Leif’s Dad Was Greenland’s Original Colonizer

An interesting fact about Leif Erikson is, that he was Erik the Red's son, who established the first European settlement in what is now known as Greenland.

Erik the Red, who established the first Norse settlement in Greenland, and Thjodhild of Iceland were the parents of Leif. Although his birthplace is unknown, it is likely that he was born in Iceland, which had just lately been settled by Norsemen, primarily from Norway. He was raised in the Eastern Settlement of Greenland on the family homestead Brattahl. Leif had two known sons: Thorkell, who replaced him as the leader of the Greenland settlement, and Thorgils, who was born to the noblewoman Thorgunna in the Hebrides.

Erik Thorvaldson, also called Erik the Red, was a man with red hair who had a difficult upbringing. Erik was born in Norway, but after his father was found guilty of murder there, the family was exiled to Iceland. There, Erik married a wealthy woman and had four children, one of whom he called Leif. Unfortunately, Erik was briefly banished after killing a neighbor in a battle. Erik chose to travel west instead of back to Norway, settling in a vast, desolate area that had been discovered by another explorer a few years before. In the year 985 CE, Erik's exile was ended, and he made the decision to try to build a new colony on the island he had discovered. Fortunately, he was a PR whiz. He called it Greenland, hoping that others would come and settle there. The plan was successful.