Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa 2012
Joseph Morgan was the 2012 Lerwick Junior Guizer Jarl representing King Haakon the Good. This was the 57th Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa Festival.
About the Junior Jarl's Saga:
Haakon Haraldson (King Haakon The Good), was the youngest of King Harald Fairhair's many sons. He was sent to England when he was very young to be fostered by King Athelstane and was brought up in the Christian faith. During his reign King Harald Fairhair unified Norway into one kingdom but in his old age he made the mistake of dividing his kingdom among his sons, thus sowing the seeds of feuds that damaged Norway for centuries.
When Haakon heard of his father's death in 933 he was only fifteen years old. King Athelstane gave him men and good ships and fitted him out nobly to return to Norway. He made landfall in the west of Norway where he was informed that war had broken out between his brothers and that his brother Eric Bloodaxe was now ruling Norway. Haakon sailed north to Trondheim Fjord and went to see Sigurd the Jarl who was then recognised as the wisest man in Norway. Sigurd called a meeting of the people and Haakon offered to restore their odal land rights which had been taken away by his father and he was at once accepted as King. Eric Bloodaxe who was unpopular lost support and left Norway and established himself in Northumberland in England.
During his reign Haakon tried hard to introduce Christianity but met with such strong opposition that he did not force it on his countrymen but he established a good number of Christian churches in Norway.
In 950 Eric Bloodaxe was killed at the Battle of Stainmore and his sons left Northumberland and went north to Orkney and Shetland. In 955 they raised an army with the support of King Harald Gormsson of Demark and invaded Norway.
Haakon defeated them at the battle of Rastarkalv on the island of Fredoy in west Norway. Gamle was killed in the battle but his brothers escaped back to Denmark. They returned in 961 led by Harald Greycloak with an army that greatly outnumbered Haakon to his estate at Fit jar on the island of Stord south of Bergen. According to the "Heimskringla" Haakon assembled his army and before the battle started he threw off his chain mail. When the armies met Haakon, with the standard at his side, led his army from the front. He struck out on all sides and the battle was hot and bloody and many of Eric Bloodaxe sons fell on the battlefield or the way back to their ships. During the battle Haakon was wounded in the arm and he later died. As he had only one daughter Thora it was his final wish that the sons of his brother Eric Bloodaxe should rule Norway in peace. Haakon Haraldson was forty two years old when he died and he was sorrowed by both friend and foe and it was said that never again would such a good King come to Norway.
Text from the programme.
During the Day
The Galley, named Silje, was on view at the Anderson High School car park from 9.30am to 11.00am before the Junior Jarl and his Squad, along with the galley and the Lerwick Pipe Band, marched north along Commercial Street to the foot of Harbour Street starting from the Post Office at approximately 11.15am, then proceeding to Sound Primary School. The galley was on view at Islesburgh Community Centre until about 3.00pm.
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The Evening Procession and Galley Burning
Guizers mustered on the Lower Hillhead at 5.15pm and the light-up, signalled by a Maroon, was at 5.30pm. The route was along the Lower Hillhead, down the Town Hall Brae into King Erik Street for a turning movement before entering the North King George V Playing Field. After the guizers had circled the inside of the park the last rites took place in the centre of the park. "The Feast, the Dance, the Song" for the Junior guizers and their friends was in the Anderson High School on the following Monday, where they were visited by the Senior Jarl and some of his men.
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Names of School Squads
1. Junior Jarl's Squad (15)
2. Super Heroes Are Us (10)
3. The Hippies (6)
4. Nerds (11)
5. Pineapple Dance Studios (6)
6. The Amazing Adventures of Tintin (4)
7. All Saints (6)
8. Neds (7)
9. Fat People (4)
10. Mrs Brown and No Boys (6)
11. The Geeks (4)
12. BINBEUYZ! (5)
13. Cowboys (2)
14. Random Footie (2)
Total number of guizers = 88.
See also
