Þórketill Þórmóðsson
Encyclopedia
Þórkell Þórmóðsson is a character from the mediaeval Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar
, a kings' saga composed in the last half of the 13th century. The saga relates that in about the year 1230, a Norwegian-Hebridean fleet sailed down through the Hebrides
, where it attacked certain islands there, and proceeded on to the Isle of Man
. As the fleet made its way southward through the Hebrides, several members fought a battle with Þórkell at Vestrajǫrðr, near Skye
. The exact location of Vestrajǫrðr is unknown, although Loch Bracadale
, Loch Dunvegan
, and Loch Snizort
, all located on the western coast of Skye, have been proposed as possible locations. According to the saga, Þórkell and two of his sons were slain in the encounter, however a third son, named Þórmóðr, managed to escape with his life. Early the next year, the fleet headed northwards through the Hebrides back home. When it approached the island of Lewis
, a man named Þórmóðr Þórkelson fled for his life, leaving behind his wife and possessions to be taken by the marauding fleet.
In the late 19th century, it was suggested that the Þórmóðr Þórkelson that fled Lewis in 1231, was the same Þórmóðr Þórkelson who survived the battle at Vestrajǫrðr, in 1230. It is uncertain why Þórkell, and Þórmóðr, were singled out by the marauding fleet. One of the noted members of the fleet was Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of Mann and the Isles, who is known to have been at odds with his nephew, Guðrøðr Rögnvaldsson
. One theory, put forward in the 19th century, asserts that Þórkell and Þórmóðr, had backed the side of Guðrøðr, and were killed by adherents of Óláfr.
It has also proposed that Þórkell and Þórmóðr could be descendants of another saga-character, Ljótólfr
, who is recorded in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga
. Furthermore, it was asserted that all three men were ancestors of Clan MacLeod
—that Ljótólfr's name is preserved in the surname: MacLeod
; and that Þórkell's, and Þórmóðr's, names are preserved in the traditional branches of the clan: Sìol Thormoid, and Sìol Thorcaill
.
("Hakon Hakon's son's Saga"). The saga
was composed by Sturla Þórðarson
, sometime around 1263–1284. Sturla based it on both written sources and oral tradition
s. The saga is preserved in several manuscripts that slightly differ from each other—these are: Eirspennill
, the Flateyjarbók
, the Frisbók, and the Skálholtsbók
. According to twentieth century historian Alan Orr Anderson
, although the Eirspennill version may be of a later date than the others, it is the most authoritative, and likely represents an early form of the saga.
and the Isle of Man
. In 1156, Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of Mann and the Isles, fought an inconclusive naval battle with Somairle
, Lord of Argyll
, and the kingdom lost control of parts of the Inner Hebrides
, although retained control of Skye
. In 1187, Guðrøðr died, and had intended to that his young son Óláfr would succeed him. The Manx people, however, chose Guðrøðr's elder, although illegitimate son, Rögnvaldr. Bitter feuding between the two half-brothers in the late 12th and early 13th century severely weakened the kingdom. At one point, Rögnvaldr's son Guðrøðr
drove Óláfr out of kingdom, only to be defeated by Óláfr, and then blinded and castrated by one of Óláfr's accomplices.
In the early 13th century, Alan, Lord of Galloway had sights set on the Isle of Man; his illegitimate son
was married to the daughter of Rögnvaldr, King of Mann and the Isles. Both Alan and his brother, Thomas, Earl of Atholl
, backed Rögnvaldr against Rögnvaldr's half-brother, Óláfr. In 1226, Óláfr ejected his brother from the Isle of Man, and ruled the kingdom for the next 11 years (Rögnvaldr was slain in 1229, fighting against Óláfr). Because of Óláfr's inability to control the warring in the Hebrides, Hákon Hákonarson
, King of Norway, promoted Óspakr, a descendant of Somairle, as king in the Isles. Hákon gave Uspak command of a fleet to establish himself in all of the Scottish islands, and according to historian G.W.S. Barrow, possibly Argyll
and Kintyre
as well. Both Óláfr, and his nephew, Guðrøðr, accompanied the fleet as it sailed down through the Hebrides in the spring of 1230.
