The True Story of Thorkell the Tall | Vinland Saga

In this video I will be taking you to the 10th and 11th century Scandinavia and England. This was a time of everlasting war, strife, betrayal and bloodshed. Thorkell the tall would distinguish himself amongst his fellow warriors for his immense fighting prowess; he would climb the ranks of the Jomsvikings the most savage and highly skilled warriors in Scandinavia and arguably the world and would ultimately become their chief. This is his story.
/ historyprofiles
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:51 Chapter 1 - The Jomsvikings
03:47 Chapter 2 - Battle of Hjörungavágr
04:50 Chapter 3 - The Battle of Svold
06:09 Chapter 4 - Thorkell raids in England
09:31 Chapter 5 - The fight for England
13:20 Chapter 6 - The Aftermath of the Chaos
All Credit for the Music goes to: Savfk - Music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXOeF...
/ the-hunt
Sources:
The Jomsviking Saga:
vsnrweb-publications.org.uk/Sa...
The Anglo Saxon Chronicle:
www.public-library.uk/dailyebo...
#historyprofiles #vinlandsaga #thorkell #vinland #thelastkingdom #vikings #vikings #vikingsvalhallaseason1 #vikingsvalhallla #ivartheboneless #ragnar #bjornironside #sweynforkbeard #cnutthegreat #thorfinn #uhtred #vikinghistory #history #historical #historyfacts #jomsviking #berserker #berserk #berserkers #thenorthman

[@Houd_Vast]

In a world with 7.8 billion people, only 2,800 are above 7ft tall. Thorkell was alive when there were only about ~300 million people. He must of been one of a kind, and the chieftain’s son at that.

[@historyprofiles]

Indeed! Thank you so much for watching !

[@tyr0n547]

And that's without taking into account that nutrition was much worse and the average height at that time was much lower

[@Houd_Vast]

@@tyr0n547 good point 👌

[@ziploc86]

If he was a Jarl's son he probably ate pretty well.

[@tyr0n547]

@@ziploc86 in quantity yes, in quality not really seeing as your diet in Iceland has to be pretty limited variety wise

[@Argos-xb8ek]

You mean to tell me Thorkell didn't go around uppercutting Horses?

[@historyprofiles]

He probably did it’s just not mentioned in the saga

[@jasonsterlingentertainment478]

No one can prove he didn't

[@whannabi]

@@jasonsterlingentertainment478 "reality can be whatever I want"

[@numbers9696]

😞

[@GladiatorBrad]

No, but I do

[@YoCelKreSunt]

Thorkell 1016: legendary warrior Thorkell 2023: waifu

[@florianpierredumont4775]

One of my pupils binge watched Vinland Saga first season in one night because he was sick and could not sleep. He absolutly loved Thorkell, but prefered Askeladd.

[@joohoneybun]

i'm in agreement. something about askeladd just draws me in, but thorkell is a close second.

[@GTUSBRATE]

@@joohoneybun same over here. Two best characters for me!

[@southanime]

@@joohoneybun both exude charisma, Askeladd by his sheer determination, intelect and confidence is a natural leader, while Thorkell lives his life to the fullest, he slays, comsumes and laughs like there is not tomorrow, no hard feelings towards their enemies, he just enjoys it.

[@TrenchCoatDingo]

the 3 F's of Thorkell probably, fighting, feasting and fucking not necessarily in that order. @@southanime

[@compatriot852]

Imagine being a descendant of Thorkell and never knowing it while watching Vinland saga

[@viderevero1338]

You’d probably know if your 7 ft like your ancestor 😂

[@ashesofhopesinabonfireofdr6341]

@@viderevero1338 there are people in Denmark who are 7ft tall. You don't get exact height of your ancestors.

[@herkales]

Im a direct descendant of his grandfather gorm the old

[@ashesofhopesinabonfireofdr6341]

@@herkales can you uppercut a horse?

[@herkales]

@@ashesofhopesinabonfireofdr6341 yes i can

[@jbeezostl]

Vinland saga got me started on my history journey. Ive learned about Vikings, Romans, Celts, Greeks, Persians, both of the world wars and the Haitian revolution. I never would have guessed that a anime would spark such interest.

[@zzzmeta4555]

Historical animes are a hell of a drug

[@hezhang8843]

The Vikings series sparked my interest for history

[@calcaleb7041]

Sadly all those cultures today would be called pagans and evangelical christians would do their hardest to stamp out all their beliefs and ways of life

[@The_Jackpurgis]

As a current history student, Vinlabd Saga reignited that passion of history for me.

