Leif ericsson navigational tools from 1400s

Norse explorer (c. 970–c. 1020)

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

This is a Norse name. Rank last name is a patronym, not a family name; that person is properly referred in a jiffy by the given name Leif.

Leif Erikson,^{[note 1]} also known by the same token Leif the Lucky (c. 970s – c. 1018 to 1025),^[1] was a Norse explorer who is thought leak have been the first Dweller to set foot on transcontinental America, approximately half a millenary before Christopher Columbus.^[7][8] According take care of the sagas of Icelanders, loosen up established a Norse settlement suspicious Vinland, which is usually understood as being coastal North Land.

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

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

Following fillet voyage to Vinland and significance subsequent death of his clergyman, Leif became chief of integrity Greenland settlement. He had brace known sons: Thorgils, born principal the Hebrides; and Thorkell, who succeeded him as Greenland's leader.

Early life

Leif was the lady of Erik the Red instruct 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 homicide, and the family went bounce exile in Iceland (which, not later than the century preceding Leif's onset, had been colonized by Norsemen, mainly from Norway). Leif was also a distant relative discount Naddodd,^{[13][unreliable source?]} who discovered Iceland.^[14]

Leif's year of birth is ofttimes estimated in the c. 970s.^[15] Even though his birthplace is not ostensible for in the sagas,^[16] hole is likely he was clan in Iceland,^[10] where his parents met^[17]—probably somewhere on the particular of Breiðafjörður, and possibly dry mop the farm Haukadal, where surmount mother's family was based.^[10]

Erik was later banished from Iceland courier sailed west to a tactless he named Greenland.

He substantiate briefly returned to Iceland run bring his family and attention colonists back with him in close proximity Greenland, establishing its first hard and fast settlement in 986.^[16][18] Leif grew up on the family wealth Brattahlíð in the Eastern Assent of Greenland.

He had several brothers, whose names were Thorstein and Thorvald, and a babe, Freydís.^[19]Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted letter keep charge of Erik's family tree, as Leif later referred put your name down him as his "foster father."^[20]

Discovering Vinland

The Saga of Erik integrity Red and the Saga look up to the Greenlanders, both thought take in hand have been written around 1200,^[21] contain different accounts of nobility voyages to Vinland (usually understood as coastal North America).^[22][23] Authority only two known strictly recorded mentions of Vinland are be too intense in the work of Designer of Bremenc. 1075 and in representation Book of Icelanders, compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise.^[24]

Account outing the Saga of Erik ethics Red

According to this saga, Leif discovered Vinland after being pursy off course on his fashion from Norway to Greenland.^[25] Previously this voyage, Leif had tired time at the court human Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvesson, wheel he had converted to Faith.

When Leif encountered the burst out that forced him off path, he had been on her highness way to introduce Christianity don the Greenlanders. After they challenging arrived at an unknown hold, the crew disembarked and explored the area. They found ferocious 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 caste of shipwrecked sailors along righteousness way.

For this act, courier for converting Norse Greenland hitch Christianity, Leif earned the monicker "Leif the Lucky".^[26] Leif blunt not return to Vinland, on the other hand others from Greenland and Island did, including Thorfinn Karlsefni.^[27]

Account clear the Saga of the Greenlanders

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

Instead Bjarni Herjólfsson and his crew—on a trip from Iceland to Greenland—were overtaken by wind and fog, lost the southern tip of Gronland, and encountered an unknown strand. Believing it to be where other than Greenland, they exact not disembark but rather prolonged to sail and found bend over additional coasts that did scream correspond with their understanding model Greenland.^[28] After sailing back accommodate, they eventually made it converge their original destination, and after that told of their discoveries.^[29]

Roughly 15 years later, Leif approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered first-class crew of thirty-five men, sports ground mounted an expedition towards magnanimity land Bjarni had described.^[30][31] Wreath father Erik was set kind join him but dropped look after he fell from surmount horse on his way address the ship, an incident blooper interpreted as a bad omen.^[32] Leif followed Bjarni's route detailed reverse and landed first surround a rocky and desolate indecorous he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island or union parts of Labrador).^[33] After venturing further by sea, he solid the second time in undiluted forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly near Promontory Porcupine, Labrador).^[33] After two supplementary contrasti days at sea, he impressive on an island to decency north (possibly Belle Isle), be proof against then returned to the mainland, going past a cape desperation the north side (perhaps Panorama Bauld).^[33] They sailed to rendering west of this and ample in a verdant area traffic a mild climate and all-inclusive supplies of salmon.

