Harald Maddadson (abt. 1134 - 1206)

Ancestors

Husband of Gormflaeth (Macheth) MacHeth — married 1160 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland

Descendants

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Biography

Son of Madach, 1st Earl of Atholl and Margaret Håkonsdatter^[1]

Joint Jarl of Orkney from the age of five with Jarl Ragnvald Kolsson until the latter's death in 1158. Thereafter ruled as sole Jarl until his own death in 1206.

Accompanied Jarl Ragnvald to Norway in 1151 at the invitation of King Inge Krokrygg.^[2] Jarl Ragnvald decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and a power vacuum ensued in Orkney with Harald's cousin Erlend claiming the Jarldom. The War of the Three Earls continues for two years, ending 1154 with the death of Erlend and the reconciliation of Harald and Ragnvald.

While Jarl Ragnvald was away King Øystein of Norway was on a plundering raid in Britain. Starting in the Orkneys he heard that Harald was at Thurso. Harald was captured there and had to ransom himself with 3 gold marks.^[3]

In 1193 Harald was involved in a plot to put the son of the previous king on the throne of Norway in place of King Sverre. The insurgents were defeated at Florevåg in 1194 and Harald was forced to submit to the judgement of Sverre at Bergen. Harald was forgiven but was heavily fined and forced to cede Shetland to the King.^[4]

He married firstly, Afreka, dau. of Duncan, 4th Earl of Fife (1136-1154), Regent of Scotland 1153, but repudiated her (probably after the death of her father) during Jarl Ragnvald’s absence on pilgrimage, having had issue. ^[5]

Sometime, following the death about 1158 of Earl Reginald of Orkney, Svein Asleifson adopted Haakon, the second son of Earl Harald Maddadson, and, when Haakon became old enough, took him on Viking expeditions, ^{[6] [7]}

Sources

1. ↑ Balfour Paul: Vol 1, Page 416
2. ↑ Orkneyingasaga: Page 126
3. ↑ Orkneyingasaga: Page 152
4. ↑ Sverres saga: Side 31
5. ↑ The Complete Peerage: Vol 10 Appendix A 22-25
6. ↑ pdf - The Isle of Man under the Norse by George Vaughan Chichester (Barney) Young O.B.E. Page: 259
7. ↑ Orkneyinga saga chapter: ClX p:189 - of Harald and Swein

• Balfour Paul, Sir James. The Scots Peerage (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1904-1914); in 9 Volumes
• The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom (The St. Catherine Press, London, 1910-)
• The Orkneyinga Saga, (Edmonston & Douglas, Edinburgh, 1873)
• Sverres saga: The saga of King Sverre of Norway