The
Earl of Orkney was originally a
Norse jarl ruling
Orkney,
Shetland and parts of
Caithness and
Sutherland. The Earls were periodically subject to the kings of
Norway for the
Northern Isles, and later also to the kings of
Alba for those parts of their territory in mainland Scotland (i.e. Caithness and Sutherland). The Earl's status as a Norwegian
vassal was formalised in 1195. In 1232, a Scottish dynasty descended from the
Mormaers of Angus replaced the previous family descended from the
Mormaers of Atholl, although it remained formally subject to Norway. This family was in turn replaced by the descendants of the
Mormaers of Strathearn and later still by the
Sinclair family, during whose time Orkney passed to Scots control.