Leif Erikson
According to early 13th and 14th-century Icelandic accounts, Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached the North American shores. By so doing, he beat another famous explorer, Christopher Columbus by five hundred years or so.
What evidence exists of Leif Erikson’s voyage to North America? And how is Leif Erikson celebrated?
In the article below, World History Edu cover the basics of Leif Erikson’s life and his historical significance as an explorer.
Leif Erikson’s voyages significantly impacted medieval European exploration by demonstrating the feasibility of transatlantic travel and setting precedents for subsequent exploratory and settlement efforts by the Norse in North America. Image: Leif Eriksson Discovers America by Norwegian painter Hans Dahl (1849–1937)
Early Life
Erikson was the son of Erik the Red, who was the founder of Greenland and his wife, Thjodhild. He had two brothers, Thorsteinn and Thorvaldr, as well as a sister, Freydís. Erikson accompanied his father to Iceland after Erik had been banished from Norway for manslaughter. The family later moved to Greenland after Erik was banished yet again from Iceland.
The Voyage to Vinland
There are different accounts that tell the story of Erikson’s discovery of Vinland. One account, known as “Eirik’s Saga”, believes that the young Norse sailor discovered North America after sailing off course upon his return to Greenland. He called the new location Vinland due to the abundance of wild grapes and how fertile the land was.
However, other accounts have different explanations on his discovery of Vinland. In the “Saga of the Greenlanders”, Erikson heard about Vinland from a trader, who had spotted the North American coastline 14 years before Erikson’s voyage.
Although the exact location of Vinland has been the subject of debate for many years, it is believed to have been in Newfoundland, Canada after an excavation project in the 1960s led to the discovery of what could be the base camp of 11th century Vikings.
Leif Erikson’s achievements marked key moments in the history of European exploration. Image: Leiv Eirikson Discovering America by Christian Krohg (1893)
Conversion to Christianity
While serving in the court of Olaf Tryggvason, who was the king of Norway, Erikson converted to Christianity. He was sent back to Greenland and was commissioned by Olaf to convert the rest of the settlers on the island. According to “Eirik’s Saga”, it was during that return that he sailed off course to discover Vinland.
Erikson arrived back to Greenland with a priest and the pair became known as the first Christian missionaries to have arrived in North America.
Later Life and Legacy
Despite reaching the shores of North America, Erikson never went there again in his lifetime. After his father’s death, he was made chief of the settlement in Greenland. He had two sons named Thorgils and Thorkel. In 1025, Thorkel took over as chief after Erikson passed away.
Legacy
Erikson’s discovery of Vinland set the tone for other Norsemen to travel to North America, and the Norse became the first to colonize that area. It is believed that Christopher Columbus might have heard about Vinland during a visit to Iceland in 1477.
Many accounts of Erikson’s journey to North America helped preserve the identities of many Nordic immigrants in the United States years later. In 1887, a statue of Erikson was erected in Boston. Another statue was also put up later that year in Milwaukee, as well as in Chicago in 1901. Additional statues were erected in 1949 and 1956 at the Minnesota State Capitol and downtown Seattle.
Norwegian painter, Christian Krohg painted the “Leiv Eiriksson oppdager Amerika” was given to the National Gallery of Norway in 1900.
The Exploration Museum in Iceland established the Leif Erikson Awards in 2015. The award celebrates achievements and studies in exploration.
Several ships have been named in Erikson’s honor, including a replica of a Viking ship, a dredger, and the commercial passenger and vehicle ferry.
In 2000, US President Bill Clinton officially proclaimed 9 October as “Leif Erikson Day.”
Image: Discovery of America, a postage stamp from the Faroe Islands which commemorates both Leif Erikson and Christopher Columbus
Appearances in Popular Culture
Erikson was the main character in the 1928 film “The Viking.” He was also written as one of the main characters in the manga novel “Vinland Saga”, written by Makoto Yukimura, as well as in the historical novel “Vinland the Good” by Henry Treece.
In 2022, Leif was portrayed by actor, Sam Corlett as the main character in the Netflix historical drama “Vikings: Valhalla.”
Frequently asked questions about Leif Erikson
Here are some frequently asked questions about Leif Erikson, the Norse explorer known for being among the first Europeans to reach North America:
Leif Erikson was a Norse explorer from Iceland, believed to have been born around the year 970. He is recognized for leading the first European expedition to the North American continent, well before Christopher Columbus. Image: A contemporary artistic depiction of Leif Erikson in Duluth’s Leif Erikson Park, blending historical features with modern stylistic elements.
Why is Leif Erikson famous?
Leif Erikson is famous for his voyage to North America, where he landed around the year 1000 AD. He established a Norse settlement at a place he called Vinland, which is commonly identified with the area known today as Newfoundland, Canada.
Where was Leif Erikson born, and who were his family members?
Leif Erikson was likely born in Iceland during the 970s. He was the son of Erik the Red, who founded Greenland’s first Norse settlement, and his mother was Thjodhild. Leif had two brothers, Thorstein and Thorvald, a sister Freydís, and two sons, Thorgils and Thorkell.
What role did Tyrker play in Leif Erikson’s life?
Tyrker, a thrall of Erik the Red, played a significant role in Leif Erikson’s upbringing, often referred to as his foster father. Tyrker was particularly influential during Leif’s youth and upbringing in Greenland.
What inspired Leif Erikson to explore west of Greenland?
Leif Erikson was inspired by tales of land west of Greenland. Motivated by these stories and possibly a desire to expand trading routes and claim new territories, he embarked on his voyage to what would later be called Vinland.
How did Leif Erikson discover North America?
According to the Sagas of Icelanders, Erikson set sail from Greenland, where his family had settled, after hearing stories from other sailors about a land to the west. He eventually reached a place with a mild climate and plentiful resources, which he named Vinland.
Leif Erikson, known as Leif the Lucky, is significant because he is reputed to be the first European to set foot on the North American continent, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. Image: Leif Erikson by John K. Daniels, 1948–49, near the Minnesota State Capitol.
What is Vinland and why is it important?
Vinland is the name given by Leif Erikson to a part of North America where he established a Norse settlement around the year 1000 AD. This site is important as it represents one of the earliest European settlements in the Americas and is commonly linked with the archaeological site at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada.
What evidence exists of Leif Erikson’s voyage to North America?
Archaeological evidence supporting Erikson’s North American adventures includes the Norse settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada, which many scholars believe was established by Norse explorers around 1000 AD.
How is Leif Erikson celebrated?
Leif Erikson Day is celebrated on October 9th in the United States to honor Erikson’s contributions to exploration. The day was chosen not for any specific event in Erikson’s life, but because the ship Restauration, coming from Stavanger, Norway, arrived in New York Harbor on October 9, 1825, initiating organized Norwegian immigration to America.
Leif Erikson Day is celebrated annually on October 9th in the United States to honor Leif Erikson as a symbol of Norse exploration and discovery in America. The day commemorates the arrival of the first Norwegian immigrants to the U.S., which symbolically ties back to Erikson’s pioneering voyage. Image: Erikson commemorative stamp, issued October 9, 1968, Leif Erikson Day
What are the main sources of information about Leif Erikson?
The primary sources about Leif Erikson’s life and voyages are the Icelandic sagas, specifically the Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders. These sagas were oral histories written down in the 13th and 14th centuries and mix historical facts with folklore.
Leif is known for his voyage to and settlement of an area he named Vinland, often associated with modern-day coastal North America. Image: Leif Erikson memorial statue at Shilshole Bay Marina, Port of Seattle in the United States