[@MediumDSpeaks]

You should travel to Europe, the feeling of understanding that you are in the place that has continuously been inhabited by humans for thousands of years makes you feel connected to history and realize it's really an unbroken story that we are continuing. It also makes you appreciate humans in a way America just doesn't. Our buildings aren't impressive, they're made with machines, while the gigantic cities all over Europe were made by hand by men over thousands of years and people have continuously lived in them for thousands of years.

[@moondancer4660]

Forbidden to speak ill of another member behind their back, sounds like a good idea today!

[@DBT1007]

2:37

[@henryz4312]

If only Thors was alive to fight thorkell

[@septimus64]

I just finished watching Vinland Saga and was happy they did a decent job .

[@deanamodeo4072]

A film?

[@grandcanyon-fu9zt]

@@deanamodeo4072 an anime , it's still more accurate than the vikings series despite its own inaccuracies as well..

[@cjward1269]

New season comes out very soon

[@pvnchos1478]

Decent…

[@shu830]

@@grandcanyon-fu9zt that's because it's historical fiction. You're not getting a retelling of the sagas here nor does it intend to. Nither it's re accounting the conquest of England by the Danes. It only takes figures from these time period and makes them original characters.

[@alfie8708]

If Thorkells dad was also a son of Gorm the Old it would make him cousins with Sweyn Forkbeard, also what happened to his fathers land after he died who inherited it?

[@adamlatosinski5475]

The leadership positions at that time didn't always pass from father to son, especially among the Norse and Anglo-Saxons. The next chieftains and kings were often elected by the local assembly, usually from among the relatives of the previous leader, but it didn't have to be a son. In this case, the rule over Scania passed from Strut-Harald to his nephew Sweyn Forkbeard. As to what happened to his private lands, we have no records.

[@historyprofiles]

yes it would make them cousins, that's probably why his son Canute was sent to be fostered at Jomsborg with his foster father being Thokell

[@adamlatosinski5475]

@bastiat I don't really know how personal property was inherited if there was no male heir. It may vary depending on the time and region. Countrary to a popular belief, Middle Ages weren't a time of stagnation, and a lot things were changing during that era.

[@adamlatosinski5475]

@bastiat Norse woman had reletively many rights, compared ot their contemporaries from Chrisitan Europe. They could own property, and even be in important leadership positions, like Aud the Deep-Minded en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aud_the_Deep-Minded_(Ketilsd%C3%B3ttir).

[@thefisharcher6784]

What a sight it would have been just to behold a single one of these battles.... could you imagine seeing these giants fight. To be able to see the scale of thorkell the tall... or just to hear some of their stories of past battles... dude..

[@YoCelKreSunt]

3:10 what's Thorfinn doing there?

[@randomwords9901]

I loved how almost all of the people came from vinland saga

[@mr.nobody6143]

Yup

[@noelvalenzarro]

Yup

[@mmmmmm-iw6bf]

Yup

[@maf7742]

Yup

[@kiki-drawer2669]

Yup

[@matthewwaters5317]

Really good video, I was born in Canterbury so it was so interesting to hear about the raids on the City

[@MegaGangsta4life]

Loved him in Vinland Saga 😂😂😂

[@historyprofiles]

Yeah he was epic in Vinland saga!

[@coffee3942]

ME TO

[@keiyangoshin3650]

Oh! History and Vinland? Magnificent. I feel like I’m watching a top quality TV documentary. 😳 Time well spent! Thank you so much. Immediate sub. 👍

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much ! I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Your comment really means a lot !

[@ELKE-]

Thank you for presenting such amazing history. Your videos are always good and interesting, and I always watch twice, three times...

[@nancyM1313]

Hi Elke Yes the videos are very good. Have a nice day Elke😸

[@ELKE-]

@@nancyM1313 Hi Nancy! 👋 Yes, indeed! Wish great Thursday sweet Nancy 😻 It's 6:06pm here now

[@nancyM1313]

@@ELKE- 👍🏻🤗🧡

[@ELKE-]

@@nancyM1313 🤗😘💙

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much Elke! It means a lot!

[@snorriivan6365]

Amazing, Jomsvikings saga was my favourite growing up, along with Egils and Grettirs.

[@historyprofiles]

Thats awesome! I would have loved to have heart those sagas growing up! I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@snorriivan6365]

@@historyprofiles I didn't exactly hear them, I read them but yeah it was like a portal to a world long gone.

[@theopinionisthighqualityopinio]

It was fascinating, as always! Thanks very much!! 🙂

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much for watching!!

[@sarahgirlisit]

Awesome! Keep them coming!

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@Agapy8888]

Enlightening as usual.

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you for watching!!

