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'''Eric the Red''' was a 10<sup>th</sup> century [[Viking]]. He was expelled from [[Norway]] on charges of murder, and took his family away to [[Iceland]], which had been settled by Vikings about a hundred years earlier. After his involvement in several killings there, he was banished and went to [[Greenland]], where he started the first successful colony in that land around the year 985. Eric is best known as the father of [[Leif Erikson]], who started the first [[Europe]]an colony in [[America]] around the year 1000, although it ultimately lasted only a few decades.
'''Eric the Red''' was a 10<sup>th</sup> century [[Viking]]. He was expelled from [[Norway]] on charges of murder, and took his family away to [[Iceland]], which had been settled by Vikings about a hundred years earlier. After his involvement in several killings there, he was banished and went to [[Greenland]], where he started the first successful colony in that land around the year 985. Eric is best known as the father of [[Leif Erikson]], who started the first [[Europe]]an colony in [[America]] around the year 1000, although it ultimately lasted only a few decades.
Eric's interesting name is in the style of his times. People in that culture often assumed descriptive names, along with a "patronymic" name identifying the father. Eric's "real" name was Eric Thorvaldsson, because his father's name was Thorvald. This style of naming persists in Iceland today. But Eric had very red hair, so people called him "Eric the Red" most of the time.
Eric's interesting name is in the style of his times. People in that culture often assumed descriptive names, along with a "patronymic" name identifying the father. Eric's "real" name was Eric Thorvaldsson, because his father's name was Thorvald. This style of naming persists in Iceland today. But Eric had very red [[hair]], so people called him "Eric the Red" most of the time.
Eric was a [[heathen]] all his life, although his son Leif, and probably others of his family, converted to [[Christianity]].
Eric was a [[heathen]] all his life, although his son Leif, and probably others of his family, converted to [[Christianity]].