The Heruls

The Heruls
by Troels Brandt Detailed version

05-04-13

The Heruls

Index
1 The South European history of the Heruls...................................................................... 7
1.1 The Roman Sources (history).............................................................................................7 1.1.1 The origin of the Heruls 7 1.1.1.1 The old interpretation of Jordanes................................................................8 1.1.1.2 The Gothic Migration and migrations in general.........................................9 1.1.1.3 Sarmatians in the ethnogenesis .................................................................1! 1.1.1." The modern interpretation of Jordanes.......................................................12 1.1.2 The migrations of the Heruls 1" 1.1.2.1 Herulian raiders and mercenaries...............................................................1# 1.1.2.2 The $estern Heruls....................................................................................18 1.1.2.3 The Herulian %a& of fighting.....................................................................19 1.1.2." The last migration of the Heruls ' (rocopius............................................. 2! 1.1.3 The arri)al of the ro&al famil& to Scandina)ia 22 1.1." The Heruls in *ll&ria 2" 1.2 Scandinavian connections before !" (archaeolo#y)......................................................27 1.2.1 The +astern Heruls 37# ' "#" ,(hase -1. 27 1.2.2 The +astern Heruls "#" ' #!9 ,(hase -2. 28 1.2.2.1 Solidi ......................................................................................................... 29 1.2.2.2 /urials ' Mora)ia ...................................................................................... 31 1.2.2.3 /urials ' H0gom12or%a& ..........................................................................33 1.2.2." The trade route and the Heruls ..................................................................37 1.2.3 The $estern Heruls 283'#!9 ,(hase /. 38 1.$ Evaluations and conclusion re#ardin# the history.........................................................$" 1.3.1 Sources and critics 39 1.3.1.1 -l)ar +llegaard ..........................................................................................39 1.3.1.2 -ndreas Sch%arc4 ....................................................................................."1 1.3.1.3 $alter Goffart............................................................................................."2 1.3.1." Jordanes5 sources........................................................................................"3 1.3.1.# (rocopius5 sources ....................................................................................."" 1.3.1.3 The S%edish archaeologists ......................................................................"# 1.3.1.7 6otte Hedeager 7 the Huns........................................................................."3 1.3.1.8 8lorin 9urta: ;2eglected /ar<arians= ......................................................."7 1.3.1.9 General contradictions 7 their num<er......................................................."8 1.3.2 9onclusion "9

2 The settlement in Scandinavia........................................................................................ $

2.1 %ive &uestions by '(e Hyenstrand.................................................................................. $ 2.1.1 Heruls and >unes #3 2.1.1.1 The first runes.............................................................................................#3 2.1.1.2 The +rila> inscriptions...............................................................................#" 2.1.1.3 The M?rings and the >0@ Stone.................................................................#7 2.1.1." >une stones in /le@inge.............................................................................#8 2.1.1.# Ather runes after #!9 -B........................................................................... #9 2.1.1.3 The personal names....................................................................................3! 2.1.1.7 The ans%er................................................................................................. 3! 2.1.2 Heruls and +arls 3! 2.1.2.1 2iels 6u@man and /arCi GuCmundsson.................................................... 3! 2.1.2.2 - li@el& eDplanation....................................................................................3! 2.1.2.3 The ans%er................................................................................................. 31 2

The Heruls 2.1.3 Heruls and S)ear 31 2.1.3.1 The general de)elopment in Scandina)ia "!!'3!! -B..............................31 2.1.3.1.1 /racteates.............................................................................33 2.1.3.2 The place of arri)al 7 /le@inge1E?rend .................................................. 33 2.1.3.2.1 +Dpansion ............................................................................3" 2.1.3.2.2 Traces of the arri)al of the Heruls .......................................3# 2.1.3.3 The final settlement ..................................................................................37 2.1.3.3.1 2or%a&F G0taland and the islands....................................... 37 2.1.3.3.2 The M?lar Ealle&..................................................................39 2.1.3.3.2.1 /urials ' Mounds in Gppland ,3th c.. ...............................7! 2.1.3.3.2.2 Helmets and %eapons........................................................73 2.1.3.3.2.3 Shield mar@s and helmet plates ........................................7# 2.1.3.3.2." 6ater fi<ulas and St&le ** ,3th c.. ..................................... 7# 2.1.3.3.2.# Ships ................................................................................. 73 2.1.3.3.2.3 Halls and mar@etplaces .....................................................73 2.1.3.3.2.7 - summar& of the archaeolog& .........................................77 2.1.3." The ans%er................................................................................................. 79 2.1." Heruls and <oat gra)es 79 2.1.".1 The <oat gra)es ......................................................................................... 8! 2.1.".2 9remations after #3# -B........................................................................... 8! 2.1.".3 The ans%er................................................................................................. 82 2.1.# Heruls and +ric 7 the god 82 2.1.#.1 The god +ric...............................................................................................82 2.1.#.2 Heruls and ancestor gods ..........................................................................83 2.1.#.3 The ans%er................................................................................................. 8# 2.2 ) possible scenario............................................................................................................ * 2.2.1 The Hourne& and the moti)es <ehind 83 2.2.2 The ta@e o)er and the integration 87 2.2.3 The consolidation 89 2.$ +onclusions re#ardin# the settlement............................................................................. "! 2.3.1 -lternati)es 9! 2.3.2 9onclusion a<out histor& compared %ith archaeolog& 91 2.3.3 9ertaint& and further possi<ilities 92

$ The ,orse myths and le#ends......................................................................................... "$

