<P> In the early books , little was revealed about his past . In the ninth book , Dead and Gone Eric revealed details about his human life as a Viking . He was deemed a man at the age of twelve . At sixteen he married Aude , his brother 's widow . The couple had six children , but only three were living at the time of his turning , two boys and a girl . Aude and their sixth child died of a fever shortly after the birth when Eric was in his early twenties . It is revealed in the television series that the vampire king of Mississippi murdered his entire family before stealing his father 's Viking crown . In the books , he was ambushed one night by a Roman vampire named Appius Livius Ocella and subsequently turned . In the television series , he was made a vampire by Godric . In the television show , it is also shown that Eric was a Viking prince , in the novels Eric says that his father was a chief . The name `` Eric '' or `` Erik '' comes from Old Norse and means `` One ruler '' or `` eternal ruler '' . The name `` Norseman '' was the name given to people who could speak the Old Norse Language , especially in Sweden , Norway , Finland and Denmark . The name `` Norseman '' means `` man from the north '' , hence Eric 's last name being `` Northman '' . </P>
<P> In the early books , little was revealed about his past . In the ninth book , Dead and Gone Eric revealed details about his human life as a Viking . He was deemed a man at the age of twelve . At sixteen he married Aude , his brother 's widow . The couple had six children , but only three were living at the time of his turning , two boys and a girl . Aude and their sixth child died of a fever shortly after the birth when Eric was in his early twenties . It is revealed in the television series that the vampire king of Mississippi murdered his entire family before stealing his father 's Viking crown . In the books , he was ambushed one night by a Roman vampire named Appius Livius Ocella and subsequently turned . In the television series , he was made a vampire by Godric . In the television show , it is also shown that Eric was a Viking prince , in the novels Eric says that his father was a chief . The name `` Eric '' or `` Erik '' comes from Old Norse and means `` One ruler '' or `` eternal ruler '' . The name `` Norseman '' was the name given to people who could speak the Old Norse Language , especially in Sweden , Norway , Finland and Denmark . The name `` Norseman '' means `` man from the north '' , hence Eric 's last name being `` Northman '' . </P>
what language is eric speaking in true blood
what language is eric speaking in true blood
Old Norse
Old Norse