History of Medieval Greenland
And associated places, like Iceland and Vinland.

Sources should be listed with each entry.  A complete listing of sources is a the end.  It should be mentioned that, although I did not note it in each case, much of the preliminary work was strongly influenced by Kristen Seaver's history of Greenland, The Frozen Echo (in fact, although it has expanded beyond that, I developed this originally as an exercise in backtracking her work, which for the record, has held up quite well).  If something is listed without a notation, you may assume it can be found in Seaver's work.

I placed this online really as a quick reference source, which is why it's so informal.  Since it has begun to receive more serious attention, I figure I should clean it up a bit.  If this page somehow manages to offend anyone, please let me know, and we can see what can be done about it.

Marc Carlson
31 July 2001 

This page was created by Marc Carlson
It was last edited 30 July 2006

• Page 1.  Before 1350
• Page 2   After 1350
• Page 3   Sources and Links of Interest

About 400s

• Earliest radiocarbon dates from finds at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland   [Wallace. Norse Expansion into North America]. [It should be noted that the dating of these finds is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

440-780

• Radiocarbon date from a section of wood found at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland  [Wallace. Norse Expansion into North America]. [It should be noted that the dating of this find is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

About 640

• earliest calibrated radiocarbon 14 dates for Kodlunarn iron bloom (see 1400-50)  (Harbottle, Cresswell, Stoenner. "Carbon-14 Dating of Iron Blooms from Kodlunarn Island"  (Email from Jacqueline Olin 14 August 2004))

About 700

• Irish Missionaries travel to the Faeroes [Dicuil, Liber de mensura orbis terrae]

About 795

• Irish Missionaries travel to Thule (Iceland) [Dicuil, Liber de mensura orbis terrae]

About 830

• Around this time, the Viking raids in Britain and Europe begin?

About 860

• Latest date of Newfoundland Dorset site.
• Gardar Svavarsson the Swede "discovers" Gardarsholm (Iceland) about this time [Jones, A History of the Vikings; Íslendingabók]
• Naddod the Viking "discovers" Snaeland (Iceland) about this time [Jones, A History of the Vikings; Íslendingabók]

865

• Flokek Vilgerdson (Floki Vilgerdason), a Norwegian farmer, tries to settle in Gardarsholm/Snaeland. The winter is bad enough that all of his cattle die, and he renames the place "Iceland" and goes home.

874

• Ingolf Arnarson (or Bjornalfsson) is the first permanent Norse resident on Iceland after leaving Norway because of a killing.

About 900

• Radiocarbon dates of iron finds at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland [Helge Ingstad]. [It should be noted that the dating of these finds is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

902

• Dublin captured by the Norse.

About 920?

• Blown off course between Norway and Iceland, Gunnbjorn Ulfsson (or Ulf-Krakuson) sights lands west of Iceland [Landnamabok].

930

• The "Landnam", or settlement of Iceland is complete.

???

• Eirik the Red, and his father Thorvald Asvaldsson leave SW Norway because "of some killings", and travel to Iceland. Eirik marries Thordhild Jorundsdaughter (a relative of Snaebjorn Galti, and a great-grandchild of Eyvind the Easterner) and moved to her lands at Haukadale. After some more killings, Eirik moves to the islands near Briedafjord [Graenlendinga Saga]
• Major famine in Iceland and much of North and Northwest Europe.

978

• Icelander Snaebjorn Galti goes to Gunnbjornskerries with prospective colonists, and he is killed there. Of the colonists, only two survive [Snaebjorn Galti's Saga (N.B. No longer existent)].

982

• After an argument with Thorgest causes Eirik to be named Outlaw for three years, he heads west to check out lands sighted by Gunnbjorn Ulfsson [Graenlendinga Saga] (A distant cousin -- both are 5th generation descendents of Oxna-Torir, brother of Nadd-Odd [Seaver, The Frozen Echo]).

