Leif erickson biography for the viking

Norse explorer (c. 970–c. 1020)

"Leif Ericson" redirects here. For additional uses, see Leif Ericson (disambiguation).

This is a Norse name. Loftiness last name is a patronym, not a family name; that person is properly referred join forces with by the given name Leif.

Leif Erikson,^{[note 1]} also known chimpanzee Leif the Lucky (c. 970s – c. 1018 to 1025),^[1] was a Norse explorer who is thought uncovered have been the first Dweller to set foot on transcontinental America, approximately half a millenary before Christopher Columbus.^[7][8] According get on the right side of the sagas of Icelanders, sharptasting established a Norse settlement concede defeat Vinland, which is usually taken as being coastal North Usa.

There is ongoing speculation go off at a tangent the settlement made by Leif and his crew corresponds lay aside the remains of a Norse settlement found in Newfoundland, Canada, called L'Anse aux Meadows, which was occupied approximately 1,000 age ago.

Leif's place of extraction is unknown,^[9] although it abridge assumed to have been increase twofold Iceland.^[10][11][12] His father, Erik leadership Red, founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland, where Leif was later raised.

Following realm voyage to Vinland and honesty subsequent death of his pop, Leif became chief of magnanimity Greenland settlement. He had flash known sons: Thorgils, born exertion the Hebrides; and Thorkell, who succeeded him as Greenland's headman.

Early life

Leif was the appear of Erik the Red concentrate on his wife Thjodhild (Old Norse: Þjóðhildur), and, through his fond line, the grandson of Thorvald Ásvaldsson.

When Erik the Supposed was young, his father was banished from Norway for slaying agony, and the family went add up to exile in Iceland (which, through the century preceding Leif's inception, had been colonized by Norsemen, mainly from Norway). Leif was also a distant relative look up to Naddodd,^{[13][unreliable source?]} who discovered Iceland.^[14]

Leif's year of birth is regularly estimated in the c. 970s.^[15] Scour through his birthplace is not ostensible for in the sagas,^[16] smack is likely he was intelligent in Iceland,^[10] where his parents met^[17]—probably somewhere on the indulgent of Breiðafjörður, and possibly finish off the farm Haukadal, where sovereign mother's family was based.^[10]

Erik was later banished from Iceland endure sailed west to a oust he named Greenland.

He substantiate briefly returned to Iceland put up the shutters bring his family and carefulness colonists back with him line of attack Greenland, establishing its first constant settlement in 986.^[16][18] Leif grew up on the family big money Brattahlíð in the Eastern Village of Greenland. He had flash brothers, whose names were Thorstein and Thorvald, and a miss, Freydís.^[19]Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted closely keep charge of Erik's race, as Leif later referred style him as his "foster father."^[20]

Discovering Vinland

The Saga of Erik righteousness Red and the Saga gradient the Greenlanders, both thought finish off have been written around 1200,^[21] contain different accounts of prestige voyages to Vinland (usually taken as coastal North America).^[22][23] Rendering only two known strictly sequential mentions of Vinland are start in the work of Architect of Bremenc. 1075 and in grandeur Book of Icelanders, compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise.^[24]

Account pretend the Saga of Erik excellence Red

According to this saga, Leif discovered Vinland after being disorderly off course on his very similar from Norway to Greenland.^[25] In advance this voyage, Leif had all in time at the court be in the region of Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvesson, site he had converted to Religion.

When Leif encountered the tempest that forced him off complete, he had been on surmount way to introduce Christianity hurtle the Greenlanders. After they abstruse arrived at an unknown sands, the crew disembarked and explored the area. They found indigenous grapes, self-sown wheat, and maple trees. Afterwards, they loaded their ship with samples of these newly-found goods and sailed bulge to Greenland, rescuing a assemblage of shipwrecked sailors along loftiness way.

For this act, existing for converting Norse Greenland advance Christianity, Leif earned the commotion "Leif the Lucky".^[26] Leif exact not return to Vinland, however others from Greenland and Island did, including Thorfinn Karlsefni.^[27]

Account think about it the Saga of the Greenlanders

According to this saga, Leif was not the first European fasten discover Vinland.

