was called Kali, and their daughter Ingirid."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxii. > Sigurd Made King.

• attestation: King Magnus fell in Ulster on St. Bartholomew's Day after nine years as king; his son Sigurd left the Orkneys and became king of Norway along with his brothers Eystein and Olaf.

  "When Magnus had been king nine winters, he went to the west, and made war in Ireland, and spent the winter in Kunnáttir (Connaught). The next summer, on St. Bartholomew's Day, he fell in Uladstir (Ulster). When Sigurd heard in the Orkneys of the death of his father, he went immediately to Norway, and was made king, along with his brothers Eystein and Olaf."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxiii > Magnus (Erlend'S Son) Obtains The Title Of Earl.

• attestation: Magnus went to King Eystein of Norway who gave him one-half of the Orkneys with the title of Earl; he returned west and through kind offices of mutual friends, Magnus and Hákon agreed well and there was peace in the Orkneys during their friendship.

  "Magnus went immediately to Norway to see King Eystein, for King Sigurd had then gone to Jerusalem. King Eystein received him exceedingly well, and gave up to him his patrimony, one-half of the Orkneys, with the title of Earl. Thereupon Magnus went west to his dominions, and his kinsmen and friends and all the people were glad to see him back. Through the kind offices of mutual friends, Magnus and Hákon agreed very well. So long as their friendship continued there were good times and peace in the Orkneys."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxiv > Of Earl Magnus (Erlend'S Son).

• attestation: Earl Magnus the Holy was of large stature, noble presence, victorious in battles, wise, eloquent, liberal, magnanimous, just in judgments, severe with robbers and murderers, and gave the greatest share of his liberality to the poor.

  "THE holy Magnus, Earl of the Islands, was a most excellent man. He was of large stature, a man of a noble presence and intellectual countenance. He was of blameless life, victorious in battles, wise, eloquent, strong-minded, liberal and magnanimous, sagacious in counsels, and more beloved than any other man."

• attestation: Magnus was betrothed to a maiden of excellent family in Scotland; he lived with her for ten winters free from carnal defilement, bathing in cold water when tempted, and was considered pure and spotless in matters of sexual sin.

  "Thus, he made known his intention to espouse a maiden of a most excellent family in Scotland, and having celebrated his marriage, he lived with her for ten winters free from the defilement of carnal lusts, for he was pure and spotless with regard to all such sins, and if he were tempted, he bathed in cold water, and prayed for divine assistance."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxv > Of Magnus And Hakon.

• attestation: Magnus and Hákon ruled jointly and fought together against Dúfniál their third cousin who fell before them; they also slew a famous man named Thorbiörn in Borgarfiord in Shetland; Hákon became jealous of Magnus's popularity.

  "MAGNUS and Hákon ruled their lands and defended them for some time, the two agreeing very well. In a song made about them, it is said that they fought with a chief called Dúfniál, their third cousin, who fell before them. They also slew a famous man named Thorbiörn, in Borgarfiord, in Hjaltland. When they had ruled the land for some time, it happened, as often is the case, that men of evil dispositions were found who destroyed their good understanding. Hákon was more disposed to listen to these miserable men, because he was very jealous of the popularity and greatness of his kinsman Magnus."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxvi > Of Earl Magnus.

• attestation: As Magnus sailed to Egilsey a great wave rose in calm water over his ship; Magnus interpreted this as a foreboding of his death and said it might be Hákon would not deal honestly with him, but resolved to go anyway committing the outcome to God.

  "As they were rowing in calm and smooth water a great wave rose under the ship, which was steered by the Earl, and broke over it where he sat. His men wondered very much at such an occurrence,—that a breaker should rise in smooth water where no man could remember a breaker to have arisen, and where the water was so deep. Then the Earl said: "No wonder that you are surprised at this. Indeed, I take this as a foreboding of my death.""

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxvii > Earl Hakon And Earl Magnus.

• attribution: Magnus arrived first at Egilsey; seeing Hákon's eight war-ships he suspected treachery, went into the church to pray, and refused his men's offer to defend him, saying if peace could not be established it should be as God willed.

  "Earl Magnus arrived first with his men at Egilsey, and when they saw Earl Hákon coming they perceived that he had eight war-ships. Then Earl Magnus suspected that he intended to act treacherously towards him. So he walked along the island with his men, and went into the church to pray. His men offered to defend him. The Earl replied: "I will not put your lives in danger for mine, and if peace cannot be established between us, let it be as God wills.""

