Skorpa of the White Horse (858-May 878) was a Danish Viking sea king who raided Cornwall and Wessex in 878, leading to his death at the Battle of Edington.
Biography[]
Skorpa was born in Denmark, and he became a feared Viking raider, infamous for his brutality, his bloodlust, his reputation as a promise-breaker, and for often biting his enemies to death. In 878, after gathering troops in Ireland and Wales, he launched a raid on Cornwall with 50 men and took over King Peradur's fort, leading to Peradur hiring Uhtred of Bebbanburg's brigands to help him deal with the Vikings. However, Skorpa offered to split all of Peradur's income with Uhtred if he joined him, and Uhtred turned his charging horsemen around to attack the Cornish soldiers. The Cornish were massacred until only Peradur was left, and Skorpa promised to spare him if he gave him the location of his silver. Peradur revealed that the silver was buried underneath his throne, and Skorpa then reneged on his word by stabbing Peradur through the heart. Upon finding the silver, Skorpa betrayed Uhtred as well, taking all of the treasure; Queen Iseult then secretly guided Uhtred to another treasure stash, still allowing for him to profit. He then headed to Cynwit to plunder the church being built by Odda the Younger to commemorate his father's victory over Ubbe Ragnarrsson at the Battle of Cynwit, killing 15 monks, stealing the golden altar, and burning the church to the ground.
Skorpa then joined forces with Guthrum's Danish army as it invaded Wessex, and he was one of the Viking commanders at the Battle of Edington. During the battle, he and his horsemen snuck around the West Saxon army to attack its camp followers, and he beheaded Iseult and taunted Uhtred with her head. Uhtred then went berserk, climbing over the Danish shield wall and killing several of their warriors. Father Beocca then threw a javelin to Uhtred, and Uhtred then threw it at Skorpa, impaling him through the chest. Uhtred then walked up to Skorpa and pushed the javelin further into him, killing him.
