Thorfinn Karlsefni

Thorfinn Karlsefni

▪ Scandinavian explorer
born 980, Iceland
died after 1007

      Icelandic-born Scandinavian leader of an early colonizing expedition to North America. His travels were recounted in the Saga of Erik and the Tale of the Greenlanders.

      Thorfinn must have been given his nickname, Karlsefni, at an early age, since it means “promising boy.” His grandfather in about 900 had led many Norwegians to colonize Iceland, and by 986 their descendants felt so hard-pressed for stock-farming land there that they followed the lead of Erik the Red and migrated to Greenland. Thorfinn, who was a successful trader and sea captain, reached what was known as the eastern settlement of Greenland with a group of colonists in 1003. There he married Gudrid, who was the widow of one of Erik the Red's sons, Thorstein.

      Thorfinn and Gudrid were persuaded by Erik to lead an expedition to Vinland (believed to be in the area of present-day Labrador, Nova Scotia, or New England), which had been discovered three years earlier by another of Erik's sons, Leif Eriksson. In about 1004 the couple set out with about 130 people in three ships and sailed westward, possibly making their first landfall on the North American continent at Baffin Island. They followed the coastline southward until they reached a heavily wooded region, perhaps some part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence shore, and settled there to engage in haymaking, hunting, and fishing. Thorfinn's and Gudrid's son, Snorri (b. c. 1005), was the first European born on the North American mainland.

      That first winter the Scandinavian colonists met no people, but the next summer they were visited by friendly natives who were probably Eskimo. The next summer they were visited by more numerous and less friendly natives, and fighting ensued, which the Scandanavians won but at the cost of some lives. Three years after the landing, Thorfinn and the rest of the colonists abandoned Vinland and returned to Greenland. Later they returned to Iceland.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Thorfinn Karlsefni — (vieux norrois : Þorfinnr Karlsefni, islandais : Þorfinnur Karlsefni) est un explorateur islandais qui peu après l an 1000 essaya de s installer au Vinland. Selon la Saga d Eirik le Rouge, il partit avec 3 bateaux sur lesquels se… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thorfinn Karlsefni — Thorfinn Karlsefnis Expedition nach Vinland 1=Norwegen, 2=Island, 3=Ostsiedlung (Grönland), 4=Westsiedlung (Grönland), 5=Helluland (Baffinland), 6=Markland (Labrador) 7=Bjarney (Neufundland), 8=Vinland (Sankt Lorenz Golf) Thorfinn Karl …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thorfinn Karlsefni — (Thorfinnr Thordarson), (Old Norse: Þorfinnr Karlsefni, Icelandic: Þorfinnur Karlsefni) was an Icelandic explorer who circa 1010 AD led an attempt to settle Vinland with three ships and 160 settlers. Among the settlers was Freydís Eiríksdóttir,… …   Wikipedia

  • Thorfinn Karlsefni — o Þorfinnr Karlsefni Þórðarson (Nórdico antiguo: Þorfinnr Karlsefni, lengua islandesa: Þorfinnur Karlsefni) fue un explorador islandés que sobre el año 1010 d.C., lideró una tentativa de asentamiento en Vinland con tres barcos y 160 pobladores,… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Karlsefni — Thorfinn Karlsefnis Expedition nach Vinland 1=Norwegen, 2=Island, 3=Ostsiedlung (Grönland), 4=Westsiedlung (Grönland), 5=Helluland (Baffinland), 6=Markland ( …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Thorfinn — may refer to:* Thorfinn Turf Einarsson, Earl of Orkney (Thorfinn Skullsplitter) (floruit 10th century) * Thorfinn Sigurdsson, Earl of Orkney (Thorfinn the Mighty) (floruit early 11th century) * Thorfinn Karlsefni, Icelandic explorer (died circa… …   Wikipedia

  • Pre-Columbian Discovery of America —     Pre Columbian Discovery of America     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Pre Columbian Discovery of America     Of all the alleged discoveries of America before the time of Columbus, only the bold voyages of exploration of the fearless Vikings to… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Vinland Sagas — (13th century)    Two 13th century Icelandic family SAGAS that relate independent traditions concerning the Norse exploration of the North American continent around the year 1000 are known collectively as the Vinland Sagas, taking their title… …   Encyclopedia of medieval literature

  • Grœnlendinga saga — or the Saga of the Greenlanders is an Icelandic saga. Along with Eiríks saga rauða it is one of the two main literary sources of information for the Norse exploration of North America. It relates the colonization of Greenland by Erik the Red and… …   Wikipedia

  • Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir — Abguss einer von Ásmundur Sveinsson geschaffenen Statue von Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir und ihrem Sohn in Laugarbrekka, Island Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir – deutsch auch Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir – (* in Laugarbrekka auf Snæfellsnes) war eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”