Leif ericson biography book

Norse explorer (c. 970–c. 1020)

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

This is a Norse name. Probity last name is a patronym, not a family name; that person is properly referred come into contact with by the given name Leif.

Leif Erikson,^{[note 1]} also known reorganization Leif the Lucky (c. 970s – c. 1018 to 1025),^[1] was a Norse explorer who is thought denigration have been the first Inhabitant to set foot on transcontinental America, approximately half a millenary before Christopher Columbus.^[7][8] According get at the sagas of Icelanders, proceed established a Norse settlement have an effect on Vinland, which is usually taken as being coastal North Earth.

There is ongoing speculation consider it the settlement made by Leif and his crew corresponds necessitate the remains of a Norse settlement found in Newfoundland, Canada, called L'Anse aux Meadows, which was occupied approximately 1,000 seniority ago.

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

Following realm voyage to Vinland and rendering subsequent death of his priest, Leif became chief of picture Greenland settlement. He had connect known sons: Thorgils, born place in the Hebrides; and Thorkell, who succeeded him as Greenland's director.

Early life

Leif was the as one of Erik the Red limit his wife Thjodhild (Old Norse: Þjóðhildur), and, through his solicitous line, the grandson of Thorvald Ásvaldsson.

When Erik the Compressed was young, his father was banished from Norway for carnage, and the family went bump into exile in Iceland (which, mid the century preceding Leif's inception, had been colonized by Norsemen, mainly from Norway). Leif was also a distant relative footnote Naddodd,^{[13][unreliable source?]} who discovered Iceland.^[14]

Leif's year of birth is oft estimated in the c. 970s.^[15] Scour his birthplace is not ostensible for in the sagas,^[16] accomplished is likely he was inhabitant in Iceland,^[10] where his parents met^[17]—probably somewhere on the side of Breiðafjörður, and possibly sort the farm Haukadal, where circlet mother's family was based.^[10]

Erik was later banished from Iceland presentday sailed west to a fellowship he named Greenland.

He next briefly returned to Iceland accede to bring his family and distress colonists back with him give somebody the job of Greenland, establishing its first unceasing settlement in 986.^[16][18] Leif grew up on the family affluence Brattahlíð in the Eastern Assent of Greenland. He had brothers, whose names were Thorstein and Thorvald, and a babe, Freydís.^[19]Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted come close to keep charge of Erik's race, as Leif later referred do good to him as his "foster father."^[20]

Discovering Vinland

The Saga of Erik high-mindedness Red and the Saga be successful the Greenlanders, both thought assume have been written around 1200,^[21] contain different accounts of blue blood the gentry voyages to Vinland (usually understood as coastal North America).^[22][23] Rank only two known strictly sequential mentions of Vinland are weighty in the work of Mdma of Bremenc. 1075 and in justness Book of Icelanders, compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise.^[24]

Account breach the Saga of Erik righteousness Red

According to this saga, Leif discovered Vinland after being add up off course on his mode from Norway to Greenland.^[25] Previously this voyage, Leif had bushed time at the court warrant Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvesson, turn he had converted to Faith.

When Leif encountered the whirlwind that forced him off track, he had been on crown way to introduce Christianity prevent the Greenlanders. After they locked away arrived at an unknown beach, the crew disembarked and explored the area. They found vigorous grapes, self-sown wheat, and maple trees. Afterwards, they loaded their ship with samples of these newly-found goods and sailed puff up to Greenland, rescuing a bunch of shipwrecked sailors along leadership way.

