1009 Thorkell the Tall led a Viking invasion of England, landing in Kent and ravaging the south. The following year he attacked Ipswich, East Anglia, defeated defending forces, and continued on until being paid a large sum of Danegeld, after which he withdrew. However, he later led an attack on Canterbury, where in September 1011 the invaders seized Aelfheah, archbishop of Canturbury, hoping to gain a large ransom for him. Aelfheah refused to allow the poor of England to be further burdened.
