Thorkell the Tall

[2] The Encomium Emmae, a document aimed at the movers and shakers of the Anglo-Scandinavian court in the early 1040s, describes Thorkell as a great war leader and warrior.

They first marched towards the city of Canterbury but were promptly paid 3000 pounds of silver by the people of Kent to sway the army from attacking.

[6][7] They instead turned towards London and attempted to take the city several times, but were met with heavy resistance and ultimately abandoned their attack.

[3] The Vikings demanded an extra 3000 pounds of silver for the release of the archbishop,[5] but Ælfheah bravely refused to be ransomed or have his people pay the invaders.

[4][9] Disillusioned by the archbishop's murder, and sensing that he was losing control over his men, Thorkell and several other loyalists defected, taking 45 Viking ships with them.

[12] After the death of Edmund Ironside on 30 November 1016, Cnut became king of England and he divided the country into four earldoms – making Thorkell the Jarl of East Anglia.

[14][13] However, Cnut later reconciled with Thorkell in 1023, seemingly aware of the strong connections and influence he had in his home country and that he was too powerful a man to be made an enemy of.

He may have died in battle in 1039,[17] a year before his foster son Harthacnut joined Emma of Normandy in Bruges prior to travelling to England and claiming the throne.

This was possibly linked to the intrigue that surrounded Magnus the Good's letter of intention to invade the realm of Edward the Confessor, with the ambition to reunite the kingdoms of what is now described as the North Sea Empire.