Helga Moddansdóttir
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Helga Moddansdóttir
Helga Moddansdóttir was the mistress of Haakon Paulsson who was Earl of Orkney from 1105 to 1123. The ''Orkneyinga saga'' states that she was the daughter of Moddan of Dale, Moddan () - described as a rich and well-born farmer - and that she and the earl had three children. She was a member of a powerful dynasty in northern Scotland, sometimes referred to as "Clan Moddan" by modern historians, whose power base was "Dale" possibly near the modern-day Helmsdale in Sutherland. Although little is known about her own activities save a fabulous story about a poisoned shirt that supposedly killed her son Harald it is clear that she, her sister Frakkök and her children had a significant impact on the politics of early 12th century Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland. Family background and status After the death of earl Magnus Erlendsson c. 1115 at the hands of his cousin Haakon Paulsson, the family of ''Moddan of Dale'' played a significant part in the affairs of the Earldom of Orkney. How ...
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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. Their lives and times are recounted in the ''Orkneyinga saga'', which was first written down in the early 13th century by an unknown Icelandic author. Family background Haakon's father was Paul Thorfinnsson who, along with his brother, Erlend Thorfinnsson, had ruled as a joint earl of Orkney. 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. Paul, who was the elder of the two, was "very much the one in charge" initially.''Orkneyinga saga'' c. 33 He married an unnamed daughter of Norwegian earl Hakon Ivarsson and they had two sons and four daughters. Of these siblings, Haakon played the greatest part in later Orcadian events. Their other children were Thora, Brynjolf, In ...
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