Achievements
At the age of 24, Leif was asked to captain his first voyage. He was requested to deliver gifts from Greenland to King Olaf in Norway. The journey took longer than planned because of bad weather. He was blown off course by heavy winds and low on food, he had to stop in a small group of islands called the Hebrides. Unable to leave, Leif and his crew were stuck there for a month waiting for the weather to change.
Whilst he was in the Hebrides he fathered his only son, Thorgils, with a lords daughter. After about a month on the islands, they were back in the water on their way to Norway.
When the crew arrived in Norway, King Olaf greeted them warmly and was very pleased to receive the gifts that Leif had brought. Leif spent his days in luxury as a guest of the king. The king encouraged Leif to explore Christianity and Leif was so interested that he decided to convert. King Olaf then suggested that Leif return to Norway to spread the word about the religion.
On the way back to Greenland, Leif was reminded of a story he heard when he was young. It was about a merchant named Bjarni Herjolfsson who had claimed to have seen a new land to the west of Greenland. Leif was again blown off course due to bad weather, and saw this land for himself. Herjolfsson never made landfall on this mysterious land, but Leif was keen to explore this unknown territory. However, he decided to continue on his journey home.
When he got back to Greenland , Leif began to spread the word about the Christian religion. His mother converted to Christianity but his father, Erik the Red, didn't want to become a Christian and he stayed with his Norse religion.
Whilst he was in the Hebrides he fathered his only son, Thorgils, with a lords daughter. After about a month on the islands, they were back in the water on their way to Norway.
When the crew arrived in Norway, King Olaf greeted them warmly and was very pleased to receive the gifts that Leif had brought. Leif spent his days in luxury as a guest of the king. The king encouraged Leif to explore Christianity and Leif was so interested that he decided to convert. King Olaf then suggested that Leif return to Norway to spread the word about the religion.
On the way back to Greenland, Leif was reminded of a story he heard when he was young. It was about a merchant named Bjarni Herjolfsson who had claimed to have seen a new land to the west of Greenland. Leif was again blown off course due to bad weather, and saw this land for himself. Herjolfsson never made landfall on this mysterious land, but Leif was keen to explore this unknown territory. However, he decided to continue on his journey home.
When he got back to Greenland , Leif began to spread the word about the Christian religion. His mother converted to Christianity but his father, Erik the Red, didn't want to become a Christian and he stayed with his Norse religion.
Discovering Newfoundland
Following in his family's adventurous spirit, Leif was determined to explore this unknown land. He sought out the merchant, Bjarni Herjolfsson, and purchased his ship. In about 1000 AD and with a crew of 35, Leif set off.
He took Herjoflsson's route in reverse to try and find the unclaimed land.
He took Herjoflsson's route in reverse to try and find the unclaimed land.
After a long and tiring journey at sea, Leif eventually arrived. He initially went ashore at a place he named Stone-slab Land. He called it this because it was largely made up of stone and rock. He also didn't have the creative naming ability of his father. The crew returned to sea and made their second landing at a place Leif called Markland. This was flat and beach-like. After exploring and finding Markland to be unsuitable for settlement, they made their final landing at a place named Vinland. We now know these three landing sites are most likely Baffin Island, Labrador and Newfoundland.
They spent the winter in Vinland. The surrounding environment provided plenty of resources for survival. They fished, farmed and made wine from the many grapes that were growing. These grapes were the reason Leif named it Vinland.
After the winter, in 1001 AD Leif and his crew returned to Greenland. They returned with many stories of their adventures in this new land and enough grapes for wine making.
Leif never returned to Vinland. His brother, Thorvald, made the next voyage about 2 years later. He tried to establish a settlement, but struggled because of the native North Americans. It is believed that Thorvald was killed by the natives and was the first European to die and be buried on American soil.
When Erik the Red died, Leif took over as the chief of the Greenland settlement.
Leif Eriksson is thought to have died in 1025 AD.
They spent the winter in Vinland. The surrounding environment provided plenty of resources for survival. They fished, farmed and made wine from the many grapes that were growing. These grapes were the reason Leif named it Vinland.
After the winter, in 1001 AD Leif and his crew returned to Greenland. They returned with many stories of their adventures in this new land and enough grapes for wine making.
Leif never returned to Vinland. His brother, Thorvald, made the next voyage about 2 years later. He tried to establish a settlement, but struggled because of the native North Americans. It is believed that Thorvald was killed by the natives and was the first European to die and be buried on American soil.
When Erik the Red died, Leif took over as the chief of the Greenland settlement.
Leif Eriksson is thought to have died in 1025 AD.