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Erik the Red

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Explorer

The Resume

    (circa 950-circa 1003)
    Born in Norway
    Founded the first Norse colony in Greenland
    Father of Leif Erikson

Why he might be annoying:

    His family was banished from Norway to Iceland after his father murdered a man.
    In Iceland, he killed the two sons of a neighbor who borrowed his shovel and did not return it.
    He was exiled from Iceland after killing another person who had killed some of Erik's slaves.
    He is often erroneously credited with discovering Greenland although other Norsemen had traveled there a century earlier.
    Even though the island is mostly covered in ice, he named it Greenland to attract settlers.
    He had a chance to accompany his son on his exploration of North America, but he fell off his horse on the way to the ship and took this as a bad omen.

Why he might not be annoying:

    Unlike earlier attempts, his colonization of Greenland was successful.
    The Norse settlements in Greenland lasted for nearly 500 years until the 'Little Ice Age' of the 15th century.
    He provided an early illustration of the importance of a good brand name.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 34 Votes: 44.12% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 108 Votes: 48.15% Annoying