Erik Thorvaldsson, the discoverer of Greenland, was born in 950 in Norway. Son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, who committed murder, he was exiled with his family to Iceland where they started a new life.
He was surely nicknamed "the Red" because of the color of his hair.
During his youth, Erik was involved in several altercations and was accused of murder on several occasions, for which he was banished from Icelandic lands for three years. During his long exile, Erik embarked on several expeditions. One of them he made with his family in 983. In this expedition he traveled west, where he discovered and explored the territory known as Greenland.
Popular culture designates Erik as the first discoverer and explorer of the territory of Greenland. Erik spent three years of his exile on this island, which he named Greenland, meaning "green land." When Erik's exile ended, he returned to Iceland and brought with him magnificent stories of the so-called "green land." He created several settlements in the territory and attracted a large number of Icelanders, who saw in Greenland the opportunity to start a new life. The north was populated by settlers with the intention of obtaining large quantities of food, seal meat, whose skin was used as clothing, the ivory from walrus tusks, and to get hold of any whale stranded on the coast. In the settlement of Eystribyggò, Erik built his own estate, acquired for himself the title of "Chief Principal" of Greenland, and gained great respect and wealth. Many of the settlers came from Iceland, an island that was too populated and which, in the year 1002, brought with them an epidemic that killed a large number of citizens, including Erik himself.
Erik the Red had four children with his wife Theodhild. Leif Eriksson was a great explorer who reached the northern lands of the American continent, which is now known as Canada. Erik was a fervent defender of Norse paganism, unlike his son Leif and his wife, who built the first Christian church in the courtyard of their farm in America. Legend has it that Leif invited his father Erik to travel with him on the expedition that would reach North America, but Erik fell from his horse on the way to the ship. He took this as a bad omen and decided not to travel with his son. Erik died that winter.
A high-quality sword from the exclusive "Historical, Fantastic, and Legendary Swords" Collection manufactured by MARTO.
Certificate of Quality and Origin, Made in Toledo.