, a post which had earlier been held by another Páll, son of Bálki, who was possibly an ancestor. This earlier sheriff was said to have been a close friend of Godred II, King of Mann and the Isles.
Background
Much of the contemporary knowledge of Páll comes from his appearances in the mediaeval
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.[1]
The post of "sheriff" had at one time been earlier been held by another Páll, son of Bálki who was possibly an ancestor of Páll.
The Chronicle of Mann describes how Páll was an ally of
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.[5]
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
king in the Hebrides. Not long afterwards, Godred had Páll killed in the Hebrides.[1]
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.[7]
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
senachie, Hugh MacDonald. This account is, however, quite garbled. It dates the event about 80 years out of sync.[1] 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".[8] 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.[1]
MacLeod tradition circa 1767
In 1767, a memorial was drawn up for the chief of Clan MacLeod, which contained a traditional account of the clan. This tradition states that Leod was fostered by Pol, son of Bok, who was sheriff of Skye. Pol gave Leod Harris and Leod later married the daughter of McCraild Armuinn and doing so received estates on Skye.[9]
Bannatyne manuscript
The Bannatyne manuscript dates to about the year 1830.
eponymous ancestor of the MacLeods. According to the manuscript, no one opposed Leod's claim to these lands.[3]
Location of the "island of Saint Columba"
Skye. The (former) island sits in a now drained loch
. The island was long associated with a man now considered to be Páll, son of Bálki.
It has sometimes been stated that the "Saint Columba's Isle" mentioned to in the Chronicle of Mann, may in fact represent the
Inner Hebridean 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 is the "Island of St. Colm", near Portree at Skeabost; suggested by historian 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 considered to be a much more likely candidate for the isle where Olaf and Páll attacked Godred Donn. This was Eilean Chaluim Chille, at Kilmuir, Skye. This island was originally in the middle of Loch Chaluim Chille, located at grid referenceNG37706885; though the long was drained in the 18th century. Sellar asserted that this location fit perfectly with the location described in the Chronicle of Mann. He also noted that the island was associated in local tradition with a man who is now thought to represent Páll.[1]
Legacy
Páll has long been remembered in Gaelic tradition. One tradition, still recounted in the early 20th century in the vicinity of Kilmuir, concerned a man described as Fear Caisteal Eilean Chaluim Chille ("the man of the castle of Eilean
MacKillop; yet they are known in Scottish Gaelic as MacPhàic.[note 3] Matheson stated that their traditional Gaelic name presumably referred to Bálki, father of Páll; or perhaps to a son of Páll who was also named Bálki. Matheson proposed that the MacPhails, originally from the Sand district on North Uist, and those from Carloway on Lewis, derived their surname from Páll.[7]
There is a township on the northern tip of the Island called Baile Mhicphail (Macphail's village).
The four relevant pedigrees concerning the ancestry of Leod[1] (click to enlarge).
According to Matheson, the MacLeods are
Duncan Macrae of Inverinate, referred within a song to the MacLeod chief Roderick MacLeod of Dunvegan (chief 1693–1699) as éighre Shìol Phàic (the "heir of the seed of Bálki"). Matheson speculated that if Leod, founder of Clan MacLeod, was the nephew of Páll, then this may help explain why MacLeod tradition states that Paal Baccas left his estates to Leod, instead of his own (illegitimate) son.[7] Matheson's proposal was, however, met with considerable criticism from his peers. The three Gaelic names singled out by Matheson are not considered to represent Bálki. Sellar proposed the names represented the Gaelic Raingce; while A.P. MacLeod proposed they equated the very rare Old Norse name Ragi.[note 5] The current consensus is that Matheson could not have been correct in his proposed relationship between Leod and Páll's father; meaning that Macrae of Inverinate's "heir of the seed of Bálki" must have referred to a non-male-line descent.[1][13]
Notes
^He name appears as Pol filius Boke (Latin) in the mediaeval Chronicle of Mann; as Paal Baccas in the 19th century Bannatyne manuscript; as Pol, son of Bok in late 18th century MacLeod tradition.
^Early 20th-century historian W.C. Mackenzie thought the earlier Páll could have been Páll's father.[2] R.C. MacLeod thought he was likely Páll's grandfather.[3]
^MacLeod, Andrew P. (2000). "The Ancestry of Leod". www.macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
References
Munch, Peter Andreas (1874). Chronica regvm Manniæ et insvlarvm: The Chronicle of Man and the Sudreys (1874 ed.). Douglas: Printed for the Manx society. - Total pages: 266
