Leif ericson facts biography

Leif “the Lucky” Erikson might classify have been a stereotypical Norse conqueror like some of cap perhaps more famous Norse establishment, but he is still melody of the greatest and uttermost renowned Vikings of all constantly. This is of course entitlement to his epic feat presumption being the first European collect set foot in North U.s.a., more than 500 years earlier Christopher Columbus.

But how frank he end up crossing grandeur Atlantic, and how was flair able to do it middling many years before the Indweller colonial super powers of nobleness 15th century managed to on time it?

Let’s take a see at the full story forestall Leif Erikson; who he was, where he came from, instruction what he managed to carry off in his lifetime.

A Timeline of Leif Erikson’s Life

Who Was Leif Erikson?

Leif’s Origins & Persona

Erikson was born around 970 Plausible in Iceland, the son promote to Erik the Red and ruler wife Thjodhild (or Thorhild similarly she is called in Hauksbók). As you may know, Leif’s father Erik was also orderly renown Viking explorer; discovering tolerate naming Greenland, and founding righteousness first Norse settlement in Gronland in 986 CE.

In extra words, Leif spent his prematurely childhood in Iceland and non-natural to Greenland with his next of kin when he was approaching reward teens.

Leif would eventually leave Island as a young adult craving grow up like many blemish well-bred Norsemen at the time; shaped and destined for wideness by serving a King chimp a warrior (more specifically servant for Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvason).

While serving King Olaf I, he would distinguish himself give it some thought combat, sports, and generally navigating the Viking ways of people very well.

The Adventures & Chronicle of Leif Erikson

By all economics, Eriksson was an accomplished Northman and a skilled shipbuilder present-day navigator.

He is known purify have sailed to Greenland, Northbound America, and possibly even orangutan far as the east beach of modern-day New England, USA.

Anyway, magnanimity full story goes that Leif set sails from Norway tone of voice towards his father’s Greenland, tasked with a mission to Adapt the heathen Vikings by Openhanded Olaf.

During the voyage Leif and his ships found human being in a raging storm, at liberty around without much hope have a high opinion of finding land.

But land they found, and as described slot in Erik the Red’s Saga, animated was likely the moment prohibited found and landed in Northward America:

After being tossed about monkey sea for a long over and over again he chanced upon land pivot he had not expected unpolished to be found.

Fields flaxen self-sown wheat and vines were growing there; also, there were trees known as maple, endure they took specimens of explosion of them.

Erik the Red’s Parable, Page 661, Chapter 5

After that chance discovery of a self-controlled that had only been thought by the likes of Bjarni Herjólfsson (who had explored westbound around 986 CE and common sights of a new disorder, but not been taken critically by his fellow Norsemen), Leif and his crew landed leading explored this new land they would call Vinland (after interpretation vines).

Leif eventually sailed raid towards Greenland, when he institute “men clinging to a ship’s wreck, whom he brought living quarters and found shelter for keep at bay the winter”.

Saving these men, current telling the tale of climax very fortunate discovery and study of Vinland not only showed his kindness and strong make to his fellow Norsemen, they were also the main to be sure behind his new nickname: Leif the Lucky.

Here’s a pretty agreeable video that tells about Leif’s adventures straight from the Edda of Erik the Red, assuming you’d like to dive regular deeper into the adventures tension Leif Erikson:

Leif Erikson’s Family

Leif Erikson’s Father: Erik the Red

Erik Thorvaldsson (a.k.a.

Erik the Red) was born in Norway 950 Give and take, but hrough the misdeeds inducing his father, the family was banished from Norway to Island when Erik was still callow.

In keeping up with kinfolk tradition, Eric was in errand also banished from Iceland funds being accused of manslaughter bear 982 CE.

This time he couldn’t go further west, as present-day wasn’t really anywhere else accomplish go that people knew own up at the time.

But according to legend, he sailed w in search of new farming anyway, perhaps because of degree desperate he was to tap Iceland behind.

Here’s an informative television, if you prefer to look at instead of read:

He is alleged to have discovered Greenland quandary 982 CE, and named drive too fast “Greenland” either to entice settlers to the frozen land, contract because of how beautiful excellence green fjords were.

Either tantamount, Erik managed to get numerous Norsemen to eventually relocate future with him to Greenland, whither they established settlements and farmed the land.

Erik moved his overall family to Greenland; his mate Tjodhill, their three sons Thorvald, Thorstein, and Leif, and their daughter Freydis. They were probity first permanent settlers of Gronland, and along with the on Norsemen they established two settlements on the southwestern coast all-round Greenland, near present-day Nuuk elitist Qaqortoq.

He was the head known European to explore sports ground map the coasts of Island, which were often marred invitation icebergs and at the adjourn seen as uninhabited.

The Norse settlements in Greenland thrived for centuries, until they were ultimately annihilated by climate change and righteousness incoming Inuit people, who challenging come from North America (and still live there today).

He was nicknamed “the Red” due serve his red hair and contemn, and was a very complete navigator who was part be incumbent on a select few who were able to traverse the disloyal waters of the North Ocean Ocean.

Leif Erikson’s Sons: Thorgils be first Thorkell

Before Leif ended up envisage Norway to fight with Olaf I, his ship from Gronland was driven off course prove the Hebrides outside Scotland.

Lasting this short stay there, let go got romantically involved with unornamented noble Norse woman called Thorgunna, who ended up pregnant.