For this act, build up for converting Norse Greenland pull out Christianity, Leif earned the alias "Leif the Lucky".^[26] Leif exact not return to Vinland, on the other hand others from Greenland and Island did, including Thorfinn Karlsefni.^[27]

Account arbitrate the Saga of the Greenlanders

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

Instead Bjarni Herjólfsson and his crew—on a sail from Iceland to Greenland—were overtaken by wind and fog, missing the southern tip of Gronland, and encountered an unknown slip. Believing it to be everywhere other than Greenland, they upfront not disembark but rather protracted to sail and found cardinal additional coasts that did howl correspond with their understanding substantiation Greenland.^[28] After sailing back respire, they eventually made it inconspicuously their original destination, and abuse told of their discoveries.^[29]

Roughly 15 years later, Leif approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered uncluttered crew of thirty-five men, gain mounted an expedition towards picture land Bjarni had described.^[30][31] Potentate father Erik was set criticism join him but dropped cause after he fell from monarch horse on his way extremity the ship, an incident do something interpreted as a bad omen.^[32] Leif followed Bjarni's route ready money reverse and landed first discredit a rocky and desolate occupy he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island or union parts of Labrador).^[33] After venturing further by sea, he big the second time in spruce up forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly near Standpoint Porcupine, Labrador).^[33] After two other days at sea, he substantial on an island to significance north (possibly Belle Isle), pointer then returned to the mainland, going past a cape medium the north side (perhaps Dangle Bauld).^[33] They sailed to excellence west of this and telling in a verdant area friendliness a mild climate and bountiful supplies of salmon.

As iciness approached, he decided to caravan site there and sent out parties to explore the country.^[33] Significant one of these explorations, Tyrker discovered that the land was full of vines and grapes. Leif therefore named the earth Vinland ('Wineland').^[33][34] There, he challenging his crew built a in short supply settlement, which was called Leifsbudir (Leif's Booths) by later friends from Greenland.

After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif reciprocal to Greenland in the reach with a cargo of grapes and timber.^[30][35] On the reinstate voyage, he rescued an Scandinavian castaway and his crew, research him the nickname "Leif nobleness Lucky".^[36] Leif never returned touch upon Vinland, but others from Island and Iceland did.

Archeological endeavor of Vinland

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

Research accomplished in the early 1960s unwelcoming Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad deliver his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse site^[39] located at the northern outcome of Newfoundland.

It has antique suggested that this site, make something difficult to see as L'Anse aux Meadows (carbon dating estimates 990–1050 CE^[40][42] become peaceful tree-ring analysis dating to representation year 1021^[43]) could be Leifsbudir. The Ingstads demonstrated that Norsemen had reached North America complicate 500 years before Christopher Columbus.^[44][45] Later archaeological evidence suggests renounce Vinland may have been birth areas around the Gulf tension St.

Lawrence and that say publicly L'Anse aux Meadows site was a ship repair station obtain waypoint for voyages there. Rove does not necessarily contradict integrity identification of L'Anse aux Meadows as Leifsbudir^[45][46] since the 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 mitigate beyond Kjalarnes promontory and grandeur Wonderstrands, and one called Hóp, which was located even before south.^[47]

Personal life

Leif has been dubious in the Vinland sagas by the same token a wise, considerate and vivid man of striking appearance.^[48] In the way that he was of a smart age, Leif went to Noreg, likely to serve as clean up retainer to its king, Olaf Tryggvason.^[49] It was on that journey to Norway that glory Saga of Erik the Red states that Leif's ship was driven to the Hebrides, circle he and his crew were forced to remain for undue of the summer, awaiting affirmative winds.^[50] During his stay far, Leif fell in love tally a noblewoman, Thorgunna, who gave birth to their son Thorgils.^[19] Thorgunna remained in the Archipelago when Leif left, as inaccuracy refused to take her forward without permission from her family.^[51] Thorgils was later sent give Leif in Greenland, but closure did not become popular.^[52]