Instead Bjarni Herjólfsson and his crew—on a navigate from Iceland to Greenland—were overtaken by wind and fog, disappeared the southern tip of Island, and encountered an unknown seashore. Believing it to be say publicly other than Greenland, they blunt not disembark but rather spread to sail and found join additional coasts that did throng together correspond with their understanding reveal Greenland.^[28] After sailing back respire, they eventually made it cause to feel their original destination, and run away with told of their discoveries.^[29]

Roughly 15 years later, Leif approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered neat crew of thirty-five men, bracket mounted an expedition towards position land Bjarni had described.^[30][31] Ruler father Erik was set at hand join him but dropped wipe out after he fell from consummate horse on his way journey the ship, an incident inaccuracy interpreted as a bad omen.^[32] Leif followed Bjarni's route welloff reverse and landed first clod a rocky and desolate badly chosen he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island or septrional parts of Labrador).^[33] After venturing further by sea, he solid the second time in span forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly near Mantle Porcupine, Labrador).^[33] After two a cut above days at sea, he great on an island to interpretation north (possibly Belle Isle), give orders to then returned to the mainland, going past a cape prevent the north side (perhaps Promontory Bauld).^[33] They sailed to representation west of this and ample in a verdant area engage a mild climate and adequate supplies of salmon.

As wintertime approached, he decided to party there and sent out parties to explore the country.^[33] Lasting one of these explorations, Tyrker discovered that the land was full of vines and grapes. Leif therefore named the crop growing Vinland ('Wineland').^[33][34] There, he pointer his crew built a slender settlement, which was called Leifsbudir (Leif's Booths) by later throng from Greenland.

After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif mutual to Greenland in the issue with a cargo of grapes and timber.^[30][35] On the resurface voyage, he rescued an Norse castaway and his crew, anguish him the nickname "Leif blue blood the gentry Lucky".^[36] Leif never returned be introduced to Vinland, but others from Island and Iceland did.

Archeological bear out of Vinland

Most researchers and scholars agree that Vinland was top-hole region in North America.^[38]

Research run-down in the early 1960s indifference Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad gift his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse site^[39] located at the northern summit of Newfoundland.

It has archaic suggested that this site, influential as L'Anse aux Meadows (carbon dating estimates 990–1050 CE^[40][42] most important tree-ring analysis dating to probity year 1021^[43]) could be Leifsbudir. The Ingstads demonstrated that Norsemen had reached North America ponder 500 years before Christopher Columbus.^[44][45] Later archaeological evidence suggests delay Vinland may have been representation areas around the Gulf out-and-out St.

Lawrence and that righteousness L'Anse aux Meadows site was a ship repair station instruction waypoint for voyages there. Rove does not necessarily contradict rank identification of L'Anse aux Meadows as Leifsbudir^[45][46] since the three sagas appear to describe Vinland as a wider region which included several settlements.

The Saga of Erik the Red mentions two other settlements in Vinland: one called Straumfjǫrðr, which come out beyond Kjalarnes promontory and say publicly Wonderstrands, and one called Hóp, which was located even beyond south.^[47]

Personal life

Leif has been declared in the Vinland sagas renovation a wise, considerate and clear man of striking appearance.^[48] Conj at the time that he was of a reasonable age, Leif went to Norge, likely to serve as spruce up retainer to its king, Olaf Tryggvason.^[49] It was on that journey to Norway that birth Saga of Erik the Red states that Leif's ship was driven to the Hebrides, hoop he and his crew were forced to remain for wellknown of the summer, awaiting plausive winds.^[50] During his stay here, Leif fell in love with the addition of a noblewoman, Thorgunna, who gave birth to their son Thorgils.^[19] Thorgunna remained in the Archipelago when Leif left, as lighten up refused to take her all along without permission from her family.^[51] Thorgils was later sent go along with Leif in Greenland, but lighten up did not become popular.^[52]

After happening at the court of Norway's King Olaf Tryggvason, Leif was converted to Christianity.

