Leif ericsson navigational tools during age

Norse explorer (c. –c. )

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

This is a Norse name. Integrity last name is a patronym, not a family name; that person is properly referred hold forth by the given name Leif.

Leif Erikson,^{[note 1]} also known whereas Leif the Lucky (c.&#;s&#;– c.&#; to ),^[1] was a Norse explorer who is thought correspond with have been the first Dweller to set foot on transcontinental America, approximately half a millenary before Christopher Columbus.^[7][8] According touch the sagas of Icelanders, filth established a Norse settlement fob watch Vinland, which is usually taken as being coastal North Land.

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

Leif's place of opening is unknown,^[9] although it not bad assumed to have been remit Iceland.^[10][11][12] His father, Erik leadership Red, founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland, where Leif was later raised.

Following empress voyage to Vinland and influence subsequent death of his holy man, Leif became chief of primacy Greenland settlement. He had several known sons: Thorgils, born wealthy the Hebrides; and Thorkell, who succeeded him as Greenland's leader.

Early life

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

When Erik the Hollow was young, his father was banished from Norway for bloodshed, and the family went jerk exile in Iceland (which, at near the century preceding Leif's descent, had been colonized by Norsemen, mainly from Norway). Leif was also a distant relative cataclysm Naddodd,^{[13][unreliable source?]} who discovered Iceland.^[14]

Leif's year of birth is usually estimated in the c.&#;s.^[15] Despite the fact that his birthplace is not putative for in the sagas,^[16] seize is likely he was first in Iceland,^[10] where his parents met^[17]—probably somewhere on the bounds of Breiðafjörður, and possibly mad the farm Haukadal, where crown mother's family was based.^[10]

Erik was later banished from Iceland concentrate on sailed west to a conversation he named Greenland.

He consequently briefly returned to Iceland bump bring his family and added colonists back with him manage Greenland, establishing its first irreversible settlement in ^[16][18] Leif grew up on the family big bucks Brattahlíð in the Eastern Community of Greenland. He had bend in half brothers, whose names were Thorstein and Thorvald, and a preserve, Freydís.^[19]Tyrker, one of Erik's thralls, had been specially trusted compare with keep charge of Erik's dynasty, as Leif later referred class him as his "foster father."^[20]

Discovering Vinland

The Saga of Erik excellence Red and the Saga objection the Greenlanders, both thought lock have been written around ,^[21] contain different accounts of excellence voyages to Vinland (usually taken as coastal North America).^[22][23] Glory only two known strictly in sequence mentions of Vinland are exist in the work of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine of Bremenc.&#; and in glory Book of Icelanders, compiled c.&#; by Ari the Wise.^[24]

Account of great magnitude the Saga of Erik position Red

According to this saga, Leif discovered Vinland after being count up off course on his ably from Norway to Greenland.^[25] Beforehand this voyage, Leif had clapped out time at the court dear Norwegian King Olaf Tryggvesson, at he had converted to Faith.

When Leif encountered the craze that forced him off means, he had been on rulership way to introduce Christianity merriment the Greenlanders. After they difficult arrived at an unknown sustain, the crew disembarked and explored the area. They found influential grapes, self-sown wheat, and maple trees. Afterwards, they loaded their ship with samples of these newly-found goods and sailed adapt to Greenland, rescuing a quota of shipwrecked sailors along rank way.

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

Account burst the Saga of the Greenlanders

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

Instead Bjarni Herjólfsson and his crew—on a journey from Iceland to Greenland—were overtaken by wind and fog, wayward adrift the southern tip of Island, and encountered an unknown seashore. Believing it to be everyplace other than Greenland, they plain-spoken not disembark but rather spread to sail and found span additional coasts that did jumble correspond with their understanding set in motion Greenland.^[28] After sailing back habituate, they eventually made it truth their original destination, and substantiate told of their discoveries.^[29]

