General Notes

Erlen "Ugni"; Jt Earl of Caithness during his cousin Rognvald's pilgrimage.  [Burke's Peerage]

--------------------------

EARLDOM of ORKNEY [NOR] - subject to King of Norway until after 1379

Erlend III Haraldsson Jarl of Orkney and Earl of half Caithness. On the recommendation of his grandmotherís sister Frakok and brother Jarl Ottar, Erlend secured the support of Sweyn Asleifsson, his half- uncles Lieutenant in Caithness. After Kali-Ragnvaldís departure on Crusade Erlend obtained the permission of King Eystein II (1142 to 1157) to administer the absent Jarlís share of Orkney (? Autumn 1151), but was unable to put it into effect as, by arrangement with Kali-Ragnvald, Jarl Harald II was acting as sole Jarl. After 24 May 1153 Erlend obtained recognition from King Malcolm IV as Earl of half Caithness and went to Norway, where he was invested by King Eystein II as Jarl of Orkney and was given permission to oust Jarl Harald II. In 1154 he went to Orkney, attacked Jarl Harald II at Kiarrek-Stadir (28/29 Sep.) and made him surrender his share on 30 Sep. 1154. Harald II, however, retained his own half of Caithness; and Erlend III, who was accepted by a Thing at Kirkwall after he had produced his letters patent from Eystein II, administered all Orkney, half in his own right and half on behalf of the absent Kali-Ragnvald III. In Dec. Harald II raided Orkney, but failed to capture Jarl Erlend; and he was again defeated by him and Sweyn Asleifsson in the Shetlands (Summer 1156). Erlend III appears to have been unwilling to surrender half the Earldom to Kali-Ragnvald III on his return from Palestine, as in Sep. 1156 Kali-Ragnvald III and Harald II made an alliance against Erlend III and invaded Orkney. Erlend III was dispossessed of Orkney, but captured Thurso in Caithness, returned to Orkney, defeated Harald II (24 Oct. 1156) and nearly captured Kali-Ragnvald III. Later, however, the two Jarls surprised Erlend III at Damsay, when he was dead drunk, and killed him, 21 Dec. 1156. Erlend III, who was the last Jarl of the male line of Eystein Glumra and Ragnvald I, is not recorded to have married or had any issue.  [Complete Peerage, X:Appendix A:21-2]