Páll Bálkason

Páll, son of Bálki, or Paal Baalkeson, was a 13th century Hebridean lord who was an ally of Olaf the Black, king of Mann and the Isles. He was long remembered in Gaelic tradition and is traditionally the progenitor of certain families with roots in the Hebrides. Paal Baalkeson is recorded as being a sheriff of Skye; a post which had earlier been held by another Paal Baalkeson, who was possibly his grandfather. This earlier sheriff was said to have been the best friend of Godred Crovan, who was a Norse-Gaelic ruler of Dublin, and King of Mann and the Isles.

Sources

Much of our knowledge of Páll comes from his appearances in the medieval Chronicle of Mann and later MacLeod tradition. Within the Chronicle of Mann he is named as Paul filius Boke, and is titled as a vicecomes of Skye. This title has usually been translated into English as "sheriff", since it is the regular form of "sheriff": in later times in Scotland. According to W. D. H. Sellar, it is more likely that vicecomes refers to a Norse title, such as syslumadh or armadhr (Gaelic: armann). His title appears to show that he was the official representative of the kings of Man on Skye. In later Gaelic tradition, Páll is portrayed as a "hermit"; it has been suggested that this description may actually refer to this Norse title.

Chronicle of Mann

The Chronicle of Mann describes how Páll was an ally of Olaf the Black, brother to Reginald, King of Mann and the Isles. The chronicle relates that Reginald gave Olaf the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis. The island was, however, thinly population and the land was mostly unfit for cultivation. After a while Olaf determined that he could no longer support himself and his followers; he then asked his brother for further lands. Reginald then had Olaf seized and sent to William of Scotland, where he was kept imprisoned for almost seven years. On the seventh year the king of Scots died and Olaf was subsequently released. Olaf returned to his brother on Mann, and then set off on a pilgrimage; upon his return, the two brothers got on amicably, with Reginald setting up a marriage between Olaf and Lauon, sister to his own wife. After the marriage between Olaf and Lauon the couple proceeded to Lewis where they lived. Some time later, Reginald, Bishop of the Isles (and nephew to Olaf), the island. The bishop disapproved of Olaf's marriage on the grounds that Olaf had a concubine who was a cousin of Lauon. A synod was assembled the marriage was nullified. Olaf later married Christina, daughter of Fearchar, Earl of Ross. The nullification of the marriage enraged Lauon's sister, the Queen of the Isles. In bitterness, the queen sought to sow discord between Olaf and her husband. The queen wrote secretly to her son, Godred, who was on Skye. The letter was written in the king's name; it ordered Godred to seize and kill Olaf. Godred then gathered a force on Skye and proceeded to Lewis where he laid waste to most of the island. Olaf, however, managed to narrowly escape with a few men and fled to the protection of his father-in-law.

The chronicle describes Páll as having power and energy which "were felt throughout the whole kingdom of the Isles". It states that Páll refused to consent to the murder of Olaf and that he fled Godred to reside with Olaf who was then safe under the protection of the Earl of Ross. Páll and Olaf then entered into a pact of friendship; together they went to Skye, where they learned Godred was staying on a certain island called "the island of Saint Columba", without much protection or many attendants. The two lords then gathered as many men as possible and under the cover of darkness, they brought five ships from the closest point of the shore, which was about two furlongs from the island. When morning came, Godred and his few followers were shocked to find themselves surrounded by enemies. At nine o'clock, Olaf and Páll attacked the island with their full force; every one of Godred's men who couldn't find protection within the grounds of a church were summarily put to death. Godred was seized, blinded and castrated, against Olaf's wishes. The chronicle states that he was unable to prevent the mutilation and torture of his nephew on account of Páll's predecessor, Bálki. The chronicle dates the event to the year 1223. This act is confirmed in contemporary Icelandic Annals, which also state that despite his injuries, Godred was appointed by Haakon, king of Norway, as king in the Hebrides. Not long afterwards, Godred had Páll killed in the Hebrides.

Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar

Páll is mentioned within the 13th century Icelandic saga Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar. He is recorded as being active in the year 1223; and his death is recorded in the year 1231. The saga also states that at the time of his death, he had a son, Bálki, who was by that time a grown warrior.