983

• Hvitramannaland ("White Man's Land"), supposedly near Vinland the Good, is purportedly visited by Ari Marsson (another relative of Thordhild Jorundsdaughter).

About 984

• Eirik returns to Iceland and convinces others to join him in Greenland [Graenlendinga Saga]
• (This is towards the end of one of the longest warm periods in Greenland's history)

985

• The Landnam - 25 ships leave for Greenland, 14 of which arrive.
• Eirik establishes his farm at Brattahlid (Eastern Settlement). Others settle at Osterbygd (Eastern Settlement), and Vesterbygd (Western Settlement) [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Bjarni Herjolfsson is blown off course and sights three lands further to the west, before arriving at his father's farm at Herjolfsnes [Graenlendinga Saga]

???

• Thorbjorn, under the advice of the Greenlander seeress Thorbjorg, moves with his daughter, Gudrid, to Brattahlid [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

991

• Olaf Tryggvason leads an expedition to England, and is Baptized [Encyclopedia Britannica].

999 (or 1001)

• Leif Eiriksson sails to Norway and winters with King Olaf Tryggvason, and converting to Christianity [Graenlendinga Saga].
• On his way to Norway, Leif is blown off course to the Hebrides where he meets and impregnates Thorgunna. He gives her a ring, a cloak, and a walrus ivory belt. She eventually bears a son, Thorgils [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

Early 1000s

• Latest radiocarbon dates from finds at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland   [Wallace. Norse Expansion into North America]. [It should be noted that the dating of these finds is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

1000

• Leif Eiriksson is charged by King Olaf Tryggvason to preach Christianity in Greenland [Graenlendinga Saga]. (N.B. This may not have actually taken place, but may have been a later inclusion to the Sagas.)
• On his way home, Leif rescues a shipwrecked Crew, and earns the name "the Lucky" [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Leif is blown off course, and lands in Vinland. Nearing Greenland he rescues people from a shipwreck. Eirik doesn't accept Christianity, but Thordhild has a church built [Eiriks Saga Rauda].
• King Olaf Tryggvason dies at the sea-fight at Svold. Eirik Hakonarson succeeds him.
• Thordhild reputedly embraced the new faith and built a church. (Eirik the Red was still alive when his son returned [Graenlendinga Saga]).
• Bjarni Herjolfsson travels to Norway, and becomes a retainer of Eirik Hakonarson [Graenlendinga Saga].
• The Althing in Iceland adopts Christianity [Encyclopedia Britannica].

1001

• Bjarni Herjolfsson returns to Greenland [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Leif Eiriksson buys Bjarni's boat and tries to encourage Eirik the Red to lead them. Eirik fell off a horse and hurt himself. Leif sails west, first landing at Helluland, then sailing cross the sea to Markland, and then across the sea to an island, then into a sound between the island and a cape projecting north from the land itself. West of the cape, they run aground in shallows, and finally move their ship upriver into a salmon filled lake. There they build "Leifsbudir" or "Leif's Booths". It is at Leifsbudir that Tyrkir, the German, discovers the grapevines which they name Vinland after. They winter at Vinland [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Thorgils Orrabeinfostre and his crew are shipwrecked on the East Coast of Greenland, and they take three years to return to civilization. During their adventures they encounter "witches" that may be Dorset Eskimos.
• (Peak years for sea salt sodium in Greenland Ice (.125) This indicates a lot of storms.)
• There is said to be a rune stone on Nomans Island, near Martha's Vineyard that says "Leif Eriksson, 1001" and possibly something about "Vinland" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomans_Land_%28Massachusetts%29]

1002

• Leif returns to Greenland and rescues Thorir Eastman, his wife Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir, and their shipwrecked crew. Earning him the name "The Lucky" [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Sickness kills Thorir, and Eirik the Red [Graenlendinga Saga] (Graenlendinga Saga also says that Eirik the Red died before the coming of Christianity).
• Thorvald Eiriksson takes Leif's ship and travels to Vinland and Leifsbudir [Graenlendinga Saga].