[@phenomenom9142]

Thorkell captures ArchBishop ArchBishop converts his men to Christianity “Thorkell surprised pikachu face”

[@YoCelKreSunt]

Wololo

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Great video. Well done.

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@mrvinyl-mrchili9583]

Another amazing video

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much!! I hope you enjoyed!

[@dianesavant2818]

Love your channel.

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much! It means a lot!!

[@MS-kn2lw]

In Vinland Saga... Thorkell is such a monster.... a monster that must be fear but I can't hate him

[@maggot1111666]

Vinland saga author should make a thorkill spin off would be hype and hilarious

[@demonsuckafucka6828]

This is underrated as hell

[@nancyM1313]

Tfsharing. Always a great video here. 👋🏻

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you so much Nancy!!

[@BaronMorte]

So, Thorkell ended up raising Canute's son as his own via fostering. Good luck with what comes back.

[@ShadesApeDJansu]

Christian Finnish Frostiis Cool series ! The anime ofc but you explaining these real life counter parts is very cool ! :D

[@jgdlsjgdlkjgd]

Harald Bluetooth and Canute Wi-Fi. Truely inspiring. Jokes aside good video, I appreciate your effort!

[@Bobbias]

Only tangentially related, but it still blows my mind that Bluetooth's bindrune is still in use today.

[@hooping_hood_mike4359]

It honestly seems to me that if you have both seen the Vikings and Vinland Saga respectively you know a big part of history 😂

[@KatherinaBathory]

Tbh, Vinland Saga is better in terms of getting a feeling of history. It's more accurate in many aspects...

[@UnratedNetflix_]

@@KatherinaBathory not everyone likes anime .

[@KatherinaBathory]

@@UnratedNetflix_ so? I'm talking about historical accuracy. I know many Viking recreacionists who couldn't bare to watch Vikings but loved Vinland Saga even though they don't normally watch anime. But the fact that Vinland Saga gets the Viking culture done better stands apart from the media it's being used to tell the story.

[@gamehardy]

@@KatherinaBathorythat is me , love history but always kind of despised anime. Vinland saga was cool tho, might watch a few more. A lot of anime is cringe as hell unfortunately

[@invincibleluis]

Absolute beast!

[@historyprofiles]

Yes he was!

[@OI-gg9hx]

If they put Cnut's battles with Edmund Ironside in the Anime, it would make the series more epic as the series is

[@bluejuggalos]

I still wanna see Eric the Red a man too violent for vikings

[@bluejuggalos]

And also 13:50 Boi

[@christianmyhre7154]

Good video

[@smiler6326]

Im here because of Vinland saga great watch thanks

[@user-ej4eq5im4r]

So he doesn't have a world record at throwing SPEARS?

[@Emilis2023]

11:41 I know it's been out for 11 hundred years now, but spoiler alert!

[@angelamyrmel236]

@3:45. Even though I am somewhat knowledgeable of the era, and I have my closed caption on, and I repeated this section of the video almost 10 times, .... I can't get passed what I thought I heard the first time. And after repeating, that's still the first thing my mind thinks was said.... "Packing Cigarettes-SON (or SEN .. both work.)

[@TyrJustice]

is this a reupload

[@ronpaulrevered]

I like this history, but I'd really like if you told us where you learned it from and how these records were kept through time.

[@historyprofiles]

The sagas are at the bottom of the description

[@douglasscharbrough2563]

my ancestor was skarthi thorgilson and was circa 900 ad. him and his brother kormac were both taller than the average viking. source kormac saga

[@minhlai912]

Harald BLUETOOTH

[@historyprofiles]

yes!

[@Kulayyu]

He was weird, he was wild, he was wireless!

[@charleskiernan4900]

I'm just going to pretend that time he one shot 4 people with a spear as a real life action he committed.

[@VeylmanTheRock]

Just a heads up before I'm watching the video: You might want to edit out the red bar at the bottom of the thumbnail since that almost made me think I had watched the video already.

[@DuckAllMighty]

Really good video, that was well researched. Though Thorkell's name is pronounced Tor kEl, the H is silent and the kell part is said with an E, not an A. Also it's Knud the Great, you say the Kn as in "know", though with a little more emphasis on the K, and the d is for once actually pronounced, bc in most words Danish, that has a D, the D is usually silent, but in "Knud" it's not a hard d, you have to roll it of and make it a softer pronunciation. And I absolutely love Vinland Saga, even though it has some low-fantasy elements and some classical shounen tropes, it is one of the most realistic depictions of Old English and Old Norse lifestyle, housing, clothing, tools, weapons, armours, tactics etc. one other thing, that it gets right compared to most other medieval shows, is all the different colours of their clothes. If we take Vikings as a reference, they are all grey and brown and for some fucked up reason wearing leather armour, which all historians agree never existed. The Vikings of reality were full clad in iron armour and big powerful shields, spears and axes with an array of colours on their clothes, just like we see in Vinland Saga. There's a good reason they where seen as some of the best warriors in the World.