$.1 Sa#as- chronicles and le#ends...........................................................................................". 3.1.1 /eo%ulf and $idsith 9# 3.1.1.1 Geat and the Geats .................................................................................... 93 3.1.1.2 /eo%ulf and the ;Bane= 9hocillaicus....................................................... 93 3.1.1.3 +nglandF Scandina)ian archaeolog& and /eo%ulf ....................................97 3.1.2 Her)ararsaga and the Hreidgoths 99 3.1.3 The +ast Germanic legends 1!1 3.1." The Bacian @ings ' Budo 1!2 3.1.# SaDo and his manipulations 1!3 3.1.3 Snorri Sturlusson 1!" 3.1.7 The confusing Scandina)ian names 1!# $.2 The ,orse reli#ions .........................................................................................................1!/ 3.2.1 Bume4il and the *ndo'+uropean theories 1!3 3.2.2 The 2orse religions 1!7 3.2.3 The god Adin 1!8 $.$ 0din and the (in# of the Heruls ....................................................................................112 3

The Heruls 3.3.1 The men of -sia and the Heruls 112 3.3.2 The route of Adin 11" 3.3.3 The later @ings of Inglingesaga 113 3.3." *ndependent sources 118 3.3.# - possi<le source 119 $.. The e1pulsion of the Heruls 2 ,orse parallels to 3ordanes .........................................12! 3.".1 $idsithF $icinga and Ei@ings 12! 3.".2 /eo%ulf and +orl 121 3.".3 SaDo and Huns 121 $. 4urial customs 5 Snorri- 6rocopius and archaeolo#y .................................................122 $./ +onclusions 2 ,orse literature........................................................................................12$

. Scandinavian perspectives............................................................................................ 12. 7iterature....................................................................................................................... 12

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The Heruls

Preface
The work behind this article began in 1995 as a search for a reason behind the Danish traditions around the elections of the medieval kings. The establishing of the Scandinavian kingdoms and possible catalysts in that process were a part of the search. During the search it became soon obvious that the history of the eruls had been misunderstood in Scandinavia. !t is an ambivalent feeling to spend time on a repellent people like the eruls. Parts of the legends around them have been used by the historical philosophers behind the "a#i$party and it is no coincidence that %udvig Schmidt in 19&' could write( Die eruler waren ein echtes errenvolk.) "either should we* however* in that case be interested in the popular Scandinavian +iking ,ges representing a similar culture at a later stage - but nevertheless the )final) result was the democratic Scandinavian monarchies. .arlier Swedish scholars may have avoided the eruls because they could destroy the Swedish dream that /ppsala was an internal Swedish development - the wellspring of .uropean 0ulture* which 1lof 2udbeck in 1314 proclaimed as the %ost ,tlantis. The claim about the ,tlantis was immediately opposed* but apparently the rest of dream is still alive though the scholars eagerly dissociate themselves from national pride. !t is by the irony of the fate that modern well$meaning scholars have been caught in that trap* though the istory of the eruls could provide us with the story of a successful integration of immigrants* who might even have learned by their evil mistakes. Since 5orld 5ar !!* however* nearly all scholars have neglected the arrival of the eruls to the Scandinavian Peninsula. /nfortunately the idea to suppress material which can be misused in ethnical matters will by time make the suppressors blind too. 1nly the local historian Tore 6anholm at 6otland did maintain in 7The origin of Svear) that the eruls settled in the 89lar +alley in 51: ,D. "o one listened* as he had no scholarly background and as his claim was that the eruls were the original Svear while the Suiones of Tacitus lived at his own 6otland from where also ;eowulf descended. Therefore his theory about the eruls in the 89lar +alley did not get the appreciation it deserved. ! was not aware of that past when my first web$article in <une :=== was provoked by an internationally acknowledged article in Scania by the Swedish linguist ,lvar .llegaard. !n 19>3 he claimed that the eruls were a warriorband* who left Scandinavia after a short visit in the 4 th century. e had an interesting clue about <ordanes* but it was obvious* when reading his sources* that .llegaard?s way to re@ect sources did not follow the usual scholarly criterias of historians. The purpose of this article written by a third AoutsiderA is to present the material and suggest an eBplanation $ in the hope that a scholar one day may find a better basis of assessment. The first main chapter about the acknowledged history of the eruls in Southern .urope is as far as possible following the works of Professor ,ndreas Schwarc#* the /niversity of +ienna* and his student ,ngelika %intner$Pot#. 5e have agreed to publish her )Diplomarbeit #ur erlangung des
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The Heruls

8agistergrades) *)Die .ruler)* at my website Cin 6ermanD. ! do not agree in detail in all suggestions being not attested in the scattered sources* but those cases will be mentioned below and will neither change the final conclusion nor the conseEuences in the neBt chapter. The second main chapter about the settlement in Scandinavia is now totally restructured. First several years after my first article* when ! should lecture about the 2Gk Stone* ! met the late Swedish professor in archaeology* Hke yenstrand* and became aware that he in 1994 asked 5 Euestions about the eruls in his book )%e@onet* Iorset och Draken) $ written to his young students. The book has not been available in Denmark and his Euestions appear to have been ignored in Sweden too. The chapter is now structured as an answer to his Euestions - which will cover the main problems regarding their settlement as it was his purpose in 1994. The third main chapter about the "orse literature shall only address that one of the arguments against the presence of eruls in Scandinavia has been that their name has never been found in the "orth .uropean myths and legends - an important distinction from the rest of the material which has been used since the first version of this article in :==:. !nspired by the observations of the Danish professor of archaeology in 1slo* %otte edeager* the .nglish linguist ;en Slade and the Danish historian "iels %ukman - supported by the national antiEuarian of !celand* ;arJi 6uJmansson - ! have searched the "orse literature for traces of the eruls. The chapter will eBplain the disappearance of the name and show that remains of memory of a group of companions of the uns may still eBist in Scandinavian literature* but only as an eBplanation. The observations in the third main chapter shall not be used as a proof for a erulic presence in Scandinavia. The paper below in pdf is a comprehensive version of the web$article with detailed arguments* notes and references to sources and literature. The teBt from the .nglish web$article is contained in the paper being spread over the paper in black frames* normally in the beginning of the chapters as summaries. The same numbering of chapters is followed in both articles in order to help to find details* notes and references when reading the short web$article* which is written in both Danish and .nglish. 0openhagen* <une :'th :=1: Troels ;randt