1003

• Thorvald Eiriksson explores westwards along the coast [Graenlendinga Saga].

1004

• Thorvald Eiriksson explores east from Leifsbudir and north. They run aground and crack the keel. They set up the keel and name the location Kjarlarnes. They repair the vessel and explore east, and at the mouth of two fjords they find and kill eight Skraelings sleeping under skin boats [Graenlendinga Saga]. In response, "countless" Skraelings in skin boats attack them. Thorvald Eiriksson is killed, and buried at the site he named Krossanes [Graenlendinga Saga].

1005

• Thorvald's crew returns to Greenland [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Thorstein Eiriksson (and his wife Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir) tries to travel to Vinland to recover his brother's body, but he is forced by winter's approach to turn back and they land at Lysufjord in the Western Settlement. They meet Thorstein the Black (or Franklin Thorstein) who invites them to stay with him [Graenlendinga Saga]. A fever kills Thorstein the Black's wife, Grimhild, and Thorstein Eiriksson. Thorstein Eiriksson temporarily returns from the dead to prophesy about Gudrid's future [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Thorstein Eiriksson takes Thorbjorn's boat and prepares to sail for Vinland. Eirik is intending on going with him, but falls off his horse and is injured so he can't go. Thorstein is battered about but doesn't find Vinland [Eiriks Saga Rauda].
• Thorstein marries Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir. They go to visit Thorstein and Sigrid in at Lysufjord in Western Settlement. There is a sickness and Thorstein Eiriksson and Sigrid die. Thorstein comes back from the dead to prophesy about many things, including burning the foreman Gardar for causing the sickness, and Gudrid's future [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1006

• Escorted by Thorstein the Black, Gudrid returns to Eiriksfjord [Greenlander's Saga, Eiriks Saga Rauda].
• Thorfinn Thordsson karlsefni arrives at Eiriksfjord [Graenlendinga Saga, Eiriks Saga Rauda]. Karlsefni arrives with Snorri Thorbrandsson in two ships [Eiriks Saga Rauda].
• Gudrid Thorbjarnardottir and Thorfinn karlsefni marry that winter [Graenlendinga Saga, Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1007

• Thorfinn karlsefni and Gudrid sail to Leifsbudir [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Thorfinn karlsefni, Gudrid, Snorri, and Thorvald, Eirik the Red's Son-in-law, and Thorhall sail to Vinland [Eiriks Saga Rauda]. They find a place like the keel of a ship that they name Kjarlarnes. They find long beaches they name Furdustrandr "Marvel Strands". South of Furdustrandr, they go ashore at an island they name Straumsey, and find a place they name Straumsfjord. Snorri Thorfinnson is born [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1008

• Karlsefni's people meet the Skraelings. They trade milk for furs. Karlsefni builds a large stockade around his house [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Gudrid gives birth to Snorri Thorfinnsson [Graenlendinga Saga].
• That winter, they are approached by Skraelings again. Gudrid sees a strange woman. One of the Skraelings is killed. They meet for a third time and fight [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Karlsefni and his people split up with Thorhall, who wants to explore for Vinland to the North. Thorhall is blown off course and lands in Ireland, where he dies. Karlselfni and his people continue south to Hop, "Land lock Bay". There they find Skraelings in skin boats. Karlsefni and his people set up houses [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1009

• Karlsefni packs up and sails for Eiriksfjord [Graenlendinga Saga]. Helgi and Finnbogi arrive in Greenland. They are approached by Freydis Eiriksdottir (who lives in Gardar with her husband Thorvard). She invites them to accompany her to Vinland. They take two ships and winter in Vinland. During the winter, the two parties become more distrustful and Freydis arranges to have Helgi and Finnbogi killed. She kills their women herself [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Karlsefni's people fight the Skraelings, but they are driven off by the pregnant Freydis. Karlselfni and his people sail north to Straumsfjord, where they kill more Skraelings. They are attacked by Skraelings. A Uniped kills Thorvald [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1010

