The The Orkneyinga Saga on Paul

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xxiii > Of The Earls Paul And Erlend, And Genealogies.

• attestation: Earl Paul married the daughter of Earl Hákon Ivar's son; their children included Hákon, Thóra, Brynjúlf, Ingirid, Herbiörg, Sigrid, and Ragnhild, from whom sprang many families of Orkney earls and chiefs.

  "Earl Paul, Thorfinn's son, married the daughter of Earl Hákon, Ivar's son, by whom he had many children. They had a son called Hákon, and a daughter called Thóra, who was married in Norway to Haldór, son of Brynjúlf Ulfaldi (camel)."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Xlviii > Of Earl Paul.

• attestation: Earl Paul was taciturn, modest, gentle to the people, liberal with money, and not warlike; his mother Herborg was the daughter of Earl Paul Thorfinn's son and her sons Brynjúlf and Hákon Pík were his vassals.

  "EARL PAUL then ruled the Orkneys, and was very popular. He was somewhat taciturn, spoke little at the Things, and gave others a large share in the government with himself. He was a modest man, and gentle to the people, liberal with his money, and spared nothing with his friends. He was not warlike, and kept himself very quiet."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lvii > Kol'S Schemes.

• attribution: Kol sent men to Earl Paul with an offer to share the Orkneys with Rögnvald; Earl Paul refused flatly, saying he would defend the Islands with his friends for as long as God granted him life.

  "When they came to Earl Paul in the Orkneys, and delivered the message, he replied: "I understand this claim; it has been planned advisedly, and with long forethought; they sought the help of the Kings of Norway to obtain my possessions. Now, I will not repay this perfidy by giving away my possessions to a man who is not nearer to me than Rögnvald is, and refusing them to my brother's son or sister's son. There is no need to talk any more of this, for with the assistance of my friends and kinsmen I shall defend the Orkneys as long as God grants me life.""

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lviii > The Fight Between Earl Paul And Olvir Rosta.

• attestation: When Earl Paul heard Rögnvald had arrived in Shetland and that an army was gathering in the Hebrides, he assembled five ships and sailed to intercept Frákork's fleet of twelve ships; he resolved not to flee but to fight.

  "EARL PAUL was then at a feast with Sigurd at Westness, in Hrólfsey (Rousay), and when he heard that Earl Rögnvald had arrived in Hjaltland, and at the same time that an army which was going to attack him was gathering in the Sudreyar, he sent word to Kugi, in Westrey, and Thorkel Flettir, who were wise men, and many others of his chief men he called together."

• attestation: At the sea battle, Swein Brióstreip threw a huge stone hitting Olvir in the chest and knocking him overboard; Olvir's fleet then began to flee and five of his ships were captured; the next day Paul sailed to Shetland and seized all Rögnvald's ships.

  "When Olvir perceived this, he grasped a spear, and hurled it at the Earl, who received it with his shield, but fell down on the deck. Then there was a great shout; but in the same moment Swein Brióstreip seized a huge stone, and threw it at Olvir. It hit him in the chest with such force that he was thrown overboard, and sank"

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lix > Earl RöGnvald'S Plans.

• attestation: After defeating Olvir, Earl Paul set up a beacon system: one in Fair Isle, one in North Ronaldsay, and others throughout the islands, each visible from the next; different men were assigned to keep each beacon.

  "It was now resolved to make a beacon in Fridarey (Fair Isle), which should be lighted if enemies were seen coming from Hjaltland. Another beacon was made in Rínarsey (North Ronaldsay), and others in some other islands also, so that they might be seen all over the Islands."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lx > Swein Slays Swein.

• attestation: At Orphir (Jórfiara) there was a large drinking-hall and a magnificent church; at Earl Paul's Christmas feast, Swein Brióstreip—skilled in ancient lore and outsittings—muttered the omen 'Swein will be the death of Swein, and Swein shall be the death of Swein.'

  "In Jórfiara there was a large drinking-hall; the door was near the east gable on the southern wall, and a magnificent church was in front of the door; and one had to go down to the church from the hall."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxi > Of Earl Paul.

