Haakon Sigurdsson and Tora Skagesdotter

Haakon Sigurdsson
Jarl of Hladr and Protector of Norway
29th Great Grandfather
b. December 24, 937, Hlade, Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag, Norway
d. February, 995, Romol, Sor-Trondelag, Norway

Tora Skagesdotter
Great Grandmother
b. Abt. 944, Bergen, Hordaland, Norway
d. 974, Norway

Jarl Haakon Sigurdsson, 935 - 995, better known as just Jarl Haakon, was the ruler of a part of Norway for about twenty years, from 975 - 995. Haakon's father, Sigurd Haakonsson, was the Earl of Lade, ( or Hladhir ). Sigurd was killed, in about 861, by King Harald Greyhides men, and shortly there-after his son Haakon, became the Earl ,or Jarl, of Hladhir. After continuous fighting Jarl Haakon was forced to flee to Denmark, and the protection of the court of Harald Bluetooth. After finalizing a plan of attack together, they invaded Norway and finally killed Harald Greyhide in 970.

Under the protection of Harald Bluetooth, of Denmark, Jarl Haakon was installed as the ruler of Norway. Apparently he never took the title of king as the histories and sagas all call him Jarl. Jarl Haakon broke his allegiance to Harald Bluetooth when the king of Denmark tried to force him to convert to Christianity. Jarl Haakon would not dishonor his ancestors, or his folk, by giving up the Old Gods. The Christian Danes attacked but were defeated at the battle of Hjorungavar in 986.

In Snorre Sturlason's, " Heimskringla", Snorre writes, "While Hacon the Jarl was ruling over Norway there were good seasons in the land, and good peace between the borders within." Snorre also gives us a picture of Jarl Haakon's devotion to the old Gods when he writes, " When Haakon the Jarl went north along the coast in the summer, and the people gave themselves to him, he bade them keep up the temples and blood offerings all over the land, and so it was done." Snorre blames Jarl Haakon's falling out of favor with the populace, on his dealings with women, but does not go into details.

In 995, the Christian, Olaf Trygvasson, Olaf I, arrived in Norway with an army, and quickly Jarl Haakon lost support and had to flee with his slave and friend, Tormod Kark. While hiding in a pig sty in a farm Rimul in Melhus, the slave betrayed him and took the Jarl's life hoping that Olaf Trygvasson would spare his. Olaf killed the slave as well.