Thorkell the Tall

 

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