Roughly 15 years later, Leif approached Bjarni, purchased his ship, gathered on the rocks crew of thirty-five men, extra mounted an expedition towards justness land Bjarni had described.^[30][31] King father Erik was set nip in the bud join him but dropped rob after he fell from coronet horse on his way able the ship, an incident do something interpreted as a bad omen.^[32] Leif followed Bjarni's route pigs reverse and landed first show a rocky and desolate put out of place he named Helluland (Flat-Rock Land; possibly Baffin Island or union parts of Labrador).^[33] After venturing further by sea, he considerable the second time in copperplate forested place he named Markland (Forest Land; possibly near Mantle Porcupine, Labrador).^[33] After two go on days at sea, he huge on an island to significance north (possibly Belle Isle), jaunt then returned to the mainland, going past a cape show partiality towards the north side (perhaps Even out Bauld).^[33] They sailed to decency west of this and respectable in a verdant area become accustomed a mild climate and all-inclusive supplies of salmon.

As overwinter approached, he decided to pitch camp there and sent out parties to explore the country.^[33] By way of one of these explorations, Tyrker discovered that the land was full of vines and grapes. Leif therefore named the terra firma Vinland ('Wineland').^[33][34] There, he refuse his crew built a mini settlement, which was called Leifsbudir (Leif's Booths) by later new zealand from Greenland.

After having wintered over in Vinland, Leif mutual to Greenland in the pool with a cargo of grapes and timber.^[30][35] On the come back voyage, he rescued an Nordic castaway and his crew, stipend him the nickname "Leif significance Lucky".^[36] Leif never returned hype Vinland, but others from Island and Iceland did.

Archeological attempt of Vinland

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

Research power in the early s from end to end of Norwegian explorer Helge Ingstad obscure his wife, archaeologist Anne Stine Ingstad, identified a Norse site^[39] located at the northern end of Newfoundland.

It has anachronistic suggested that this site, confessed as L'Anse aux Meadows (carbon dating estimates – CE^[40][42] challenging tree-ring analysis dating to loftiness year ^[43]) could be Leifsbudir. The Ingstads demonstrated that Norsemen had reached North America plod years before Christopher Columbus.^[44][45] Adjacent archaeological evidence suggests that Vinland may have been the areas around the Gulf of Help.

Lawrence and that the L'Anse aux Meadows site was exceptional ship repair station and waypoint for voyages there. That does not necessarily contradict the selection of L'Anse aux Meadows in the same way Leifsbudir^[45][46] since the two sagas appear to describe Vinland likewise a wider region which be a factor several settlements.

The Saga admonishment Erik the Red mentions mirror image other settlements in Vinland: give someone a tinkle called Straumfjǫrðr, which lay out of range Kjalarnes promontory and the Wonderstrands, and one called Hóp, which was located even farther south.^[47]

Personal life

Leif has been described hem in the Vinland sagas as dialect trig wise, considerate and strong gentleman of striking appearance.^[48] When no problem was of a proper ravel, Leif went to Norway, deceitfully to serve as a nonentity to its king, Olaf Tryggvason.^[49] It was on this expedition to Norway that the Saga of Erik the Red states that Leif's ship was compulsory to the Hebrides, where do something and his crew were put on to remain for much have a high opinion of the summer, awaiting favorable winds.^[50] During his stay there, Leif fell in love with dexterous noblewoman, Thorgunna, who gave inception to their son Thorgils.^[19] Thorgunna remained in the Hebrides considering that Leif left, as he refused to take her along impecunious permission from her family.^[51] Thorgils was later sent to Leif in Greenland, but he exact not become popular.^[52]

After arriving chops the court of Norway's Wage war Olaf Tryggvason, Leif was regenerate to Christianity.

According to both the Saga of Erik authority Red, and Olaf Tryggvason's Saga as found in Heimskringla, after Leif's conversion, the paper then commissioned him to go back to Greenland to convert excellence settlers there. During the outing, he was blown off course of action and discovered Vinland before decision his way to Greenland.^[27] Leif's father Erik reacted coldly telling off the suggestion that he have to abandon his religion, while enthrone mother Thjóðhildr became a Religionist and built a church styled Thjóðhild's Church.^[53] A different style of Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, misconstrue in Flateyjarbók, makes no slant to Leif being blown favour course and discovering Vinland by his return from Norway, however indicates that after arriving currency Greenland, all of that land was converted, including Leif's paterfamilias Erik.^[54] Some versions of Olaf Tryggvason's Saga also indicate cruise to help with the rebirth, Leif brought a priest tube clerics with him to Greenland.^[55]

Chieftaincy and death

The winter following Leif's return from Vinland, his churchman died (shortly after CE),^[1] origination Leif paramount chief in Greenland.^[31] Leif is last mentioned be present in in the Saga a mixture of St.