• attestation: Earl Paul ordered that no one should touch Swein Ásleifarson as the killing had provocation; he later outlawed Swein when he could not find him, and learned from Thorkel Flettir that Bishop William had sent Swein to Höldbodi in the Hebrides.

  "The Earl said that no one should touch a hair of Swein Asleif's son's head, as this had not been done without provocation. "But if he avoids meeting with me," he said, "he will harm himself by so doing."

From Straumsey he went to Rínarsey, and received an entertainment from Ragna and her son Thorstein. Ragna was a wise woman."

• attribution: Ragna of North Ronaldsay, a wise woman, advised Earl Paul to befriend Bishop William and pardon Swein Ásleifarson, urging him to make friends given the threat from Rögnvald; Earl Paul refused angrily.

  "She said to him: "There was no great loss in Swein Brióstreip, although he was a brave warrior, for he brought on you the hatred of many. I should therefore advise you, in presence of the difficulties that face you, to make as many friends as possible, and be slow to resent offences.""

The Orkneyinga Saga > part in what my kinsmen did."

• attestation: Earl Paul maintained beacons throughout the islands in spring; Rögnvald spent the winter at Agdir collecting support and assembled six large ships including one from King Harald; they sailed to Shetland.

  "Earl Rögnvald spent the winter at home at Agdir (in Norway), where he and his father had farms, and sent messages to his kinsmen and friends. Some of them he visited himself, and asked them to assist him with troops and ships to go to the west, and most of them were willing to help him in his need."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxvii > Of Earl Rognvald And Paul.

• attestation: Earl Paul held a meeting in Hrossey after Rögnvald's arrival; opinion was divided between sharing the earldom, buying Rögnvald off, or fighting; Rögnvald had spies at the meeting.

  "AFTER Earl Rögnvald's arrival in the Orkneys, and when many had submitted to him, Earl Paul held a meeting in Hrossey with his men for consultation. The Earl asked their opinion of what was to be done in these difficulties. There were considerable differences of opinion. Some advised Earl Paul to share his dominions with Earl Rögnvald. But most of the more powerful men and Bœndr wished to buy Rögnvald away with money, and offered their means for that purpose. Others were for fighting.

Earl Rögnvald had spies at the meeting"

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxix > Of Swein, Asleif'S Son'S, Return To The Orkneys.

• attestation: Earl Paul renounced his earldom, saying he would never return to the Orkneys, believing his captivity was God's vengeance for a theft; he proposed giving the earldom to Harald Maddad's son.

  "When Earl Paul heard this, he said: "So far as my mind is concerned, I will say that I have left my dominions in such a way as has never been heard of before, I think; and I shall never return to the Orkneys any more. I see that this must be God's vengeance for the theft which I and my kinsmen committed. But if God thinks the dominion mine, then will I give it to Harald, if he may enjoy it""

• comparison: Two conflicting accounts exist of Paul's fate: one that he voluntarily retired to a monastery, another that Margaret blinded her brother, imprisoned him, and had him killed.

  "This is how Swein related these matters. But some men tell the story in a way by no means so creditable (to those concerned)—namely, that Margaret induced Swein, Asleif's son, to blind her brother Earl Paul, then threw him into a dungeon, and subsequently induced another man to put him to death. We do not know which of these two statements is the more correct; but it is well known that Earl Paul came never again to the Orkneys, and that he had no dominions in Scotland."

The Orkneyinga Saga > Chapter Lxx > Of Earl Rognvald And Swein, Asleif'S Son.

• attestation: After Earl Paul failed to return to Westness, Sigurd sent men to find him; they found nineteen of the Earl's men slain and six unknown men dead, but not the Earl.

  "IT happened at Westness, when the Earl did not come home, that Sigurd sent men to search for him. When they came to the stone-heap they saw the slain, and then they thought the Earl had been killed. They went home and told the news. Sigurd went immediately to examine the bodies, and they recognised nineteen as the Earl's men; but six they did not know."