[@TryingExtraHard]

His name is originally written with a Thorn (Þ), so wouldn't that make it a "th" sound in the original Old Norse?

[@DuckAllMighty]

@@TryingExtraHard Well I was referencing mainly Danish, but I also asked my Icelandic friend, and you would be kinda correct, in Danish, the H is silent. In Icelandic the T and RKE is the dominant, while the H is a subtle roll. The H is not as dominant as when you say Thor. It's the art of rolling the H in the back of your throat.

[@julianemilio8495]

Wait, so Thorkell and Canute are 1st cousins 1x removed then

[@gamecomu8403]

3:30 what is that name 🤣

[@Slyslug]

They would sail to WHERE in England??

[@gabi0rz709]

so did he fight a guy called thorfinn

[@takezodxr]

Damn

[@amg9878]

Yes but how tall was Thorkell really in history?

[@siroshcelot]

@grimmer9253bro could have toppled Shaq in the NBA

[@chakuseki]

Dang Harald Bluetooth invented bluetooth back then?!

[@tbxvividos]

I'll be honest, I didn't know Vinland Saga was based on real people.

[@FireAndFoodCompany]

0:27 spoilers

[@AbuMusaAlBurtughaalii]

Didnt show the part where he learnt how to speak japanese

[@ashesofhopesinabonfireofdr6341]

Troll of Jom was better.

[@GHST995]

What about Askalad?

[@starwench]

not a real historical figure

[@calcaleb7041]

Correct 👆Askalad translates to Ash Land

[@The_bastard]

The name Askelad is to what I know as a Norwegian simply a fairy tale figure, meaning Ash Lad, or "one who plays with the ash"

[@historyprofiles]

Askalad is based on a man called Olaf the Peacock I will be doing a video on him at some point

[@historyprofiles]

@@starwench Askalad is based on a man called Olaf the Peacock I will be doing a video on him at some point

[@manuelsilva3754]

so the jomsvikings where the first PMC?

[@FrogWalrus]

No

[@based_prophet]

Son of Harold = "ruiz" thank me later ruiz heads

[@gary0044187]

imagine if history channel did an honest portrayal of these stories instead of making up their own with 'vikings'? the history is dramatic enough. you really don't need to make up a bunch of things to make it interesting.

[@grandcanyon-fu9zt]

How does he compare to Eddie Hall and Ronnie Coleman ?

[@historyprofiles]

Probably could have deadlifted 500Kg first day in the gym maybe more

[@grandcanyon-fu9zt]

@@historyprofiles so he's more powerful than them ?

[@bossmanman244]

@@grandcanyon-fu9zt ofc he is, people back then were real men, men in spirit and body... now we got males... generation of men raised by women... so sad... mamas boys, they are just like their mama

[@historyprofiles]

@@grandcanyon-fu9zt i'm just kidding now, I honestly have no idea! In terms of lifts the modern athletes would probably lift more, but Thorkell would obviously have destroyed them in a fight with weapons, but all 3 men are complete beasts regardless

[@thedude8526]

Ain't nothing but a peanut!

[@peingores9611]

Bro your saying Thorkol

[@lyndonjohnson5063]

And at this time jomvikings was kicked in the butt by the northern norway they was the strongest viking of the peroid and they had to use flithy tactics like assassin's and hold there people hostage Northern norway clapped not only the Kings army but also his jomvikings

[@elshebactm6769]

🗿👍🏿

[@Mephiston1984LoD]

😀😃😄😁😆

[@rafaelcerdeira5883]

It's important to state that the sagas themselves aren't very reliable at all as resources for these things. I think the title of the video is very misleading claiming to be the "real life" of this person.

[@kaleahcollins4567]

Then, no source in history is accurate

[@PutzRen]

Subtitles please

[@gavroshtheswift9959]

Spoilers

[@montblancnoland4034]

Ahh yes Bluetooth connectivity b

[@60gritphil66]

Erm spoiler alert...

[@Jade_Hanson]

Cnut was just better... y'all trying to make excuses for getting his ass whooped!

[@aromaz6401]

1:21 ayo what’s that word on the left side of the screen say😦

[@ramboj7924]

so boring it made me fall asleep

[@darwindominguez13]

spoiler alert!