BattlefieldsBattle of Rognvald and Paul — Pápey 1137
Early Medieval

Battle of Rognvald and Paul — Pápey 1137

1137
Orkney, Scotland
Also known as: Orcadian earl conflict 1137
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Naval Engagement
Location
Orkney, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Paul Hakonsson
Forces
Paul: c. 4–6 ships.
VS
Victor
Rognvald Kali Kolsson
Forces
Rognvald: c. 5–8 ships
Outcome
Rognvald secured Orkney earldom with Norwegian backing
The Battle

History & Significance

Rognvald Kali Kolsson — the future Saint Rognvald — conducted a naval campaign to seize the Orkney earldom from its incumbent Paul Hakonsson. The campaign included naval skirmishes around the Orkney islands. Rognvald's eventual success allowed him to build St Magnus Cathedral at Kirkwall as a memorial to his great-uncle Magnus Erlendsson — the great cathedral that still dominates the Orkney capital.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Orkney

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Orkney