Erik the Red

Erik the Red
Erik the Red from Arngrímur Jónsson's Gronlandia. Note anachronistic details in his weapons and armor.
Born	c. 950 Norway
Died	c. 1003 Greenland
Nationality	Norwegian (Norse)
Occupation	Settler, explorer
Known for	Founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland
Partner(s)	Þjóðhildr
Children	Freydís, Leif Eiríksson, Þorvaldr and Þorsteinn

Erik Thorvaldsson (Old Norse: Eiríkr Þorvaldsson; 950 – c. 1003), known as Erik the Red (Old Norse: Eiríkr hinn rauði) was a Norwegian Viking, remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Þorvald Ásvaldsson, he therefore also appears, patronymically, as Erik Thorvaldsson (Eiríkr Þorvaldsson). The appellation "the Red" most likely refers to his hair color and the color of his beard.Leif Erikson, the famous Icelandic explorer, was Erik's son.

Erik the Red's father (Thorvald Asvaldsson) was banished from Norway for the crime of manslaughter. He sailed West from Norway with his family and settled in Hornstrandir in northwestern Iceland. The Icelanders later sentenced Erik to exile for three years for killing Eyiolf the Foul around the year 982.

After marrying Thjodhild (Þjóðhildr), Erik moved to Haukadal (Hawksdale) where he built a farm called Eiríksstaðir. The initial confrontation occurred when his thralls (slaves) started a landslide on the neighboring farm belonging to Valthjof (Valþjófr). Valthjof's friend, Eyiolf the Foul (Eyjólfr saurr), killed the thralls. In retaliation, Erik killed Eyjiolf and Holmgang-Hrafn (Hólmgöngu-Hrafn). Eyiolf's kinsmen demanded his banishment from Haukadal.