• Freydis and Thorvard return to Eiriksfjord. Eventually Leif hears of her misdeeds and curses her [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Karlsefni sailed to Norway with a richly filled ship [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Karlsefni and his people return to Greenland. They find several Skraelings and bring two native boys they dragged home for baptism. Bjarni's ship starts to founder, and so they abandon it and much of the crew, who eventually find their way to Ireland [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1011

• Karlsefni sells his figurehead (carved of Vinland "maple") to a man from Bremen for a Mark of gold. Then he and Gudrid sail for Iceland [Graenlendinga Saga].

1012

• Karlsefni builds his home at Glaumbaejarland in Iceland (his ship (or Bjarni/Leif's ship) is drawn ashore at Skagafjord) [Graenlendinga Saga].
• Karlsefni returns to Iceland with Gudrid [Eiriks Saga Rauda].

1012

• {Purported date on the Heavener, Oklahoma Runestone = 11 Nov 1012}[Wilson. Oklahoma's Treasures and Treasure Tales]

1017

• {Purported date on the Poteau, Oklahoma Runestone = 11 Nov 1017}[Wilson. Oklahoma's Treasures and Treasure Tales]

1022

• {Purported date on the Tulsa/Turley, Oklahoma Runestone = 22 Dec 1022}[Wilson. Oklahoma's Treasures and Treasure Tales]

1024

• {Purported date on the Shawnee, Oklahoma Runestone = 24 Nov 1024}[Wilson. Oklahoma's Treasures and Treasure Tales]

1040

• Radiocarbon date from a wood find at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland   [Wallace. Norse Expansion into North America]. [It should be noted that the dating of these finds is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

About 1050

• (Minor low in Sea salt sodium in Greenland Ice (.095) indicating severe storminess)

Between 1050-1100

• The Thule Inuit move rapidly from Alaska to Greenland about this time. Earliest dates from "Skraeling Island" are from about this time.

1053

• (6 Jan) Pope Leo IX gives Adalbert, Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, custody of the people of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland. (First official mention of Greenland).

1056

• Isleif Gizuerarson becomes the first native bishop of Iceland.

???

• Audun travels from Greenland to Denmark to give the King a polar bear [Audun's Story].
• Adam of Bremen visits the Danish court [Magnusson. The Vinland Sagas]

1060

• Latest  possible radiocarbon date from a wood find at L'Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland   [Wallace. Norse Expansion into North America]. [It should be noted that the dating of these finds is debated, and it is generally believed that this site is a Norse site]

1066-93

• The reign of the Norwegian king Olaf Kyrri, within whose dates the "Maine Coin" was minted.

1072-6

• Iceland, Greenland and Vinland are mentioned by Adam of Bremen's Descriptio insularum aquilonis or Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum [Jones, 1964:85; Vaughan, 326].

About 1100

• Saxo Grammaticus writes his history of the Danes.

Early 1100s

• Thule Inuit reach Nordresetr, Greenland's Disko Bay.
• Landnamabok compiled.

1100-1300

• (Very Warm in England)

1112

• Eirik Gnuppson upsi leaves Iceland to become Bishop at Sandnes [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1121

• Bishop Eirik apparently leaves Greenland in search of Vinland, never to be heard from again [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar]. {Some people claim he assumed the name Heinricus Hop, and is purported to be responsible for some runestones in New England}.
• {Purported dates of the Latin legends in the Vinland Map}

1122-5

• Ari Thorgilsson the Learned writes Islendingabok.

