Earldom of Orkney

Earldom of Orkney
Orkneyjar / Norðreyjar (Old Norse)
  • c. 872–1231
  • c. 1236–1472
The Earldom of Orkney/Norðr in the 11th century, shaded brown, with the Kingdom of the Isles/Sodor shaded red.
The Earldom of Orkney/Norðr in the 11th century, shaded brown, with the Kingdom of the Isles/Sodor shaded red.
StatusDependency of Norway
CapitalKirkjuvagr
Common languagesNorn, Old Norse
Religion
Norse Paganism,
Christianity
Jarl (Earl) of Orkney 
• c.872–c. 892
Sigurd Eysteinsson (first)
• 1206–1231
Jon Haraldsson (last Norse jarl)
• 1434–1470
William Sinclair (last jarl under Norwegian Crown)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Picts
Kingdom of Scotland

The Earldom of Orkney was a Norse territory ruled by the earls (or jarls) of Orkney from the ninth century until 1472. It was founded during the Viking Age by Viking raiders and settlers from Scandinavia (see Scandinavian Scotland). In the ninth and tenth centuries it covered the Northern Isles (Norðreyjar) of Orkney and Shetland, as well as Caithness and Sutherland on the mainland. It was a dependent territory of the Kingdom of Norway until 1472, when it was absorbed into the Kingdom of Scotland. Originally, the title of Jarl or Earl of Orkney was heritable.[1]

  1. ^ Crawford, Barbara E. (8 August 2013). The Northern Earldoms: Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470. Birlinn. ISBN 9780857906182. Retrieved 7 August 2016.

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