The Vinland Sagas: Norse Discovery of America
Notes compiled by Nicole J. Wallace Copyrighted 2000
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GRAENLENDINGA'S SAGA
I. Eirik explores Greenland
Eirik, son of Thorvald, father of Leif, left Norway because of some killings and went to Iceland. Eirik was banished from Haukdale after killing two men and so he moved. He lent his bench boards to Thorgest who did not return them thus causing a dispute. Eirik was sentenced to outlawry. He then sails west and explores Greenland. He returns to Iceland to start a settlement campaign. Twenty-five ships set sail for Greenland but only fourteen arrived.
II. Bjarni sights land to the West
Bjarni was a promising young merchant who spent his winters with his father in Iceland. He sailed from Norway to Iceland only to discover that his father had moved to Greenland. He then sails towards Greenland - unknown waters to himself. They sighted a well-wooded land with low hills then another, flat and wooded. Finally he lands in Greenland where he gave up trading and stayed on farming until after his father's death.
III. Leif explores Vinland
Leif decides to land where Bjarni saw land. He asks Eirik to go but he is old. By falling off his horse, he decides to stay behind but Leif sails out with 35 men. The first land was all glaciers and rock. He named it Helluland. The second land was flat and wooded with white sandy beaches. He named it Markland. The third land was an island with sweet dew. They then sailed on given the tides to a land where a river flowed out of a lake. There they set up booths to pass the winter. Grass, salmon, mild winter, 9am-3pm days were all part of what they discovered there. They then split into exploring groups.
IV. Leif returns to Greenland
Tyrkir discovers grapes. They name the new land Vinland, gather grapes and timber as cargo and set sail for Greenland. They find Thorir and his crew shipwrecked on a reef and saves them - hence the name Leif the Lucky. Thorvald (Leif's brother) feels the exploration was lacking and sets out to explore Vinland himself.
V. Thorvald explores Vinland
Thorvald and his men explore, only finding woods, beaches, animals and a stack-cover. He discovers three men under 3 skin boats. They kill 8 and one escapes. Then a swarm of these boats come to attack. Thorvald is hit with an arrow in the armpit and dies.
VI. Thorstein Eiriksson dies
Thorstein marries Gudrid. Thorstein sets out to bring back the body of Thorvald but lands in the Western Settlement of Greenland for winter. Thorstein the Black takes them in but illness kills his wife Grimhild and finally Thorsetin (they have peculiar dramatic deaths) [pg. 63] Dead Thorstein instructs Gudrid to marry an Icelander and follow him and Christianity.
pg. 65.. "What is a rorquel?"
VII. Karlsefni in Vinland
Karlsefni marries Gudrid. They go to Vinland to settle there. They arrived safely but had several skirmishes with the natives (skrælings). First they traded milk for pelts. Then they did the same but one of the natives was killed thus causing a battle that ended with an ax thrown in the water. Snorri, Karlsefni's son is born. A Mystery woman appears to Gudrid and is her namesake.
VIII. Freydis in Vinland
Freydis goes to Vinland with Helgi and Finnbogi. They end up in a dispute and set up in different camps. She asks her brothers to trade ships then tells her husband they abused her. He takes revenge and they kill all the men and return to Greenland. She covered it up by saying the others stayed behind.
IX. Karlsefni's descendants
Leif discovered the horrors the Freydis did. He prophesizes that her descendants would never prosper. Karlsefni sells the carved gable head of his ship. List of his descendants.
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EIRIK'S SAGA
I. Gudrid's Ancestry
A series of genealogy lines, their marriages and skirmishes. Aud the Deep Minded freed many Viking slaves in the British Isles.
II. Eirik explores Greenland
The same EXCEPT the landslide caused by Eirik's slaves caused him to be banished from Haukdale AND the final battle with Thorgest where he was defeated and reconciliation was arranged is also different.
III. Gudrid goes to Greenland
Thorbjorn has a daughter, Gudrid. Intro to Orm and Einar is not in the other saga. Einar proposes to Gudrid through Orm which infuriates Thorbjorn. Thorbjorn proposes to go to Greenland since he was having financial troubles. Orm accompanies him to Greenland. Bad weather and disease thwarts their progress.
IV. Gudrid is told her Future
There was a severe famine in Greenland. Little Sybli (aka Thorbjorg), a prophetess, was invited by Thorkel (chief farmer of the district) to a reception. She came dressed pecularly (pgs81-82) She searches for an assistant for her witchcraft. Gudrid offeres due to knowledge but refuses because she is a Christian. Thorkel makes her concede. She (Thorbjorg) predicts that the famine will not last much longer and the epidemic will abate soon. Gudrid's prophecy: similar to that of her 1st husband in the other saga. Thorbjorn and Eirik go to Iceland.
V. Leif discovers Vinland
Leif falls in love with Thorgunna who is pregnant with his child - Thorgils, a very strange boy [note footnotes pg. 85]. King Olaf sends Leif on a mission to spread Christianity. He ends up in the lands with "wild wheat growing and vines and maple tress" (shipwrecked men- same story but fewer details) Eirik's wife converts to Christianity, builds a Church, and leaves Eirik. An exploration team goes to Vinland. Eirik takes a chest of gold and silver and hides it but then falls off his horse (oh the dramatics!) and asks his wife to recover the treasure.
VI. Thornstein Eiriksson dies
Thornstein marries Gudrid. Sigrid does not equal Grimhild. Sigrid sees the dead lined up at the door. Thornstein complains that Sigurds' corpse was trying to rise up and get in bed with him. Thorstein dies and tells Gudrdi to bury him in consecrated ground and warned her about marrying a Greenlander.
VII. Karlsefni in Greenland
The translation of Karlsefni's ancestors was slightly modified. Christmas Feast at Eirik's. Karlsefni asks Gudrid for her hand in marriage.
VIII. Karlsefni goes to Vinland
One hundred and sixty people are on the expedition. They have a similar island experience then they sail into a bay. King Olaf had given them a Scottish couple, Haki and Hekja who could run faster than deer. The Scots were told to run southward to explore he country and return it in 3 days. They returned - one returned carrying wild grapes and the other, wild wheat. Straum Island is completely covered with birds' nests. They then spend a winter there but due to lack of preparation it was hard. They pray to God. Thorhall the Hunter prays to Thor and a whale washes up on the beach. The Christians reject it and wait to go fishing.
IX. Thorhall breaks away
He sails north. They go south.
X. Karlsefni goes South
-Exploration of the river
-Peaceful encounter with the natives
XI. The Skrælings Attack
Trade begins with the natives who primarily wanted red cloth. Bull scares natives. Attack comes. Karlsefni hoisted red shields in defense. Natives were using catapults. Spear scares the Greenlanders. Freydis criticizes them. She is pregnant and (insert dramatics) scares natives away with a sword. Due to fear of the natives, they declared the land uninhabitable and prepared to leave.
XII. Thorvald Eiriksson dies
Uniped shoots area into Thorvald and he dies. Karlsefni captures two boy natives, baptizes them and taught them their language.
XIII. Bjarni Grimolsson's death
Maggots eat the boat. There is only one lifeboat and they must draw lots. Bjarni changes with a friend.
IX. Karlsefni's descendants
List of descendants.