Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir

Guðríður Thorbjarnardottir - German also Gudridur Thorbjarnardottir - (* in Laugarbrekka on Snæfellsnes ) was an explorer who lived around the year 1000 in Iceland.

She was possibly the first woman (around 1004) a child of European descent in the Americas brought to the world.

Origin

Gudridur was born around 980 in Laugarbrekka in Iceland, the daughter of Thorbjorn Vifilson, an Icelandic chieftain and pagan priests ( Gode ) and the Hallveig, a daughter of Einar of Laugabrekka. My paternal grandfather was Vifil of Vifilsdale, an Englishman of noble family, but as a slave with Aud Kettilsdotter ( Old Norse: AUDR djúpúðga Ketilsdóttir ) had come before the year 900 to Iceland, however, had been released from Aud and equipped with land in Vifilsdale.

Life

Gudridur after the Saga of Erik the Red was a beautiful and extraordinary in every respect woman who was also one of the first Christians in Iceland. Having knocked out in a marriage proposal, she left with her father, Iceland, who sold his country to join with 30 men Erik the Red in Greenland. This was Thorbjorn country in Stokaness where he settled.

Gudridur was in his first marriage with Thorir, a Norwegian, married, however his ship on which Gudridur and 13 crew were on a reef off Greenland was shipwrecked. Leif Eriksson, who just returned from his expedition from Vinland in North America, rescued the crew and took Gudridur and her husband in his father's yard in Brattahlid on. Through a plague but Thorir and much of his crew died soon after.

Gudridur 's second marriage was on the estate of Erik the Red in Brattahlið (now Qassiarsuk in the Erik fjord ) whose son, Thorstein ( Þorsteinn ) Erikson. In Greenland at that time there was great interest in the Leif Erikson of recently discovered ( around 1000 ) territory in Newfoundland in Canada today, the so-called " Vinland ". Also Gudridurs man Thorstein Erikson wanted, so the chance of benefit in Vinland build a new life. Gudridurs father Thorbjorn Vifilson asked him his ship for this expedition are available at the well Gudridur and 25 men participated. The expedition was unsuccessful, however, due to bad weather. Soon after Thorstein died in Greenland of a plague, but predicted previously Gudridur a successful future and a numerous progeny. She moved then to the court of her brother Leif Erikson after Brattahlið.

In the same summer came from Norway a merchant ship to Greenland, which is owned an Icelandic chieftain from Reynines in nordisländischen Skagafjord ( Skagafjordur ) Þorfinnur Karlsefni Thordarson was, whose ancestors according to the Saga of Erik the Red down to Björn iron side, the son of the legendary Danish and Swedish king Ragnar Lodbrok from the House of Ynglinger goes back. Thorfinn was recorded by Erik the Red in Brattahlid over the winter and fell in love with his widowed daughter in law. Soon after Gudridur married his third wife Thorfinn Karlsefni. Also Thorfinn wanted to visit the promising Vinland, and organized an expedition with two ships and 160 people on board, including his wife and his brother- Gudridur Thorfinn Eriksson.

Gutridur gave birth to her son Snorri Thorfinnson in America. He is probably the first American-born Europeans, who left numerous descendants in Iceland. After three years, the expedition returned to Greenland. Karlsefni traveled with Gudridur and his son Snorri over Norway to Iceland and returned to his farm in Glaumbær near the Skagafjordur.

After the marriage of her son Guðríður undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, where her son Snorri a church was built in Glaumbær during their absence in the vicinity of the goods. She became a nun after her return and lived as a hermit.

Children and descendants

Gudridur had with Thorfinn Karlsefni include the following offspring:

• Snorri Þorfinnsson from Glaumbær in Skagafjordur Hall Fried Snorrisdottir Thorlak Runolfsson third Bishop of Skálholt in southern Iceland ( 1118-1133 )

• Yngvild Thorgeirsdottir Brandur Saemundsson fourth Bishop of Hólar ( 1163-1201 )

• Thorstein the Unjust Gudrun Thorsteinsdóttir ∞ Jorund of Keldur

• Thorunn Thorbjorn Datter Bjorn Gilsson 3rd Bishop of Hólar ( 1147-1162 )