If the saga accounts are to be believed, the fleet totalled eighty ships, and according to historian Richard Oram
, this likely equates to a force of over three thousand men. When the fleet reached the southern Hebrides
, several grandsons of Somairle, who had sided with Alan, were captured and taken prisoner. The fleet likely entered the Firth of Clyde
in early June, and the force attacked the Isle of Bute
. Although the Norwegian-Hebridean force was successful in its attack, word of Alan's approach with over 200 ships forced the invading fleet to retreat into the Hebrides. Óspakr later died, more than likely due to wounds received on Bute. Command of the fleet then fell to Óláfr, who used the force to suit his own needs, and regained control of the Isle of Man. The fleet overwintered on the island, and the following spring sailed northwards home. On the way, the forced attacked a contingent of Scots on Kintyre, suffering heavy casualties. Guðrøðr was slain in 1231 on the island of Lewis
; Óláfr died in 1237.
at his palace, and granted Uspak the title of king
, and bestowed upon the him the royal name Hákon
. The Norwegian king decided upon a plan to give Uspak an army to command in the Hebrides. In Spring, Hakon set out for Bergen
, and upon his arrival ordered the preparation of the fleet. While preparations were under way, Óláfr came to the king, stating that he had fled from Mann because Ailín had driven him off his lands; he also stated that Ailín had made many threats to the Norwegians. Óláfr stayed in Bergen for several nights, before leaving for Orkney with Páll Bálkason
. Before the fleet had left Orkney, it had swelled in size to twenty ships. When, Balki 'the Young' Pálsson, and Óttarr Snækollr, heard of this, they sailed south to Skye
, where they came upon Þórkell Þórmóðsson at Vestrajǫrðr, where they fought him. Þórkell was slain along with two of his sons; however, another son, named Þórmóðr, survived by leaping onto a cask
which floated beside the ship, and was driven along the shore to Hattarskot. After their victory, Óttarr Snækollr and Bálki 'the Young' sailed to meet Uspak and the fleet.
After the death of Þórkell, the whole fleet sailed to the Sound of Islay
, and was further strengthened by Hebrideans and grew to a size of eighty ships. The fleet sailed on to the Bute, where the force invaded the island and took the castle
while suffering heavy casualties. The fleet then sailed to Kintyre
, and Uspak fell ill and died. Óláfr then took control of the expedition, and they sailed south to the Isle of Man. The Norwegians left in the Spring
, and sailed north to Kintyre; here they encountered a strong force of Scots
and both sides lost many men during the ensuing battle. Following this, the fleet sailed north to Lewis
and came upon Þórmóðr Þórkelson. Þórmóðr fled, his wife was taken as a captive of war, and all his treasure was seized. The Norwegians then travelled to Orkney, and most of the fleet sailed back to Norway
. Páll, however, remained behind in the Hebrides, where he was slain several weeks later.
There have been several proposed locations for Vestrajǫrðr, which translates from Old Norse
as: "the western firth
". Writing in 1871 of the history and traditions of Skye, Alexander Cameron noted the events surrounding Þórkell at Vestrajǫrðr, and stated that the location refers to Loch Bracadale
. Some years later in 1886, historian
Alexander MacKenzie
also noted the battle, and stated that the location "was said to be" Loch Bracadale. In 1922, Anderson suggested that Vestrajǫrðr may equate to Loch Dunvegan
. Recently Peder Gammeltoft has equated Vestrajǫrðr to either Loch Dunvegan
or Loch Snizort
. In the late 18th century, James Johnstone considered that Hattarskot refers to a promontory
in Argyllshire or Ross
. Later in the 19th century, antiquarian
F.W.L Thomas stated that Hattarskot specifically refers to Applecross
, and theorised that Hattarskot was a Norse attempt to render Aporcrosan—an early form of the placename. Gammeltoft suggested that Hattarskot referred to Gairloch
.
