Vikings: Valhalla – Things Only History Buffs Know About Leif Erikson

Vikings: Valhalla – Things Only History Buffs Know About Leif Erikson

The protagonist of Vikings is Leif Eriksson, Valhalla. has had some information about him disclosed. But there are specifics that only history aficionados are aware of.

The History Channel hit Vikings spinoff/sequel, Vikings: Valhalla, has so far avoided focusing on the Lothbrok family tree in favor of introducing viewers to fresh and intriguing characters. Leif Erikson, a traveler eager to emerge from his father’s shadow and establish himself as a great warrior, stands out among them.

Fans get to learn a few facts about the character during the first season’s eight episodes, some of which have been dramatized for dramatic effect. However, the Saga Of The Greenlanders and several other ancient sources have a few more pieces of historical information regarding Leif.

The First European To Set Foot In North America

Leif Eriksson, rather than Christopher Columbus, according to certain historians, was the first European to set foot on North American territory. Leif is credited with arriving in America 500 years before Columbus. Because of the region’s grape farms, he gave it the name “Vinland,” but the name never caught on. The conclusion of the original Vikings, where it was proposed that Floki (and later Ubbe) were the first to reach the shores of North America, would be at odds with this, though.

There are several similarities between Leif and Ragnar up to this point. Both enjoy fighting and sailing. Fans will, however, genuinely view him as an equal when he successfully explores a new territory, just like Ragnar did with Wessex. Even though Leif never colonized the area in reality, certain liberties might be used to add to the finest Viking battles by having him engage in more warfare in North America.

The actual founder of Greenland was Leif’s father

In the movie Vikings, Erik The Red, the father of Leif, is portrayed as an outlaw who connives to become King of Kattegat. However, contrary to what was shown in the original series, it was really he, not Ubbe and the Icelandic immigrants, who made the discovery of Greenland.

Giving Ubbe credit for finding one of the most significant Viking locations, Greenland, rather than Erik, who only appears in the later stages, makes more sense because he plays a more significant role in the show. Like his brothers Ivar and Bjor, who had both ruled Kattegat, Ubbe also needed to have a greater success.

His Two Sons

There are only two known sons of Leif. The first was Thorkell, whose mother is unknown, and Thorgils, whom he had with noblewoman Thorgunna.

Leif hasn’t had any kids yet in Season 1 because he’s preoccupied with the Anglo-Saxon war, but since the first series placed a lot of emphasis on relationships and family, it’s possible. Leif’s sons might follow in Ragnar’s sons’ footsteps and rise to power as well.

He Was A Missionary

Leif’s father dispatched him to Norway in 999 CE so that he might act as one of King Olaf Tryggvason’s enforcers. Tryggvason was a devout Christian, therefore Leif too had a conversion and became a missionary. Later, Leif succeeded in converting many of the Greenland inhabitants, including his mother.

The Northmen are against Christianity, yet Leif’s conversion is not shocking because others like Ubbe and Hvitserk did it. In Season 1, Leif was still fiercely committed to his Norse ideals, and it now seems doubtful that he will change his mind after Olaf killed Liv, the woman he had a profound romantic relationship with. Now, his drive for vengeance outweighs his willingness to serve Olaf.

After becoming the chief of Greenland, he gave up exploration

Leif is said to have ended his career as a traveler soon after taking over as Greenland’s chieftain from his father, Erik The Red. Later, his son Thorkell would take the throne.

The Vikings constantly looked for a better site to settle away from Kattegat, just as it was during Ragnar’s time. As opposed to Wessex, where there was much opposition, Greenland proved to be the ideal location. It made sense that Leif saw no need to continue discovering new lands given how tranquil it was.

Vinland Is Probably Canada

Historians have argued about Vinland’s actual location for a very long time. That is, until 1960, when archaeologists in Newfoundland discovered a hamlet built by the Vikings. L’Anse aux Meadows is currently the name of the location.
The fact that the Vikings don’t have complete authority over it is a key factor in why the term Vinland doesn’t catch on. The Indians were already present in Vinland, just as the Anglo-Saxons were in Wessex. The land would be visited by a number of other explorers who would attempt to rename it and leave behind a significant geographic conundrum.

He received recognition from a former US president

Leif was in fact the first European to set foot on American soil, as Calvin Coolidge, the third President, acknowledged while speaking to a throng of 100,000 people at the 1925 Minnesota State Fair. But not everyone concurred with him.

Leif Eriksen’s status as a pioneer has been disputed by supporters of Christopher Columbus because the majority of other US Presidents haven’t mentioned the subject. Columbus will probably continue to be given credit for discovering North America for centuries to come because he is much more well-known than Leif.