Explorer. Born the son of Thjodhild Jörundsdóttir and Erik 'the Red' Thorvaldsson. About the year 1000, his elder brother, Leif, returned home from an exploration to the west, naming the territories of Helluland, Markland , and Vinland, where he established a base he called Leifsbudir. Within two years, Thorvald sought to follow his brother's efforts with his own expedition for a more thorough exploration of the new lands. With a crew of about thirty, including his sister, Freydis, they sailed, making landfall at Leifsbudir where they wintered. With the summer, he directed exploration of the many islands and shallow waters of the area. After a second winter in Leifsbudir, he directed exploration in the opposite direction from the previous year's. After a storm damaged his boat, he had to beach in order to repair. After another landfall, they encountered nine men whom they called Skraelings. All but one were killed in a brief encounter. When the Vikings later encamped on a nearby cape, they were attacked by the injured tribe, Thorvald was mortally wounded, reportedly the only Viking casualty of the encounter. Upon his death, he was said to have been buried on the cape with crosses at his head and feet, the place was called Krossaness (probably present day Newfoundland). He is often remembered as the first European known to have died in the New World.
Explorer. Born the son of Thjodhild Jörundsdóttir and Erik 'the Red' Thorvaldsson. About the year 1000, his elder brother, Leif, returned home from an exploration to the west, naming the territories of Helluland, Markland , and Vinland, where he established a base he called Leifsbudir. Within two years, Thorvald sought to follow his brother's efforts with his own expedition for a more thorough exploration of the new lands. With a crew of about thirty, including his sister, Freydis, they sailed, making landfall at Leifsbudir where they wintered. With the summer, he directed exploration of the many islands and shallow waters of the area. After a second winter in Leifsbudir, he directed exploration in the opposite direction from the previous year's. After a storm damaged his boat, he had to beach in order to repair. After another landfall, they encountered nine men whom they called Skraelings. All but one were killed in a brief encounter. When the Vikings later encamped on a nearby cape, they were attacked by the injured tribe, Thorvald was mortally wounded, reportedly the only Viking casualty of the encounter. Upon his death, he was said to have been buried on the cape with crosses at his head and feet, the place was called Krossaness (probably present day Newfoundland). He is often remembered as the first European known to have died in the New World.
Bio by: Iola
Advertisement
See more Eriksson memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
