Erik the red
"There was a man named Thorvald, the son of Asvald, the son of Ulf, the son of Yxna-Thoris. His son was named Eirik"
-The Saga of Erik the Red
Erik was born in Norway in 950 AD, during the golden age of vikings and almost a hundred years before William the Conqueror was even conceived. His tale and legacy is vast and epic, much like the oceans crossed in it. It begins during his childhood, when his father murders a man in a blood-feud. Thorvald and, as a result, his son were banished to Iceland to never return.
"There Thorvald died, and Eirik then married Thjodhild, daughter of Jorund, the son of Atli, and of Thorbjorg the Ship-breasted, whom afterwards Thorbjorn, of the Haukadalr (Hawkdale) family, married."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
After Erik's father died, and he married into a wealthy Icelandic family he should have lived happily ever after, instead he followed in his father's footsteps. Erik quickly found himself in a blood-feud, it wasn't long before he was waging war with his neighbors, sending slaves to destroy the farmland of his enemies.
"Then did Eirik's thralls cause a landslip on the estate of Valthjof, at Valthjofsstadr."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
In retaliation, the landowner's brother, Eyjolf, killed Erik's slaves, which drove Erik to kill not only Eyjolf, but also Hrafn the Dueler.
"Eyjolf the Foul, his kinsman, slew the thralls beside Skeidsbrekkur, above Vatzhorn. In return Eirik slew Eyjolf the Foul; he slew also Hrafn the Dueller, at Leikskalar ."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
Erik was then banished from Iceland for man slaughter in one of history's prime examples of the proverbial acorn falling close to the tree. There was some variation between Erik and his father, however. Unlike his father, or any normal man for that matter. Erik didn't retire in defeat when exiled, instead, he traveled to a new land and founded his very own country. He named this new colony Greenland.
-The Saga of Erik the Red
Erik was born in Norway in 950 AD, during the golden age of vikings and almost a hundred years before William the Conqueror was even conceived. His tale and legacy is vast and epic, much like the oceans crossed in it. It begins during his childhood, when his father murders a man in a blood-feud. Thorvald and, as a result, his son were banished to Iceland to never return.
"There Thorvald died, and Eirik then married Thjodhild, daughter of Jorund, the son of Atli, and of Thorbjorg the Ship-breasted, whom afterwards Thorbjorn, of the Haukadalr (Hawkdale) family, married."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
After Erik's father died, and he married into a wealthy Icelandic family he should have lived happily ever after, instead he followed in his father's footsteps. Erik quickly found himself in a blood-feud, it wasn't long before he was waging war with his neighbors, sending slaves to destroy the farmland of his enemies.
"Then did Eirik's thralls cause a landslip on the estate of Valthjof, at Valthjofsstadr."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
In retaliation, the landowner's brother, Eyjolf, killed Erik's slaves, which drove Erik to kill not only Eyjolf, but also Hrafn the Dueler.
"Eyjolf the Foul, his kinsman, slew the thralls beside Skeidsbrekkur, above Vatzhorn. In return Eirik slew Eyjolf the Foul; he slew also Hrafn the Dueller, at Leikskalar ."
-The Saga of Erik the Red
Erik was then banished from Iceland for man slaughter in one of history's prime examples of the proverbial acorn falling close to the tree. There was some variation between Erik and his father, however. Unlike his father, or any normal man for that matter. Erik didn't retire in defeat when exiled, instead, he traveled to a new land and founded his very own country. He named this new colony Greenland.