Ketil Flatnose
Encyclopedia
Ketill Bjǫrnsson, nicknamed Flatnose (Old Norse
: Flatnefr), was a Norwegian
hersir
of the 9th century.
(Raumsdal), a valley in the county of Møre og Romsdal
, between Nordmøre
and Sunnmøre
. When Harald Fairhair
decided to expand his kingdom from southeast Norway, many fled and would raid Norway in summers from islands around Scotland
. For this reason Harald set sail to uproot the attackers. He won the Hebrides
and the Isle of Man
and a part of Scotland. However as he had returned to Norway, the raiders renewed the attacks. At which point Harald sent Ketill to re-win the islands. Ketill did so but paid no tax at which point Harald took possession of what was owed from possessions of Ketill in Norway and sent away Ketill's sons. Some sources refer to Ketill as "King of the Sudreys" but there is little evidence that he himself claimed that title.
According to the Landnámabók
Kettil became ruler of a region already settled by Scandinavians. He left no successors and there is little record of Norse activity in the west of Scotland in the succeeding four decades.
Most of his family eventually emigrated to Iceland
. Ketill's wife was Yngvild Ketilsdóttir, daughter of Ketill Wether, a hersir from Ringarike. They had a number of children, including Bjǫrn Ketilsson
, who lived at Bjarnarhofn; Helgi Bjola, who lived at Esjuberg on Kjalarnes; Thorunn Ketilsdatter, wife of Helgi the Lean, the first settler in Eyjafjordur bay; and Jorunn Ketilsdatter. Ketill's daughter, Aud the Deep-Minded
, married Olaf the White
, King of Dublin. Their son, Thorstein the Red
, briefly conquered much of northern Scotland during the 870s and 880s before he was killed in battle. Aud and many members of her clan settled in the Laxdael region of Iceland
.
.
Ketill Flatnose is also sometimes equated with Caittil Find
a reported leader of the Gallgáedil fighting in Ireland in 857 although this connection is far from definite. The Ketill/Caittil relationship is described by Woolf (2007) as "extremely tenuous"
Harald Fairhair is assumed to have annexed the Northern Isles
(comprising Orkney and Shetland) in 875 or later. If Ketill's suzerainty post-dates this time, it is hard to see how an adult grandson of his (Thorstein the Red) could have been in active in the 870s and 880s.
, and Eirik the Red's Saga. His genealogy is described in detail in the Landnamabok.
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Flatnefr), was a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
hersir
Hersir
A hersir was a local military commander of a hundred and owed allegiance to a jarl or king. They were also aspiring landowners, and, like the middle class in many feudal societies, supported the kings in their centralization of power. The hersir was often equipped with a conical helmet and a short...
of the 9th century.
Biography
Ketill Bjǫrnsson was the son of Bjorn Grimmson. He was from RomsdalRomsdal
Romsdal is the name of a traditional district in the Norwegian county Møre og Romsdal, located between Nordmøre and Sunnmøre. The district of Romsdal comprises Aukra, Fræna, Midsund, Molde, Nesset, Rauma, Sandøy, and Vestnes. It is named for the valley of Romsdalen, which covers part of Rauma.The...
(Raumsdal), a valley in the county of Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
, between Nordmøre
Nordmøre
Nordmøre is a traditional district in the Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. The area comprises the northern third of the county including the municipalities of Kristiansund, Averøy, Tingvoll, Surnadal, Rindal, Aure, Halsa, Eide, Sunndal, Gjemnes, and Smøla...
and Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
. When Harald Fairhair
Harald I of Norway
Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair , , son of Halfdan the Black, was the first king of Norway.-Background:Little is known of the historical Harald...
decided to expand his kingdom from southeast Norway, many fled and would raid Norway in summers from islands around Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. For this reason Harald set sail to uproot the attackers. He won the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
and a part of Scotland. However as he had returned to Norway, the raiders renewed the attacks. At which point Harald sent Ketill to re-win the islands. Ketill did so but paid no tax at which point Harald took possession of what was owed from possessions of Ketill in Norway and sent away Ketill's sons. Some sources refer to Ketill as "King of the Sudreys" but there is little evidence that he himself claimed that title.
