Earls of Lade

The Earls of Lade (Norwegian: ladejarl (singular), ladejarler (plural); Old Norse variant of Lade: Hlaðir) were a dynasty of rulers of Earldom of Lade, present day Trøndelag and Hålogaland in Norway from the 9th century to the 11th century.

The seat of the Earls of Lade was the historic farm known as Lade gård. Today this site is located in the eastern parts of the city of Trondheim. The site is near the seaside of the Trondheimsfjord, an important waterway dating in the Viking Age. According to Snorre, King Harald I of Norway was a great commander but lacked a fleet. For that he was assisted by Håkon Grjotgardsson. In gratitude Harald made him the first Earl of Lade.