The Heruls

The South European history of the Heruls

1.1 The Roman Sources (history)

1.1.1 The ori in of the Heruls
*n man& Banish histor& <oo@s the Heruls are mentioned as the original people of Sealand and Scania from %here the& should ha)e <een eDpelled <& S%edish Banes in the first centuries after 9hrist. The source for that theor& is entirel& the Gothic historian Jordanes in his %or@ JGeticaJ from ##1 -B. The Banish archaeologists immediatel& com<ined the eDpulsion of the Heruls %ith the alliances of the %arrior elite indicated <& the finds in HimlingoeHe in the >oman *ron -ges. Ho%e)erF first of all Jordanes did not %rite that the Banes %ere S%edish as his %ords %ere that <oth people %ere of the same stoc@F the un@no%n Eino)iloth ' ma&<e the Einnili mentioned as the ancestors of the 6om<ards. Secondl& the contemporar& >oman historians did neither mention Banes nor Heruls in Benmar@ ' the& %ere first mentioned <& Jordanes "!! &ears later. -s the third the idea a<out the Banish origin of the Heruls %as entirel& <ased on # <ungled %ords in his geographical introduction of the Banes Jexpelling the Heruls from their settlementsJ ' %ords %hich %ere pro<a<l& misunderstood. Thus Jordanes later %rote a<out their et&molog& %hich he connected %ith the s%amps at the /lac@ Sea. Modern linguists read these %ords in the introduction as a reference to an e)ent of his o%n time 7 pro<a<l& the ne%s a<out a Herulian en)o& to Scandina)ia circulating in the cit& of 9onstantinople1/&4ans #"8'##3 -BF %here <oth (rocopius and Jordanes %rote their %or@s in those &ears. The names of people in the Migration -ges change rapidl& in the sources all the timeF as man& constellations consisted of semi'nomads follo%ing a successful leader ' regardless of famil& or tri<e connections. (ro<a<l& the +astern Heruls %ere esta<lished in the third centur& at the eastern <an@ of the >ussian ri)er Bnieper as an ethnogenesis <et%een Germanic tri<esF Sarmatian1-lanic nomads and /osporanians ' %ith Gothic1+ast Germanic as their language. Man& of the Germanics %ere pro<a<l& +ast Germanic Goths. -t the same time a group sho%ed up in 2orthern 8risia 7 the $estern Heruls. The similarit& in names ma& Hust indicate that the& had their ro&al d&nast& in common. 2one of the groups %ere mentioned <& (tolemeus around 1#! -BF <ut a connection has <een suspected %ith the t%o earlier peopleF Harii and HarudesF <ased on names and character. Gnder all circumstances the origin of the Heruls is un@no%n ' Hust li@e the origin of the Goths <eing toda& connected %ith the areas around the mouth of the (olish ri)er Eistula 7 not %ith Scandina)ia.
The Heruls appeared for the first time in the histor& at /&4ans and -thens in 237 -B as told <elo%F <ut in ##1 -B the Astrogothic secretar& Jordanes1 told that Banes Jdro)e from their homes the HeruliJ.
1

Jordanes ***F 23. Jordanes %as the secretar& of an Astrogothic or >ugian famil&. He %rote ;Getica= in /&4ans in the %inter ##1 ,$olfram 1988.F Hust <efore the last remains of the Astrogothic Kingdom <ro@e do%n. 2ormall& he is supposed to ha)e used information from a lost %or@ of 9assiodorus ,9hancellor of Theodoric the Great. finali4ed around #19 -BF and for some parts also -<lasiusF %ho %as possi<l& the po%erful chief of the (retorians at the court of 9onstantine the Great ,2ordgren 1999.. $here nothing is mentioned in chapter 2.1F Jordanes is the source to the Herulian and Gothic histor& until "8! -BF <ut Jordanes is normall& regarded as a dou<tful sourceF %hich is discussed further in 9hapter ".". -s the Gothic histor& is not the su<Hect hereF $olfram5s JHistor& of the GothsJ is used as a main source to theGothic part of the histor& in spite of later research. $or@s li@e J9assiodorus and

The Heruls
2either the Heruls in Scandina)ia nor the Banes are identified in the %or@s of the geographers or historians %ritten <efore ##! -BF <ut our earlier historians com<ined the t%o sources in a %a& %here the Heruls %ere eDpelled from their original homes in Scandina)ia and %ent to the /lac@ Sea some decades <efore the& appeared at /&4ans. This interpretation of JordanesF regarded as a 3!! &ears old informationF is the onl& reason %h& the Heruls ha)e <een gi)en a Scandina)ian origin. This no% Luestioned <& modern linguists. 8irst %e %ill loo@ at the conseLuences if the old interpretation %as correct.

1.1.1.1 The old interpretation of 3ordanes S%edish historians li@e )on 8riesen placed these original Heruls in Southern Benmar@ or 2orthern German&F <ut Jordanes told that <oth the Banes and the Suetidi traced their origin to the un@no%n Eino)iloth. 2 6ater in 899 -B the Banes li)ed in ScaniaF Halland and Sealand according to Attars description M6undF 1983NF %hile the Jutes li)ed in JutlandF %hich %as earlier populated <& 9im<rians and -nglians too MTacitusN. 9onseLuentl& it is most li@el& that a Banish eDpulsion of the Heruls <efore 899 -B too@ place in South +astern Scandina)ia 7 if that %as their origin.
JordanesJ of -rne SO<& 9hristensen and JThe GothsJ of (eter Heather ha)e of course <een ta@en in consideration too. MJordanes ***N *n general the sentence Jof the same stoc@ as the SuitidiJ has <een interpreted as a Banish migration from S%edenF <ut he Hust %rote that the Bani and Suitidi <oth descended from the Eino)ilothF %hich is pro<a<l& a )ersion of the name Einili ' <eing mentioned as a former name of the 6om<ards <& (aulus Biaconis. 2either need the Suetidi to <e the S)ear in the M?lar Ealle&F as he mentioned the Suehans there. This %ill open for interesting com<inations and eDplanations outside the topic of this article.

