When did Earl Magnus Die?

The year of Earl Magnus’ death has puzzled historians for years.

The dating evidence given in the Orkneyinga Saga is blatantly incorrect  - each section contradicting the other.

“The death-day of earl Magnus is two nights after Tiburce mass.  He had then been earl over the Orkneys seven winters, he and Hacon both together.  

There had then passed since the fall of king Olaf seventy-four winters.  Sigurd and Eystein and Olaf were the kings over Norway.  There had been passed since the birth of Christ one thousand and ninety and one winters.”

From this passage, we have a number of possible dates.

Olaf died in 1030, but his fall could also relate to him losing the Norwegian throne in c1028. So, depending on the interpretation of “fall”, this gives a year of either 1104 or 1102.

The “seven winters” gives two more possible dates – 1112 or 1115 (depending on whether Magnus was made earl in 1105 or 1108)

The final date, based on Christ’s death, is 1091 and can be immediately discounted as being far too early. 1102 and 1104 are also too early – predating Magnus’ acquisition of the earldom.

1112 is more promising, but is also too early and doesn't fit with the historical facts we know about Magnus.

That leaves 1115. Could that be the date?

Firstly, we must calculate the date of Easter, because we know the meeting on Egilsay took place after Easter Sunday.

Also, according to the saga account, Magnus died two days after the Feast of Saint Tiburce, or Saint Tiburtius. Tiburce/Tiburtius’ day is April 14, so thus we get the date of April 16 as the date of Magnus’ death.

In 1115, Easter Sunday was on April 18. Four days after Saint Tiburce’s day and two days after a known date for the earl’s murder. So 1115 can be ruled out.

Over the years, a number of other years have been proposed, 1116 and 1117 being the most common.

But Easter Sunday, 1116, was April 2. So if the delegation to Egilsay set out “in Easter Week”, Magnus’ death would have been over two weeks after Easter Sunday, on Sunday, April 16.

1117 is an often-quoted date, which, I suspect, was first suggested as it ties in with an account incorporated in the Longer Magnus Saga. This recounts a sermon allegedly delivered in Kirkwall, 20 years after Magnus’ death, by one “Master Robert”.

This sermon, if it is indeed historically valid, is thought to have been delivered at the founding of the cathedral in 1137. So, 1137-20=1117. But once again, the Easter dates don’t fit. Easter 1117, fell on March 25 – quite some time before the Egilsay meeting, which, the saga says, took place “immediately after the Easter celebrations”.

So we have come up blank. None of the “favoured” dates of the historians fit. So where now?

In 2004, Orcadian historian Gregor Lamb suggested 1118, after a study of Easter dates for the period. This conclusion, he said:

“hinges on the phrase ‘immediately after Easter’ and the word þegar, ‘immediate’ is indeed the word used in the original saga.”

Easter Sunday in 1118, fell on April 14, which also happened to be St. Tiburtius Mass. Then two days later was Tuesday, April 16.

This date, said Mr Lamb, also ties in with the tradition that important meetings – or things – took place on Tuesday.

“Great Thing meetings were invariably held on Tuesday, the third day of the week and there is no reason why the day chosen for this [Egilsay] meeting should have been an exception to the rule.”

So the year fits with the saga account at least.

Magnus and his retinue arrived on Egilsay on Easter Monday – April 15, 1118, - where the earl went to church to pray,

The following morning, April 16, Hakon’s men ransacked the church before going in search of the earl. The rest, as they say, is history.