PREFACE.
Originally delivered as a Presidential Address to The Viking Society for Northern Research, the following pages, as amplified and revised, are published mainly with the object of interesting Sutherland and Caithness people in the early history of their native counties, and particularly in the three Sagas which bear upon it as well as on that of Orkney and Shetland at a time regarding which Scottish records almost wholly fail us.
When, however, these records are extant, use has been made of them together with later books upon them, of which a list follows, and to which references are given in the notes.
A special effort has been made to deal with the vexed question of the succession to the Caithness Earldom after Earl John's death in 1231, with the pedigree of the first known ancestors of the House of Sutherland, and with the mystery of the descent of Lady Johanna of Strathnaver.
Acknowledgments of assistance received are tendered to the writers of the books above referred to, but thanks are specially due to Mr. A.W. JOHNSTON, Founder and Past President of the Viking Society, for numerous hints, and for making the Index; to Mr. JON STEFANNSON for reading the manuscript; and to Mr. ALAN O. ANDERSON, whose knowledge of the English and Scottish Records of the period is as accurate as it is extensive, and who has made several valuable suggestions.
But for the opinions expressed no one save the writer is responsible, and, where records are scanty, much has necessarily been left to conjecture.
J.G.
53 MONTAGU SQUARE,
LONDON, W., 1922.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES AND BOOKS REFERRED TO
CHAPTER I.INTRODUCTORY
A.D. 82-790Scope of this BookAuthoritiesRoman times and their resultPost-Roman days.
CHAPTER II.THE PICT AND THE NORTHMAN
Geography and description of CatBrochsPictsChristianity VikingsGall-gaelsGaelicLand SettlementThe rise of the Scots.
CHAPTER III.THE EARLY NORSE JARLS
790-1014Constantine I and the NorthmenKenneth and the Union of the Picts and ScotsThorstein the Red and AudGroa and Duncan of DuncansbyThe Vikings and Harald HarfagrRagnvald of Maeri and Jarl SigurdCyderhallTorf-Einar, Thorfinn Hausakliufr, Skuli and othersWar for the Moray seaboardJarl Sigurd HlodversonChristianity introduced in OrkneySwart KellEarl AnlafStory of BarthSigurd Hlodverson, Clontarf"Darratha-liod"Resum .
CHAPTER IV.THORFINN, EARL AND JARL
1008-1064King Malcolm's matrimonial alliancesVictory of CarhamThorfinn Sigurdson, Earl of Caithness and SutherlandHis attempts on OrkneySomarled, Brusi and EinarThorkel Fostri slays EinarModdan created Earl of Caithness and slain by ThorkelBattle of TorfnessDeath of DuncanThorfinn and MacbethThorfinn and Ragnvald BrusisonMarriage with IngibjorgBattle of RautharbiorgThorfinn sole Jarl of Orkney and ShetlandHis travels, retirement, and deathHis chronology.
CHAPTER V.PAUL AND ERLEND, HAKON AND MAGNUS
1058-1123Paul and Erlend, jarlsIngibjorg's marriage with Malcolm IIIIts objectsNorman conquest of EnglandKing Magnus BarelegsHakon and Magnus, jarlsHarold Slettmali and Paul the Silent, jarlsIngibiorg and MargretModdan in DaleFeudalism in ScotlandThe Catholic ChurchAlexander I and David IThe three leading families in Caithness and Sutherland, of the Norse Jarls, Moddan, and Freskyn de MoraviaThe MackaysThe Gunns.
CHAPTER VI.THE MODDAN FAMILY, JARLS HARALD AND PAUL AND RAGNVALD
1123-1158Harald Slettmali and Paul the SilentFrakark and HelgaHarald poisonedFrakark in KildonanPlot against Jarl PaulThe Moddan familyAudhildEric StagbrellirRagnvald's history and jarldomBattle of TankernessOlvir Rosta and SweynPaul kidnappedHarold MaddadsonFrakark's BurningThorbiorn KlerkRagnvald's cruise to the EastErlend Haraldson's grant of half CaithnessScramble for the earldomRagnvald's daughter Ingirid's marriage to Eric StagbrellirFight at ThursoErlend and SweynErlend's deathRagnvald's murderHis descendants.
