Eirikr rauði Þorvaldsson was called Erik the Red for his red beard and hair, there is speculation that the name was reflective of his fiery temper. His temper got him exiled first from Norway, then Iceland, finally settling in Greenland.
He was born in Norway in approximately 950, but moved to Iceland with his family when his father, Thorvald Asvaldsson, was banished for murdering a man. In his young adulthood, Erik was banished from Iceland for three years after he murdered two men.
During his time of banishment, he decided to sail west after hearing of Gunnbjorn Olfsson's discovery of islands that lay to the west of Iceland. In 982 he sailed due west from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula with a small crew. He found Gunnbjorn's islands (off eastern Greenland near what is now Angmagssalik) and then landed on the coast of eastern Greenland. He named this harsh place Midjokull (which means "middle glacier"). Eric then sailed south and rounded the southern tip of Greenland (Cape Farewell). He again landed on the southwestern coast (this area would later be called Eystribygd, meaning the Eastern Settlement). After spending the winter on "Erik's Island," he sailed up Erik's fjord. He spent the two following winters at the southern tip of Greenland, exploring the area.
In 985, Erik returned to Breidafjord, Iceland at the conclusion of his banishment. He called his newly discovered land Greenland, although it was covered in ice. Erik wanted it to sound more appealing, in an effort encourage settlement. He was particularly eager to start a new settlement because he was feuding with many people on Iceland. Eric and 400 to 500 settlers in 14 ships arrived to settle Greenland in 986. They settled in Brattahlid (now called Julianehåb), the Eastern Settlement and Godthab (or Nuuk), the Western Settlement. After doing well for a while, the settlements experienced unusually cold weather. Some of the settlers returned to Iceland (the last recorded voyage between Iceland and Greenland was in 1410), but the rest of the settlers disappeared. It is thought that either the Inuit people attacked the settlers or they died from epidemics and starvation.
Erik had a daughter and three sons, the most notable of them being Leif Erikson, the explorer credited as the first European to reach America.
Eric died sometime during the winter of 1003-1004.
He was born in Norway in approximately 950, but moved to Iceland with his family when his father, Thorvald Asvaldsson, was banished for murdering a man. In his young adulthood, Erik was banished from Iceland for three years after he murdered two men.
During his time of banishment, he decided to sail west after hearing of Gunnbjorn Olfsson's discovery of islands that lay to the west of Iceland. In 982 he sailed due west from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula with a small crew. He found Gunnbjorn's islands (off eastern Greenland near what is now Angmagssalik) and then landed on the coast of eastern Greenland. He named this harsh place Midjokull (which means "middle glacier"). Eric then sailed south and rounded the southern tip of Greenland (Cape Farewell). He again landed on the southwestern coast (this area would later be called Eystribygd, meaning the Eastern Settlement). After spending the winter on "Erik's Island," he sailed up Erik's fjord. He spent the two following winters at the southern tip of Greenland, exploring the area.
In 985, Erik returned to Breidafjord, Iceland at the conclusion of his banishment. He called his newly discovered land Greenland, although it was covered in ice. Erik wanted it to sound more appealing, in an effort encourage settlement. He was particularly eager to start a new settlement because he was feuding with many people on Iceland. Eric and 400 to 500 settlers in 14 ships arrived to settle Greenland in 986. They settled in Brattahlid (now called Julianehåb), the Eastern Settlement and Godthab (or Nuuk), the Western Settlement. After doing well for a while, the settlements experienced unusually cold weather. Some of the settlers returned to Iceland (the last recorded voyage between Iceland and Greenland was in 1410), but the rest of the settlers disappeared. It is thought that either the Inuit people attacked the settlers or they died from epidemics and starvation.
Erik had a daughter and three sons, the most notable of them being Leif Erikson, the explorer credited as the first European to reach America.
Eric died sometime during the winter of 1003-1004.