The Viking Pirates

Pirates have a long history, even stretching back to ancient times, when the Greeks and Romans were harassed by sea raiders, the early day pirates.

However, probably the most successful pirates of all time were the Vikings. These fierce pirates terrorized the seas around Europe for nearly 400 years from around 700 AD.

They didn’t just stay in the North Sea, no, they went further, the more daring ones went all the way across the North Atlantic Ocean and created settlements.

Erik the Red

We know of Erik Thorvaldsson, an explorer, known as Erik the Red, who we understand is meant to have created the first settlement in Greenland. He was “Eric the Red” because of his red his hair and beard. His journey took him all the way from the Jæren, a district of Rogaland, Norway, across the Atlantic to Greenland, where he created a settlement.

Leif the Lucky

His son Leif Erikson, “Leif the Lucky”, went further all because the villagers thought him the unluckiest man in the village, so to prove that he wasn’t  he wasn’t he went exploring himself, well, with his crew.

He had heard a story of an unknown land, from a merchant whose ship had been blown off course during a storm.  Leif with his crew set off to find this unknown island. Well, it didn’t take long, and they sighted land. They found wild grapes growing there which is why they called it Vinland.  Actually, they had reached an island just off Newfoundland.  This, we know because on the most Northerly tip on the island St Pierre and Miquelon, just off the coast of Newfoundland is L’Anse aux Meadows, an archaeological site. Archaeologists have learnt that here there was a Norse settlement dating back to the 10^th Century, it has now been designated as a World Heritage Site.

He saw no future in North America, so he left!

However, Leif left as it appears he didn’t get on with the relations with the local North American Indians (known as Skraelings).  I don’t think he ever fully realised the size of the landmass as he saw no future in it, so he left North America. Therefore, he is still called Leif the Lucky. Was it because he found North America or because he left it?

Our sister site Educational Musicals have publshed a musical “The Lucky Viking” is a fictional musical for KS2 pupils to perform about Leif’s adventure.

You can download it at The Lucky Viking

Isn’t History fun?

Ten questions to discuss:

1. 1. Who were the early day pirates that harassed the Greeks and Romans?
   2. What made the Vikings some of the most successful pirates in history?
   3. What is Erik Thorvaldsson better known as, and why was he called “Erik the Red”?
   4. Where did Erik the Red create the first settlement, and what was significant about it?
   5. Who was Leif Erikson, and why was he called “Leif the Lucky”?
   6. What motivated Leif Erikson to embark on his exploration journey?
   7. What did Leif Erikson and his crew find when they reached the land they named Vinland?
   8. Where is L’Anse aux Meadows located, and what is its significance?
   9. Why did Leif Erikson ultimately decide to leave North America?
   10. Why is Leif Erikson still called “Leif the Lucky”?

Other interesting sites:

http://www.thewayofthepirates.com/types-of-pirates/viking-pirates/

© Tony Dalton