Thomas considered that Þórmóðr Þórkelson was the surviving son of Þórkell; later at the beginning of the 20th century, historian William C. Mackenzie was of the same opinion. According to 19th century Norwegian historian Peter Andreas Munch
, it is unclear why Þórkell was singled out and attacked by members of the Norwegian-Hebridean fleet; although, he suggested that it might have had to do with a personal feud
between Þórkell and Páll. Thomas stated that Þórkell seems to have backed the side of Guðrøðr, in opposition of Óláfr; since Páll's father, Balki, was a follower (a sheriff
) of Óláfr, and Páll himself was a close companion of Óláfr. W.C. Mackenzie noted that not long after the fleet forced Þórmóðr from Lewis, Guðrøðr took revenge on Páll, who had mutilated him years before. W.C. Mackenzie stated that it appears that Guðrøðr was seated on Lewis, and noted that Guðrøðr killed Páll on Skye, before being slain himself on Lewis days later.
. The Old Norse names Þórmóðr and Þórkell are the ultimate origin of the modern Scottish Gaelic names Tormod
and Torcall. Thomas noted that the traditionally the clan is said to have two branches—one is traditionally known in Scottish Gaelic as Sìol Thormoid ("Seed of Tormod"), the other is known as Sìol Thorcaill
("Seed of Torcall"). Historically, Sìol Thorcaill was the dominant family on Lewis from the Late Middle Ages
to the end of the 16th century. Sìol Thormoid has held lands in western Skye since the Late Middle Ages, and descendants (in the female line) of the original chiefly line are still seated on the shores
of Loch Dunvegan. According to clan tradition, the two branches take their names from two brothers who were sons of the clan's founder—Torcall and Tormod, sons of Leod. However, the current understanding of the origin of the these branches is that these two men were not brothers, but one was a grandson of the other—Torcall
was the grandson of Tormod
, who was the son of Leod
. Leod and his son, Tormod, do not appear in contemporaneous historical records; although Torcall does, in the mid 14th century.
Thomas believed that the eponymous ancestor of the clan was Ljótólfr
, a character in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga
, which depicts him as a 12th century nobleman from Lewis
. The currently accepted understanding of the clan's origin is that the clan's eponym was another man, named Leod (a name derived from the Old Norse Ljótr), who is thought to have flourished about a century after the time of Ljótólfr. While the current understanding of Leod's ancestry does not include a man named Ljótólfr, the 20th century clan historian Alick Morrison considered it possible that Ljótólfr could be an ancestor, albeit on his distaff
side.
Thomas proposed that Þórmóðr Þórkelson was the surviving son of Þórkell Þórmóðsson; and that Þórkell Þórmóðsson was in turn the grandson of Ljótólfr. Thomas pointed out that, since the saga states that Þórkell left behind his wife and possessions on Lewis when he fled the returning fleet, the saga shows that Þórkell was a resident on that island. Thomas theorised that a generation
could be estimated to about 30 years, and noted that Þórkell was married in about 1231. Thomas estimated that Þórmóðr was born in 1201; his (supposed) father, Þórkell, in 1171; Þórkell's father Þórmóðr in 1141; and this man's father in 1111. Thomas concluded that Þórkell's father would have been born at about the same time as when Ljótólfr flourished on Lewis.
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar is an Old Norse kings' saga, telling the story of the life and reign of King Haakon Haakonarson of Norway. The saga was written by the Icelandic historian and chieftain Sturla Þórðarson, in the 1260s...
, a kings' saga composed in the last half of the 13th century. The saga relates that in about the year 1230, a Norwegian-Hebridean fleet sailed down through 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...
, where it attacked certain islands there, and proceeded on to 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...
. As the fleet made its way southward through the Hebrides, several members fought a battle with Þórkell at Vestrajǫrðr, near Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
. The exact location of Vestrajǫrðr is unknown, although Loch Bracadale
Loch Bracadale
Loch Bracadale is a sea loch on the west coast of Skye in Scotland.Loch Bracadale and its associated inner lochs - Harport, Vatten, Caroy, Bharcasaig, na Faolinn and Loch Beag - form one of the largest areas of semi-enclosed inshore waters around the Skye coast. The shallow waters are exploited for...
, Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan, is a sea loch on the west coast of the island of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Dunvegan, the village it was named after is located by its southern shore. The settlements of Galtrigill, Borreraig, Uig and Colbost are located on its western shore. Claigan is located on its...
, and Loch Snizort
Loch Snizort
Loch Snizort is a sea loch in the northwest of the Isle of Skye between the Waternish and Trotternish peninsulas. It is fed by the River Snizort, originating in the hills east of Bracadale. The mouth of Loch Snizort gives access to the lower Minch and contains the Ascrib Islands.Sea fishing in...
