By Fiona Grahame

Described as ‘sinister’ and ‘scheming’, Frakokk of Dale, gets a bad press throughout historical accounts, even in the 21st century. Her story is shrouded in mysticism and sorcery, which subsumes the real tale of a powerful woman in late Medieval Scotland.

Frakokk of Dale was the daughter of Moddan of Dale, which was a great valley in Caithness. She was, by the 11th century, part of a Celtic Norse lineage that dominated the north of Scotland and the Northern Isles. She married Liot who was known as Nithing – a renegade and villain. That he might be, but he was also a powerful landowner in Sutherland and on his death, Frakokk continued to hold the estate. Her base was in Helmsdale and from there, through a series of arranged marriages she cemented her power and influence well beyond her estates.

Arranged marriages were negotiated contracts between families which could be used to call on support, including military might, when needed. In a society controlled by a small inter-related elite negotiating marriage deals took great skill and political acumen. In 1314 it enabled Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, to call on the support of Orcadian warriors at the Battle of Bannockburn due to his sister Isabella’s  marriage to the Norwegian King Eric.

The Orcadians Who Fought At Bannockburn

Frakokk’s sister, Helga, was the mistress of Haakon, Earl of Orkney, who had become sole ruler of the Earldom when he had his cousin, Earl Magnus, killed. Her daughter was married to Olaf Bitling, King of Man. Her niece, Margaret, married Maddad, Earl of Atholl, cousin of David, King of Scots.

During the time of the two Earls, Harald (Helga’s son by Earl Haakon) and Paul, the OrkneyInga tells us, 

“ She [Frakokk} and her sister Helga had a lot to say in the government of Earl Harald.”

Orkney Earls and their retinue were away for long periods during the year, six months or more, sailing both south and north for trading and military purposes. When away, their wives were maintaining the running of their estates.

The plan conceived by Frakokk was to eliminate Paul from the Earldom and for Harald to become sole Earl. Harald, however, died suddenly, not on a raid but in his own bed. The accused were Helga and Frakokk. It was said they had woven a poisoned shirt, intended for Earl Paul, but which Harald grabbed and put on in a fit of jealousy. Earl Paul banished the two women to Sutherland.

Vikings: The Silver Age

Back in her power base, Frakokk raised Erlend, Earl Harald’s son, who she now had ambitious plans for in his claim to the Earldom.

During his rule Earl Paul faced challenges to the Earldom. In his campaign against Paul, Rognvald Kali Kolsson, from his base in Norway, sent envoys to Frakokk for the military support she could provide with her grandson, Olvir Rosti,(Brawl) the Unruly. The deal was that should he win, Rognvald would share the Earldom with Harald, son of Maddad Earl of Atholl, the grandson of Earl Haakon, Frakokk’s nephew. As her nephew was still an infant, Olvir, her grandson, would rule in his stead. The deal was negotiated successfully and supported by David, King of Scots and his cousin, Maddad Earl of Atholl. Rognvald Kali Kolsson, needed this support from Frakokk and her influential links with the Scottish King because he was little known in Orkney where Earl Paul was a popular ruler.

Frakokk pledged that ‘over winter I’ll gather an army in Scotland from my kinsmen, friends, and in-laws. ‘ – OrkneyInga Saga.

This she did and mustered 12 longships with Olvir, ‘an exceptionally big and powerful man’, in command. Rognvald was supposed to arrive with his ships from Shetland but was delayed which left Frakokk’s forces alone to take on the might of Earl Paul. A great sea battle took place off Tankerness in Orkney which saw the defeat of Frakokk’s fleet.

During the battle Olvir was hit by a huge rock thrown by Svein Breast-Rope.  Knocked unconscious by the blow, Olvir, landed in the sea and was rescued by his men who quickly set sail back across the Pentland Firth. The victorious Earl Paul, then sailed on to Shetland, where Rognvald’s ships were still lingering, and defeated him.

In his second and successful campaign to take the Earldom, Rognvald did not involve Frakokk’s forces, now, of course, heavily weakened. 

Earl Rognvald: Orkney’s Warrior Poet

Although not an Earl, Svein Asleifarson was one of the most colourful and interesting characters whose life weaves its way throughout many of the chapters of the OrkneyInga Saga. Svein’s father had been killed by Frakokk and Olvir, burned to death in his Caithness home. Svein did not forget this and visited  Frakokk’s brother, Earl Ottar of Thurso, who paid him compensation for the death of his father and for other dealings of Frakokk’s which Svein said  had affected him.

Svein, Orkney’s last sea wolf, changed sides as it suited him, at different times he supported Earl Paul and at others,  Earl Rognvald. In an arrangement with Earl Rognvald, Svein captured Earl Paul who he transported to the lands of Earl Maddad in Atholl. Earl Paul was mutilated whilst in captivity there and died. 

Svein Asleifarsson – Orkney’s Last Sea Wolf

Svein was not content with the compensation paid to him by Frakokk’s brother  and desired revenge. Earl Rognvald, gave two ships to Svein, who he was now indebted to for the ‘removal of Earl Paul. This would enable Svein to pay back Frakokk, who by this time was elderly. Even though Rognvald did not consider Frakokk a threat to himself, and once had agreements with her, he gave Svein, two longships on his quest for vengeance.

Frakokk and Olvir were not complacent about how vulnerable they could be to attack in Helmsdale. They posted spies and lookouts to alert them to any attack coming from Orkney and the north. Svein, however, sailed south to the Moray Firth where, with the help of guides provided by Maddad, worked their  way through forests and across mountains, to Helmsdale.

Frakokk and Olvir were taken completely by surprise. Olvir retreated to the farmhouse where Frakokk was ‘where there was a great slaughter’. Olvir managed to escape and made his way to refuge in The Hebrides. For the elderly Frakokk there was no such escape. The farmhouse was looted and set on fire with Frakokk inside.

It is interesting that even 21st century accounts of Frakokk describe her as a scheming manipulative woman. Quite a contrast to the way many of the Earls and  Svein Asliefarsson is described. They are heroic figures. Svein is a ‘trickster’. Earl Rogvald is even elevated to sainthood. Their double dealings and betrayals are as bad, if not worse, than anything Frakokk could get up to. She was an intelligent and powerful woman who used her skills to ensure her influence and marriage ties with the elite families, retained their positions controlling north Scotland, Orkney and Shetland.

This article was first published in iScot Magazine.