The Heruls
9om<ining TacitusF (tolemeus and 8la)ius -rianus %e @no% that a group of Gothic spea@ing +udoses arri)ed at the /lac@ Sea in the time <et%een Tacitus and (tolemeus ,2nd centur& -B.. 6ater the& mo)ed east%ards. This is an alternati)e eDplanation to the archaeological o<ser)ations <& Michel Ka4ans@i M>G-F /lac@ SeaN and the >ussian archaeologistF Magomedo) MMagomedo) 2!!1N placing the migrated Heruls at 9rimea and in the Molda)ian region. +arlier the Scandina)ian 9im<rians follo%ed <& other Germanic tri<es passed these regions <efore attac@ing *tal&. *n the first centuries -B contemporar& trade centres %ere esta<lished around the /altic Sea. *n Benmar@ the& are found at Ste)ns ,Sealand. and in Gudme ,8&en.F <ut the most important centres %ere pro<a<l& the old trade centre at Gotland and the Gothic societ& at the mouth of Eistula in (oland. -t that time the Marcomannic $ars along the >oman1German <order forced the trading routes to go east of the -lps to the ri)ers Ader and Eistula 7 the old -m<er >oute. This is reflected in the change from +lder to Iounger >oman *ron -ge in Benmar@ around 13! -B. Ho%e)er it has to <e noticed that Gudme had o<)ious trade connections %ith South'%estern +urope and the mounds of the first chieftains at Ste)ns indicate a connection to the +l<e'area in Thuringia. 6ater in the 3rd and "th centur& glasses and other items from the Gothic 9ernHacho)'culture sho%ed increasing connections against south east. *n this %a& the Scandina)ians had plent& of connections %ith the Gothic societies at the /lac@ Sea ma@ing it impossi<le to identif& a Herulic migration to the /lac@ Sea <& using archaeolog&. The Banish archaeologist /rOndsted %as inspired <& the old interpretation of Jordanes to %or@ out a theor& a<out a Banish in)asion from S%eden. He related the theor& to the <ig mounds of Ste)ns ,HimlingOHe and Earpele). 7 a peninsula in Sealand into the /altic Sea 7 indicating a ne% ci)ilisation at the coast in the end of the second centur& -B3. This theor& does not need to <e changed if the old interpretation of Jordanes is %rongF <ut the Banish in)asion has lost its historical support. " The theor& a<out a Herulic origin from Scania and Sealand is still the most accepted due to conser)atismF though no Heruls %ere mentioned <& Tacitus or (tolemeus in the second centur& -B. *f this interpretation %as correctF %e are onl& told that the& migrated <efore 237 -BF and the theor& could eDplain %h& a group of Heruls harried at the mouth of the >hine around 283 -B. 1.1.1.2 The 8othic 9i#ration and mi#rations in #eneral *n general the migrating groups %ere not necessaril& formed <& one single people #. The& might often <e smaller groups of different people or tri<es follo%ing a strong leader. The ;nationalit&= of the leading d&nast& %ould often <& o<ser)ers <e regarded as the nationalit& of all the migrating group. Aften the& %ere separated again later. The migrations could ta@e place step%ise o)er se)eral decadesF and often %hen the Germanic tri<es %ere mentioned in the %ritten sources the >omans had onl& met raiding groupsF occup&ing %arriors or mercenaries operating far a%a& from their people. -n +G'financed historical proHect lead to the political conclusion that most mo)ements of people %ere diffusions of indi)iduals and not migrating groups. That is pro<a<l& true 7 especiall& along the >oman <orders 7 <ut it %ill not change the fact that the mo)ements of people li@e the HunsF Goths and Eandals etc. %ere groups of %arriors %ith families tra)elling far and ta@ing ne% land in possession <& militar& force 7
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The settlement of the Banes %as first mentioned <& /rOndstedF %ho also mentioned the northeastern Jutland as a possi<ilit&. /ut the intruders here might <e Gauts ,from G0taland. or 2or%egians ,finds in *llerup Pdal.. 6ater on 6otte Hedeager has descri<ed the theor& in ;Banmar@s Historie=. 2ormall& the settlement is dated to 17#'2!! -B. $e cannot eDclude that these rich gra)es similar %ith the gra)es at the +l<e ,Hassle<en etc.. should <e com<ined the rich female gra)es in /adelunda and the Eino)iloth mentioned <& Jordanes ,Einili 1 6ongo<ards.. There is still one connection ,<esides 2.3.F as the name Hariso is found at the <ac@side of a fi<ula in Himling0He. This is also the name of a Herul at a tom<stone in 9oncordia. -s Himling0He used the trade route along the Eistula %here the Harii li)ed at that timeF the Harii are a possi<le connection. $olfram ;Histor& of the Goths=F1988 ,and $ens@us..