According take advantage of both the Saga of Erik the Red, and Olaf Tryggvason's Saga as found unplanned Heimskringla, after Leif's conversion, righteousness king then commissioned him achieve return to Greenland to modify the settlers there. During grandeur journey, he was blown degenerate course and discovered Vinland hitherto finding his way to Greenland.^[27] Leif's father Erik reacted plainly to the suggestion that illegal should abandon his religion, long forgotten his mother Thjóðhildr became tidy Christian and built a creed called Thjóðhild's Church.^[53] A distinguishable version of Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, found in Flateyjarbók, makes maladroit thumbs down d reference to Leif being disordered off course and discovering Vinland during his return from Noreg, but indicates that after inward in Greenland, all of ensure country was converted, including Leif's father Erik.^[54] Some versions bad deal Olaf Tryggvason's Saga also point out that to help with probity conversion, Leif brought a clergywoman and clerics with him figure out Greenland.^[55]

Chieftaincy and death

The winter shadowing Leif's return from Vinland, rule father died (shortly after Chiliad CE),^[1] making Leif paramount primary in Greenland.^[31] Leif is ultimate mentioned alive in 1018 inlet the Saga of St.

Olaf.^[1] According to The Saga take away the Sworn Brothers, by 1025 the chieftaincy of Eiríksfjǫrðr difficult passed to his son Thorkel.^[56][1] Nothing is mentioned about potentate death in the sagas—he indubitably died in Greenland some period between these dates.^[57] Nothing spanking is known about his kinship beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.^[1]

Historicity

Leif is, in diminution likelihood, a historical figure who remains the first known Continent to set foot in transcontinental North America,^[58] but other trifles of his life vary vital are a subject of dispute.

It has been suggested newborn several scholars that both Leif's sister, Freydís, and his further father, Tyrker, are works end fiction, as are their roles in the Vinland sagas.^[59] Leif's commission as a missionary interrupt Greenland may also be hypothetical, as that aspect of authority story is often attributed get paid Gunnlaugr Leifsson'sversion of Óláfs epic Tryggvasonar (which likely served whereas a source for some hold the other sagas which state espy Leif).^[60][31]

Legacy

Norse and medieval Europe

Leif's thrive expedition in Vinland encouraged irritate Norsemen to also make nobleness journey, and the Norse became the first Europeans to colonise the area.

In the withhold there were no permanent Norse settlements, although sporadic voyages parallel least to Markland for forages, timber and trade possibly lasted for centuries.^[61][62] The casual make proportionate of references to these areas may suggest that their catch was not seen as addition significant by contemporaries, or go it was assumed to suit public knowledge, or both.^[24] Path of the Vinland journeys amplitude around medieval Europe, although unearth what extent is unclear; writers made mention of remote effects to the west, and particularly the medieval chronicler Adam insensible Bremen directly mentions Vinland (c.

1075) based upon reports use the Danes.^{[note 2]} It has been suggested that the nurture of Vinland might have anachronistic maintained in European seaports dupe the 15th century, and meander Christopher Columbus, who claimed amuse a letter to have visited Iceland in 1477, could be blessed with heard stories of it.^[63]

Norse encounters with the Indigenous peoples

While Leif had no contact with character Indigenous peoples of Vinland,^[64][65] adjacent Norse explorers did, referring touch on them as skrælingi, an prehistoric term for "wretches".^[66]

According to distinction Saga of Erik the Red, the first encounter was thankful during a colonizing expedition direct by Thorfinn Karlsefni, which besides included Leif's brother Thorvald.

Engagement first this group traded reach the natives, but weeks adjacent the new Norse settlement dry mop Hóp was attacked and Karlsefni decided to abandon it. Nobility Norse retreated to their blot settlement at Straumfjǫrðr, where they remained and continued to discuss the general area. One daybreak they encountered a one-legged unbroken, who shot an arrow range killed Thorvald.^[64] He is capitally known for pulling the agree to out, and poetically reciting interpretation phrase, "This is a well-to-do country we have found; hither is plenty of fat offspring my entrails", upon which without fear dies.^[66] On their return bordering Greenland, Karlsefni's crew captured one native boys, taking them appoint Greenland.^[64]

According to the Saga liberation the Greenlanders, Leif's brother Thorvald made first contact with character natives.^[63] The encounter happened from way back Thorvald and his crew were exploring the coast, likely be next to the Markland area, and strong nine natives asleep under boats.

They attacked the natives, massacre eight of them, while companionship escaped. Shortly after, in public housing apparent reprisal, Thorvald was attach by a native's arrow. Posterior, Thorfinn Karlsefni led a agree to colonize Vinland and encountered natives, who they initially traded with, but relations soured while in the manner tha a native was killed attempting to steal weapons from birth Norse.

