Thorkell the Tall facts for kids
Thorkell the Tall, also known as Thorkell the High, was a famous Viking leader. He was part of a special group of Vikings called the Jomsvikings. Thorkell was the son of a chieftain named Strut-Harald from Scania. He was also the brother of Jarl Sigvaldi.
Thorkell was the main commander of the Jomsvikings and their legendary home, Jomsborg. This stronghold was on an island called Wollin. People say that Thorkell also looked after a young Cnut the Great and took him on Viking raids. A historical document from the 1040s, called the Encomium Emmae, describes Thorkell as a great war leader and a strong warrior.
In 1009, Thorkell led a large Viking army to Kent in England. They took over much of Southern England. This led to the siege of Canterbury in 1011. During this time, they captured the archbishop Ælfheah. He was later killed in Greenwich on April 19, 1012.
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Thorkell's Life Story
Thorkell the Tall was a real person, but some stories about his early life are mixed with legends about the Jomsvikings. He took part in two big battles: the Battle of Hjörungavágr in 986 and the Battle of Swold in 1000.
Viking Raids in England
In August 1009, a large Danish army led by Thorkell landed in Sandwich, England. They first marched towards Canterbury. However, the people of Kent paid them 3,000 pounds of silver to stop the attack. So, the Vikings turned towards London. They tried to capture London many times but faced strong resistance. They eventually gave up their attack on the city.
On September 8, 1011, the Viking army returned to Canterbury. They surrounded the city for three weeks. They finally took it over because a man named Ælfmaer betrayed the city. This man's life had been saved earlier by Archbishop Ælfheah.
Thorkell and his men took control of Canterbury. They captured important people, including Archbishop Ælfheah. He was held prisoner for seven months. During his time as a prisoner, Ælfheah tried to convert as many Vikings as possible to Christianity. This caused some tension.
The Vikings demanded an extra 3,000 pounds of silver to release the archbishop. But Ælfheah bravely refused to be ransomed. He did not want his people to pay the invaders. Because of this, Ælfheah was killed by Thorkell's men in Greenwich on April 19, 1012. Thorkell himself tried to stop the killing. He offered everything he owned, except his ship, to save the archbishop. Someone, possibly Thorkell, carried Ælfheah's body to London the day after.
Thorkell's army eventually stopped their attacks across Southern England. But this only happened after the English paid them many times. These payments, known as danegeld, added up to 48,000 pounds of silver.
Thorkell Changes Sides
Thorkell was upset by the archbishop's death. He felt he was losing control of his men. So, Thorkell and some loyal followers left the Viking army. They took 45 Viking ships with them.
After this, Thorkell and his men started working for the English King Æthelred the Unready. They became mercenaries, which means they were soldiers who fought for money. In 1013, they fought against the invasion of the Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard and his son Cnut.
It's not fully clear how Thorkell later joined Cnut's army before the Battle of Assandun in 1016. This is surprising because Thorkell had fought against Cnut and his father earlier. But it is thought that Cnut saw Thorkell as a valuable and powerful ally. After Edmund Ironside died in November 1016, Cnut became King of England. He divided the country into four areas called earldoms. Thorkell was made the Jarl (or Earl) of East Anglia.
Later Life and Disappearance
In 1021, for reasons unknown, Thorkell had a brief disagreement with Cnut. The king banished him, and Thorkell returned to Denmark. However, Cnut made up with Thorkell in 1023. Cnut likely knew that Thorkell had strong connections and influence in Denmark. He was too powerful to make an enemy of.
As a result, Thorkell was given the earldom of Denmark. He was also given the job of looking after Cnut's son, Harthacnut. Thorkell became Harthacnut's foster-father. Thorkell's rule in Denmark was short. Cnut's brother-in-law, Ulf the Earl, became Jarl of Denmark a year later.
After 1023, there is no more mention of Thorkell. He seems to have disappeared from historical records. Perhaps he was sent away from the kingdom to return to Jomsborg or Scania. Another idea is that he died soon after becoming Jarl of Denmark, possibly in 1024. Some think he might have been chased by an angry crowd. Others believe he was simply too old for more fighting. Jomsvikings were known to fight between the ages of 18 and 50. Without military commands, he might have spent his last years at court or on his lands.
Thorkell was praised by poets during his lifetime. He appears in the Jomsvikinga Saga and on runestones for his brave actions. Thorkell was known for being clever and wise. One of Thorkell's sons was an important member of Harthacnut's group. After Harthacnut died in 1042, Thorkell's wife and two sons were sent out of England.
Family Life
Thorkell may have married a daughter of King Æthelred the Unready. Her name might have been Wulfhild or Edith. She was the widow of another leader named Ulfcytel Snillingr. Thorkell had a son who went with Cnut back to England in 1023.
