Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney

This is a Norse name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is properly referred to by the given name Magnus.

Magnus Erlendsson
Earl of Orkney
St. Magnus statue in Nidaros Cathedral (Trondheim, Norway)
Tenure1106–1117
Other namesMagnus the Martyr
Born1080
Died16 April 1117
Egilsay, Orkney Islands, Norway
ParentsErlend Thorfinnsson and Thora, daughter of Sumarlidi Ospaksson
Saint

Magnus of Orkney
Venerated in
Canonized11 July 1898 (cultus confirmation) by Pope Leo XIII
Feast16 April
AttributesViking clothing, axe
PatronageOrkney

Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney, sometimes known as Magnus the Martyr, was Earl of Orkney from 1106[1] to about 1117.

Flag of St Magnus; the unofficial predecessor to the modern Flag of Orkney

Magnus's grandparents, Thorfinn the Mighty, Jarl of Orkney and his wife Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, had two sons, Erlend and Paul, who were twins. Through Ingibiorg's father Finn Arnesson and his wife, the family was related to the Norwegian Kings Olav II and Harald II.

  1. ^ Muir (2005), p. 63.