Vinland

Vinland

Vinland, also known as Saint Brendan's land, is the area of coastal North America, ranging from near what is now Turin, New York to the Canadian island of Newfoundland, explored by Norse Vikings during the Middle Ages.

History

While Leif Ericson is commonly accepted to be the first European to set foot on the continent, having landed there in around 1000, Vinland had already been visited in the 6th century by Brendan of Clonfert. A devout Irish Celtic monk, Brendan believed he was undertaking his God's will in his pilgrimage from Norway, but was in fact being compelled by the legacy of the Isu Aita to access the Grand Temple and free the captive Juno. He ultimately failed to unlock its entrance.

Nearly two centuries later in 875, Gorm Kjotvesson, the son of Kjotve the Cruel who served as Maegester to the Wardens of War sect of the Order of the Ancients, mounted an expedition to the area chasing Isu secrets surrounding the crystal ball in their possession. However, their efforts were undone by Gorm's sworn enemy, the shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan, who assassinated Gorm and reclaimed the crystal ball he had stolen from the Kanien'kehá:ka people of the Iroquois Confederacy living in Karonhiakèn:iate' and around the forest of Kahrhakén:rat.

After Gorm's death, the Norse left Vinland for over a century until it was rediscovered by Leif Ericson, albeit much further north than Gorm's original excursion.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first identified as Vinland)