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Leif
Eriksson
Eriksson,
Leif (975-1020), Icelandic explorer thought to have been
one of the first Europeans to set foot on North American
soil. His patronymic, Ericson, is also spelled Ericsson,
Eiríksson, or Erikson. He was the second son of Eric
the Red, who in about 985 established the first European
settlement on Greenland after he was exiled from Iceland.
Leif, a sailor like Eric the Red, voyaged from Greenland,
where he was living with his father, to Norway, the homeland
of his family, shortly before 1000. There, according to
one tradition, King Olaf I was responsible
for converting him to Christianity and later sent him back
to Greenland to win its Viking settlers over to the Christian
faith. Journeying westward, Leif lost his way and happened
upon the North American shore.
Another
more reliable source, however, states that an Icelandic
trader named Bjarni Herjólfsson was the first to sight land
in North America. Leif later bought Bjarni's ship and, based
on his description, retraced the voyage. As he sailed, he
touched Helluland (perhaps Baffin Island), Markland (perhaps
Labrador), and finally Vinland. The precise identity
of Vinland remains controversial among scholars; some say
it is Newfoundland, others, Nova Scotia or even New England.
In 1963, however, archaeologists found ruins of a Viking-type
settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, in northern Newfoundland,
which correspond to Leif's description of Vinland.
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Leif
Eriksson, son of Norse explorer Eric the Red, led
the first European expedition to North America around
AD 1000, according to folk legend. Norwegian archaeologists
found the ruins of an old Norse settlement in Newfoundland
in the early 1960s. They believe Norse expeditions
to North America may have ceased because of attacks
by Native
Americans.
Robert
Gates/Archive Photos
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On
his return journey, Leif came upon a wrecked trading vessel
whose crew he rescued; for this deed he received the entire
rich cargo and the nickname Leif the Lucky. After he reached
Greenland, he carried out his commission to bring Christianity
to the settlers. One of his converts was his mother, Thjódhild,
who is said to have built Greenland's first Christian church
at Brattahlid.
To
his brother Thorvald, Leif lent his ship for further
exploration of Vinland. There, according to some sagas,
Thorvald was killed by natives during the winter of 1004-5.
"Eriksson,
Leif," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001 http://encarta.msn.com
© 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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