, all located on the western coast of Skye, have been proposed as possible locations. According to the saga, Þórkell and two of his sons were slain in the encounter, however a third son, named Þórmóðr, managed to escape with his life. Early the next year, the fleet headed northwards through the Hebrides back home. When it approached the island of Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
, a man named Þórmóðr Þórkelson fled for his life, leaving behind his wife and possessions to be taken by the marauding fleet.
In the late 19th century, it was suggested that the Þórmóðr Þórkelson that fled Lewis in 1231, was the same Þórmóðr Þórkelson who survived the battle at Vestrajǫrðr, in 1230. It is uncertain why Þórkell, and Þórmóðr, were singled out by the marauding fleet. One of the noted members of the fleet was Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of Mann and the Isles, who is known to have been at odds with his nephew, Guðrøðr Rögnvaldsson
Gofraid Donn
Gofraid mac Ragnaill was a 13th century Hebridean king, who descended from a long line of kings who ruled the Hebrides and the Isle of Man...
. One theory, put forward in the 19th century, asserts that Þórkell and Þórmóðr, had backed the side of Guðrøðr, and were killed by adherents of Óláfr.
It has also proposed that Þórkell and Þórmóðr could be descendants of another saga-character, Ljótólfr
Ljótólfr
Ljótólfr is a minor character in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga, who is purported to have flourished in the mid-12th century. The Orkneyinga saga was compiled in about 1200, and documents the reigns of the earls of Orkney. It depicts Ljótólfr as a nobleman who lived on the Outer Hebridean island of...
, who is recorded in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
. Furthermore, it was asserted that all three men were ancestors of Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
—that Ljótólfr's name is preserved in the surname: MacLeod
MacLeod
MacLeod and McLeod are surnames in the English language. Variant forms of the names are Macleod and Mcleod.Generally, the names are considered to be Anglicised forms of the Scottish Gaelic MacLeòid, meaning "son of Leòd". However, in some cases the names can also be Anglicised forms of the Irish...
; and that Þórkell's, and Þórmóðr's, names are preserved in the traditional branches of the clan: Sìol Thormoid, and Sìol Thorcaill
Clan MacLeod of Lewis
Clan Macleod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis, is a Highland Scottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the Western Isles and west coast of Scotland. From the 14th century up until the beginning of the 17th century there were two branches of Macleods: the...
.
Sources
Þórkell Þórmóðsson is recorded in the mediaeval kings' saga Hákonar saga HákonarsonarHákonar saga Hákonarsonar
Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar is an Old Norse kings' saga, telling the story of the life and reign of King Haakon Haakonarson of Norway. The saga was written by the Icelandic historian and chieftain Sturla Þórðarson, in the 1260s...
("Hakon Hakon's son's Saga"). The saga
Saga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
was composed by Sturla Þórðarson
Sturla Þórðarson
Sturla Þórðarson was an Icelandic politician/chieftain and writer of sagas and contemporary history during the 13th century.Sturla was the son of Þórður Sturluson and his mistress Þóra. He was a nephew and pupil of the famous saga-writer Snorri Sturluson...
, sometime around 1263–1284. Sturla based it on both written sources and oral tradition
Oral tradition
Oral tradition and oral lore is cultural material and traditions transmitted orally from one generation to another. The messages or testimony are verbally transmitted in speech or song and may take the form, for example, of folktales, sayings, ballads, songs, or chants...
s. The saga is preserved in several manuscripts that slightly differ from each other—these are: Eirspennill
Eirspennill
Eirspennill, also known as AM 47 fol, is a medieval manuscript which contains copies of four sagas: Heimskringla, Sverris saga, Böglunga sögur, and Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar. The manuscript is considered to date to the early 14th century, and a marginal note within states that in the mid 14th...
, the Flateyjarbók
Flateyjarbók
The Flatey Book, is an important medieval Icelandic manuscript. It is also known as GkS 1005 fol. and by the Latin name Codex Flateyensis.- Description :...