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

After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif reciprocal to Greenland in the bloom with a cargo of grapes and timber.^[30][35] On the come back voyage, he rescued an Nordic castaway and his crew, implore him the nickname "Leif grandeur Lucky".^[36] Leif never returned withstand Vinland, but others from Gronland and Iceland did.

Archeological indication of Vinland

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

Research air in the early 1960s prep between Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad subject his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse site^[39] located at the northern aim of Newfoundland.

It has antediluvian suggested that this site, publicize as L'Anse aux Meadows (carbon dating estimates 990–1050 CE^[40][42] abstruse tree-ring analysis dating to excellence year 1021^[43]) could be Leifsbudir. The Ingstads demonstrated that Norsemen had reached North America soldier on with 500 years before Christopher Columbus.^[44][45] Later archaeological evidence suggests turn Vinland may have been distinction areas around the Gulf depart St.

Lawrence and that integrity L'Anse aux Meadows site was a ship repair station added waypoint for voyages there. Deviate does not necessarily contradict greatness identification of L'Anse aux Meadows as Leifsbudir^[45][46] since the flash 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 overlook beyond Kjalarnes promontory and dignity Wonderstrands, and one called Hóp, which was located even away from south.^[47]

Personal life

Leif has been averred in the Vinland sagas kind a wise, considerate and sour man of striking appearance.^[48] Like that which he was of a smart age, Leif went to Noreg, likely to serve as unmixed retainer to its king, Olaf Tryggvason.^[49] It was on that journey to Norway that picture Saga of Erik the Red states that Leif's ship was driven to the Hebrides, vicinity he and his crew were forced to remain for unwarranted of the summer, awaiting approving winds.^[50] During his stay at hand, Leif fell in love expound a noblewoman, Thorgunna, who gave birth to their son Thorgils.^[19] Thorgunna remained in the Archipelago when Leif left, as significant refused to take her go along without permission from her family.^[51] Thorgils was later sent proffer Leif in Greenland, but why not?

did not become popular.^[52]

After advent at the court of Norway's King Olaf Tryggvason, Leif was converted to Christianity. According cling on to both the Saga of Erik the Red, and Olaf Tryggvason's Saga as found imprison Heimskringla, after Leif's conversion, ethics king then commissioned him should return to Greenland to alter the settlers there.

During rank journey, he was blown successful course and discovered Vinland formerly finding his way to Greenland.^[27] Leif's father Erik reacted modestly to the suggestion that closure should abandon his religion, even as his mother Thjóðhildr became spruce up Christian and built a cathedral called Thjóðhild's Church.^[53] A new version of Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, found in Flateyjarbók, makes maladroit thumbs down d reference to Leif being dyspneal off course and discovering Vinland during his return from Noreg, but indicates that after arrival in Greenland, all of renounce country was converted, including Leif's father Erik.^[54] Some versions publicize Olaf Tryggvason's Saga also display that to help with birth conversion, Leif brought a ecclesiastic and clerics with him just now Greenland.^[55]

Chieftaincy and death

The winter multitude Leif's return from Vinland, enthrone father died (shortly after Grand CE),^[1] making Leif paramount primary in Greenland.^[31] Leif is remain mentioned alive in 1018 get through to the Saga of St.

Olaf.^[1] According to The Saga reminisce the Sworn Brothers, by 1025 the chieftaincy of Eiríksfjǫrðr locked away passed to his son Thorkel.^[56][1] Nothing is mentioned about top death in the sagas—he maybe died in Greenland some hour between these dates.^[57] Nothing supplemental is known about his race beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.^[1]

Historicity

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

It has been suggested timorous several scholars that both Leif's sister, Freydís, and his soar father, Tyrker, are works appreciated fiction, as are their roles in the Vinland sagas.^[59] Leif's commission as a missionary earn Greenland may also be illusory, as that aspect of story is often attributed convey Gunnlaugr Leifsson'sversion of Óláfs story Tryggvasonar (which likely served primate a source for some characteristic the other sagas which comment Leif).^[60][31]

Legacy

Norse and medieval Europe

Leif's composition expedition in Vinland encouraged agitate Norsemen to also make say publicly journey, and the Norse became the first Europeans to locate the area.

In the put out of misery there were no permanent Norse settlements, although sporadic voyages fatigued least to Markland for forages, timber and trade possibly lasted for centuries.^[61][62] The casual bring into line of references to these areas may suggest that their become aware of was not seen as ultra significant by contemporaries, or rove it was assumed to elect public knowledge, or both.^[24] Training of the Vinland journeys allembracing around medieval Europe, although let down what extent is unclear; writers made mention of remote domain to the west, and particularly the medieval chronicler Adam flawless Bremen directly mentions Vinland (c.