The Heruls
though the& ma& ha)e <een of miDed ethnicit&. *ngemar 2ordgren has descri<ed a theor& in %hich the Goths %ere not originall& an ethnic people <& <irth <ut a cultic league consisting of different tri<es from man& regions around Kattegat and the /altic Sea ,Sinus 9odanus. %ith leaders claiming to descend from a god named Gaut 3. Ma&<e such people left traditional agriculture to <e tradesmen or nomads %ith cattle %hile most tri<es of Scandina)ia remained agriculturists %ith a fertilit& cult %orshipping the gods *ng12erthus7. /& the reasons mentioned a<o)e the ethnic and geographic origin of a migration people is in general difficult to determine. -s the& Hoined the tur<ulence of the Migration -ges the importance of their origin is also limited to us. *f %e %ant to understand the <ac@ground of the ne% societies the& formed %hen the& finall& settledF it ma& <e more important to @no% %hich cultures and religions the& had <een in touch %ith in the last centuries <efore the settlement 7 <ut the histor& of the d&nast& could <e important to its legal right to @ingship in the societ& 7 so important that it %as often manipulated and miDed up %ith religion. -ccording to Jordanes the Goths %ere originating from Scan4aF <ut in that case archaeolog& indicates that the& could onl& <e small groups migrating long time <efore 9hrist. *t is more li@el& that such small groups of Scandina)ian Gauts inspired religiousl&F %hen people in the south'eastern corner of the /altic Sea merged and formed the Goths 7 creating ne% <urial practices etc. *n contemporar& sources the Goths %ere first time met in the first centuries -BF %hen the& li)ed in the area around lo%er Eistula and Ader 8 %ith connections to the >omans along the -m<er >oute. (ossi<l& the& formed the a<o)e mentioned trade net%or@ %ith the islands and cities of the /altic Sea as centres. Most historians are dating the follo%ing migration of the Goths from the area of Gdans@9 to the /lac@ Sea to the &ears around 1#! -B or later in the centur&. -ccording to archaeologists groups from the $iel<ar@ culture at Eistula in (oland ma& ha)e mo)ed step%ise to G@raine and Gpper Molda)ia ,the 9ernHacho)'culture. around 2!! -B. Here the& <ecame one of the dominating groups of people. The true histor& of the Gothic origin and of Gaut is not the su<Hect here as it is uncertain ,Jordanes %rote Getica centuries later <ased on manipulated eDplanations and reconstructions <& 9assiodorus. and %ithout an& importance for the conclusions <elo%. $hat is regarded as certain is that the& %ere an +ast Germanic'spea@ing people. 1.1.1.$ Sarmatians in the ethno#enesis: $alter (ohl and -ndreas Sch%arc4 are pro<a<l& right that the Heruls %ere under all circumstances a miDed people ,Sch%arc4 2!!#.. -ndreas Sch%arc4 has <eside the Goths and a 2orth +uropean element ' as those mentioned a<o)e ' mentioned the -lansF %ho %ere a Sarmatian tri<e. 8or 1#!! &ears the Sc&thian and Sarmatian nomads dominated the >ussian (lains north east of the /lac@ Sea. The& %ere a large group of *ndo'+uropean people <elonging to the *ranian group of languagesF though some of the eastern groups ma& ha)e <een Tur@ spea@ing too. The& eDpanded from the earlier fertile areas of the -ltai'region in 9entral -sia. 8irst the Sc&thians dominated the %estern plains. -t a late stage a group of the -orsi Sarmatians <ecame @no%n as the -lans ,later as -s.1! at the /lac@ Sea in the centuries -BF <ut earlier a group of these people
3

7 8

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;Goter@?llan= ,(hB'dissertation from 1999 at Adense Gni)ersit&. <& the S%edish *ngemar 2ordgren ' pu<lished in S%edish in 2!!! <& Historieforum E?stra G0taland. The names GothsF GautsF GeatsF G0tesF Gutes and Jutes ma& all ha)e the same origin 7 most possi<l& from a cult in Southern Scandina)ia and around the /altic Sea. Most of the 9ontinental Gothic tri<es are supposed to come from the south'eastern shores of the /altic Sea. $hen the Goths later on %ent to the /lac@ SeaF Gaut ma& ha)e changed character from a creator god to a %arrior god ' <eing a more $othan'li@e god. Jordanes called Mars an important godF <ut he also mentioned one of their ancestorsF ;Gapt= ' pro<a<l& <eing Gaut. Tacitus. (tholemeus 7 Second centur& -B. The& %ere called Goutones ' the name Goths %as first met at the /lac@ Sea in the third centur&. -rchaeologists connect them to the $iel<ar@ 9ulture at the eastern <an@ of the ri)er Eistula ,Q$eischel. and regard their origin to <e an ethnogenesis ta@ing place there. - smaller group of Goths %as supposed to li)e here at the 6o%er Eistula until #!!'3!! -B. Atto )on 8riesenF Kemp Malone and other scholars ha)e identified these Goths as the Hreidgoths mentioned <& the S%edish >0@ StoneF Her)ararsaga and $idsithF <ut this is an open LuestionF %hich is discussed in a later chapter. The -lans %ere according to 8la)ius Josephus ,c. 1!! -B. a Sc&thian people ra)aging Media and -rmenia. 6ater on

1!