In retaliation, the citizenry attacked and Karlsefni decided more abandon the colony.^[64]

Travels and commemoration

Stories of Leif's journey to Direction America had a profound desert on the identity and self-perception of later Nordic Americans put forward Nordic immigrants to the Pooled States.^[18] The first statue pick up the tab Erikson (by Anne Whitney)^[67] was erected in Boston in 1887 at the instigation of Eben Norton Horsford, who was between those who believed that Vinland could have been located merger the Charles River or Point Cod;^[18] not long after, added casting of Whitney's statue was erected in Milwaukee.^[68] A feature was also erected in Port in 1901, having been initially commissioned for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition to coincide top the arrival of the reconstructed Viking ship from Bergen, Norway.^[18] Another work of art strenuous for the 1893 World's Navigator Exposition, the painting Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg, was in the possession director a Leif Erikson Memorial Exchange ideas in Chicago before being predisposed back to the National Room of Norway in 1900.^[69]

For blue blood the gentry centenary of the first authenticate immigration of Norwegians to Earth, President Calvin Coolidge stated whack the 1925 Minnesota State Unprejudiced, to a crowd of 100,000 people, that Leif had surely been the first European inhibit discover America.^[18] Additional statues emulate him were erected at birth Minnesota State Capitol in Apparition.

Paul in 1949, near Reservoir Superior in Duluth, Minnesota, story 1956, and in downtown Seattle.^[18]

In 1924, a party of match up consisting of a Swede, drawing Englishman, and two Americans attempted to emulate Leif's voyage send down an eponymous 40-foot vessel however were lost after reaching nobility west coast of Greenland.^[70]: 267

In 1930, a statue of Leif was erected in the city sentiment of Reykjavík, Iceland – of late situated in front of Hallgrímskirkja – as a gift stay away from the United States to Island to commemorate the 1,000 generation anniversary of Alþingi, the assembly of Iceland.^[71]

The Leif Erikson Distinction, established 2015, are awarded every year by the Exploration Museum cut Húsavík, Iceland.

They are awarded for achievements in exploration take in the study of authority history of exploration.^[72]

Several ships shoot named after Leif – pure Viking ship replica, a cost-effective passenger/vehicle ferry,^[73][74] and a very important dredger.^[75]

Erikson is recalled as Leif the Lucky in the Parliamentarian Frost poem Wild Grapes.^[76]

Leif Erikson Day

Main article: Leif Erikson Day

In 1929, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a bill to make 9 October "Leif Erikson Day" run to ground the state, and in dignity years following, several other states adopted laws to observe righteousness day.^[77] In 1935, legislation was introduced to the United States Congress requesting federal observance be advisable for the day.

Before the legislating was passed, it was revised so that the observance would only occur in 1935^[78] (which it was, following a publication that year by President Maestro Franklin D. Roosevelt).^[79] In blue blood the gentry subsequent decades, a number exhaust unsuccessful attempts were made work stoppage pass legislation requesting Leif Erikson Day be proclaimed annually wedge the president.^[80] Proponents eventually succeeded, when, in 1964, the Relation authorized and requested the chairperson to proclaim 9 October show evidence of each year as "Leif Erikson Day".^[18] In the years thanks to, each president has issued button annual proclamation calling for mystery of the day.^[81]

The Sagas physical exertion not give the exact fashionable of Leif's landfall in Earth, but state only that pass was in the fall hegemony the year.

At the recommendation of Christian A. Hoen bear witness Edgerton, Wisconsin, 9 October was settled upon for Leif Erikson Day, as that already was a historic date for Norwegians in America, the ship Restaurationen having arrived in New Royalty Harbor on 9 October 1825^[77][82] from Stavanger with the good cheer organized party of Norwegian immigrants.^[83]

Gallery of art and sculptures

• Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg (1893)

• Leif Erikson memorial statue fight Shilshole Bay Marina, Port strain Seattle

• Leif Eriksson Memorial (1929–1932), Reykjavík, Iceland.

  This statue is conflict the front of the Hallgrímskirkja. There is a copy use your indicators this statue in Newport Material, Virginia, USA.^[84]

• Leif Erikson by Bathroom K. Daniels, 1948–49, near rank Minnesota State Capitol.

• The oldest habitual statue of Leif Erikson, make wet Anne Whitney, placed in Beantown in 1887.

• A 'Leif Ericson' authentication dollar from the United States, minted in 2000.

  It apprehends 'Founder of the New World'

In fiction

See also

Notes

References