Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir
Encyclopedia
Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir (or Eiríksdóttir) (Icelandic
: Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir) was a discoverer born loosely around the year 980 in Laugarbrekka
, Iceland
. She lived in various places in the Norse known world, and pushed its boundaries on her journeys.
Her unusual voyages began when her father refused permission for her to marry a slave's son. Gudrid and her father left Iceland and voyaged to Greenland to accompany Erik the Red
, whose son Þorsteinn she wed, making him her second husband; Guðríður's first husband, Þórir, died at sea. Guðríður and her new husband Þorsteinn undertook an unsuccessful voyage to a territory they called Vínland
, which may have been what is now L'Anse aux Meadows
, in Newfoundland, Canada
. Her husband's brother, Leifr Eiríksson, established a short-lived settlement in Vínland some years before, and is currently regarded as the first Europe
an to land in North America
(excluding Greenland
).
Þorsteinn died of epidemic on their return journey to Greenland
. She stayed on their home island but moved to Brattahlíð
, where she married a merchant named Þorfinnr Karlsefni. They, circa 1010 AD
, led an attempt to settle Vínland
with three ships and 160 settlers. Among the settlers was Freydís Eiríksdóttir
, according to Grœnlendinga saga
and Eiríks saga rauða, sister or half-sister of the before-mentioned Leifr Eiríksson respectively. Whilst in Vínland, Guðríðr and her new husband, Þorfinnr, had a son named Snorri Þorfinnsson
, who is the first European known to have been born in the New World
. Shortly after Snorri was born, the small family traveled back to Greenland. After a while her husband died and his farm was inherited by Snorri.
The Christianisation of Iceland at this period meant that religious conversions were common. Guðríðr became Christian and, when her son married, went on a pilgrimage to Rome
. She visited the Vatican
and spoke to the pope
about religion and what she had seen. While she was away, Snorri built a church near the estate. When she came back from Rome, she became a nun and lived in the church as a hermit
.
Her tale is told in the 2000 novel The Sea Road by Scottish writer Margaret Elphinstone
. Her story is also used as the common thread for the non-fiction book "The Far Traveler. Voyages of a viking woman." by Nancy Marie Brown.
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
: Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir) was a discoverer born loosely around the year 980 in Laugarbrekka
Laugarbrekka
Laugarbrekka is a farm located in the west part of Iceland. This farm is located on the N574 road on the Snæfellsnes peninsula just before the Snæfellsnes National Park....
, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. She lived in various places in the Norse known world, and pushed its boundaries on her journeys.
Her unusual voyages began when her father refused permission for her to marry a slave's son. Gudrid and her father left Iceland and voyaged to Greenland to accompany Erik the Red
Erik the Red
Erik Thorvaldsson , known as Erik the Red , is remembered in medieval and Icelandic saga sources as having founded the first Nordic settlement in Greenland. The Icelandic tradition indicates that he was born in the Jæren district of Rogaland, Norway, as the son of Thorvald Asvaldsson, he therefore...
, whose son Þorsteinn she wed, making him her second husband; Guðríður's first husband, Þórir, died at sea. Guðríður and her new husband Þorsteinn undertook an unsuccessful voyage to a territory they called Vínland
Vinland
Vinland was the name given to an area of North America by the Norsemen, about the year 1000 CE.There is a consensus among scholars that the Vikings reached North America approximately five centuries prior to the voyages of Christopher Columbus...
, which may have been what is now L'Anse aux Meadows
L'Anse aux Meadows
L'Anse aux Meadows is an archaeological site on the northernmost tip of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Discovered in 1960, it is the only known site of a Norse or Viking village in Canada, and in North America outside of Greenland...
, in Newfoundland, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Her husband's brother, Leifr Eiríksson, established a short-lived settlement in Vínland some years before, and is currently regarded as the first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an to land in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
(excluding Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
).
Þorsteinn died of epidemic on their return journey to Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. She stayed on their home island but moved to Brattahlíð
Brattahlíð
Brattahlíð was Erik the Red's estate in the Eastern Settlement Viking colony he established in south-western Greenland toward the end of the 10th century. The present settlement of Qassiarsuk, approximately southwest from the Narsarsuaq settlement, is now located in its place...
, where she married a merchant named Þorfinnr Karlsefni. They, circa 1010 AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
, led an attempt to settle Vínland
Vinland
Vinland was the name given to an area of North America by the Norsemen, about the year 1000 CE.There is a consensus among scholars that the Vikings reached North America approximately five centuries prior to the voyages of Christopher Columbus...
with three ships and 160 settlers. Among the settlers was Freydís Eiríksdóttir
Freydís Eiríksdóttir
Freydís Eiríksdóttir was a daughter of Erik the Red who was associated with the Norse exploration of North America. The only medieval sources which mention Freydís are the two Vinland sagas, believed to be composed in the 13th century but purporting to describe events around 1000...
, according to Grœnlendinga saga
Grœnlendinga saga
The Grœnlendinga saga is an Icelandic saga. Along with Eiríks saga rauða it is one of the two main literary sources of information for the Norse exploration of North America. It relates the colonization of Greenland by Erik the Red and his followers...
and Eiríks saga rauða, sister or half-sister of the before-mentioned Leifr Eiríksson respectively. Whilst in Vínland, Guðríðr and her new husband, Þorfinnr, had a son named Snorri Þorfinnsson
Snorri Þorfinnsson
Snorri Thorfinnsson was the son of the explorer Þorfinnr Karlsefni and Guðríðr Eiríksdóttir...
, who is the first European known to have been born in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
. Shortly after Snorri was born, the small family traveled back to Greenland. After a while her husband died and his farm was inherited by Snorri.
The Christianisation of Iceland at this period meant that religious conversions were common. Guðríðr became Christian and, when her son married, went on a pilgrimage to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. She visited the Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
and spoke to the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
about religion and what she had seen. While she was away, Snorri built a church near the estate. When she came back from Rome, she became a nun and lived in the church as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
.
Her tale is told in the 2000 novel The Sea Road by Scottish writer Margaret Elphinstone
Margaret Elphinstone
Margaret Elphinstone is a Scottish novelist.-Biography:Margaret Elphinstone was born in Kent. She studied at Queen's College in London and Durham University. She was until recently, Professor of Writing in the Department of English Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, now retired...
. Her story is also used as the common thread for the non-fiction book "The Far Traveler. Voyages of a viking woman." by Nancy Marie Brown.