List of Rulers of Vinland (Merveilles des Morte)

This is a list of rulers of Vinland (Old Norse: Vínland). Believed to have been first settled by the Norse around the year 1000, for much of Vinland's history it was divided among a number of independent goðorð, which were ruled by a goði or chief. From approximately the year 1087, the office of lǫgmaðr or lawspeaker also was created, which acted as president of the country's assembly, known as the Nýtinget, and for this reason powerful lawspeakers were sometimes viewed as the informal rulers of Vinland. Beginning in the 14th century, Vinland underwent a period of centralization around a smaller number of chiefdoms, which came to be ruled by storgoðar, meaning "high chief" or king, with the first person to hold this title being Tíseðun the Great (1343-1420). Similarly the title of konungr or king began to be used, such as in the case of the Kings of Nóatúna. In the 16th century Kórikuus the Founder of the Farsærk Dynasty became the first goði to roughly unify the island, claiming the title of King of Vinland.

Honorary and Semi-legendary Kings

During the first few centuries of Vinland's existence, in which no chief ever held control over the entire island, a handful of individuals were elected or proclaimed "King of Vinland" in an honorary capacity. Numerous historical and legendary figures are said to have been granted such a title, usually the Nýtinget during times of triumph or unity. In several sources the title of "Goði of Vinland" or Storgoðar is also used to represent this idea.

• Leif Eriksson - Discoverer of Vinland; called "Chief of Vinland" in the Kjalarnesaga, Saga of the Vinlanders, briefly in the Nýtingetsaga. Numerous dynasties and towns allude to Leif Eriksson in their foundation myths.
• Thorfinn Karlsefni - One of the first explorers of Vinland along with Leif Eriksson, and founder of Kjalarnes; called "Chief of Vinland" in the Kjalarnesaga, Saga of the Vinlanders, and other texts
• Snorri Thorfinnsson - Founder of the Nýtinget and first lawspeaker; called "Chief of Vinland" in the Nýtingetsaga and the Book of the Lawspeakers
• Býleistr Rauðkrákur - Legendary hero of the Battle of Boghmoot; briefly mentioned as King of Vinland in the Tryggvisaga, although not referred to as king in contemporary stories or the Rauðkráka
• Ólaver Sunkasook - A Vinlandic tribal leader and founder of Ninihúsa; sometimes called King of/from Vinland
• Izzobath - A legendary Beothuk figure associated with the Battle of Boghmoot, sometimes called King of Vinland
• Tíseðun the Great - Goði of Lágrstrǫnd and first ruler to be proclaimed Storgoðar; received honorary distinction as ruler of Vinland for his leadership of Vinland against Nonosbawsut

Kings of Vinland

In 1519 Kórikuus the Founder became Storgoðar of Ísagríma, a high chiefdom that roughly corresponded to the northwestern half of Vinland, ruling over all the island except parts of Bárðsland, Nóatúna, and the eastern peninsula of Austskag. With the assistance of Europeans such as the French, Kórikuus began a campaign of conquest and diplomacy across the rest of the island, roughly uniting the entirety of Vinland under his rule by 1550. That year he was proclaimed King of Vinland by an assembly of nobles, and established the first true hereditary dynasty over the entire island.

Picture	Name	Reign	Marriages	Claim	CoA
	Kórikuus the Founder (1498–1567)	1 September 1550 – 13 April 1567 (47 years, 166 days)	(1) Nakuset of Nýsogland	Conquest
	Madukr the Raven (1527–1595)	13 April 1567 – 10 July 1595 (47 years, 166 days)		Son of Kórikuus
	Ítrekiwish the Resolute (1550–1615)	10 July 1595 – 4 August 1615 (47 years, 166 days)		Son of Madukr

Footnotes