Jon Haraldsson facts for kids

Jon Haraldsson was an important leader in Orkney a long time ago. He was known as the Jarl of Orkney from 1206 to 1231. Orkney is a group of islands north of Scotland.

Becoming an Earl

Jon and his brother David were the sons of Harald Maddadsson. When their father died in 1206, Jon and David became joint Earls of Orkney. This meant they ruled together.

Sadly, David Haraldsson became sick and died in 1214. After that, Jon Haraldsson ruled Orkney all by himself. To make sure there was peace, William the Lion, who was the King of Scotland, took Jon's daughter as a hostage in August 1214. This was a way to secure a peace agreement with the new Earl.

A Problem with the Bishop

In 1222, a big event happened involving Jon Haraldsson. A bishop named Adam, who was the Bishop of Caithness, was burned in his home by local farmers. At this time, Caithness was part of the Earldom of Orkney, which was part of the Kingdom of Norway.

The farmers were upset because Bishop Adam had increased a tax called the "butter tithe." This was a payment made with butter. They complained to Jarl Jon about it. Jon wasn't very interested in their complaints, but he was also annoyed with the Bishop for other reasons. He supposedly said something like, "The bishop and his butter can go away; you may do what you wish with him!"

A writer from that time, Boethius the Dane, thought Jon was responsible for Bishop Adam's death. However, Jon swore that he was innocent and was eventually pardoned. It was King Alexander II of Scotland who punished the farmers for the killing. Jarl Jon couldn't really stop King Alexander from getting involved because Pope Honorius III was happy with the punishments.

Challenges and His End

Later, a man named Snaekoll Gunnisson, who was a great-grandson of Rognvald Kali, believed he should share the Earldom with Jon Haraldsson. Jon's supporters and Snaekoll's supporters started fighting. They eventually agreed that King Haakon IV of Norway should decide who was the rightful Earl.

Everyone involved set off for Norway. However, in 1231, a ship carrying Jon Haraldsson, his supporters, and his family was lost at sea on the way back.

There is another story about how Earl Jon died. This version says he was living in Thurso, and his home was set on fire around him. He managed to escape to a cellar but was badly hurt by a man named Hanef, who worked for the King of Norway.

The End of a Line

The line of Norse Earls in Orkney had started a very long time ago, with Harald Fairhair. With the death of Jon Haraldsson, this long line of Norse Earls came to an end.

In 1236, King Haakon IV chose a new Earl. He picked Magnus, who was the son of Gille Críst. This choice started a new group of leaders for Orkney.

Sources

• Anderson, Alan Orr Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500-1286 2 Vols, (Edinburgh, 1922)
• Hudson, Benjamin T. Kings of Celtic Scotland (Westport, 1994)
• Morris, Christopher Viking Orkney: A Survey ( The Prehistory of Orkney. Ed. Colin Renfrew. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. 1985)
• Pálsson, Hermann and Paul Edwards, tr. Orkneyinga Saga: The History of the Earls of Orkney (Penguin, London, 1978)
• Scott, W.W. 'William I [known as William the Lion] (c.1142–1214), king of Scots.' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29452. Accessed 19 August 2014