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{{Short description|Foreign explorer in the Norse discovery of America}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2016}}
'''Tyrker''' (or '''Tyrkir''') is a character mentioned in the [[Norsemen|Norse]] [[Saga of the Greenlanders]]. He accompanied Leif on his voyage of discovery around the year 1000, and is portrayed as an older male servant. He is referred to as “[[foster father]]” by [[Leif Ericson]], which may indicate he was a freed [[thrall]], who once had the responsibility of looking after and rearing the young Leif.
'''Tyrker''' (or '''Tyrkir''') is a character mentioned in the [[Norsemen|Norse]] [[Saga of the Greenlanders]]. He accompanied Leif on his voyage of discovery around the year 1000, and is portrayed as an older male servant. He is referred to as “[[foster father]]” by [[Leif Ericson]], which may indicate he was a freed [[thrall]], who once had the responsibility of looking after and rearing the young Leif.
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This caused Leif to give the country the name of [[Vinland]].
This caused Leif to give the country the name of [[Vinland]].


Tyrker's origin is debated among historians, with evidence presented for German, Hungarian, Slavic or even Turkish backgrounds.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pivány |first1=Eugene |title=Hungarian-American Historical Connections from Pre-Columbian Times to the End of the American Civil War |date=1927 |publisher=Royal Hungarian University Press |oclc=558181432 |pages=6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DBCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA6 | access-date=2023-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Greene |first1=Victor R |title=The Attitude of Slavic Communities to the Unionization of the Anthracite Industry Before 1903 |date=1987 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania}}</ref> The saga refers to him speaking a language that has variously been interpreted as referring to "German" or "Turkish", the latter in which case would account for the last three possibilities of ethnicity, upon finding the wine berries on Vinland.<ref>'''suðr-maðr''' = m. a southerner, '''esp. a Saxon, German''', as opp. to a Northman, Magn. 528, Fms. viii. 248, xi. 303, 354, Fb. i. 540, Karl. 288, 355, passim.<br>
Tyrker's origin is disputed. Germans like to claim him German, suggesting that his name is a variation of Dietrich (via Dirk > Thirk etc.). The Norse had this name in the form of Þjóðríkr, what became Tjodrik in Norwegian later. The saga itself says: 'Hann talaði þá fyrsteleingi á þýrsku', that is, Tyrker first spoke 'þýrsku' language for a long time. This 'þýrsku' means Turkish, and in that age in Europe this might meant Hungarian. However, according to Dr.Emil Lengyel, a Hungarian historian and a former professor of social sciences at New York University, the name is definitely refers Turkic male name in Nordic (Türker in modern Turkish, which is still a common male name, literally meaning Turkic Man)


'''Þýzkr''' = '''Þýðverskr''', only in late vellums; Þýzkan söðul, Fms. xi. 443.<br>
⚫
The story shares the element of wild grapes with the [[Ireland|Irish]] ''[[The Voyage of Máel Dúin]]''. However, the Norse word used in the saga is ‘vinber’. While this sometimes refers to grapes, it also translates into "wine-berry", and there is a long-standing Nordic tradition to make wine out of berries available. We know from historical records that the Icelanders and Greenlanders even made wine from [[crowberry]].

⚫
In the Newfoundland/Labrador area, [[squashberry]], [[gooseberry]], and [[cranberry]] all grow wild, and may serve as an explanations for Leif’s discovery of "wine-berries".
'''Þýðverskr''', adj., [...] = '''German'''; Þýðerskir menn (Þýðverskir, Þýverskir, Þýðskir, v.l.), Fms. viii. 248; Vindum ok Þýðeskum mönnum, x. 45, v.l.; Þýðerska menn, 47; en Þýðeskir menn segja, Fas. i. 332; Þýverskir, Fb. i. 355. l.c.; Þýveskr, Ann. 1342 C; svá segir í kvœðum Þýðærskum, Þiðr. 304; frá sögn Þýðærskra manna, 334; Þýðeskum kvæðum, 231, 330, 352; Þýðeskra manna sögur, 180; í Þýðersk tunga, 1, 302, 304.<br>
⚫
'''[[Richard Cleasby]]; [[Guðbrandur Vigfússon]] (1884). An Icelandic-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.''' </ref> Additionally, the story shares the element of wild grapes with the [[Ireland|Irish]] ''[[The Voyage of Máel Dúin]]''. However, the Norse word used in the saga is {{lang|non|vinber}}. While this sometimes refers to grapes, it also translates into "wine-berry", and there is a long-standing Nordic tradition to make wine out of berries available. We know from historical records that the Icelanders and Greenlanders even made wine from [[crowberry]].
⚫
In the Newfoundland/Labrador area, [[squashberry]], [[gooseberry]], and [[cranberry]] all grow wild, and may serve as an explanations for Leif's discovery of "wine-berries".


