The Vikings in America (part 3).

Leif Eriksson in Vinland. By Monro S. Orr
Source: Mary MacGregor. Stories of the Vikings, 1908.

Leif and his crew returned to Greenland. On their way back, rescued some shipwrecked persons: a true miracle, in the middle of that sea! They sure carried high expectations, about the nice opportunities of the places they had visited. However, many times the things happen in a fanciful manner, and nobody can help that. Leif Eriksson would not see again that promised land... Maybe under his leadership, the Vikings could have been able to establish in North America. But, what would have happened as a consequence? Is very hard to know. Surely, it would have been a big impact, in those dark times of the Middle Ages.

Lei Eriksson discovers America. By Christian Krohg, 1893.
National Gallery of Norway.

Shortly after they were in Greenland, a pest unleashed. The bad feeling of Erik the Red came true, and he died around the year of 1002. It should not be forgotten that he was the leader of that colony. As a result, His son Leif ended as the new leader. So, unexpectedly, he had to quit his plans of exploring the mystery land, hidden not very far to the west. Nevertheless, it is clear that he gave priority to the new responsabilities. From then on, the “Vinland Project”, would remain in the hands of his family. 

Thorvald, another son of Erik, was excited for the tales about the new lands. Determined to continue with the exploration, he persuaded his brother Leif. And even got his ship. Setting sail to the west, soon the American Land appeared before their very eyes. Some of those coasts already had seen a viking ship before, and its crew walking by the sand... but several centuries had to pass, until a thing like that, could happened again.

First day of summer at L'anse-aux-Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada.
Recreated viking camp. Photo: Carlb, 2002.

The vikings kept on exploring, till they felt the proximity of winter. Then, found a shelter at the old camp of Leif. With the arrival of  summer, they met the people of those places. But it was not a friendly encounter... The surprised norsemen were fiercely attacked, and had to fight for their lives. Eight of the native warriors died, but an arrow pierced the unfortunate Thorvald. All in a hurry, they had to turn back to Greenland. That day, was the first time that blood was spilled in a combat between the European and the American man.

Since the beginning, the vikings only had been dedicated to the exploration of those territories. Despite the bad result and the sad end of Thorvald, it would not take very long, before they did another attempt. Unlike the previous trips, this time, they would try to found a colony there. And it happened this way...

Gudrid, the gorgeous widow of Thorvald, soon had a suitor. A rich man from Iceland, asked her for marriage. Leif Eriksson had the decision in his hands, and did not object it. According to the story, she convinced her new husband, whose name was Thorfinn Karlsefni, to become the leader of an expedition to Vinland. Once the arrangements were ready, three vessels with sixty persons, their belongings and their animals, started the journey. 

Thorfinn Karlsefni, by Einar Jónsson, ca.1918.
Philadelphia, USA. Photo: Smallbones.

They got to their destiny, by the end of summer and established a small village near Leifbudir. It was the name they gave to the first settlement of Leif Eriksson. According to the saga, they did not need to gather their livestock for the winter, due to the mild weather. By those days, a remarkable event ocurred: a baby was born... Gudrid gave birth to Snorri, the first european descendent, born in America. 

Monument to Gudrig and her son Snorri, at Glaumber Iceland.
Photo: Kathryn Buchanan, 2007. Source: en.wikipedia.

On that winter, the vikings would see the natives of those lands, called Skraelings by them. Perhaps, it was the same people who had attacked Thorvald and their men previously. But, which could their intentions be this time?

Inuit village at Baffin Island. From a book of the trip of Sir John Franklin.
By Charles Francis Hall, New York, 1865. Photo: Finetooth, 2008.

A day, they came up from the woods, apparently in peace. With curiosity, they stopped and stared at the weird creatures, the blond invaders had brought. They ran scared, when a bull bellowed... The truth was, that they only pretended to get closer to the viking's camp, to offer their goods. But, at the same time, it could also have been an excuse to observe them and to prepare a new assault. It was not a very good signal, the marked interest the skraelings showed for their weapons. And Thorfinn Karlsefni inmediatly noticed that. 