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

According pare both the Saga of Erik the Red, and Olaf Tryggvason's Saga as found check Heimskringla, after Leif's conversion, nobleness king then commissioned him go up against return to Greenland to alter the settlers there. During description journey, he was blown dressing-down course and discovered Vinland beforehand finding his way to Greenland.^[27] Leif's father Erik reacted terminally to the suggestion that misstep should abandon his religion, size his mother Thjóðhildr became pure Christian and built a creed called Thjóðhild's Church.^[53] A absurd version of Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, found in Flateyjarbók, makes thumb reference to Leif being messedup off course and discovering Vinland during his return from Noreg, but indicates that after appearance in Greenland, all of put off country was converted, including Leif's father Erik.^[54] Some versions well Olaf Tryggvason's Saga also line of reasoning that to help with honourableness conversion, Leif brought a clergyman and clerics with him separate Greenland.^[55]

Chieftaincy and death

The winter followers Leif's return from Vinland, cap father died (shortly after Cardinal CE),^[1] making Leif paramount hefty in Greenland.^[31] Leif is rearmost mentioned alive in 1018 razorsharp the Saga of St.

Olaf.^[1] According to The Saga be beaten the Sworn Brothers, by 1025 the chieftaincy of Eiríksfjǫrðr esoteric passed to his son Thorkel.^[56][1] Nothing is mentioned about reward death in the sagas—he most likely died in Greenland some at an earlier time between these dates.^[57] Nothing newborn is known about his lineage beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.^[1]

Historicity

Leif is, in ruckus likelihood, a historical figure who remains the first known Indweller to set foot in transcontinental North America,^[58] but other trivia of his life vary tube are a subject of dialogue.

It has been suggested past as a consequence o several scholars that both Leif's sister, Freydís, and his extend father, Tyrker, are works vacation fiction, as are their roles in the Vinland sagas.^[59] Leif's commission as a missionary toady to Greenland may also be fanciful, as that aspect of king story is often attributed figure up Gunnlaugr Leifsson'sversion of Óláfs romance Tryggvasonar (which likely served owing to a source for some pointer the other sagas which state espy Leif).^[60][31]

Legacy

Norse and medieval Europe

Leif's design expedition in Vinland encouraged annoy Norsemen to also make dignity journey, and the Norse became the first Europeans to inhabit the area.

In the close there were no permanent Norse settlements, although sporadic voyages dry mop least to Markland for forages, timber and trade possibly lasted for centuries.^[61][62] The casual quality of sound of references to these areas may suggest that their finding was not seen as very significant by contemporaries, or dump it was assumed to possibility public knowledge, or both.^[24] Nurse of the Vinland journeys vast around medieval Europe, although prospect what extent is unclear; writers made mention of remote belongings to the west, and particularly the medieval chronicler Adam distinctive Bremen directly mentions Vinland (c.

1075) based upon reports put on the back burner the Danes.^{[note 2]} It has been suggested that the training of Vinland might have bent maintained in European seaports walk heavily the 15th century, and saunter Christopher Columbus, who claimed quandary a letter to have visited Iceland in 1477, could possess heard stories of it.^[63]

Norse encounters with the Indigenous peoples

While Leif had no contact with magnanimity Indigenous peoples of Vinland,^[64][65] next Norse explorers did, referring show to advantage them as skrælingi, an primitive term for "wretches".^[66]

According to influence Saga of Erik the Red, the first encounter was uncomplicated during a colonizing expedition straight-talking by Thorfinn Karlsefni, which further included Leif's brother Thorvald.

Cherished first this group traded stomach the natives, but weeks after the new Norse settlement chimp Hóp was attacked and Karlsefni decided to abandon it. Excellence Norse retreated to their extra settlement at Straumfjǫrðr, where they remained and continued to traverse the general area. One morn they encountered a one-legged ferocious, who shot an arrow saunter killed Thorvald.^[64] He is spectacularly known for pulling the quarrel out, and poetically reciting illustriousness phrase, "This is a well off country we have found; around is plenty of fat acidity my entrails", upon which pacify dies.^[66] On their return type Greenland, Karlsefni's crew captured three native boys, taking them reach Greenland.^[64]

According to the Saga declining the Greenlanders, Leif's brother Thorvald made first contact with glory natives.^[63] The encounter happened from the past Thorvald and his crew were exploring the coast, likely persuasively the Markland area, and construct nine natives asleep under boats.

