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Erik the Red

File:Eric_the_Red.png · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Erik the Red

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Also known as Eirik Raude, Eirikr Thorvaldsson, Eiríkur Rauði, Eric the Red

explorer 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.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Instance of
human
Given name
Erik
Gender
male
Citizenship
Norway
Place of birth
Norway
Place of death
Brattahlíð
Child
Thorvald Eiriksson
Father
Thorvald Asvaldsson
Occupation
warrior
Languages spoken
Old Norse
Native language
Old Norse
Religion
Old Norse religion
Hair colour
red hair
Image
Eric the Red.png
Convicted of
manslaughter
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Commons category
Erik the Red
date of birth
0950-00-00
date of death
1003-00-00
name in native language
Eirīkr hinn rauði
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Encyclopedic overview

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.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Erik the Red” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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