History of the MacDonalds

The story of Godred Donn's blinding and castration was long remembered in Gaelic tradition. An account of it appears in the 17th century manuscript history, History of the MacDonalds, written by the Sleat senachie, Hugh MacDonald. This account is, however, quite garbled. It dates the event about 80 years out of sync. This account states that "Olay" and Somerled "killed Godfrey Du, or the Black, by putting out his eyes, which was done by the hermit MacPoke, because Godfrey Du had killed his father formerly". Sellar noted that for MacDonald's "Olay" and "Olay the Red", one should read Olaf the Black; for "Godfrey Du", one should read Godred Donn; and for "the hermit MacPoke", one should read Páll, son of Bálki.

Bannatyne manuscript

The Bannatyne manuscript, dates to about the year 1830. Páll appears in this manuscript as "Paal Baccas". He is stated to have owned the Skye estates of Sleat, Trotternish, Waternish, and Snizort; as well the island of Harris. The manuscript also notes that at during this era, the northern part of North Uist was considered part of the lands of Harris; and that he owned this northern part of Uist as well. These lands had originally been ruled by several Gaelic and Norse families, though they were later won by the ancestors of Paal Baccas. In consequence the the local populations acknowledged Paal Baccas' authority over them. The manuscript states that Paal Baccas had a natural son; when Paal Baccas died in 1231, he did not leave his lands to this son; he instead left all of his estates to Leod—eponymous ancestor of the MacLeods. According to the manuscript, no one opposed Leod's claim to these lands.

Location of the "island of Saint Columba"

Eilean Chaluim Chille, on Skye. The (former) island sits in a now drained loch. The island was long associated with a man now considered to be Paal Baalkeson.

It has sometimes been stated that the insula sancte columbe ("Saint Columba's Isle") which the Chronicle of Mann refers to, may in fact represent the small island of Iona, which is known in Scottish Gaelic as Ì Chaluim Chille. There have been several other islands suggested; all of which are located on, or near, Skye. One such location was the 'Island of St. Colm', near Portree, which was suggested by Alick Morrison. Sellar, however, noted that Morrison gave no evidence in support of this location. Another proposed location is the 'Island of St Columba', which is situated in the middle of the river Snizort; and which is located only few hundred yards from the sea. This island was for a time, the site of a mediaeval cathedral. It is also the site of the traditional burial grounds of the MacNeacails of Scorrybreac. Sellar proposed another location, which he stated was much more likely to have been the island where Olaf and Paal Baalkeson attacked Godfrey. This was Eilean Chaluim Chille, at Kilmuir, Skye. This island was originally in the middle of Loch Chaluim Chille grid reference NG37706885. This loch was drained in the 18th century. This island was long associated in local tradition with a man thought to represent Paal Baalkeson. According to Sellar, this location fits perfectly with the locations described in the Chronicle of Mann.

Legacy

Paal Baalkeson has long been remembered in Gaelic tradition. Traditions from the vicinity of Kilmuir (on Skye), still remembered in the early 20th century, concerned a man described as Fear Caisteal Eilean Chaluim Chille ("the man of the castle of Eilean Chaluim Chille") who is considered to represent the historical Paal Baalkeson. The Bannatyne manuscript states that Paal had a natural son, from whom descended a family that held the island of Berneray and other lands on Harris under the MacLeods. It continues that the family was once powerful and numerous, but it fell into decline and only a few of them remained. The manuscript names this family as Clan Vic Phaich; and states that they prided themselves in their descent from Paal Baalkeson. This Berneray family is surnamed MacKillop, yet are known in Scottish Gaelic as MacPhàic. Matheson stated that their traditional name presumably referred to the father of Paal Baalkeson, Bàlki; or perhaps to a son of Paal Baalkeson who was so-named. Matheson proposed that the MacPhails, originally from the Sand district on North Uist, and the those from Carloway on Lewis, took their name from Paal Baalkeson.

The 17th century Gaelic poet Duncan Macrae of Inverinate referred to Roderick MacLeod of Dunvegan (chief 1693–1699), within a song as éighre Shìol Phàic (the "heir of the seed of Bálki"). Matheson proposed that the MacLeods were male-line descendants of Bálki, specifically that Leod's grandfather was the father of Paal Baalkeson. Matheson also considered that this may help explain why MacLeod tradition states that Paal Baalkeson left his estates to Leod, instead of his own illegitimate son. Matheson's proposal was, however, met with much criticism from his peers.