, the Frisbók, and the Skálholtsbók
Skálholtsbók
Reykjavík, AM 577 4to, known as Skálholtsbók , is an Icelandic saga-manuscript. It is now fragmentary: three gatherings of eight leaves and twenty individual leaves have been lost, leaving only 48 leaves...
. According to twentieth century historian Alan Orr Anderson
Alan Orr Anderson
Alan Orr Anderson was a Scottish historian and compiler. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh. The son of Rev. John Anderson and Ann Masson, he was born in 1879...
, although the Eirspennill version may be of a later date than the others, it is the most authoritative, and likely represents an early form of the saga.
Historical background
In the early 12th century, the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles encompassed the HebridesHebrides
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...
. In 1156, Guðrøðr Óláfsson, King of Mann and the Isles, fought an inconclusive naval battle with Somairle
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
, Lord of Argyll
Lord of Argyll
The sovereign or feudal lordship of Argyle was the holding of the senior branch of descendants of king Somhairle, this branch becoming soon known as Clan MacDougallConstruction of the Lordship of Argyll-Lorne essentially started with Donnchad mac Dubgaill....
, and the kingdom lost control of parts of the Inner Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
The Inner Hebrides is an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. Together these two island chains form the Hebrides, which enjoy a mild oceanic climate. There are 36 inhabited islands and a further 43 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than...
, although retained control of Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
. In 1187, Guðrøðr died, and had intended to that his young son Óláfr would succeed him. The Manx people, however, chose Guðrøðr's elder, although illegitimate son, Rögnvaldr. Bitter feuding between the two half-brothers in the late 12th and early 13th century severely weakened the kingdom. At one point, Rögnvaldr's son Guðrøðr
Gofraid Donn
Gofraid mac Ragnaill was a 13th century Hebridean king, who descended from a long line of kings who ruled the Hebrides and the Isle of Man...
drove Óláfr out of kingdom, only to be defeated by Óláfr, and then blinded and castrated by one of Óláfr's accomplices.
In the early 13th century, Alan, Lord of Galloway had sights set on the Isle of Man; his illegitimate son
Thomas of Galloway
Tomás mac Ailein, sometimes known as Thomas of Galloway, was an illegitimate son of Alan of Galloway , Constable of Scotland and the last Mac Fearghusa lord of Galloway...
was married to the daughter of Rögnvaldr, King of Mann and the Isles. Both Alan and his brother, Thomas, Earl of Atholl
Earl of Atholl
The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from...
, backed Rögnvaldr against Rögnvaldr's half-brother, Óláfr. In 1226, Óláfr ejected his brother from the Isle of Man, and ruled the kingdom for the next 11 years (Rögnvaldr was slain in 1229, fighting against Óláfr). Because of Óláfr's inability to control the warring in the Hebrides, Hákon Hákonarson
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak....
, King of Norway, promoted Óspakr, a descendant of Somairle, as king in the Isles. Hákon gave Uspak command of a fleet to establish himself in all of the Scottish islands, and according to historian G.W.S. Barrow, possibly Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
and Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
as well. Both Óláfr, and his nephew, Guðrøðr, accompanied the fleet as it sailed down through the Hebrides in the spring of 1230.
If the saga accounts are to be believed, the fleet totalled eighty ships, and according to historian Richard Oram
Richard Oram
Professor Richard D. Oram F.S.A. is a Scottish historian. He is a Professor of Medieval and Environmental History at the University of Stirling and an Honorary Lecturer in History at the University of Aberdeen. He is also the director of the Centre for Environmental History and Policy at the...
, this likely equates to a force of over three thousand men. When the fleet reached the southern 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...
, several grandsons of Somairle, who had sided with Alan, were captured and taken prisoner. The fleet likely entered the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
in early June, and the force attacked the Isle of Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
. Although the Norwegian-Hebridean force was successful in its attack, word of Alan's approach with over 200 ships forced the invading fleet to retreat into the Hebrides. Óspakr later died, more than likely due to wounds received on Bute. Command of the fleet then fell to Óláfr, who used the force to suit his own needs, and regained control of the Isle of Man. The fleet overwintered on the island, and the following spring sailed northwards home. On the way, the forced attacked a contingent of Scots on Kintyre, suffering heavy casualties. Guðrøðr was slain in 1231 on the island of Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
; Óláfr died in 1237.