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxviii. > The Offers Of Earl Magnus.

• attribution: When Hákon's men found Magnus he confronted them calmly, accused Hákon of breaking oaths, and made three offers to avoid death: pilgrimage to Rome never returning; exile to Scotland in custody; or being blinded and imprisoned.

  "Earl Magnus was praying when they came up to him, and when he had finished his prayer he made the sign of the cross, and said firmly to Earl Hákon: "You did not act well, kinsman, when you broke your oaths, and it is highly probable that you were instigated to this more by the wickedness of others than your own. Now, I will make you three offers, that you may rather accept one of them than break your oaths, and slay me who am innocent.""

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxxix > The Beheading Of Earl Magnus.

• attestation: Before his death Magnus prayed for both his friends and enemies, forgave his murderers, confessed his sins, and asked to be beheaded with a mighty stroke on the head as befitting a high-born lord.

  "He prayed not only for his friends, but also for his enemies and murderers, and forgave them, with all his heart, their offences against himself. He confessed his sins to God, and prayed that they might be washed from him in the shedding of his blood."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xl > The Saintship Of Earl Magnus Made Manifest.

• attestation: The place where Magnus was slain was previously mossy and stony but became green sward after his death, which was taken as a sign that he had suffered for righteousness; Earl Hákon did not permit his body to be brought to church.

  "THE place where Earl Magnus was slain was previously covered with moss and stones, but shortly afterwards his merits before God became manifest in this wise, that it became green sward where he was beheaded. Thus God showed that he had suffered for righteousness' sake.

Earl Hákon did not permit his body to be brought to the church (for burial)."

• attestation: Earl Magnus died two days after Tiburtius Day, having been Earl for seven winters in the Orkneys with Hákon; 74 winters had passed since King Olaf's death; the year was 1091 years after Christ.

  "The day of Earl Magnus's death was two days after Tiburtiusmas (14th April). Then he had been seven winters Earl in the Orkneys along with Earl Hákon. Seventy-four winters had passed since the death of King Olaf. The Kings of Norway were at this time Sigurd, Eystein, and Olaf. It was one thousand and ninety-one winters after the birth of Christ."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xli > The Earl'S Body Brought To Church.

• attestation: Magnus's mother Thóra invited both earls to a banquet after their meeting; when Hákon arrived alone she served him and his men, then tearfully pleaded for permission to bury her son in church; Hákon wept and consented.

  "THORA, the mother of Earl Magnus, had invited both the Earls to a banquet after their meeting, and Earl Hákon went there after the murder of the holy Earl Magnus. Thóra herself served at the banquet, and brought the drink to the Earl and his men who had been present at the murder of her son."

• attestation: Magnus's body was brought to Hrossey and buried at Christ's Kirk in Birsay, which had been built by Earl Thorfinn.

  "Then the Earl's body was brought to Hrossey, and buried at Christ's Kirk (in Birsay), which had been built by Earl Thorfinn."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxii > The Miracle-Working Of Magnus The Martyr.

• attestation: Heavenly light was seen above Magnus's burial place; prayers to him were answered; a heavenly odour was perceived and sick people were cured at his grave; pilgrims came from the Orkneys and Shetland, but none dared report this while Earl Hákon was alive.

  "SOON after this a heavenly light was seen above his burial-place. Then men who were placed in danger began to pray to him, and their prayers were heard. A heavenly odour was frequently perceived above his burial-place, from which people suffering from illness received health. Then sufferers made pilgrimages thither both from the Orkneys and Hjaltland, and kept vigils at his grave, and were cured of all their sufferings. But people dared not make this known while Earl Hákon was alive."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Cvii > The Slaying Of Earl RöGnvald.

• attestation: Magnus son of Gunni refused to allow quarter for Thorbiörn and argued that giving him peace would confirm suspicion that Harald had planned Rögnvald's death.

  "Then Magnus, the son of Gunni, Hávard's son, a chief and a kinsman of the Earl's, and the noblest born of Earl Harald's followers, took speech as follows:—"We are not able to counsel you, Earl, after these great deeds, but I shall tell you what will be said if quarter is given to Thorbiörn when he has done such a deed, and even dared to say to your face, almost in so many words, that he has done this wickedness in your interest, or for your honour; and it will be an everlasting shame and dishonour to you and to all the Earl's kinsmen if he is not avenged.""