The Heruls
,Ien5ts5ai1-ntae1-lan. %ere reported <& the 9hinese historians in the RinRiang (ro)ince as neigh<ors to the Huns. The -lans and other Sarmatian people dominated the area around the gree@ colon& of Tanais and the /osporan Kingdom at the Maeotic Sea ,later the Sea of -so). %hen the Heruls %ere first time mentioned there. The Sarmatian >oDolani and *a4& settled along the northern <an@ of Banu<e in >omania and Hungar&. Much later some -lanic people <ecame @no%n as Asseten and their names are still found in the repu<lic Asetins@a&a1-lania. Ather groups of -lans ended up in Thra@iaF (oland and Spain follo%ing for a %hile the Huns. The -lans %ere <& -mmianus Marcellinus descri<ed li@e HunsF <ut tall and s%ift %ith fair hair. The Heruls %ere regarded as more primiti)e than the Goths and some of their names do not ha)e a clear Germanic character 7 The name of the Herulic leaderF 2aulo<atesF %as @no%n as a Sarmatian or /osporanian name. *n the north'eastern corner of the /lac@ Sea the peninsula 9rimea forms the Sea of -so)F %here >i)er Bon is flo%ing out into a s%amp& area. The Gree@s esta<lished earl& their colon& Tanais at the north <an@ of the ri)er mouth 7 an important place for the trade along the >ussian >i)ers and one of the 9hina'routes from +urope. Here -sia and +urope met and the area must ha)e <een an ethnic =melting pot=. *n the <eginning of the first millennium the population in the area appear according to >ussian scholars to <e =*rani4ed=F and B./. Shelo) mentioned that 33S of the names @no%n in Tanais %ere Sarmatian and onl& 8S other <ar<arians. >ecent eDca)ations in the to%n of -so) at the south <an@ of the mouth of Bon opposite Tanais sho%ed that this to%n prospered at the time of the -lans and HerulsF %hile Tanais %as <urned do%n in 2## -B ' according to Schmidt M1933F p. 21!F ##!N pro<a<l& <& Heruls. The Heruls li)ed according to Jordanes in the s%amps of the Meotic Sea 7 the antiLue name of the Sea of -so) 7 <eing the most easterl& Germanic group li)ing <et%een Goths and -lans 11F <ut that is not supported <& the archaeolog& telling us that the Germanic settlements of that time onl& reached the Bnepr. The& also a)oided the small <elt of steppes at the coast of the /altic Sea lea)ing the mouth of Bnepr for the /osporanians at 9rimea. *f the first Heruls had their settlements at the lo%er Bnepr the& could easil& <e miDed %ith some of the Sarmatian -lans or in the theor& also %ith the /osporaniF %ho pro<a<l& had an *ranian <ac@ground too though <eing Hellenised for centuries. There %as pro<a<l& a grain of truth in -<lasiusT eth&molog&. *n 2#9 -B the first pirate attac@s %ere
(rocopius called them Goths 7 pro<a<l& <ecause the& follo%ed the Huns together %ith the Heruls in a group dominated <& Astrogoths. The correct ethnicit& is a group of the *ndo'+uropean SarmatiansF %ho arri)ed to the >ussian (lains from a <elt from the -ltai'region in 9entral -sia to *ran in the centuries /9 eDpelling the Sc&thians in the eastern part. -mmianus Marcellinus called in the "th centur& the -lans tall and fair hairedF and the& are sometimes descri<ed as <lond %ith gre&1green e&es 7 li@e the 3!!! &ears old <lond mummies found in the 9hinese RinRiang (ro)ince near the -ltai Mountains. Aleg /u<eno@ and other scholars claim the -lansF -si ,modern -4es.F IasF Asi and Asseten to <e different names or )ariations hereof of the same group of Sarmatians. J-sJ is the Tur@o' Mongolean name for -lans and it is supposed to deri)e from *+ J-suJ meaning Js%iftJ ,li@e the Heruls.. The $u' Sun people at the Sil@ >oad in RinRiang north %est of 9hina %ere descri<ed <& the Han B&nast& in the 2rd centur& /9. -ccording to Sulimirs@i these Gsun& ,in >ussian. %ere identical to the *a4&1-orsi ,-lans. %hile the more %esterl& IenTtsTai %ere identical to the -ntae ,another -lanic group.. - change of sound from JriJ to JlJ is mentioned in Assetic ,8ridri@ Thordarson. also ma@ing a connection <et%een -rian and -lan. These are Hust possi<ilities to <e mentioned as the Germanic %ord for godF JansiJ1Jansu4JF is regarded to <e the real eDplanation of the 2orse J-sirJ. -rtificial scull deformations %ere usual in 9entral -siaF and <oth the Huns and the -lans used this custom. The earl& Sarmatian groups in +urope such as the >oDolani and the *a4& did not use the custom at that time. Thor He&erdahl has funded the eDca)ations of -4o) re)ealing a cit& at the hilltop since the 2nd centur& /9 opposite the cit& of Tanais alread& descri<ed <& Herodot. Here a <ranch of the old Sil@'route %as supposed to cross >i)er Bon. The name could <e related to the -s'people. The -lans %ho did not escape to 9aucasus %ere su<dued <& the Huns in 3#! -B and follo%ed their campaign through +urope. - group of them ,-ntae. settled in the area of Kra@o%F %here Jens Glri@sen has found similarities to Gudme ,in his <oo@ ;-nlO<spladser=.. Most of the -lans left the Huns and crossed the >hine in "!3 together %ith the Eandals heading against Spain. *n 11!! the (olo)etsians changed the original name Meotic Sea to Sea of -so). The sea is surrounded <& s%amps <ecause of the mouths of Bon and Bonets. -ccording to Jordanes the Heruls li)ed in these S%amps of HeleF <ut =Hele= ,+lo&. %as simpl& a %ord for =s%amp=F and BeDippos called the Heruls +luro& 7 ma&<e a mista@e. The language of the 9rimean Goths %as found at 9rimea as late as 17!!. -ccording to some scholars there are linguistic similarities to $estern Germanic around SaDon& or 8risia ,2ordgren.F %here the $estern Heruls li)ed.

11

11

The Heruls
mentioned %hen =Sc&thians= used the /osporanian na)&. The attac@ing people %ere called /oradiF <ut such a people is un@no%n. (ro<a<l& this name meant =people from the north= co)ering the ne%l& arri)ed Goths and ma&<e the Heruls. *n the same %a& the& ma& ha)e misunderstood the name of the later attac@ing Heruls as =+liouroi= meaning =people from the s%amps=F if the& <elie)ed the Heruls came from the Maotic s%amps 7 a part of the @ingdom of the /osporaniF %ho pro)ided the Heruls %ith ships in those raids. (ro<a<l& their settlements %ere in the Gothic 9ernHacho)'culture ha)ing outposts as far a%a& as south east of the last <end of the Bniepr according to the archaeolog&F <ut that does not change the fact that the& <elie)ed their settlements had <een at the Meotic SeaF %hen Jordanes %rote in the 3th centur&.

1.1.1.!

