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Erik ‘the Red’ was born Erik Thorvaldsson in Norway. Following his father’s exile from Norway for killing a man, the young Erik and the rest of the family moved and relocated to Iceland. 
Erik aged into a big man with red hair, red beard and a fiery temper. The name he is known by ‘Erik the Red’ may have come from the characteristics of his appearance. 
 
Erik married Thjodhildr and had four children, a girl and three boys. (Freydis, Thorvald, Thorstein, Leif Eriksson). 
 
In around 982AD Erik was banished from Iceland for three years after he killed two men. He sailed with his family, landing in Greenland where he would stay for the next three years. 
 
Following the end of his banishment, Erik returned to Iceland, where he encouraged four – five hundred people to travel to Greenland with him and form a settlement. This settlement grew to over five thousand people, but some immigrants that arrived from Iceland brought with them an epidemic, which killed many of the settlers. Erik 'the Red' also died at this time around 1003AD. 
Leif Eriksson – Son of Erik 'the Red' 
 
Leif Eriksson was born around 970 – 980AD, it is believed in Iceland. He was the first European to sail to North America. 
 
He sailed and landed with his crew of thirty-five in what is now Newfoundland, Canada in around 999AD. He landed on an island and named it Vinland, now Nova Scotia. He created a settlement in North America but did not stay long, returning to Greenland in 1002AD. 
 
Leif Eriksson and his family along with many other Vikings, converted to Christianity. This conversion contributed to the end of the Viking age. 
 
Little is known of his death, but it is believed to have been between 1019 and 1025AD. 
 
Tagged as: Junior The Vikings
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