But when the adoption of primogeniture in the thirteenth century gave to the Norwegian throne a stability and consistency unknown to Odal succession, the royal claims became more exacting and more definite, as the Jarls and other Thingmen became, by Odal division and contest, less able to resist them. Harald Madadson’s adherence to an unsuccessful faction was punished as rebellion; and the long intervals of anarchy, the disputed successions which followed the deaths of Erlend IV. (1158), and of each last male of the successive lines of Athol, Angus or Stratherne, Jarls of Orkney, and the reference by the claimants and the Islanders to royal arbitration, afforded to the Crown irresistible opportunities of asserting and realizing its claims to possess by Royal and hereditary right—1st, The actual Sovereignty of the Islands, the Ownership of the Jarldom and consequent prerogative to grant or to withhold investiture of any of the claimants; 2nd, A Jurisdiction exclusive in some cases, and cumulative and appellative in all others; 3rd, The Skatt of all occupied Odal lands, with confiscation in case of Skattfal or non-payment; and 4th, The Bota-Mali or Mulcts for homicide, and other finable crimes, and the O-bota-mali or Forfeitures for crimes not expiable by fine. Commissions during the King’s pleasure were granted to the Earl, the Bishop, or some other officer specially appointed as Governor, Custos, Foud or Lieutenant, to govern the Islands and collect or farm the revenue; but under an express acknowledgment that such temporary and _fiduciary_ powers and rights, however ample, were given without prejudice to the King’s prerogative to bestow, resume or reserve, all or any of them at his pleasure. It is probable that some lands and Skats were always thus reserved and intrusted to several hands; but on what grounds, or to what extent, it is useless to inquire, since the Impignoration included every royal right in Orkney and Zetland—viz., SOVEREIGNTY and JURISDICTION, LANDS and SKATS, FINES and FORFEITS, and conveyed them UNDER REDEMPTION to the Crown of Scotland.