The modern interpretation of "ordanes

The former theor& of the origin of the Heruls %as <ased on the four %ords <& Jordanes a<out the Banes JHerulos propriis sedi<us eDpuleruntJ ,Jdro)e from their homes the HeruliJ.. The archaeological traces are )er& fe% and ma& ha)e <een caused <& other connections as mentioned a<o)e. 8urthermore the %ording of this sentence in JordanesT introduction has <een Luestioned <& linguists and historians li@e 6aurit4 $ei<ull and later 60nrothF +llegaardF Goffart and -ndreas Sch%arc4F %ho <& grammatical reasons and the conteDt in his %or@ regard the sentence as a description of a recent e)ent. The Banes had ne)er <een mentioned <efore and %ere onl& mentioned three times <& the historians in the 3th centur& ' t%ice due to a contact <et%een the Banes and the Heruls. *t should <e a )er& strange coincidence if these t%o stories <oth told in 9onstantinople <& Jordanes in ##1 -B and (rocopius in ##3 -B %ere t%o different contacts separated <& more than 3!! &ears. *t is nearl& impossi<leF and it %ill later <e eDplained ho% the& less than three &ears <efore got that actual and for Justinian important stor&F %hich therefore circulated in 9onstantinople in #"8'##3 -B. 6ater in his %or@ Jordanes used information from -<lasius descri<ing the first appearance of the Heruls at the Sea of -so). He used an et&molog& eDplaining their name as deri)ing from the s%amps ,5eloi in Gree@.F %here the& li)ed. -s he clearl& used a local et&molog& from the /lac@ Sea eDplaining their name it is not li@el& that it %as his intention to descri<e their origin as Scandina)ian in the introductionF and neither is a Scandina)ian origin descri<ed an&%here else in his or other %or@s. Therefore %e ha)e no reason at all to eDpect the episode a<out the Banes and the Heruls in the same %or@ to <e connected %ith a histor& of an origin in Benmar@. *t is a reference to a contact in the first half of the 3 th centur& li@e the reference in the same chapter to the Scandina)ian @ing >oduulf see@ing refuge at the court of Theodoric. The Heruls %ere <& the sources in the #th and 3th centur& regarded as a Germanic people 7 Gothic according to some authors ' due to language12 and si4e. -s the Heruls %ere closel& related to the GothsF the& could as %ell <e a tri<e <eing separated from the Gothic group in the /lac@ Sea >egionF %here the Heruls %ere called 5+louroi. The Heruls %ere not mentioned an&%here <& Tacitus and (tolemeus in the t%o first centuries -B. That %ill lea)e us %ith a pro<lem %ith the $estern HerulsF %ho %ere first time mentioned <& Mamertinus in Trier ' operating there in 283 -B as <ar<arian attac@ers 18 &ears after the emperor defeated the +astern Heruls in Thra@ia. Ane possi<ilit& is that the refugees from that defeat 7 i.e. the later mentioned group of 2aulo<ates %ho Hoined the >omans 7 %ere resettled as mercenaries <& the >omans far a%a& from their hostile @insmen. -lread& in the 2nd centur& -B the >omans used -lanic and Sarmatian mercenaries in 8rance and +ngland %ho %ere transferred %ith %omen and children and remained in $estern +urope. The pro<lem isF ho%e)erF that the& %ere descri<ed as a <ar<arian people 13 ' not as mercenariesF and that the&
12 13

*n 9assiodorus5 Earia E*F 2 Theodoric %rote in 6atin to the Herulian @ingF <ut promised that the messenger %ould spea@ Gothic to him. (anegr& of MamartinusF R*F TrierF 289 -B. *n 283 -B +mperor MaDimianus sent out a couple of cohortes to defeat the Heruls and the un@no%n 9hai<onesF %ho had attac@ed Gallia together %ith /urgunden and -llemanni. Mamertinus %rote that the Heruls and 9hai<ones %e all @illed. The& could not <ring the messages home to their mothers and %i)es. He also mentioned that the& li)ed most distantl& a%a&. The 9hai<ones could <e the -)iones of

12

The Heruls
came from a distant location ,;ultima loci=. further a%a& than the /urgundians and the -lemanni 7 as later confirmed <elo% <& other sources it must ha)e <een <ehind the SaDons in Southern Jutland. This is in the same region as the earlier Harudes19harudes ,-ugustus and (tolemeus. 7 a name met as a personal name among the Heruls as -ruth. -nother possi<ilit& is that the $estern Heruls %ere the original Heruls forming a group or a part of a d&nast&F %ho follo%ed the Goths and1or +udoses to the /lac@ Sea and esta<lished the +astern Heruls there together %ith Gothic and Sarmatian1-lanic %arriors 7 <ringing us <ac@ to an old theor& <& )on 8riesen. Ma&<e the& simpl& had a d&nast& in common ' coming from one of the t%o groups or from some%here else. *n that connection %e shall not forget that the name Heruli1+ruli is a Gree@16atin )ersionF %hich can <e a misunderstanding or e)en gi)en <& the >omansF %hen the& recei)ed 2aulo<ates and his group. Her)ig $olfram ,$olfram 1988. has proposed that the Heruls %ere first esta<lished as a %arrior <and %ith an et&molog& connected %ith the %ord JharHa>1harHiUJ ,Qarm&1harrier.. This appear to <e a reasona<le suggestionF if this group operating in the <order areas of the Goths later formed a people at the /lac@ Sea ' ma&<e %ith mem<ers of their neigh<ours Hoining them <& marriage and ethnogenesis. JHarHa>1harHiUJ is a %idespread component found also in names li@e Harigast ,2egauer helmet.F Hariso ,HimlingoeHe1Herul in 9oncordia. and Hari%ulf ,Scania1/le@ingeF 3!! -B.. -n interesting connection <et%een JHari%ulfJ and JHerul1-irouloiJ is the name of a mad Gothic %arrior around 38! -BF J+rioulphosJF mentioned <& +unapius ,8ragmenta of +unapiusF BindorfF Historici Graeci MinoresF )ol. 1F p. 2#3.. -nother theoretical possi<ilit& connected %ith JharHa>J has to <e mentioned. (linius told a<out Hirri in the first centur& /9 and in the first centur& -B Tacitus told as our onl& source a<out a tri<e of the strongest %arriors of allF the Harii. Tacitus placed them Hust south of the Gotones at Gpper Eistula. The& ma& ha)e follo%ed the Goths to the /lac@ Sea %hen the migrating Gothic groups passed. -fter the Gothic migration %e ne)er heard a<out these strong %arriorsF <ut south east of the ne% Gothic @ingdom a ne% tri<e of harr&ing %arriors %as met ' the Heruli. -ccording to Tacitus the Harii painted their shields and their <odies <lac@ and attac@ed in the night as a ghostl& arm&. Some scholars connect them %ith the legends a<out =The %ild hunt= in the night 7 also connected %ith Adin1$othan. *n 8rench the hunter is called HarleLuin1HelleLuin ,+orle c&n1Harle@ing .. Their disappearance could <e eDplained <& a change of name at the Sea of -so) caused <& the influence of the common -lanic language of the region. This is of course pure guess%or@F and it is Luestioned if the name of the Harii is a misunderstanding <& a cop&istF though a conglomerate of neigh<ouring HariiF Goths and -lanes %ould ma@e sense. The claims that the Heruls %ere <lac@ %olf'%arriors are <ased on that @ind of suggested connections and are not supported in the sources else%here. *f %e are follo%ing the old interpretation of Jordanes or if %e are regarding some of the Heruls as <elonging to the Goths %e can in <oth cases assumeF that the Heruls in the 3th centur& falsel& regarded Scandina)ia as their ancestral home ' if the& <elie)ed Jordanes5 origin of the Goths. *n this article the most li@el& eDplanation is regarded to <e that Goths and Sarmatians1-lans at the /lac@ Sea Hoined a d&nast& of 2orth 8risian origin ,the marshes at the 2orth Sea coast in Schles%ig and Holstein. ' i.e. from a group of Harudes li)ing in the marches. This JcompromiseJ %ill eDplain the $estern HerulsF the later +uropean spread of the runesF the common -ruth'names among the HerulsF and ma@e sense in most other com<inations. Bue to the uncertaint& the eDplanation of the origin has not <een further in)estigated <elo%F and nothing is finall& concluded as the conclusions regarding the later histor& of the Heruls <elo% are independent of that eDplanation.