CHAPTER VII.HAROLD MADDADSON AND THE FRESKYNS
1158-1206Harold sole Jarl and Earl; his first familySweyn's cruises and death in 1171Harold's second wife, and familyEric Stagbrellir's familyScottish affairsMoray and the MacHethsFreskyn and DuffusWilliam MacFrisgynHugo Freskyn of Sutherland, and his brother, William of PettyHugo's grant to Gilbert, Archdeacon of MorayHugo's familyWilliam dominus SutherlandiaeEvents in the North in 1153 and afterWilliam the Lion's accession, 1165Persons of note at that dateThose in authorityHarold's forfeituresEvents leading up to themEddirdovir and DunskaithDonald Ban MacWilliamDefeat of Thorfinn, Harold's son, and of Harold, 1196Harald UngiRagnvald GudrodsonVictory of DalharroldThe StewardsDeath of Thorfinn, Harold's sonWilliam the Lion in CaithnessDeath of Harold Maddadson, 1206.
CHAPTER VIII.JARLS DAVID AND JOHN, FRESKIN II
1206-1263David's eight years, 1206-1214King William takes John's daughter as a hostageMurder of Bishop Adam, 1222King Alexander's expeditionJohn's forfeitureDeath of John's son, Harald, 1226Snaekoll Gunni's son, grandson of Eric StagbrellirMurder of Earl JohnTrial at BergenLady Johanna of Strathnaver.
CHAPTER IX.THE SUCCESSION TO THE CAITHNESS EARLDOM
1231-9Difficulty of the subjectThe Angus pedigreeThe Diploma of the Orkney EarlsMagnus II's charterThe wardship questionThree claimants (1) Magnus, (2) Johanna of Strathnaver and (3) Earl John's nameless hostage daughterSkene's opinionThe Cheynes and Federeths, descendants of JohannaHer charitable giftHer Moddan and Erlend descentMagnus II, his descent and marriageFreskin de Moravia, his descent, marriage, life, and deathThe settlement of Caithness and SutherlandCreation of the Sutherland Earldom between 10th October 1237 and Magnus' death in 1239Conclusion.
CHAPTER X.KING HAKON'S EXPEDITION AND THE NORTH
1263-1266RecapitulationNorse jarls and the Norse CrownAffairs in SutherlandBattle at EmboDornoch Cathedral and its constitutionThe Angus line and the FreskynsHakon's fleet at Ragnvaldsvoe sails southBattle of LargsHakon's retreat and deathThe mainland of Scotland and the Hebrides won for ScotlandTreaty of Perth, 1266.
CHAPTER XI.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
The creed of the VikingThe causes of his migrationOdinismSettlement in the WestCeltic mothersEffect on race, language and place-namesViking remainsSkaill, DunrobinCastlesThe Viking type of manThe blended raceNorman influence.
NOTES.
APPENDIX.EARLY PEDIGREE OF THE FRESKYN FAMILY
INDEX
LIST OF AUTHORITIES AND BOOKS REFERRED TO.
Anderson, Dr. Joseph. Rhind Lectures, "Scotland in Pagan Times." Edinburgh, 1883 and 1886.
Antiquaries. Proceedings of The Society of Scottish.
Bain. Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland in Record Office.
Bannatyne ClubPublications of.
Barry, History of Orkney. Edinburgh, Constable, 1805.
Broxburn. (Strabrock.) History and Antiquities of Uphall, by Rev. James Primrose. Edinburgh, Andrew Elliott, 1898.
Burnt Njal. Dasent's Translation. (B.N.) Edinburgh, Edmonston & Douglas, 1861.
