Ermanaric
| Ermanaric | |
|---|---|
| King of the Goths | |
| Reign | ? - 370s |
| Coronation | ? |
| Died | 370s |
| Place of death | Ukraine |
| Predecessor | Wultwulf |
| Successor | Winithar |
| Royal House | Amali dynasty |
| Father | Hilderith |
| Religious beliefs | Pagan |
Ermanaric (Gothic: Aírmanareiks; Latin: Ermanaricus; Old English: Eormenric; Old Norse: Jörmunrekkr; died 376) was a Greuthungian Gothic King who before the Hunnic invasion evidently ruled an enormous area north of the Black Sea. Contemporary historian Ammianus Marcellinus recounts him as a "most warlike man" who "ruled over extensively wide and fertile regions". Late historian Jordanes describes him as a Gothic Alexander the Great who "ruled all the nations of Scythia and Germania as they were his own". Ermanaric appears frequently in Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon legend.
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[edit] Life
Ermanaric is mentioned in two Roman sources; the contemporary writings of Ammianus Marcellinus and in Getica by the 6th century historian Jordanes.
According to Ammianus, Ermanaric is "a most warlike king" who eventually commits suicide, facing the aggression of the Alani and of the Huns, who invaded his territories in the 370s. All that Ammianus says about the extent of Ermanric's domain is that his lands were rich and wide.[1][2] Ammianus also says that after Ermanaric´s death, a certain Vithimiris was elected as a new king.
According to Jordanes' Getica, Ermanaric ruled of the realm of Oium. Jordanes also states that the king put to death a young woman named Sunilda with the use of horses, because of her infidelity. Thereupon her two brothers, Sarus and Ammius, severely wounded Ermanaric leaving him unfit to defend his kingdom from Hunnic incursions. Variations of this legend had a profound effect on medieval Germanic literature, including that of England and Scandinavia (see Jonakr's sons). Jordanes claims that he successfully ruled the Goths until his death at the age of 110.
[edit] Tales
In many Germanic tales, Ermanaric is ill-advised by Bicke, Bikka or Sifka, who wants revenge for the rape of his wife by Ermanaric. Also in some tales of Dietrich of Bern, Ermanaric is Dietrich's uncle who stole the kingdom. This adviser advised Ermanaric to kill those closest to him.
[edit] Ermanaric's names
Ermanaric's name in his native Gothic was probably Aírmanareiks. However, because he is referred to in literature throughout the Germanic world right up until the 13th century his name takes many forms:
Latin names:
- in Jordanes' Getica, he is called Ermanaricus or Hermanaricus, but some of the manuscripts even have Armanaricus, Hermericus, Hermanericus etc.
- in Ammianus' Res gestae, he is Ermenrichus (his name occurs only once).
Germanic names:
- in the Old English epic Beowulf he is Eormenric,
- in Old Norse he is Jörmunrekkr,
- in Middle High German Ermenrich.
He is also called Hermanaric, Erminrich, Emmerich, Ermanrik and many other names.[3]
Since the name Heiðrekr was rather synonymous with Ermanaric[citation needed], he is possibly identical to Heiðrekr Ulfhamr of the Hervarar saga, who was said to have ruled the Goths for a long time.
[edit] See also
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Michael Kulikowski (2007), Rome's Gothic Wars, pp. 111,112, ISBN 0251846331
- ^ Ammianus Marcellinus, Thayer, ed., Res Gestae XXXI 3, http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Ammian/31*.html#3
- ^ The Name of Emmerich Pt. 1
[edit] References
- Auerbach, Loren and Simpson, Jacqueline. Sagas of The Norsemen: Viking and German Myth. TIME-LIFE books.
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