|
Thorkel the High was a Jomsviking, a son of the Scanian chieftain Strutharald and the brother of Sigvald Jarl.
He took part in the battle of Hjörungavåg in 986 and in the battle of Swold in 1000. In 1009, he attacked England with a large army and received an unusually large sum as Danegeld in 1011. In 1012 he and his men entered into the service of king Ethelred the Unready, whom they supported in 1013 against king
Sweyn Forkbeard.
After Sweyn's death Thorkel had to flee to Denmark, but returned with king Canute the Great and was proclaimed the Jarl of East Anglia in 1017.
In 1021, he fell out with king Canute and had to return to Denmark, where Canute soon proclaimed him Jarl again.
This article is partially based on content from the public domain "Owl Edition" of Nordisk familjebok.
|
