Thorkell the Tall was a Viking leader who was prominent in
English affairs during the reigns of Ethelred the Unready (Anglo-Saxon king from
978 to 1016) and Cnut (Danish king of England 1016-35). Danish by birth, little
is known of his early life before he landed in Kent with a large army of
raiders in the summer of 1009. His forces plundered much of midland and
southern England until 1012, which was when some of his men murdered Archbishop
Aelfheah of Canterbury contrary to his orders.
Thorkell was paid off - one of the recipients of Danegeld - and
entered the service of King Ethelred, contributing a force of around 3500 men
and 45 ships. He fought with Ethelred against Sweyn Forkbeard in 1013 and
remained loyal to Ethelred throughout 1014.
However, he changed sides to support the claim to England of
Cnut - he had certainly done so before the end of 1015. Cnut clearly trusted
him and made him Earl of East Anglia in 1017. When Cnut was absent in Denmark
in 1019 Thorkell appears to have acted as his regent in England.
His fortunes changed again towards the end of 1021 when, for
reasons unknown, he quarrelled with Cnut and was outlawed and banished. He
retired to Denmark but remained powerful and a potential threat to Cnut. When Cnut
returned to Denmark in 1022 he was evidently strong enough to exact terms of
reconciliation that were favourable to himself, with Cnut entrusting him with
the government of Denmark.
After that, Thorkell disappears from the historical record
and it is assumed that he died around 1024.
© John Welford
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