Who was Leif Erikson? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Died At Age: 50

Family:

father: Erik the Red

mother: Thjodhild

siblings: Freydís Eiríksdóttir, Thorstein Eiriksson, Thorvald Eiriksson

children: Thorgils Leif, Thorkell Leif

Explorers Icelandic Men

Died on: 1020

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1

Where did Leif Erikson explore?

Leif Erikson is known for exploring areas such as Newfoundland in Canada and possibly other parts of North America around the year 1000 AD.
2

What is Leif Erikson's significance in history?

Leif Erikson is considered one of the first Europeans to have reached North America, preceding Christopher Columbus by nearly 500 years.
3

Did Leif Erikson establish any settlements in North America?

Leif Erikson is believed to have established a settlement called Vinland in present-day Newfoundland, which is one of the earliest known European settlements in North America.
4

What impact did Leif Erikson's explorations have on future exploration?

Leif Erikson's explorations likely influenced later European explorers and may have contributed to the knowledge of the existence of North America before Columbus's famous voyage.
5

How is Leif Erikson remembered today?

Leif Erikson is celebrated in various ways, including an annual observance called Leif Erikson Day on October 9th in the United States, honoring his exploration and contributions to history.

Childhood & Early Life

Leif Erikson was born in 970 AD to Erik the Red and his wife Thjodhild in Iceland. He had three siblings, brothers Thorsteinn and Thorvaldr, and a sister, Freydis.

His father was banished from Iceland which led him to travel westwards. It was during this travel that senior Erik discovered an area that he named Greenland. In 986 AD, he established the first permanent settlement in Greenland.

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Later Life

It is believed that Leif Erikson along with his crew sailed from Greenland to Norway in 999 AD. Under the guidance of Norwegian King, Olaf Tryggvason, he converted to Christianity. Following his conversion, he was commissioned by the king to introduce the religion of Christianity to other natives of Greenland.

His journey back homewards is highly speculative. According to some sources, Erikson was blown off course while travelling back to Greenland. He discovered a dry land finally on the North America continent and named it Vinland due to its general fertility and the abundance of grapes growing there. The region is now known as Nova Scotia.

According to the Groenlendinga saga, Erikson probably had heard about Vinland from an Icelandic trader, Bjarni Herjólfsson who claimed to have sighted land to the west of Greenland after having been blown off course fourteen years before. However, Herjólfsson did not set his foot on the land.

It is said that Erikson purposely went on an expedition to the land in the west as described by the Icelandic trader. His father was due to join the crew of thirty-five men who had planned to set sail but dropped out after falling down from a horse. Considering the fall as a bad omen, Erikson reversed his route to avoid any mishap.

It is believed that Erikson first landed in a rocky and desolate place he named Helluland. Going further, he landed at a forested area which he named Markland. Two more days of sail took the crew to a place that seemed luscious and fertile. With winters approaching, the crew encamped therein and explored the region. During these explorations, Tyrker discovered a region full of vines and grapes which Erikson finally named Vinland.

At Vinland, Erikson built a small settlement which was later known by the name Leifsbúðir (Leif's Booths). After spending the winter there, he along with his crew members set sail to return to Greenland. The legend further states that on his voyage back, Erikson rescued two men who were shipwrecked, thus earning the title Leif the Lucky.

Upon returning to Greenland at his family estate in Brattahlio, Erikson dutifully completed the task entrusted by Norwegian king of spreading Christianity. He started preaching the religion to Greenlanders and successfully converted them. His mother was one of the first converts who went on to build a church by her name, Thjóðhild's Church.

It is believed that Erikson’s successful expedition encouraged other Norse men to follow his footsteps. His brother, Thorvald along with other Norse men, travelled to Vinland. However, if the sagas are to be believed, a fight occurred between Norse men and indigenous people which resulted in hostilities and killing.

Following the hostility and violence, no permanent Norse settlement was found in Vinland, though Norse men often sailed to Markland for forages, timber and trade. These trade journeys continued for centuries thereafter.

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Erikson was last mentioned alive in 1019. It is assumed that he passed on his chieftaincy to his son Thorkell in 1025.

Major Discoveries

Erikson’s major contribution has been as the first European discoverer of North America. He not just became the first Norse explorer to reach the North American shores but also established the first Norse settlement in Vinland (today’s Nova Scotia). The site referred to as L'Anse aux Meadows, is at the northern tip of Newfoundland in modern-day Canada.

Personal Life & Legacy

It is believed that while on his journey from Greenland to Norway, Erikson was blown off course to Hebrides, where he eventually ended up staying for much of the summer. It was during his stay therein that he fell in love with a noblewoman Thorgunna. They were blessed with a son, Thorgils. Thorkell is his other son, but not from Thorgunna.

Though nothing concrete is known of Erikson’s death, he is believed to have died between 1019 and 1025. Following his death, his son Thorkell took over his chieftaincy.

In 1960s, a research was carried out by the Norwegian couple, Helge Ingstad an explorer and his wife Anne Stine Ingstad an archaeologist. They claimed that the Norse settlement was in most probability located at the northern tip of Newfoundland. The site is known as L'Anse aux Meadows. It has been labelled the oldest European settlement in North America, and more than 2,000 Viking objects have been recovered from it.

The discovery of Erikson’s historic expedition to North America did much to reconstitute the identity of Nordic Americans and Nordic immigrants. The discovery gave a boost to them about their self-perception.

The United States of America acknowledged Erikson’ contribution as an explorer by constructing statues of him at various places including, Boston, Milwaukee, Chicago.

October 9th is celebrated as the Leif Erikson Day every year. While celebrations were limited to Wisconsin earlier, in 1964 the United State Congress authorized and requested nation-wide celebrations.

Facts About Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson is believed to be the first European to set foot in North America, before Christopher Columbus.

Erikson's journey to North America was not a planned exploration but rather a result of getting blown off course while sailing to Greenland.

He established a settlement called Vinland in North America, though its exact location is still debated among historians.

Erikson's exploration and interactions with the indigenous peoples in North America demonstrate early cultural exchange and contact between Europeans and Native Americans.

Despite his significant accomplishments, Leif Erikson's contributions to history were largely overshadowed by later explorers like Columbus.

Leif Erikson Biography

You wanted to know

Where did Leif Erikson explore?

What is Leif Erikson's significance in history?

Did Leif Erikson establish any settlements in North America?

What impact did Leif Erikson's explorations have on future exploration?

How is Leif Erikson remembered today?