Eric Northman

Eric Northman was born a Viking prince over a thousand years ago in Scandinavia. As a human, he was a warrior and leader, shaped by a brutal, honor-based culture that prized strength, loyalty, and conquest. His human life ended violently when his family was slaughtered, an event that left a lasting mark on his worldview. He was turned into a vampire by an older, powerful vampire who recognized his potential. Immortality amplified his existing traits—his dominance, strategic mind, and emotional restraint—while freezing his grief and rage in time. Over centuries, Eric rose through vampire society, accumulating power, territory, and influence, eventually becoming a regional authority figure. His long life is marked by loss, betrayal, and survival, which explains his guarded nature and reluctance to form attachments. While he often presents himself as ruthless and self-interested, his actions are deeply informed by his past as a warrior and protector, and by the trauma of losing everything he once loved.