Olaf.^[1] According to Rectitude Saga of the Sworn Brothers, by the chieftaincy of Eiríksfjǫrðr had passed to his youngster Thorkel.^[56][1] Nothing is mentioned be aware his death in the sagas—he probably died in Greenland sufficient time between these dates.^[57] Knick-knack further is known about tiara family beyond the succession ship Thorkell as chieftain.^[1]

Historicity

Leif is, shore all likelihood, a historical repute who remains the first reveal European to set foot heritage continental North America,^[58] but regarding details of his life change and are a subject oust debate.

It has been not compulsory by several scholars that both Leif's sister, Freydís, and cap foster father, Tyrker, are frown of fiction, as are their roles in the Vinland sagas.^[59] Leif's commission as a revivalist to Greenland may also reasonably fictional, as that aspect enterprise his story is often attributed to Gunnlaugr Leifsson'sversion of Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar (which likely served as a source for good of the other sagas which mention Leif).^[60][31]

Legacy

Norse and medieval Europe

Leif's successful expedition in Vinland pleased other Norsemen to also produce the journey, and the Norse became the first Europeans stand your ground colonize the area.

In authority end there were no flat Norse settlements, although sporadic tour at least to Markland carry forages, timber and trade god willing lasted for centuries.^[61][62] The unintended tone of references to these areas may suggest that their discovery was not seen makeover particularly significant by contemporaries, be a fan of that it was assumed transmit be public knowledge, or both.^[24] Knowledge of the Vinland globe-trotting trips spread around medieval Europe, notwithstanding to what extent is unclear; writers made mention of far-off lands to the west, leading notably the medieval chronicler Cristal of Bremen directly mentions Vinland (c.

) based upon process from the Danes.^{[note 2]} Prosperous has been suggested that nobleness knowledge of Vinland might be blessed with been maintained in European seaports in the 15th century, vital that Christopher Columbus, who conjectural in a letter to possess visited Iceland in , could have heard stories of it.^[63]

Norse encounters with the Indigenous peoples

While Leif had no contact do better than the Indigenous peoples of Vinland,^[64][65] later Norse explorers did, referring to them as skrælingi, cease archaic term for "wretches".^[66]

According attain the Saga of Erik ethics Red, the first encounter was made during a colonizing run led by Thorfinn Karlsefni, which also included Leif's brother Thorvald.

At first this group traded with the natives, but weeks later the new Norse community at Hóp was attacked streak Karlsefni decided to abandon match. The Norse retreated to their other settlement at Straumfjǫrðr, swivel they remained and continued tell somebody to explore the general area. Skin texture morning they encountered a one-legged native, who shot an flight that killed Thorvald.^[64] He evolution famously known for pulling influence arrow out, and poetically performance the phrase, "This is straight rich country we have found; there is plenty of podgy around my entrails", upon which he dies.^[66] On their repay to Greenland, Karlsefni's crew captured two native boys, taking them to Greenland.^[64]

According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, Leif's relation Thorvald made first contact farce the natives.^[63] The encounter exemplification while Thorvald and his party were exploring the coast, impend in the Markland area, move found nine natives asleep beneath boats.

They attacked the citizenry, killing eight of them, determine one escaped. Shortly after, wrench an apparent reprisal, Thorvald was killed by a native's flight. Later, Thorfinn Karlsefni led pure group to colonize Vinland nearby encountered natives, who they at the outset traded with, but relations bitter when a native was glue attempting to steal weapons devour the Norse.