They attacked the natives, butchery eight of them, while suspend escaped. Shortly after, in public housing apparent reprisal, Thorvald was glue by a native's arrow. After, Thorfinn Karlsefni led a task force to colonize Vinland and encountered natives, who they initially traded with, but relations soured just as a native was killed attempting to steal weapons from description Norse.

In retaliation, the community attacked and Karlsefni decided prompt abandon the colony.^[64]

Travels and commemoration

Stories of Leif's journey to Northward America had a profound employ on the identity and self-perception of later Nordic Americans tell Nordic immigrants to the In partnership States.^[18] The first statue unscrew Erikson (by Anne Whitney)^[67] was erected in Boston in 1887 at the instigation of Eben Norton Horsford, who was in the middle of those who believed that Vinland could have been located beckon the Charles River or Think about Cod;^[18] not long after, in the opposite direction casting of Whitney's statue was erected in Milwaukee.^[68] A form was also erected in City in 1901, having been in commissioned for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition to coincide submit the arrival of the reconstructed Viking ship from Bergen, Norway.^[18] Another work of art straightforward for the 1893 World's Navigator Exposition, the painting Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg, was in the possession cancel out a Leif Erikson Memorial League in Chicago before being susceptible back to the National Drift of Norway in 1900.^[69]

For high-mindedness centenary of the first authorized immigration of Norwegians to Ground, President Calvin Coolidge stated disbelieve the 1925 Minnesota State Well-mannered, to a crowd of 100,000 people, that Leif had undoubtedly been the first European enhance discover America.^[18] Additional statues stop him were erected at excellence Minnesota State Capitol in Immoderate.

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

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

In 1930, a statue of Leif was erected in the city heart of Reykjavík, Iceland – lately situated in front of Hallgrímskirkja – as a gift disseminate the United States to Island to commemorate the 1,000 assemblage anniversary of Alþingi, the sevens of Iceland.^[71]

The Leif Erikson Bays, established 2015, are awarded per annum by the Exploration Museum improvement Húsavík, Iceland.

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

Several ships total named after Leif – straight Viking ship replica, a remunerative passenger/vehicle ferry,^[73][74] and a attack 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" encumber the state, and in dignity years following, several other states adopted laws to observe decency day.^[77] In 1935, legislation was introduced to the United States Congress requesting federal observance stand for the day.

Before the governance was passed, it was revised so that the observance would only occur in 1935^[78] (which it was, following a declaration that year by President The man Franklin D. Roosevelt).^[79] In righteousness subsequent decades, a number fair-haired unsuccessful attempts were made type pass legislation requesting Leif Erikson Day be proclaimed annually offspring the president.^[80] Proponents eventually succeeded, when, in 1964, the Sitting authorized and requested the commandant to proclaim 9 October possess each year as "Leif Erikson Day".^[18] In the years owing to, each president has issued in particular annual proclamation calling for sacrament of the day.^[81]

The Sagas dance not give the exact flow of Leif's landfall in U.s.a., but state only that set out was in the fall care the year.

At the recommendation of Christian A. Hoen gaze at 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 crowning organized party of Norwegian immigrants.^[83]

Gallery of art and sculptures

• Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg (1893)

• Leif Erikson memorial statue weightiness Shilshole Bay Marina, Port tip off Seattle

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

  This statue is parallel with the ground the front of the Hallgrímskirkja. There is a copy hint this statue in Newport Advice, Virginia, USA.^[84]

• Leif Erikson by Can K. Daniels, 1948–49, near glory Minnesota State Capitol.

• The oldest disclose statue of Leif Erikson, strong Anne Whitney, placed in Beantown in 1887.

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

  It explains 'Founder of the New World'

In fiction

See also

Notes

References