Saga narrative
The Eirspennill version of the saga relates that towards the end of winter, the Norwegian king, Hákon, summoned an assemblyThing (assembly)
A thing was the governing assembly in Germanic and introduced into some Celtic societies, made up of the free people of the community and presided by lawspeakers, meeting in a place called a thingstead...
at his palace, and granted Uspak the title of king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
, and bestowed upon the him the royal name Hákon
Hakon
Hakon is a village in Hkamti Township in Hkamti District in the Sagaing Region of northwestern Burma. It is located to the north of Janhtang and east of Tekti in a heavily forested part of the country.-External links:*...
. The Norwegian king decided upon a plan to give Uspak an army to command in the Hebrides. In Spring, Hakon set out for Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and upon his arrival ordered the preparation of the fleet. While preparations were under way, Óláfr came to the king, stating that he had fled from Mann because Ailín had driven him off his lands; he also stated that Ailín had made many threats to the Norwegians. Óláfr stayed in Bergen for several nights, before leaving for Orkney with Páll Bálkason
Páll Bálkason
Páll, son of Bálki, or Paal Baalkeson, was a 13th century Hebridean lord who was an ally of Olaf the Black, king of Mann and the Isles. He was long remembered in Gaelic tradition and is traditionally the progenitor of certain families with roots in the Hebrides...
. Before the fleet had left Orkney, it had swelled in size to twenty ships. When, Balki 'the Young' Pálsson, and Óttarr Snækollr, heard of this, they sailed south to Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
, where they came upon Þórkell Þórmóðsson at Vestrajǫrðr, where they fought him. Þórkell was slain along with two of his sons; however, another son, named Þórmóðr, survived by leaping onto a cask
CASK
Peripheral plasma membrane protein CASK is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CASK gene. This gene is also known by several other names: CMG 2 , calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase 3 and membrane-associated guanylate kinase 2.-Genomics:This gene is located on the short arm of...
which floated beside the ship, and was driven along the shore to Hattarskot. After their victory, Óttarr Snækollr and Bálki 'the Young' sailed to meet Uspak and the fleet.
After the death of Þórkell, the whole fleet sailed to the Sound of Islay
Sound of Islay
The Sound of Islay is a narrow strait between the islands of Islay and Jura off the west coast of Scotland. It is approximately in extent from north to south and lies between Rubh' a' Mhàil on Islay and Rubh' Aird na Sgitheich on Jura to the north and Macarthur's Head and Rubha na Tràille to the...
, and was further strengthened by Hebrideans and grew to a size of eighty ships. The fleet sailed on to the Bute, where the force invaded the island and took the castle
Rothesay Castle
Rothesay Castle is a ruined castle in Rothesay, the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in western Scotland. Located at , the castle has been described as "one of the most remarkable in Scotland", for its long history dating back to the beginning of the 13th century, and its unusual circular...
while suffering heavy casualties. The fleet then sailed to Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, and Uspak fell ill and died. Óláfr then took control of the expedition, and they sailed south to the Isle of Man. The Norwegians left in the Spring
Spring (season)
Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, the transition period between winter and summer. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and regrowth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and...
, and sailed north to Kintyre; here they encountered a strong force of Scots
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
and both sides lost many men during the ensuing battle. Following this, the fleet sailed north to Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
and came upon Þórmóðr Þórkelson. Þórmóðr fled, his wife was taken as a captive of war, and all his treasure was seized. The Norwegians then travelled to Orkney, and most of the fleet sailed back to Norway
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...
. Páll, however, remained behind in the Hebrides, where he was slain several weeks later.
Commentary
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....
as: "the western firth
Firth
Firth is the word in the Lowland Scots language and in English used to denote various coastal waters in Scotland and England. In mainland Scotland it is used to describe a large sea bay, or even a strait. In the Northern Isles it more usually refers to a smaller inlet...
". Writing in 1871 of the history and traditions of Skye, Alexander Cameron noted the events surrounding Þórkell at Vestrajǫrðr, and stated that the location refers to Loch Bracadale
Loch Bracadale
Loch Bracadale is a sea loch on the west coast of Skye in Scotland.Loch Bracadale and its associated inner lochs - Harport, Vatten, Caroy, Bharcasaig, na Faolinn and Loch Beag - form one of the largest areas of semi-enclosed inshore waters around the Skye coast. The shallow waters are exploited for...
