Kirkwall Castle

Kirkwall Castle, also known as King's Castle, was located in Kirkwall, the main settlement in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. Built in the 14th century, it was deliberately destroyed in 1614. The last ruins were cleared in the 19th century. The castle was located around the corner of Broad Street and Castle Street in the centre of Kirkwall.

History

In the 14th century, Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, (c. 1345 – c. 1400) held the Earldom of Orkney from King Haakon VI of Norway. Sinclair built the castle at Kirkwall soon after being granted the Earldom in 1379.^[1] In the early 17th century Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney, feuded with Laurence Bruce, Sherriff of Shetland. Stewart was arrested in 1610, and in May 1614 his son, Robert, rebelled against King James VI. Robert and his supporters occupied Kirkwall Castle, along with the Bishop's and Earl's Palaces, and St Magnus Cathedral. In August the Earl of Caithness led royal troops against the rebels, and Kirkwall Castle surrendered in September.^[2] On 26 October 1614 the Privy Council of Scotland ordered that Kirkwall Castle be demolished.^[1] The ruins stood until 1742, when most of the stone was used to build a new town house and jail. By 1865 only a 17-metre (56 ft) section of wall remained, and this was removed to improve access. A plaque now marks the site of the castle.^[1]

References

1 2 3 "Kirkwall, Castle". CANMORE. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
↑ Mackintosh, John (1895). The history of civilisation in Scotland 3. A. Gardner. p. 241.

Scandinavian Scotland

Rulers	List of Kings Earls of Orkney Crovan dynasty Lords of Argyll Mormaers of Caithness Uí Ímair

Notable women	Aud the Deep-Minded Bethóc, Prioress of Iona Bjaðok Cacht ingen Ragnaill Gormflaith ingen Murchada Gunnhild Gormsdóttir Ingeborg of Norway Ingibjörg the Earls'-Mother Isabel Bruce Máel Muire ingen Amlaíb Margaret, Maid of Norway Margaret, Queen of Norway Margaret of Denmark, Queen of Scotland Ragnhild Eriksdotter

Other notable men	Caittil Find Ingimundr Ljótólfr Olaf the White Olvir Rosta Páll Bálkason Ragnall ua Ímair Sweyn Asleifsson Thorbjorn Thorsteinsson Thorstein the Red

History	Kingdom of the Isles Dál Riata Gall-Ghàidheil Lochlann Orkney Outer Hebrides Shetland Scottish–Norwegian War (1262-66)

Archaeology	Bornish Birsay Bishop's Palace Brough of Birsay Camas Uig Cubbie Roo's Castle Earl's Bu Jarlshof Kirkwall Castle Linton Chapel Maeshowe Old Scatness Port an Eilean Mhòir ship burial Rubha an Dùnain Scar boat burial St Magnus Church

Artifacts and culture	Birlinn Chronicles of Mann Darraðarljóð Dumfriesshire Hoard Hogbacks Lewis chessmen Manx runestones Orkneyinga saga Ounceland Sen dollotar Ulaid St Magnus Cathedral Udal law

Althings	Delting Dingwall Law Ting Holm Lunnasting Nesting Sandsting Tingwall Tynwald

Language	Middle Irish Norn Old Norse Pictish

Etymology	Scottish island names Northern Isles Hebrides

Battles and treaties	Bauds Brunanburh Clontarf Dollar Barry Epiphany Isle of Man Largs Renfrew Skyhill Tara Vestrajǫrðr Treaty of 1098 Treaty of Perth

Associated clans and septs	Gunn Macaulay of Lewis Mac Coitir MacDonald MacDougall MacLeod Macruari Somhairle

Coordinates: 58°58′56″N 2°57′38″W / 58.9823°N 2.9605°W / 58.9823; -2.9605

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