1123

• Sokki Thorisson becomes chieftain of Brattahlid. He sends his son Einar (with a live polar bear) to meet with King Sigurd "Jerusalemfarer" for a new bishop [Story of Einar Sokkason]

1124

• Arnald becomes Bishop of Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1125

• Arnald, Einar and the merchant Arnbjorn set sail in two or three vessels for Greenland. They encounter a storm and are split up [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].
• Arnald and Einar winter in Iceland with Bishops Thorlak Runolfsson of Skalholt (Great Grandson of karlsefni) and Ketil of Holar [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].
• Íslendingabók is written about this time.
• {Date of the Spirit Pond inscriptions}

1130

• Hunters lead by Sigurd Njalsson discover one of Arnbjorn's vessels aground on the Eastern Shore. Sigurd and his people strip the bones of the dead and burn the ship. They return home with the bones for burial, and the nails from the ship. This sparks a long running legal battle over the ownership of the vessel and cargo [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1131

• Three merchant ships with many Icelanders and Norwegians, including Arnbjorn's heirs sail to Greenland and winter there [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].

About 1150

• Sicilian geographer al-Idrisi, in Nuzhat al-Mushtaq, describes what could be taken for Eskimos.

1150-1400

• ("Very cold" in Crete)

1152

• Bishop Arnald becomes Bishop of Hamar, and returns to Norway. Jon knutr becomes Bishop of Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

About 1155

• Ungava/Dorset copper amulet site.

About 1170

• Norse hunters in Nordresetr encounter Skraelings (Thule Inuit).

About 1080

• The calibrated carbon dates for the Brattahlid site -appear- to be about 1080 +/- 125 years [based on a chart in Arenborg, et.al. "C-14 dating and the disappearance of Norsemen from Greenland" Europhysics News 33:3 (2002)]

1187

• "No ships arrived in Iceland"

1188

• Jon smyrill Sverrifostri becomes Bishop of Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1189

• Bishop Jon smyrill arrives in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].
• Asmund kastanrassi arrives in Iceland on board a Greenland built ship.
• The Stangarfoli (or Stangfolen), sailing from Bergen to Iceland is lost enroute and is shipwrecked on the Eastern Shore of Greenland, carrying the priest Ingimund [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar, Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1195

• Bishop Pall of Skalholt (Iceland) brought glass to his cathedral.

About 1200

• Approximate date of the writing of the Graenlendinga saga.
• St. Nicholas' cathedral at Gardar built [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].
• The priest Ingimund's body is found in a cave on the Eastern Shore [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1203

• Bishop Jon visits Iceland on his way to Rome and returning to Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1209

• Bishop Jon dies in Greenland, and is buried in the cemetary at Gardar [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1212

• Bishop Helgi arrives in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1219

• "No ships arrived in Iceland"

1230

• Bishop Helgi dies in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

Between 1230-40

• There is no Bishop in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1234

• Nicholas is consecrated as Helgi's successor Bishop, but remains in Norway [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

About 1235

• Possible occupation of the Goddard site in Maine, and the internment of the "Maine Penny".

1237

• Both Icelandic Bishops (Gudmund of Holar and Magnus of Skalholt) die.

1238

• Both Icelandic Bishops are replaced.

1240

• Bishop Nicholas finally arrives in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1241

• Snorri Sturlsson is killed in a struggle over who gets to name Bishops in Iceland.

1242

• Bishop Nicholas dies [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1245

• Approximate date of the writing of the Speculum Regale (Kings Mirror) (N.B., the author discusses Greenland, but NOT anything further west).

1247

• Bishop Olaf is sent to Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

About 1250

• Estimated date of Thule figurine on Baffin Island. Approximate date of wool at Skraeling Island.
• (Major low in Sea salt sodium in Greenland Ice (.085) indicating very little storm activity.)
• Approximate early date for Kingigtorssuaq Rune Stone in Nordresetr (Possible dates extends all the way to 1333).
• The calibrated carbon dates for the Gardar site -appear- to be about 1255 +/- 50 years [based on a chart in Arenborg, et.al. "C-14 dating and the disappearance of Norsemen from Greenland" Europhysics News 33:3 (2002)]

1258

• Three Norwegians are stuck in Greenland.

