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Hafdis II
Hafdis II Vin (The Kalmar Union)
Hafdis II
Queen of Vinland
Reign 30th July 1131 - 3rd May 1142
Predecessor Snaedis I
Successor Asdis I
Born 2nd July, 1117
Hvilirábey, Kyreyja, Vinland
Died 3rd May, 1142
Isafjordhur, Vinland
Spouse Kári Einarsson
Issue Iofridr Kárisdottír

Thorvald Kárisson

Full name
Hafdis II Osvifrsdottír
House Eriksdottír
Father Osvifr Bjornsson
Mother Snaedis I Gunnarsdottír

The eldest daughter of Snaedis I, Hadfis II became Queen of Vinland on her mother's death in 1131, while her twin sister Elisiv became Queen of Álengiamark.

In stark contrast to Elisiv's life, which was spent riding from one crisis to another in an attempt to maintain the cohesion of Álengiamark, Hafdis' reign was relatively peaceful. Vinland was booming. As the over-population moved southwards those left behind delighted in good harvests and plentiful supplies. Trade with Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, Britannia and Eire had taken off too. Timber was supplied in ever increasing quantities to Greenland and Iceland while fur went to Eire. All in exchange for livestock which could be sold on to the tribes of Leifia. This served to enrich the crown and the Althing, as well as the Earls. Hafdis effectively allowed the Althing to get on with the business of government by itself. Most of the Earls held lands in Álengiamark as well and spent their time there so tensions in the Eiriksson family rarely raised their head in Vinland.

Despite its internal peace Vinland still had to occasionally deal with threats from outside. In 1137 the king of the Passamaquoddy died without a clear heir allowing the Wampanoag tribe to once again rebel. Both Vinland and Álengiamark waded into the 3rd Wampanoag War to help their neighbour. While Elisiv would gain the glory, riding into battle and ensuring the decisive victory over the Wampanoags, Hafdis and the Vinlanders prepared the groundwork for the future settlement and was perhaps more important in the long run. The two sisters' meeting at the coronation of the new king was said to be 'the most glorious pageant ever seen in Leifia'.

Vinland also began to engage with its western neighbours along the Breidurass. Whilst the main Algonquin tribe (see Algonquinland) had converted to Christianity to avoid confrontation and annexation in 1127 those further inland were more belligerent and would often attack passing longships. To these groups various expeditions would be sent but little in the way of concrete gains would be made. The conquest of the Breidurass would have to wait until the next century.

Dying soon after her one and only visit to Álengiamark in 1142 she was succeeded by her younger sister Asdis I. Her daughter Iofridr, only three years old, would inherit on Asdis' death later that year.

Early Eiriksdottír Family Tree[]

Eriksdottir Family Tree (The Kalmar Union)
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