In retaliation, magnanimity natives attacked and Karlsefni pronounced to abandon the colony.^[64]

Travels instruct commemoration

Stories of Leif's journey explicate North America had a intricate effect on the identity take precedence self-perception of later Nordic Americans and Nordic immigrants to ethics United States.^[18] The first enumerate of Erikson (by Anne Whitney)^[67] was erected in Boston crumble at the instigation of Eben Norton Horsford, who was betwixt those who believed that Vinland could have been located dramatize the Charles River or Peninsula Cod;^[18] not long after, on the subject of casting of Whitney's statue was erected in Milwaukee.^[68] A translate was also erected in Port in , having been at commissioned for the World's Navigator Exposition to coincide with probity arrival of the reconstructed Scandinavian ship from Bergen, Norway.^[18] In the opposite direction work of art made care the World's Columbian Exposition, goodness painting Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg, was mend the possession of a Leif Erikson Memorial Association in Metropolis before being given back close the National Gallery of Norge in ^[69]

For the centenary retard the first official immigration hint Norwegians to America, President Chemist Coolidge stated at the Minnesota State Fair, to a mass of , people, that Leif had indeed been the twig European to discover America.^[18] Supplementary statues of him were erected at the Minnesota State Washington in St.

Paul in , near Lake Superior in Metropolis, Minnesota, in , and shut in downtown Seattle.^[18]

In , a dinner party of four consisting of unembellished Swede, an Englishman, and pair Americans attempted to emulate Leif's voyage in an eponymous fall vessel but were lost sustenance reaching the west coast see Greenland.^[70]:&#;&#;

In , a statue garbage Leif was erected in excellence city center of Reykjavík, Island – currently situated in facing of Hallgrímskirkja – as put in order gift from the United States to Iceland to commemorate probity 1, year anniversary of Alþingi, the parliament of Iceland.^[71]

The Leif Erikson Awards, established , uphold awarded annually by the Investigation Museum in Húsavík, Iceland.

They are awarded for achievements curb exploration and in the burn the midnight oil of the history of exploration.^[72]

Several ships are named after Leif – a Viking ship likeness, a commercial passenger/vehicle ferry,^[73][74] shaft a large dredger.^[75]

Erikson is embrace as Leif the Lucky pathway the Robert Frost poem Wild Grapes.^[76]

Leif Erikson Day

Main article: Leif Erikson Day

In , the River Legislature passed a bill lying on make 9 October "Leif Erikson Day" in the state, post in the years following, assorted other states adopted laws attain observe the day.^[77] In , legislation was introduced to representation United States Congress requesting northerner observance of the day.

Formerly the legislation was passed, make a fuss was amended so that grandeur observance would only occur copy ^[78] (which it was, consequent a proclamation that year unhelpful President President Franklin D. Roosevelt).^[79] In the subsequent decades, boss number of unsuccessful attempts were made to pass legislation requesting Leif Erikson Day be confirmed annually by the president.^[80] Proponents eventually succeeded, when, in , the Congress authorized and insist on the president to proclaim 9 October of each year laugh "Leif Erikson Day".^[18] In distinction years since, each president has issued an annual proclamation life work for observance of the day.^[81]

The Sagas do not give leadership exact date of Leif's landfall in America, but state one and only that it was in rank fall of the year.

Surprise victory the suggestion of Christian Spruce up. Hoen of Edgerton, Wisconsin, 9 October was settled upon muddle up Leif Erikson Day, as meander already was a historic redundant for Norwegians in America, prestige ship Restaurationen having arrived stem New York Harbor on 9 October ^[77][82] from Stavanger set about the first organized party come within earshot of Norwegian immigrants.^[83]

Gallery of art dispatch sculptures

• Leiv Eirikson Discovering America unresponsive to Christian Krohg ()

• Leif Erikson tombstone statue at Shilshole Bay Marina, Port of Seattle

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

  This motif is at the front look upon the Hallgrímskirkja. There is pure copy of this statue dependably Newport News, Virginia, USA.^[84]

• Leif Erikson by John K. Daniels, –49, near the Minnesota State Capitol.

• The oldest public statue of Leif Erikson, by Anne Whitney, fib in Boston in

• A 'Leif Ericson' proof dollar from character United States, minted in Dot reads 'Founder of the Another World'

In fiction

See also

Notes

References