In the Wake of the Crows: Flóki's Journey to Iceland

Embark on the stormy waters of history and sail with Flóki Vilgerdarson, known as Hrafna-Flóki or Flóki of the Ravens, the first Viking to set sail to Iceland. A journey marked by adventure, discovery and the whims of nature, this odyssey is a chronicle of courage and the quest for new lands.

Flóki , a descendant of a fallen royal line from Hedemark in Norway, felt cramped in the ordinary life of a peasant or blacksmith. Driven by a spirit of adventure and a desire to explore, he decided to risk his last penny to embark into the unknown, leaving behind a history of royal decline.

In a small village, Flóki recruits his crew , attracting Pórólfur, a farmer impoverished by economic changes, and Herjólfur and Faxi, two men fleeing religious unrest. These souls seeking a new beginning, guided by Flóki's promises of a pristine and prosperous land, join the adventure with nothing else to lose.

Flóki takes with him three ravens , black-winged traveling companions. After passing the Faroe Islands, he liberated them one by one. The last, flying resolutely towards the west, guides Flóki and his crew towards their destiny. Following this winged messenger, they finally see the shores of their future home: Iceland.

They entered a large bay, now known as Faxafloi, and settled for the winter on Bardaströnd beach. But spring proves cold and inhospitable, testing their resilience and their hope in this new land.

Flóki, dissatisfied with their first camp, climbs a high mountain to survey the horizon. There he discovers a beautiful, but frozen fjord, and names this country "Iceland" - the Land of Ice. This moment marks a recognition mixed with disillusionment for the daring navigator.

Constrained by bad weather, Flóki and his crew spent a second harsh winter in Iceland before returning to Norway. There, when asked about this distant land, Flóki describes it as barren and cold, while his companions offer more nuanced perspectives, comparing Iceland to the idyllic Idavoll Plain of Asgard.

In the year 860, Flóki Vilgerdarson made history by discovering Iceland. Fourteen years later, Ingólfr Arnarson would lead the first wave of Viking settlers to settle this austere but majestic land, laying the foundations of what would become Reykjavik, the Icelandic capital.

Flóki's quest for the Ravens is a tale of daring and exploration, a founding chapter in Viking history. His journey, between myth and reality, embodies the indomitable spirit of the Vikings, always ready to brave the unknown to discover and conquer. Its history, woven into the sagas and memories of the Norse peoples, continues to inspire those who seek to expand the boundaries of the known world.