Margrét Hákonardóttir, countess of Orkney

Margaret of Orkney

• MARGARET (before [1115]-). Orkneyinga Saga names “Harald…Smooth-Tongue and two daughters…Ingibjorg…Margaret” as the children of Earl Hakon and his mistress Helga[978]. It is unlikely that Margaret was born after [1115] if it is correct that her son was born in 1134. Orkneyinga Saga records that “Margaret Hakon’s-Daughter” married “Earl Maddad of Atholl”[979]. Orkneyinga Saga records that “Erlend the Young” abducted Margaret from Orkney and took her to Shetland, and that her son eventually granted permission for their marriage[980]. m firstly ([1133]%29 as his second wife, MADDAD [Madach] Earl of Atholl, son of --- (-[1142/52]). m secondly ERLAND "Ungi/the Young (-killed 1156). - http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTTISH%20NOBILITY.htm#MargaretM1M...

Project MedLands, Scotland Earls

MADDAD [Madach] (-[1142/52]). According to the Complete Peerage, Madach Earl of Atholl was the son of Maelmuire, but it cites no corresponding primary source[147]. The sources quoted below, dated to before the charter in which Maelmuire is named (see above), suggest that this affiliation cannot be correct. The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. Mormaer of Atholl. "Alexander nepos regis Alexandri, Beth comes, Gospatricius Dolfini, Mallus comes, Madach comes, Rothri comes, Gartnach comes, Dufagan comes, Willelmus frater regine, Edwardus constabularius, Gospatricius filius Walthef, Ufieth Alfricus pincerna" witnessed the charter dated to [1114/15] under which "Alexander…rex Scottorum filius regis Malcolmi et regine Margerete et…Sibilla regina Scottorum filia Henrici regis Anglie" reformed Scone Abbey[148]. He is known as the first Earl of Atholl. "…Madach comes…" subscribed the possibly spurious charter dated to [1120] of "Alexander…Rex Scottorum…Sibilla regina Scottorum…"[149]. "…Madeth comes…" witnessed a charter dated to [1128] by which "David…Rex Scottorum" made grants to the church of Dunfermline[150]. "Madeth comite…" witnessed a charter dated 1130 by which "David…Rex Scottorum" confirmed the shire of Kirkcaldy to the church of Dunfermline[151]. "…Madd comite…" witnessed a charter dated to [1135] by which "David Rex Scottorum" granted Swinton to "Arnulfo…mee militi"[152]. [m firstly ---. No direct evidence has yet been found to corroborate Maddad’s first marriage. However, the chronology of his son Malcolm suggests that he was not born from Maddad’s marriage to Margaret of Orkney.] m [secondly] ([1133]%29 as her first husband, MARGARET of Orkney, illegitimate daughter of HAKON Paulsson Jarl of Orkney & his mistress Helga ---. Orkneyinga Saga names “Harald…Smooth-Tongue and two daughters…Ingibjorg…Margaret” as the children of Earl Hakon and his mistress Helga[153]. It is unlikely that Margaret was born after [1115] if it is correct that her son was born in 1134. Orkneyinga Saga records that “Margaret Hakon’s-Daughter” married “Earl Maddad of Atholl”[154]. She married secondly Erland "Ungi/the Young" (-killed 1156). Orkneyinga Saga records that “Erlend the Young” abducted Margaret from Orkney and took her to Shetland, and that her son eventually granted permission for their marriage[155].

Earl Maddad & his [Unknown first wife] had one child:

• a) MALCOLM (-[1186/Aug 1198]). His parentage is confirmed by the Liber Vitæ of Durham, as corrected by Balfour Paul (see below). Earl of Atholl. "Malcolmus comes Atholie…sponsa mea E. comitissa" donated "ecclesiam de Molin" to Dunfermline monastery by undated charter witnessed by "…H filio meo…"[156].

Earl Maddad & his [second] wife MARGARET of Orkney had one child:

• b) HARALD Maddadsson (1134-1206). Orkneyinga Saga names “Harald” as son of “Margaret Hakon’s-Daughter” and her husband “Earl Maddad of Atholl” when recording that his mother proposed him as earl of Orkney when he was three years old[157]. He was given ½ Orkney by Jarl Kali-Ragnvald in Dec 1139, and installed in early 1140 as Jarl of Orkney.

Source- Project MedLands, Scotland Earls - http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTTISH%20NOBILITY.htm#MaliseStrat...

Wikipedia

"Broch of Mousa (or Mousa Broch) is the finest preserved example of an Iron Age broch or round tower. It is in the small island of Mousa in Shetland, Scotland. It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe. It is thought to have been constructed c. 100 BC, one of more than 500 brochs built in Scotland. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument".

".....Mousa Broch continued to be used over the centuries and is mentioned in two Norse Sagas. Egil's Saga tells of a couple eloping from Norway to Iceland who were shipwrecked and used the broch as a temporary refuge. The Orkneyinga Saga gives an account of a siege of the broch by Earl Harald Maddadsson in 1153 following the abduction of his mother who was held inside the broch.......

"The broch is located on the western shore of the island of Mousa ...... It is accessible by boat from Sandwick, Shetland, 14 miles south of Lerwick. It stands on the flat rock surface of a low promontory near the shore overlooking Mousa Sound.

It is the tallest broch still standing and amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe."

Source: Wikipedia

Added by Janet Milburn 9/2/18

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