Erik the Red
Sign in to saveexplorer and founder of the first viking settlement in Greenland
AI overview
Erik the Red was a Viking explorer who established the first Viking settlement in Greenland around 985 CE. He is historically significant because his settlement laid the foundation for Norse exploration and colonization in the North Atlantic, and he was the father of Leif Erikson, who is credited with reaching North America.
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Person
- Born
- 0950-00-00
- Died
- 1003-00-00
via Open Library + Wikidata
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 153
- Total plays
- 1,366
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Article
Erik Thorvaldsson (c. 950 – c. 1003), known as Erik the Red (Norwegian: Eirik den røde), was a Norse explorer, described in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first European settlement in Greenland. He most likely earned the epithet "the Red" due to the color of his hair and beard.
According to Icelandic sagas, Erik was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson. When Thorvald was banished from Norway, the family sailed west to Iceland. During Erik's life in Iceland, he married Þjódhild Jorundsdottir and had four children, including Icelandic explorer Leif Erikson. Around the year of 982, Erik was exiled from Iceland for three years, during which time he explored Greenland, eventually culminating in his founding of the first successful European settlement on the island. Erik died there around 1003 CE during a winter epidemic.