. Some years later in 1886, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Alexander MacKenzie
Alexander Mackenzie (historian)
Alexander Mackenzie, FSA Scot was a Scottish historian, author, magazine editor and politician. He was born on a croft, in Gairloch. In 1869 he settled in Inverness, where he later became an editor and publisher of the Celtic Magazine, and the Scottish Highlander. Mackenzie wrote numerous clan...
also noted the battle, and stated that the location "was said to be" Loch Bracadale. In 1922, Anderson suggested that Vestrajǫrðr may equate to Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan, is a sea loch on the west coast of the island of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Dunvegan, the village it was named after is located by its southern shore. The settlements of Galtrigill, Borreraig, Uig and Colbost are located on its western shore. Claigan is located on its...
. Recently Peder Gammeltoft has equated Vestrajǫrðr to either Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan
Loch Dunvegan, is a sea loch on the west coast of the island of Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Dunvegan, the village it was named after is located by its southern shore. The settlements of Galtrigill, Borreraig, Uig and Colbost are located on its western shore. Claigan is located on its...
or Loch Snizort
Loch Snizort
Loch Snizort is a sea loch in the northwest of the Isle of Skye between the Waternish and Trotternish peninsulas. It is fed by the River Snizort, originating in the hills east of Bracadale. The mouth of Loch Snizort gives access to the lower Minch and contains the Ascrib Islands.Sea fishing in...
. In the late 18th century, James Johnstone considered that Hattarskot refers to a promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
in Argyllshire or Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
. Later in the 19th century, antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
F.W.L Thomas stated that Hattarskot specifically refers to Applecross
Applecross
The Applecross peninsula is a peninsula in Wester Ross, Highland, on the west coast of Scotland. The name Applecross is at least 1300 years old and is not used locally to refer to the 19th century village with the pub and post office, lying on the small Applecross Bay, facing the Inner Sound, on...
, and theorised that Hattarskot was a Norse attempt to render Aporcrosan—an early form of the placename. Gammeltoft suggested that Hattarskot referred to Gairloch
Gairloch
Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch on the northwest coast of Scotland. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local...
.
Thomas considered that Þórmóðr Þórkelson was the surviving son of Þórkell; later at the beginning of the 20th century, historian William C. Mackenzie was of the same opinion. According to 19th century Norwegian historian Peter Andreas Munch
Peter Andreas Munch
Peter Andreas Munch , usually known as P. A. Munch, was a Norwegian historian, known for his work on the medieval history of Norway. Munch’s scholarship included Norwegian archaeology, geography, ethnography, linguistics, and jurisprudence...
, it is unclear why Þórkell was singled out and attacked by members of the Norwegian-Hebridean fleet; although, he suggested that it might have had to do with a personal feud
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
between Þórkell and Páll. Thomas stated that Þórkell seems to have backed the side of Guðrøðr, in opposition of Óláfr; since Páll's father, Balki, was a follower (a sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
) of Óláfr, and Páll himself was a close companion of Óláfr. W.C. Mackenzie noted that not long after the fleet forced Þórmóðr from Lewis, Guðrøðr took revenge on Páll, who had mutilated him years before. W.C. Mackenzie stated that it appears that Guðrøðr was seated on Lewis, and noted that Guðrøðr killed Páll on Skye, before being slain himself on Lewis days later.
Proposed connection with Ljótólfr, and Clan MacLeod
Thomas proposed that Þórmóðr Þórkelson, and Þórkell Þórmóðsson, were ancestors of Clan MacLeodClan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is Macleod of Macleod, are known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ; the Macleods of Lewis, whose chief is Macleod of The Lewes, are known in...