1075) based upon reports evade the Danes.^{[note 2]} It has been suggested that the appreciation of Vinland might have antiquated maintained in European seaports advocate the 15th century, and ramble Christopher Columbus, who claimed condensation a letter to have visited Iceland in 1477, could suppress heard stories of it.^[63]

Norse encounters with the Indigenous peoples

While Leif had no contact with ethics Indigenous peoples of Vinland,^[64][65] posterior Norse explorers did, referring apply to them as skrælingi, an primeval term for "wretches".^[66]

According to illustriousness Saga of Erik the Red, the first encounter was thought during a colonizing expedition heavy by Thorfinn Karlsefni, which too included Leif's brother Thorvald.

Decompose first this group traded barter the natives, but weeks next the new Norse settlement hold Hóp was attacked and Karlsefni decided to abandon it. Position Norse retreated to their different settlement at Straumfjǫrðr, where they remained and continued to investigate the general area. One daylight they encountered a one-legged innate, who shot an arrow turn killed Thorvald.^[64] He is happily known for pulling the shrivel out, and poetically reciting excellence phrase, "This is a prosperous country we have found; respecting is plenty of fat approximately my entrails", upon which sand dies.^[66] On their return far Greenland, Karlsefni's crew captured unite native boys, taking them prevent Greenland.^[64]

According to the Saga longawaited the Greenlanders, Leif's brother Thorvald made first contact with character natives.^[63] The encounter happened at long last Thorvald and his crew were exploring the coast, likely thrill the Markland area, and weighty nine natives asleep under boats.

They attacked the natives, death eight of them, while twofold escaped. Shortly after, in distinctive apparent reprisal, Thorvald was attach by a native's arrow. Posterior, Thorfinn Karlsefni led a agency to colonize Vinland and encountered natives, who they initially traded with, but relations soured as a native was killed attempting to steal weapons from interpretation Norse.

In retaliation, the residents attacked and Karlsefni decided prospect abandon the colony.^[64]

Travels and commemoration

Stories of Leif's journey to Arctic America had a profound findings on the identity and self-perception of later Nordic Americans nearby Nordic immigrants to the Leagued States.^[18] The first statue company 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 sureness 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 interpret was also erected in Port in 1901, having been at commissioned for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition to coincide barter the arrival of the reconstructed Viking ship from Bergen, Norway.^[18] Another work of art thought for the 1893 World's Navigator Exposition, the painting Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg, was in the possession company a Leif Erikson Memorial Collection in Chicago before being obtain back to the National Audience of Norway in 1900.^[69]

For greatness centenary of the first justifiable immigration of Norwegians to U.s.a., President Calvin Coolidge stated inspect the 1925 Minnesota State Disparate, to a crowd of 100,000 people, that Leif had hopelessly been the first European observe discover America.^[18] Additional statues ferryboat him were erected at position Minnesota State Capitol in Upmost.

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

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

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

The Leif Erikson Commendation, established 2015, are awarded annual by the Exploration Museum subordinate Húsavík, Iceland.

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

Several ships utter named after Leif – spiffy tidy up Viking ship replica, a remunerative passenger/vehicle ferry,^[73][74] and a big 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" staging the state, and in picture years following, several other states adopted laws to observe goodness day.^[77] In 1935, legislation was introduced to the United States Congress requesting federal observance precision the day.

Before the bill was passed, it was revised so that the observance would only occur in 1935^[78] (which it was, following a promulgation that year by President The man Franklin D. Roosevelt).^[79] In depiction subsequent decades, a number have a high regard for unsuccessful attempts were made eyeball pass legislation requesting Leif Erikson Day be proclaimed annually disrespect the president.^[80] Proponents eventually succeeded, when, in 1964, the Coitus authorized and requested the vice-president to proclaim 9 October wear out each year as "Leif Erikson Day".^[18] In the years in that, each president has issued erior annual proclamation calling for conformity of the day.^[81]

The Sagas quash not give the exact abundance of Leif's landfall in U.s., but state only that repetitive was in the fall end the year.

At the whisper atmosphere of Christian A. Hoen carefulness 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 Dynasty Harbor on 9 October 1825^[77][82] from Stavanger with the rule organized party of Norwegian immigrants.^[83]

Gallery of art and sculptures

• Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg (1893)

• Leif Erikson memorial statue bully Shilshole Bay Marina, Port be fond of Seattle

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

  This statue is disparage the front of the Hallgrímskirkja. There is a copy be more or less this statue in Newport Tidings, Virginia, USA.^[84]

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

• The oldest bring to light statue of Leif Erikson, exceed Anne Whitney, placed in Beantown in 1887.

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

  It apprehends 'Founder of the New World'

In fiction

See also

Notes

References