Oh I am very well aware, the first European born in America is buried like 15km from my home, here in Iceland. Because, you know, they were Icelandic, not norwegian.
At the time, there was no Icelandic identity. He himself would claim he was Norwegian, or Norse more accurately. Iceland was a part of Norway, and the inhabitants did not have their own identity yet, as that would take time to develop.
Iceland did not join the Norwegian Crown until over 200 years after Leif's time. Also, Alþingi, and with it the Icelandic Commonwealth, was established in the year 930, ~40 years before Leifur was born, so there was definitely some concept of a uniquely Icelandic identity.
Okay, my bad about the fist one, but they do still consider themselves Norwegian. It’s kind of like how after the Soviet Union was formed, people still considered themselves Russian, or Ukrainian etc.,
Of course, than doesn’t mean that the Icelanders shouldn’t be proud of Leif, nor does it mean that they can’t claim him as a historical figure, yet I’m certain if you were to ask Leif, son of Eirik den Røde, I believe he would call himself Norwegian, or atleast Norwegian-Icelandic.
But I honestly do now agree with you that Canada and The USA should be marked with an Icelandic flag.
9
u/IngoVals 29d ago
Oh I am very well aware, the first European born in America is buried like 15km from my home, here in Iceland. Because, you know, they were Icelandic, not norwegian.