1260-80

• Approximate date of Sturlubok redaction of Landnamabok.

1261

• Three Norwegians return to Norway and report that the Greenlanders agreed to pay compensation for murder to the Norwegian King, whether the victim was Norwegian or Greenlander, and whether the crime took place as far north as Nordresetr or beyond. This is taken to mean that the Greenlanders surrender their sovereignty to Norway.

1262

• Treaty formalized Norwegian royal monopoly on Iceland.
• Bishop Olaf of Gardar is shipwrecked in Iceland.

1263

• Covenant of Union between Norway and Iceland, which among other things, promised 6 trading ships per year, unless otherwise prohibited.
• King Hakon died, succeeded by Magnus Hakonsson "Lawmender"

After 1263

• Approximate date of the writing of Eiriks saga Rauda.

1264

• Bishop Olaf of Gardar leaves Iceland for Norway.

1265

• A ship bound for Greenland sinks [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1266

• Bishop Olaf of Gardar is again shipwrecked in Iceland, while sailing from Greenland. This time he loses 12 men, and a vast cargo of walrus tusks at a place henceforth known as "Bishop's Reef", and that for the next three hundred years will occasionally produce walrus tusks [Norlund Viking Settlers in Greenland].
• That summer, reports of Skraelings to the north of Nordresetr leads to an expedition far beyond Nordresetr find traces of Skraelings. This expedition travels at least three days north of 75 degrees, 46 minutes (Melville Bay?). Also pieces of wood marked by Skraelings appear to have washed ashore from the east (although the Eastern movement of the Inuit wouldn't be for several hundred more years) [Described in a letter from Haldor, a priest in Greenland to a cleric who had sailed with Olaf, written in 1270. Letter described in Magnusson, The Vinland Sagas, and Norlund, Viking Settlers in Greenland]

1267

• Archbishop Jon the Red is consecrated at Nindaros/Trondheim.

About 1270 +/- 25

• A species of New England soft shelled clams (M. arenaria) carbon dating from this time, are found in sand in northern Denmark ("the Kattgaw region on the east coast of the Skaw in northern Juteland"). They can not have gotten there without a ship [Petersen, Rassmussen, Heinemeier, Rud.  "Clams before Columbus" Nature 359 (22 Oct. 1992) p.679.  National Geographic, April 1993 places this date at "About 1245"]

1271

• Bishop Olaf returns to Greenland.

1274

• 22 Polar bears wander ashore in Iceland and are killed.
• The Council of Lyon decreed that all Christians must pay Six-Year Crusading Tithes.

1275

• Date of corpse found in Vatnahverfi (Eastern Settlement).

1278

• Two men are sent by the Archbishop of Nindaros to Greenland to help collect the Crusading Tithes.

1279

• Pope Nicholas wrote that the See of Gardar was "visited infrequently because of the cruel ocean".

About 1280

• Approximate date of chain mail find at Skraeling Island.

1280

• King Magnus died, and was succeeded by Eirik Magnusson.
• Bishop Olaf of Gardar died. There is no Bishop in Greenland until 1289 [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].  The calibrated carbon dating of the body of the Bishop excavated at Gardar would appear to be about this time [Arenborg, et.al. "C-14 dating and the disappearance of Norsemen from Greenland" Europhysics News 33:3 (2002)]

1281

• Archbishop Jon the Red deposits 31 silver bars in Tournai.

1282

• Archbishop Jon the Red complains to the Pope that the Greenland luxury goods were "difficult to sell for a suitable price" (Hence claims that the bottom had dropped out of the market -- which seem to be untrue).
• Archbishop Jon the Red flees Norway to Sweden and dies in exile.

1284

• The money Jon the Red embezzled is returned to Norway.

1285

• Two priests, Adalbrand and Thorvald Helgasonar drift off coarse and report seeing "New-Country" west of Iceland (probably Greenland).