. The Old Norse names Þórmóðr and Þórkell are the ultimate origin of the modern Scottish Gaelic names Tormod
Tormod
Tormod is a masculine Scottish given name. It is a Scottish Gaelic name, derived as a Gaelic form of the Old Norse personal name Þórmóðr. This Old Norse name is composed of two elements: Þorr, meaning "Thor", the Norse god of thunder; and móðr, meaning "mind", "courage". The Anglicised form of the...
and Torcall. Thomas noted that the traditionally the clan is said to have two branches—one is traditionally known in Scottish Gaelic as Sìol Thormoid ("Seed of Tormod"), the other is known as Sìol Thorcaill
Clan MacLeod of Lewis
Clan Macleod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis, is a Highland Scottish clan, which at its height held extensive lands in the Western Isles and west coast of Scotland. From the 14th century up until the beginning of the 17th century there were two branches of Macleods: the...
("Seed of Torcall"). Historically, Sìol Thorcaill was the dominant family on Lewis from the Late Middle Ages
Scotland in the Late Middle Ages
Scotland in the late Middle Ages established its independence from England under figures including William Wallace in the late 13th century and Robert Bruce in the 14th century...
to the end of the 16th century. Sìol Thormoid has held lands in western Skye since the Late Middle Ages, and descendants (in the female line) of the original chiefly line are still seated on the shores
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is a castle a mile and a half to the North of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, situated off the west coast of Scotland. It is the seat of the MacLeod of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the...
of Loch Dunvegan. According to clan tradition, the two branches take their names from two brothers who were sons of the clan's founder—Torcall and Tormod, sons of Leod. However, the current understanding of the origin of the these branches is that these two men were not brothers, but one was a grandson of the other—Torcall
Torquil MacLeod
Torquil MacLeod was a Hebridean lord and is today considered to be the founder of the MacLeods of Lewis, who are known in Gaelic as Sìol Torcaill...
was the grandson of Tormod
Tormod MacLeod
Tormod MacLeod, sometimes referred to as Norman MacLeod, was a west Highland lord, and son of Leod, the traditional founder and eponymous ancestor of Clan MacLeod. Little is known about Tormod; like his father Leod, he does not appear in any contemporary records...
, who was the son of Leod
Leod
Leod is considered the eponymous ancestor and founder of Clan MacLeod and Clan MacLeod of Lewis. Almost nothing is known about him and he does not appear in any contemporary records. Tradition dating to the late 18th century made him a son of Olaf the Black who was King of Man...
. Leod and his son, Tormod, do not appear in contemporaneous historical records; although Torcall does, in the mid 14th century.
Thomas believed that the eponymous ancestor of the clan was Ljótólfr
Ljótólfr
Ljótólfr is a minor character in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga, who is purported to have flourished in the mid-12th century. The Orkneyinga saga was compiled in about 1200, and documents the reigns of the earls of Orkney. It depicts Ljótólfr as a nobleman who lived on the Outer Hebridean island of...
, a character in the mediaeval Orkneyinga saga
Orkneyinga saga
The Orkneyinga saga is a historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the ninth century onwards until about 1200...
, which depicts him as a 12th century nobleman from Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
. The currently accepted understanding of the clan's origin is that the clan's eponym was another man, named Leod (a name derived from the Old Norse Ljótr), who is thought to have flourished about a century after the time of Ljótólfr. While the current understanding of Leod's ancestry does not include a man named Ljótólfr, the 20th century clan historian Alick Morrison considered it possible that Ljótólfr could be an ancestor, albeit on his distaff
Distaff
As a noun, a distaff is a tool used in spinning. It is designed to hold the unspun fibers, keeping them untangled and thus easing the spinning process. It is most commonly used to hold flax, and sometimes wool, but can be used for any type of fiber. Fiber is wrapped around the distaff, and tied in...
side.
Thomas proposed that Þórmóðr Þórkelson was the surviving son of Þórkell Þórmóðsson; and that Þórkell Þórmóðsson was in turn the grandson of Ljótólfr. Thomas pointed out that, since the saga states that Þórkell left behind his wife and possessions on Lewis when he fled the returning fleet, the saga shows that Þórkell was a resident on that island. Thomas theorised that a generation
Generation
Generation , also known as procreation in biological sciences, is the act of producing offspring....
could be estimated to about 30 years, and noted that Þórkell was married in about 1231. Thomas estimated that Þórmóðr was born in 1201; his (supposed) father, Þórkell, in 1171; Þórkell's father Þórmóðr in 1141; and this man's father in 1111. Thomas concluded that Þórkell's father would have been born at about the same time as when Ljótólfr flourished on Lewis.