Thorfinn Karlsefni | Viking leader, Greenland colonist (2024)

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Thorfinn Karlsefni | Viking leader, Greenland colonist? ›

Thorfinn Karlsefni (born 980, Iceland—died after 1007) was an Icelandic-born Scandinavian leader of an early colonizing expedition to North America. His travels were recounted in the Saga of Erik and the Tale of the Greenlanders.

Thorfinn Karlsefni Thórdarson was an Icelandic explorer. Around the year 1010, he followed Leif Eriksson's route to Vinland in a short-lived attempt to establish a permanent settlement there with his wife Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir and their followers.

Thorfinn Karlsefni (Old Norse Þórfinnr Karlsefni), explorer and trader (born c. 980–95 CE in Iceland; year of death unknown). Born Thorfinn Thordarson, this Icelandic aristocrat and wealthy merchant ship owner led one of the Norse expeditions to Vinland, located in what is now Atlantic Canada.

Thorfinn is loosely based on the historical personage of early Vinland explorer Thorfinn Karlsefni. The story of the real Thorfinn attracted Yukimura when he was reading a book. There is little information about the real Thorfinn, which gave Yukimura more freedom in developing the fictional character.

The Vinland Sagas. The Icelandic literature tells of the Norse settlements in Greenland and Vinland. Vinland is now considered to have been the north cape of the Newfoundland at what is now called L'Anse aux Meadow.

A colony of only 500 or so people simply did not have the manpower to settle and maintain a splinter colony so far from home. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Thorfinn Karlsefni".

Historically, the real Thorfinn Karlsefni's attempt and colonising Vinland failed and he died around the age of 27.

Thorfinn may have reformed in season two, but it isn't easy to forget all the people that he killed during his time as Askeladd's henchman. Originally, Thorfinn was a kind boy who adored his father and wanted to be like him. When Askeladd killed Thors, Thorfinn couldn't do anything except watch.

Askeladd's sacrifice and the loss of his revenge goal leaves Thorfinn as a broken man, haunted by nightmares and seeking release from his joyless life. Thorfinn's bond with Einar offers hope for his redemption, leading him to renounce violence and embark on a quest for a peaceful society in Vinland.

Thorfinn Thorsson is the main protagonist of Vinland Saga.

Who is Thorfinn in mythology? ›

Thorfinn (Þorfinnr) is a Scandinavian name, which originally referred to the god Thor and which survived into Christian times. Notable people with the name include: Thorfinn Torf-Einarsson (died c. 963), Earl of Orkney.

I'm wondering if this is Yukimura hinting that Thorfinn was either malnourished after being sold into slavery, and/or he willingly starved himself for an extended period of time due to the severe depression he had after Askeladd's death. Thus, he stopped growing. His height doesn't seem genetic, after all.

Viking historians and archaeologists are split on where the family lived in Iceland. Indeed, as with his early life, very little is written of Thorfinn Karlsefni's later years. The Greenland Sagas say that he bought land at Glaumbaer in the far north of the country and continued trading goods to Norway.

Vinland, the land of wild grapes in North America that was visited and named by Leif Eriksson about the year 1000 ce. Its exact location is not known, but it was probably the area surrounding the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in what is now eastern Canada.

Greenland Really Was Green

It actually got its name from Erik The Red, an Icelandic murderer who was exiled to the island. He called it “Greenland” in hopes that the name would attract settlers. But according to scientists, Greenland was actually quite green more than 2.5 million years ago.

These "Vinland sagas" were important narratives to early Western Icelanders because they justified their presence in the West and provided continuity to their story as Icelandic people after moving far away from Iceland (Wolf, 2001).

Thorfinn may have reformed in season two, but it isn't easy to forget all the people that he killed during his time as Askeladd's henchman. Originally, Thorfinn was a kind boy who adored his father and wanted to be like him.