Jarl

Live and learn.   My finger fell on a word I had never heard of.  Others obviously have but not me until then.  “Jarl.”    Norse or Danish chief.”  Like, I am right into this.  NOT.  It was like my lucky day when my finger pointed to this word.  NOT.
Still, it is one of those things where I have decided to go with what ever may come up.  Often it has been stuff I have been happy to go with.  Sometimes, like today, it is something I need to dig into.  This one sent me scurrying to find out more.    I guess it helps to start from total ignorance, as I had no idea.
To be honest this is a topic I do not mind.  It could have been a lot worse. Vikings.  Chiefs.  Kings.  Medieval.  It is like a boy’s own adventure. Gone bad.
Apparently a Jarl is a chieftain.  One lower than the king.  Some were born into it while others fought and attained it.  In the early days there was very little difference between the power of a king and the power of Jarls.  Early in Norway history, Jarls rules territories as did minor kings.  The term stopped being used with the Europeanization of language.  It was replaced by Duke (or was it Earl.  I’m confused.  Some sites say Earl and others Duke.)  Iceland came under Norway’s control in the 13th century and the king sent a jarl as his representative.
I am pleased though this has given me an insight into early Scandinavian culture.  The age of the Vikings.  Tough times.  But apparently unlike many cultures in Europe at the time, it was possible to change class.  Hard but possible.
Most of what is known about that time comes from Iceland as it had a high literacy rate at the time.  The lowest class was the thrall.  Bondsmen and slaves captured in raids.
That is as deep as I want to go really.  For some it may be an enthralling topic of conversation.  Each to his own.  It is interesting in an “I don’t care if this never comes up again” kind of way.
But then that is just me.  I am sure it could be made to be much more interesting than I have found it.  It is just it will not be me that does it unless I need to.  At the moment I just do not see it happening.