Personal Life
Leif is described as a strong man of striking appearance, who was wise and considerate. During Leif's stay in the Hebrides, he fell in love with noblewoman Thorgunna who gave birth to their son Thorgils. Thorgils was later sent to Leif in Greenland, but he did not become popular. After Leif's first trip to Vinland, he returned to the family estate of Brattahlíð in Greenland, and started preaching Christianity to the Greenlanders. His father Erik reacted coldly to the suggestion that he should abandon his religion, while his mother Thjodhild quickly became a Christian and built a church called Thjodhild's Church. Leif is last mentioned alive in 1019, and by 1025 he had passed on his chieftaincy of Eiriksfjord to another son, Thorkell. Nothing is mentioned about Leif's death in the sagas—he probably died in Greenland some time between these dates. Nothing further is known about Leif's family beyond the succession of Thorkell as chieftain.
Read more about this topic: Leif Ericson
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