Erik the Red
Occupation: Explorer
Best known as: Viking explorer who settled Greenland
Also known as: Erik Thorvaldsson, Eric the Red
Nationality: Norwegian
Religion: Polytheist
Born: c. 950
Died: c. 1005
Short biography:
Erik's father was banished from Norway for several murders, and Erik grew up on Iceland, where he eventually became a chieftain. However, Erik was exiled from Iceland when he killed two neighbors in a fight around 982. He set out on a quest for riches across the Atlantic and became the first European to set foot on Greenland. Erik gave the island its somewhat misleading name in an attempt to lure settlers. He later returned to Iceland and recruited hundreds of settlers to sail to Greenland in 986. The settlements founded by Erik remained for about 500 years.
Wife: Thorhild Jorundottir
Father: Thorvald Asvaldsson
Children: Thorvald Ericson, Thorstein Ericson, and Leif Ericson
