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 Paal Baalkeson comes from his appearances in the Chronicle of Mann and 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 in Skye. In later Gaelic tradition, Paal Baalkeson is portrayed as a "hermit"; it has been suggested that this description may actually refer to this Norse title.

Chronicle of Mann

Paal Baalkeson is described within the Chronicle of Mann as "a vigorous and powerful man throughout the kingdom of the Isles". He appears as an ally of Olaf the Black. In the year 1223, Paul and Olaf are recorded as going secretly to Skye, where they learned the Godfrey was staying with a few men on an island called insula sancte columbe ("the isle of Saint Columba"). Under the cover of night they had five ships dragged from the sea's shore, and encircled the small island. In consequence, when Godfrey and is followers awoke in the morning they found themselves surrounded. Olaf and Paal Baalkeson had many of Godfrey's men killed and captured. Godfrey himself was blinded and castrated at the bidding of Paul, but at against the wishes of Olaf. This act is confirmed in contemporary Icelandic Annals, which also state that despite his injuries, Godfrey was appointed by Haakon, king of Norway, as king in the Hebrides. Not long afterwards, Godfrey had Paal Baalkeson killed in the Hebrides.

Hákonar saga Hákonarsonar

Paal Baalkeson 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 Godrey 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 Godfrey Donn; and for "the hermit MacPoke", one should read Paal Baalkeson.

Bannatyne manuscript

The Bannatyne manuscript, dates to about the year 1830. Paal Baalkeson 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 ancestors of Paal Baccas, and the local populations acknowledged his authority over them. Paal Baccas had a natural son. When Paal Baccas died in 1231, he did not leave his lands to his son, but left all of his estates to Leod, ancestor of the MacLeods. No one opposed Leod's claim to these lands.

Location of insula sancte columbe

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.