They continued trading objects, till the day when the skraelings decided to attack. Shouting from their boats, a furious mob began to throw stones, with their slings. They also had a sort of fire bomb, which spread panic among the vikings. Adding to that, there was a strange being, described as a "jumping unipede"... who almost never missed the target, with his poisoned arrows. It was the moment when Freydis, daughter of Erik the Red, emerged. With harsh words, she lashed her people, who were starting to retreat:

"Why are you running before such beggars? I was pretty sure that you, gallant young men, would have finished them like cattles. Well! Now I see that if I had a weapon, would do better than you". 

Freydis, daughter of Erik the Red.

There is no question that Freydis was a brave woman. She was preagnant, and was left behind, in the middle of the confusion. Then, she picked up the sword of a dead viking and stood before the skraelings. With high challenging voices, began to hit her breast, with the sword. It intimidated the enemy, who retired to the boats, and went, according to the tale. But it also seem likely, that they were amazed, and as they had the job done, decided to spare her life...

Facing a constant menace, the incipient viking village had to be abandoned. From Newfoundland, they travelled back to Greenland. For all those persons, surely was a real shame, to escape as they had done. Nonetheless, it was clear that was impossible to establish a colony there, without the proper armed back up. Leif Eriksson had to know that very well. But from Greenland, was not easy to give that support. They did not count with the material resources, or the necessary men of war. Regarding Iceland, was too far, and was immersed in its own problems.

Gudrid and her husband Thorfinn Karlsefni, did not want to know anything else about Vinland. So they went to Reinines, in Iceland, in pursuit of a peaceful life. Then, came the turn for the untamed Freydis, to organize a new expedition. It would be the last trip of the vikings to North America. That time, was her irascible nature, which would ruin all the plans, to produce a bloody epilogue. On the next spring, they sailed back to Greenland. The events were of such gravity, that Leif Eriksson had to impart justice, with a severe punishment. Although he did not touch his sister Freydis, he dammed her and her progeny, for all time. It was something terrible, according to their traditions. 

Low Res. satellite photo. 1. Faroe Islands. 2. Iceland.
3. Greenland, eastern settlement. 4. Greenland, western s.
5. Helluland (Baffin Island). 6. Markland (Labrador).
7. Newfoundland. 8. Saint Lawrence Bay.
Photo: Nasa, 2006. Modified by Tina Toomet.

The vikings never came back to America. Since then, its memory began to vanish in the haze of oblivion. And it left only a few registers of such a significant event. There is no doubt, that they first needed to establish a reliable base at Greenland, to explore and settle in the new lands. But that was almost impossible! The huge distances to Iceland and the very far away Norway, turned out to be a real barrier, for their progress and expansion. In addition, the icy and stormy seas of those latitudes, left them virtually isolated, most part of the year. 

That it seemed to be a marked by failure mission, finally discouraged Leif Eriksson. He lost all the interest and curiosity that he ever felt for those lands. As for Greenland, far from improving, its situation got worse, with the passage of time. By the year 1200, the advance of the northern cold had made it a harsh place to live. Everytime, less ships ventured there. As a consequence, their main export products, such as furs and walrus ivory, began to lose market. Those were tough times: the black plague had taken on Europe, and also got to Greenland.

Runestone found at Kingittorsuaq, Northwest of Greenland.
ca. 13th century. Source: www.arild-hauge.com  {{PD-US}}.

From the beginning of the 15th century, the recorded history of Greenland vanished for many years. The truth was, that its decay was the "coup de grace" for the viking presence in North America. It could be said, that as Leif Ericksson and his family died, they took the secret of Vinland off with them. That story would remain enclosed, between the pages of a few books about the life and legends of the norse heroes. But, what if Christopher Colombus had gotten to know something about it?

Columbus first landing in America. By Dióscoro Puebla, 1862.
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Their travels were forgotten, and did not have any consequence in history. In fact, they did a very little contribution over the vision of the world, that the man of the Middle Ages had. So, despite the undeniable presence of the vikings in the New World, it lacked recognition as the real discovery. It was the same as to make a scientific finding, and keep it secret. Sooner or later, another one will take all the credit. As we have told before, History may often be unfair...