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Haakon Paulsson

Haakon Paulsson (1080-1146) was Jarl of Orkney from 25 January 1103 to 1123, succeeding Magnus Barelegs and preceding Paul Haakonsson.

Biography[]

Haakon Paulsson was born on Orkney in 1080, the son of Jarl Paul Thorfinnsson of Orkneyar and the nephew of Erlend Thorfinnsson. When his father died in 1098, Haakon was at the court of King Magnus Barelegs of Norway, and he convinced Magnus to invade Orkneyar to depose Erlend, hoping that he could seize the earldom for himself. However, Magnus instead conquered Orkney and assumed the jarldom, reigning until his death in battle in 1103, upon which Haakon succeeded him. In 1105, his cousin Magnus Erlendsson claimed the throne for himself, and they shared power until 1115, when they fell out. In 1116, Haakon slew Magnus in battle on Egilsay, "martyring" him. He made his son Paul Haakonsson the new Jarl in 1123, and he died in 1146.

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