SSNS Seminar – Stephen Barnaby – Bishops, Butter and Beer Cellars: The Role of Caithness in the Demise of the Northern Jarldoms

The SSNS Seminar Series continues on Tuesday 26th May 2026 with Stephen Barnaby for his talk on ‘Bishops, Butter and Beer Cellars: The Role of Caithness in the Demise of the Northern Jarldoms.’

This is a free, ticketed event; please register below.

Abstract:
Stephen will explore why so many of the crucial incidents leading to the downfall of the Norse line of northern Scottish jarls in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries – some involving, yes, bishops, butter and beer barrels – occurred, not in Orkney, the administrative centre of the earldoms, but Caithness, the furthest north- east corner of the Scottish mainland. Through examining the written historical sources – which, although limited and of variable reliability, provide more information than the relatively meagre archaeological evidence – he will explain how Caithness’ position as the place where the interaction between the Scottish and Norse worlds was at its most intense meant that, as the powers and ambitions of both Scottish and Norwegian kings grew, it inevitably became the stress point at which the Norse hold of the northern earldoms would fracture.

Bio:
Stephen Barnaby grew up in Caithness, where he developed a fascination with all things viking, and currently lives in East Lothian. Last year, he completed the MLitt in Viking Studies through the University of Highlands and Islands. His dissertation concerned the role of Caithness in the demise of the northern Scottish Norse earldoms or jarldoms. He has since given talks on this subject in Caithness, and will be doing so again at the International Medieval Conference in Leeds this July.

Registration below. Details for the Zoom meeting will be emailed in advance of the seminar.