Haakon Paulsson

Haakon Paulsson (Old Norse: Hákon Pálsson; died 1123) was a Norwegian jarl who ruled the earldom of Orkney together with his cousin Magnus Erlendsson from 1105 to 1123.

Paul and Erlend remained on friendly terms until their children grew to adulthood, after which disputes between their sons led to a quarrel and open hostility between the brothers.

[7] Haakon Paulsson went on a long journey to Scandinavia, latterly staying with his kinsman, Magnus Barefoot the king of Norway.

[8] Haakon knew Magnus was power-hungry and suggested that he take back direct control of Orkney as a base for raiding further afield as his predecessor Harold Fairhair had done.

[7] On a second expedition to Ireland Magnus Barefoot was killed in 1103 and after ascending to the Norwegian throne aged only fourteen, his son Sigurd made Haakon earl of Orkney c.

[13] According to the Orkneyinga saga, Haakon's cousin Magnus Erlendsson was initially rejected by the Norwegian rulers because of his religious convictions.

Having failed to reach an agreement, Magnus sought help from King Eystein I of Norway who granted him the joint earldom of Orkney.

"[19] At the time the Orkneyinga saga was first written down Haakon's grandson, Harald Maddadsson, was Earl of Orkney and the writer clearly had some difficulty in portraying the kin-slaying of Magnus Erlendsson.

Thomson (2008) concludes that the "assembly" that sentenced Magnus was either invented or heavily emphasised in order to "divert some of the blame from Hakon [sic]".