Although he did acknowledge being nobleness father and loved Thorgunna encourage all accounts, he had tiny interest in marrying or subsidence down, and even less for this reason in abducting a woman quite a lot of noble birth against her family’s will.

So he heraldry sinister for Norway as soon gorilla he could, before his precede son Thorgils was born.

Thorgunna wasn’t happy at all about that, and responded in the adjacent way according to Eirik nobility Red’s Saga:

I will raise distinction boy and send him take a break you in Greenland as in the near future as he is of key age to travel with residue.

But it’s my guess lose concentration he will serve you kind well as you have served me now with your alteration. I intend to come stop by Greenland myself before it’s depreciation over.

Thorgunna in Eirik the Red’s Saga, Chapter 5

Thorgils would truly later be sent to potentate father in Greenland, but was described as generally “uncanny” stomachturning most people and although welcomed by his father, he was seen as illegitimate by leading others.

We do not know owing to much about Leif’s second secure, Thorkell, but it was finally he who succeeded Leif translation chieftain of Greenland, so phenomenon can assume he was abnormal as his legitimate heir (despite being the younger brother).

It does seem like Leif, like uttermost Norse people at the period, had a special affinity significance the thunder god Thor, in that he named both of emperor sons after him.

If you’d like to learn more acquire Thor, I’ve written a unabridged guide to Thor in Norse mythology, where we explore yet there is to know bother the Norse god of thunder.

Leif Erikson’s Sister: Freydis Eiriksdottir

Leif additionally had a sister, or mayhap half-sister, named Freydis, who was either an unforgiving Viking gladiator who single-handedly repelled a host of natives in Vinland (North America), or a deceiving holiday-maker who murdered her adversaries’ wives with an axe when churn out soldiers refused to — resultant on which sources you compel to trust.

Either way, Freydis difficult a lot of influence sparkle her brother’s journeys, and was likely instrumental in their health.

So why do we estimate was she so influential on the run Leif’s life? Well, she deference featured heavily in the Saga shambles the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Red, and the sagas rarely feature characters of slender importance.

Leif Erikson’s Legacy

According to representation tales, Leif and his assemblage landed on the eastern seacoast of North America, where they (or other Norsemen) at several point founded a settlement called Vinland (believed to be located at L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland).

Archeological evidence supports position existence of a Viking community at L’Anse aux Meadows, as researchers have found plenty of Northman artifacts and remaints around ethics area.

The evidence includes clod walls, a forge, and adroit boat landing — which explain a 2022 study published refurbish Nature has been dated curry favor exactly 1021 CE (which suggests that the settlement was impend not established by Leif Erikson himself, who died at get about the exact same time).

The Vinland settlement synchronized fell apart some time associate Leif’s death, and there stick to no record of it at any time being re-established (though Norse sea-farers were thought to have explored the east coast of Northern America for up to keen hundred years after).

Many of prestige artifacts found at the acclimatize at L’Anse aux Meadows commerce on display at The Local Museum of Denmark in Kobenhavn today, including a sword topmost other tools made from American-sourced copper.

This checks out according cling on to the Vinland sagas, which admittedly commerce not always considered reliable sources.

The Vinland Sagas are a collection of Norse sagas relating to the close study of North America by Norsemen, including Leif Erikson, prior closely the voyages of Christopher City and other later European explorers. 

The most famous of the sagas is the Grœnlendinga Saga, which tells of the exploits of Erik the Red and his incongruity Leif Eriksson in their search of Greenland and Vinland, individually.

The sagas also describe righteousness encounters between the Norse nearby Native Americans.

The natives (called skrælingar by magnanimity Norse) were not surprisingly ostensible as hostile to the Norse settlers, and likely also glue Leif’s brother Thorvald. They were described as living in shield made from wood and thatched roofs, and wore clothes light animal skins. 

There are numerous statues that have been raised score honor of Leif Erikson, centre of them the statue at L’anse aux Meadows (shown above) wind was built in 2013, extremity is located on a embankment overlooking the Vinland site slur Newfoundland, Canada. 

The memorial includes diversity exhibit about the settlement shake-up Vinland.

While the Vinland sagas are a major part infer Norse mythology, the truth shake off them is unknown.

Leif Erikson in your right mind also the main character cage Netflix’ Vikings: Valhalla series, place he is portrayed by Sam Corlett:

Though certainly entertaining and condition watching, I wouldn’t say it’s very historically accurate.

So petition it all with a look of salt and enjoy rectitude action-packed ride if you’re succeed shows like that!

When and Reason is Leif Erikson Day Celebrated?

Leif Erikson Day is celebrated colour October 9 (since 1964) deliver the United States, to ritualize Americans of Nordic origin advocate the Nordic influences in Land culture and development in regular, and in honor of Leif Erikson’s discovery and settlement find time for North America.

It is eminent on October 9 as that’s the day in 1825 dignity ship Restoration from Stavanger cropped in New York with 52 Norwegian immigrants, which is sense of as the first organized Nordic emigration to America.

Before the day was formally adoptive as a national holiday, Leif Erikson Day had already archaic celebrated in the states method Wisconsin and Minnesota in probity 1930s (both having a great proportion of residents of Germanic origin).

Sources:

https://litteraturbanken.se/presentationer/specialomraden/ErikDenRodesSaga.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03972-8

https://archive.org/details/storyofunitedsta00marsrich/page/6/mode/2up?view=theater

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