Paul Haakonsson

Paul Haakonsson was joint Earl of Orkney from 1122 until 1137.

Haakonsson served jointly as Earl of Orkney together with Harald Haakonsson. Paul Haakonsson had not been well loved by his female kin. In 1137, Paul was reportedly abdicated and killed on the orders of the mother of Harald Haakonsson. His mother and her sister, Frakkok, had previously tried to murder him with a poisoned shirt which instead caused the death of Harald Haakonsson in 1127. It is said that Frakkok and her supporters had originally intended to advance the claims of Harald Haakonsson's son Erlend Haraldsson upon Paul's death. However, Paul Haakonsson was replaced as Earl of Orkney by his second cousin, Rognvald Kali Kolsson, one of the lead men of King Harald Gille of Norway. Rognvald Kali Kolsson did serve as guardian of Harald Maddadsson, the nephew of Paul Haakonsson. In 1138, Rognvald appointed Harald Maddadsson as Earl of Orkney jointly with himself.^[1]

References

Norse Earls of Orkney Ragnvald Eysteinsson "the Wise" (9th century) Sigurd Eysteinsson "the Mighty" (to 892) Guthorm Sigurdsson (893) Hallad Rognvaldsson (893–895) Torf-Einarr Rognvaldarson (895–910) Arnkel Torf-Einarsson (910–954) Erlend Torf-Einarsson (910-954) Thorfinn Torf-Einarsson "Skull-Splitter" (910–963) Arnfinn, Havard, Ljot and Hlodvir Thorfinnsson (963–980) Sigurd Hlodvirsson "the Stout" (980–1014) Sumarlidi Sigurdsson (1014–1016) Brusi Sigurdsson (1014–1031) Einar Sigurdsson "Wry-mouth" (1014–1026) Thorfinn Sigurdsson "the Mighty" (1025–1064) Rögnvald Brusason (1036–1046) Paul and Erlend Thorfinnsson (1064–1098) Sigurd Magnusson "the Jerusalem-farer" (1098–1103) Haakon Paulsson (1104–1123) Magnus Erlendsson (1106–1116) Harald Haakonsson (1123–1130) Paul Haakonsson (1123–1136) Rögnvald Kali Kolsson (1136–1158) Harald Maddadsson "the Old" (1138–1206) Erlend Haraldsson (1151–1154) Harald Eiriksson "the Younger" (1191–1198) David Haraldsson (1206–1214) Jon Haraldsson (1206–1231) Dates are approximate. Joint earldoms were frequent.