About 1286

• King Eirik sends Hrolf off to seek "New-Country".

1289

• Bishop Thord arrives in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1294

• Hanse merchants are given Royal permission to sail as far north as Bergen [Norlund, Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1299

• King Eirik "Priesthater" dies and he is succeeded by his brother Hakon Magnusson.

About 1300

• An Icelandic Geographical Treatise describes the Nordic lands, Ireland, England and Greenland as part of "Europe" [Magnusson, The Vinland Sagas]

1302

• King Hakon's Rettarbot bans foreigners from trading north of Bergen, to Iceland, or to "any other tribute paying country".

1305

• Arni becomes Bishop of Bergen.

1306-8

• Approximate date of Hauksbok redaction of Landnamabok.

1306

• Epidemic in Iceland

1308-19

• (Lowest winter temperatures in Greenland until the 1500s)

1308

• Bishop Arni of Bergen sends a subtle invitation to Bishop Thord to return to Norway. His letter contains news of the previous eight years.

1309

• Bishop Thord returns to Norway. Epidemic in Iceland.

1310

• Epidemic in Iceland.

1314

• Both Bishops Arni and Thord die in Norway. Bishop Arni of Gardar is consecrated as Bishop of Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1315

• Bishop Arni arrives in Greenland [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1324

• Only 1 Norwegian ship visits Iceland this year.

1325

• Bishop Audfinn of Bergen (old Arni's brother), complained in a letter to the Archbishop about the Trondheim merchants on the Greenland Knarr(s). This is the first mention of the Royal Greenland ships {Norlund, Viking Settlers in Greenland].

1326

• NO ships from Norway reach Iceland.

1327

• A Flanders merchant purchases the (2000 pounds) walrus Ivory from Greenland for 28 pounds of Silver.

1330

• Approximate date of silver "Campbell" shield-badge found at V54 (Western Settlement)
• Approximate date that Thule Inuit are at area of Western Settlement. (According to Inuit traditions they wanted to settle near Nordic farms. The Greenlanders did not allow this, but the two groups remained on good terms with one another. When the Greenlanders were attacked from the sea, the Inuit took in their women and children.

1333

• 1 Norwegian ship visited Iceland. Gardar is not mentioned at all in the Norwegian Tithe collection.

Before 1334?

• Skalholtsbok written for Hauk Erlendsson (9th generation descendent of Thorfinn karlsefni). (Date is uncertain).

1340

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.

1341

• The priest Ivar Bardarsson leaves Norway for Greenland to provide new registrations of the churches and claim the King's Rights, as the ombudsman of the Bishop of Bergen.
• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.

1342

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.
• Possible date of Ivar Bardarsson's visit to the Western Settlement.

1343-1362

• (Longest period of colder than average years in Greenland)

1343

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.
• Jon Eiriksson skalli is consecrated Bishop of Gardar by Archbishop Pal, who just didn't know Bishop Arni was still alive [Norlund, Norse Ruins at Gardar].

1344

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.
• Thord Eigilsson sailed to Greenland and returned to Norway with a richly laden ship.

1345

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.

1346

• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.
• According to Annals, the Greenland Knarr arrives with many goods.

1347

• Icelandic annals (Skalholtbok, Gottskalk's and Flateyjarbok) records the arrival of a Greenlander ship, with a crew of 17-18, driven to Iceland while enroute to Markland.
• 6 Norwegian trading ships to Iceland.
• 13 other oceangoing ships arrive in Iceland, and all 20 winter there.

1348

• Bishop Arni died, possibly in Norway.

Before 1349?

• Possible date before which Ivar Bardarsson might have visited the abandoned Western Settlement (as he expected to return to Norway about this time)

1349

• The Black Death strikes Norway. Bishops Jon skalli of Gardar and Orm of Holar are the only Bishops to survive in Norway.

1350

• NO ships from Norway reach Iceland.
• Because of the lack of wine, mass is cancelled in all church annexes in Iceland.

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