According to the Landnámabók
Landnámabók
Landnámabók , often shortened to Landnáma, is a medieval Icelandic written work describing in considerable detail the settlement of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries AD.-Landnáma:...
Kettil became ruler of a region already settled by Scandinavians. He left no successors and there is little record of Norse activity in the west of Scotland in the succeeding four decades.
Most of his family eventually emigrated to Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. Ketill's wife was Yngvild Ketilsdóttir, daughter of Ketill Wether, a hersir from Ringarike. They had a number of children, including Bjǫrn Ketilsson
Bjǫrn the Easterner
Bjǫrn Ketilsson, nicknamed the Easterner , was a Norwegian Viking of the 9th century, son of Ketill 'Flatnose' Bjǫrnsson and Yngvild Ketilsdottir...
, who lived at Bjarnarhofn; Helgi Bjola, who lived at Esjuberg on Kjalarnes; Thorunn Ketilsdatter, wife of Helgi the Lean, the first settler in Eyjafjordur bay; and Jorunn Ketilsdatter. Ketill's daughter, Aud the Deep-Minded
Aud the Deep-Minded
Aud the Deep-Minded was an earlier settler in Iceland.-Biography:...
, married Olaf the White
Olaf the White
Olaf the White was a viking sea-king who lived in the latter half of the 9th century.Olaf was born around 840, possibly in Ireland. His father was the Hiberno-Norse warlord Ingjald Helgasson...
, King of Dublin. Their son, Thorstein the Red
Thorstein the Red
Thorstein the Red or Thorstein Olafsson was a viking chieftain who flourished in late ninth-century Scotland. He was born around 850 AD and was the son of Olaf the White, King of Dublin, and Aud the Deep-minded, who was the daughter of Ketil Flatnose...
, briefly conquered much of northern Scotland during the 870s and 880s before he was killed in battle. Aud and many members of her clan settled in the Laxdael region of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
.
Alternative theories
Hunter (2000) states that Ketill was "in charge of an extensive island realm and, as a result, sufficiently prestigious to contemplate the making of agreements and alliances with other princelings". However, Woolf (2007) suggests that his appearance in the sagas "looks very much like a story created in later days to legitimise Norwegian claims to sovereignty in the region" and some scholars believe that this entire story is apocryphal and based on the later voyages of Magnus BarelegsMagnus III of Norway
Magnus Barefoot or Magnus III Olafsson was King of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of Mann and the Isles from 1099 until 1103.-Background:...
.
Ketill Flatnose is also sometimes equated with Caittil Find
Caittil Find
Caittil Find was the leader of a contingent of Norse-Gaels, recorded as being defeated in battle in 857 CE. Some historians have considered him to be identical to Ketill Flatnose, a prominent Norse sea-king who had strong associations with the Hebrides of Scotland and Olaf the White...
a reported leader of the Gallgáedil fighting in Ireland in 857 although this connection is far from definite. The Ketill/Caittil relationship is described by Woolf (2007) as "extremely tenuous"
Harald Fairhair is assumed to have annexed the Northern Isles
Northern Isles
The Northern Isles is a chain of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The climate is cool and temperate and much influenced by the surrounding seas. There are two main island groups: Shetland and Orkney...
(comprising Orkney and Shetland) in 875 or later. If Ketill's suzerainty post-dates this time, it is hard to see how an adult grandson of his (Thorstein the Red) could have been in active in the 870s and 880s.
Primary sources
Ketill is a character in such works as Laxdaela saga, Eyrbyggja sagaEyrbyggja saga
Eyrbyggja saga is one of the Icelanders' sagas. The name means the saga of the inhabitants of Eyrr, which is a farm on Snæfellsnes on Iceland. The name is slightly misleading as it deals also with the clans of Þórsnes and Alptafjörðr. The most central character is Snorri Þorgrímsson or Snorri goði...
, and Eirik the Red's Saga. His genealogy is described in detail in the Landnamabok.