Discover the Adventurous Viking: Top 13 Fun Facts About Eric the Red

1. No Nookie for Pagan Eric

Eric the Red: a passionate Viking, an avid collector of Greenland's natural beauty – but not a fan of turning the other cheek, even when wife Þjódhild held out the old "no nookie" card: Indeed, Eric maintained his devout devotion to Norse paganism, refusing to convert to Christianity even after his wife did so, and consequently faced her conjugal wrath. Nevertheless, this didn't thwart old Eric from channeling his inner Bob the Builder, founding the first European settlement in Greenland and keeping it thriving against all manner of pirate raids and indigenous rivalry.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Exile: Norse Style Survivor

While Eric the Red may have been 'voted off the island' twice, in an ancient reality show called Exile: Norse Style: this determined "Survivor" managed to not only find and establish a bustling community in Greenland but also engage in trade with neighboring lands for centuries.
Source => britannica.com

Discover the true OG Avenger of the open seas, Leif Erikson, who sailed the Atlantic and arrived in North America 500 years before Columbus! Find out why he named it Vinland and learn about the fascinating history behind this brave explorer. 🍇🌊⚓

=> Fun Facts about Leif-Erikson

3. Freydís: Cradle and Battlefield Rocker

She rocked the cradle, and the battlefield too: Freydís Eiríksdóttir, Eric the Red's fearless daughter, made her mark in Viking history not only as a chest-banging, sword-wielding heroine scaring off Native American attackers, but also as a notorious figure responsible for ruthless retaliation against rival Viking clans.
Source => visitgreenland.com

4. Ancient Ron Weasley

Eric the Red: settler extraordinaire and natural marvel... or ancient Ron Weasley? With his attention-seeking red hair and knack for getting banished from places, he cut quite the figure in Norse history: All jests aside, this trouble-making Viking actually founded the first Norse settlements in Greenland, and his son, Leif Eriksson, famously sailed to North America long before Columbus caught wind of it.
Source => thewarriorlodge.com

5. Leif's Daddy Issues

Before Daddy Issues were cool: Eric the Red's son, Leif Erikson, ditched his father's pagan vibes for Christianity after a soul-searching trip to Norway, bringing the new faith back to Greenland like the ultimate rebellious preacher's kid. Factual statement: Leif Erikson successfully spread Christianity in Greenland despite his father's staunch opposition to the religion.
Source => ancientpages.com

6. Viking House Hunters International

In a viking version of House Hunters International, where disputes were settled with a bit more blood and ruthlessness: Eric the Red found himself banished from Iceland, sailed off to explore Greenland for three years, and later enticed fellow Icelanders to join him in settling this "green" paradise, despite losing several ships and facing various challenges like pirate raids and conflict with the Inuit during their journey.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Eric's Real Estate Marketing Ploy

Before his famous son 'combed' the seas for new lands, Erik the Red was busy inventing marketing ploys that would make real estate agents proud: He christened the icy landmass he discovered during exile from Iceland as "Greenland" - not because it was lush, but to entice 400 settlers into following him in his escapades! Although only 14 of the 25 ships that set sail made it to the shores of the ironically-named landmass, Erik and his family basked in wealth while establishing their fiefdom on the frosty island. Sadly, a deadly disease in 1002 AD and his own passing some years later put an untimely end to Erik's clever colonization efforts.
Source => quarkexpeditions.com

8. Killer Way to Discover Greenland

Talk about a "killer" way to discover a new land: Eric the Red, who was exiled from Norway for offing Eyjolf the Foul, stumbled upon the majestic and chilly landscape of Greenland during his three-year timeout, only to return and strategically name it "Greenland" to attract unwitting settlers to the icy paradise.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Mysterious Thorvald Demise

While Hemingway forgot to pick up the phone and spilled the beans on his legendary fishing tactics, dear old Thorvald just left us all hanging on the whys and whereabouts of his final breath: Ironically, nobody knows the exact location of Thorvald Eriksson's demise, nor is there any clue that he was killed by Native Americans in Massachusetts' iconic Gurnet. All we do know is Thorvald succumbed to the great beyond during an exploration of Vinland, likely around Newfoundland, and was honored by cross-laden bed decorations at both head and feet.
Source => historicaldigression.com

10. Red-Handed Father-Son Duo

Forget the green thumb: try being red-handed like Eric the Red, the OG farmer-turned-viking with a knack for exploration and a family tree that'll leave you seeing new lands! Quite the dad-venturer: Eric the Red founded the first Icelandic settlement in Greenland and was the father of Leif Erikson, who is believed to be the first European to set foot in North America. Talk about father-son bonding on the open ocean!
Source => biographi.ca

11. Pregnant Viking Vixen

Preggo Power Meets Viking Vixen: Freydís Eiríksdóttir, daughter of Eric the Red, famously fended off Native American attackers while eight months pregnant by banging on her chest with a sword, but she was also a controversial figure, accused of orchestrating the massacre of five Viking women during a North American voyage.
Source => visitgreenland.com

12. Fighting for the Right to Party

Before "you've got to fight for your right to party" was a thing, Erik the Red was already living it in Iceland: His banishment came after he killed two men in a deadly brawl, which led to him being exiled from his own village.
Source => allthatsinteresting.com

13. Marriage on Thin Iceland

Here's a marriage not made in heaven: while Eric the Red raided and rumbled with his Viking crew, his wife called dibs on putting up Greenland's first church, defying his pagan beliefs. The quirky truth: Eric the Red founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland but never embraced Christianity, while his devout wife took charge and commissioned the island's inaugural house of worship.
Source => en.wikipedia.org