Remains of a Norse settlement from the period in question has been found at [[L'Anse aux Meadows]], [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], Canada.
Remains of a Norse settlement from the period in question has been found at [[L'Anse aux Meadows]], [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]], Canada.


==References==
==References==
[[Richard Cleasby]]; [[Guðbrandur Vigfússon]] (1884). An Icelandic-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
*{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Tyrker|year=1889}} which in turn cites:
*{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Tyrker|year=1889}} which in turn cites:
**[[Adam of Bremen]], ''Historia Ecclesiastica''
**[[Adam of Bremen]], ''Historia Ecclesiastica''
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}



{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:German explorers]]
[[Category:Icelandic explorers]]
[[Category:Turkish explorers]]
[[Category:Vinland]]
[[Category:Vinland]]
[[Category:10th-century births]]

Latest revision as of 13:17, 22 July 2023

Tyrker (or Tyrkir) is a character mentioned in the Norse Saga of the Greenlanders. He accompanied Leif on his voyage of discovery around the year 1000, and is portrayed as an older male servant. He is referred to as “foster father” by Leif Ericson, which may indicate he was a freed thrall, who once had the responsibility of looking after and rearing the young Leif.

Leif and his company wintered in the New World after building Leifsbudir (Leif’s dwellings), perhaps somewhere in Newfoundland or the adjacent area. According to the saga, he divided his men into two parties, which took turns in exploring the surrounding area. He cautioned his followers to keep together and return to sleep at their quarters. One evening Tyrker did not return with his party. Greatly distraught, Leif, at the head of twelve men, went in search of him, and he had not gone far when he discovered the old thrall, greatly excited, gesticulating wildly, and evidently drunk. “Why, my fosterer,” cried Leif, “have you come so late? What made you leave your companions!” Tyrker answered in his own language, but when remembering that the Norsemen could not understand him, he spoke, after some time, in their tongue: “I have not gone very far; still I have some news for you. I have discovered vines loaded with grapes.” “Are you telling the truth, my foster-father?” exclaimed Leif. “I am sure of telling the truth,” Tyrker said, “for in my native land there are vines in plenty.” This caused Leif to give the country the name of Vinland.

Tyrker's origin is debated among historians, with evidence presented for German, Hungarian, Slavic or even Turkish backgrounds.[1][2] The saga refers to him speaking a language that has variously been interpreted as referring to "German" or "Turkish", the latter in which case would account for the last three possibilities of ethnicity, upon finding the wine berries on Vinland.[3] Additionally, the story shares the element of wild grapes with the Irish The Voyage of Máel Dúin. However, the Norse word used in the saga is vinber. While this sometimes refers to grapes, it also translates into "wine-berry", and there is a long-standing Nordic tradition to make wine out of berries available. We know from historical records that the Icelanders and Greenlanders even made wine from crowberry. In the Newfoundland/Labrador area, squashberry, gooseberry, and cranberry all grow wild, and may serve as an explanations for Leif's discovery of "wine-berries".

Remains of a Norse settlement from the period in question has been found at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, Canada.

References

[edit]

Richard Cleasby; Guðbrandur Vigfússon (1884). An Icelandic-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

  • Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1889). "Tyrker" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton. which in turn cites:
  1. ^ Pivány, Eugene (1927). Hungarian-American Historical Connections from Pre-Columbian Times to the End of the American Civil War. Royal Hungarian University Press. p. 6. OCLC 558181432. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  2. ^ Greene, Victor R (1987). The Attitude of Slavic Communities to the Unionization of the Anthracite Industry Before 1903. University of Pennsylvania.
  3. ^ suðr-maðr = m. a southerner, esp. a Saxon, German, as opp. to a Northman, Magn. 528, Fms. viii. 248, xi. 303, 354, Fb. i. 540, Karl. 288, 355, passim.
    Þýzkr = Þýðverskr, only in late vellums; Þýzkan söðul, Fms. xi. 443.
    Þýðverskr, adj., [...] = German; Þýðerskir menn (Þýðverskir, Þýverskir, Þýðskir, v.l.), Fms. viii. 248; Vindum ok Þýðeskum mönnum, x. 45, v.l.; Þýðerska menn, 47; en Þýðeskir menn segja, Fas. i. 332; Þýverskir, Fb. i. 355. l.c.; Þýveskr, Ann. 1342 C; svá segir í kvœðum Þýðærskum, Þiðr. 304; frá sögn Þýðærskra manna, 334; Þýðeskum kvæðum, 231, 330, 352; Þýðeskra manna sögur, 180; í Þýðersk tunga, 1, 302, 304.
    Richard Cleasby; Guðbrandur Vigfússon (1884). An Icelandic-English Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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