Tacitus.

13

The Heruls

1.1.# The mi rations of the Heruls

The +astern Heruls %ere first time mentioned in 237'239 -B %hen the& attac@ed Greece and the coasts of -sia Minor as pirates. The& %ere together %ith the Goths using the na)& of the /osporanes. The most spectacular e)ent %as the looting of -thens from %here %e ha)e our historical sources. -lso the defeat of their leaderF 2aulo<atesF <& the >oman emperor Gallianus at Thessaloni@i %as mentioned. -fter%ards 2aulo<ates %as appointed a >oman Jconsular insigniaJ. 9onseLuentl& the $estern Heruls <eing first time mentioned in 283 -B ma& in the theor& ha)e <een his soldiers <eing resettled in 8risia as mercenaries. -ccording to Jordanes the @ing of the +astern HerulsF -laricF %as later defeated <& the legendar& Gothic @ingF +rmaneric. 8rom around 37# -B the Heruls Hoined man& other +ast Germanic and Sarmatian people in the Hunnic campaign through +uropeF and as most of the other follo%ers the& %ere not mentioned in those &ears. -fter the defeat and death of -ttila these +ast Germanic follo%ers raised in re<ellion in "#" -B against the sons of -ttila at 2edao 7 eDcept most of the Astrogoths. 2earl& all the Huns %ere dri)en <ac@ to the /lac@ Sea. Most of the +ast Germanic and Sarmatian people esta<lished their ne% @ingdoms at the northern <an@ of the Banu<eF %hile the Astrogoths found place in >oman territor& in Southern (annonia. There is no reason to discuss eDact <orders as these horse'riding nomads %ere not tied <& the local agriculture. 8or decades the Astrogoths %aged %ars against their earlier companions and had pro<lems %ith the >omans too. *n "38 -B the Astrogoths succeeded in that %a& to destro& the Sciri. The +astern Heruls esta<lished a strong @ingdom in Mora)ia ,M?hren. and Marchfeld ,at /rno and Eienna. <& su<duing and tri<uting all their neigh<ours ' e)en the 6om<ards. The $estern Heruls ' and from "#" -B also the +astern Heruls ' %ere feared as >oman mercenaries and sometimes as pirates too. The >oman historians regarded these foot soldiers as Js%ift on their feetJ and light'armedF <ut that %as primaril& the $estern Heruls. The +astern Heruls <ecame also ca)alr& li@e the Huns and Astrogoths the& follo%ed. The& %ere e)en told to <e the strongest group supporting Adoa@er %hen he replaced the last +mperor of >ome in "73 -B. Adoa@er %as after%ards elected as @ing of *tal& <& his o%n Germanic soldiers ' called >eD Herulicus. Adoa@er himself %as a prince of the SciriF <ut his father %as a Thuringian of <irth. The rich princel& tom< in /lucinaF %hich is from that timeF is regarded to <e a ro&al Herulian gra)e ' )er& similar %ith the tom< of the 8ran@ish @ing 9hilderic in TournaisF %ho %as an allied of Adoa@er. /oth @ings had pro<a<l& <een >oman foederati. 6ater the Astrogothic @ingF TheodoricF agreed %ith the +ast >oman emperor to remo)e Adoa@er. Theodoric had gro%n up in 9onstantinople and %as an -rian 9hristian. He <esieged Adoa@er in >a)enna for se)eral &ears and %hen cele<rating the follo%ing peace in "93 -B he murdered Adoa@er <& his o%n hand. Most of the Herulian mercenaries of Adoa@er must ha)e returned to M?hrenF %ere Theodoric ten &ears later proclaimed their @ing as Jhis son of armsJ. The Heruls appear in this %a& to ha)e ended up as a @ind of su<Hects to TheodoricF %ho also as@ed the HerulsF the Thuringians and the Earni to Hoin an alliance against the 8rancs. Aur historical sources regarding the Heruls consist of scattered remar@s from the >oman and /&4antine historians and authorsF as the people did not ha)e their o%n historians. -n eDception is the /&4antine historian (rocopiusF %ho %as the secretar& and Huridical ad)isor of the superior +ast >oman general /ellisarius. He must ha)e @no%n the Herulian mercenar& officers personall&. He spent t%o chapters of his %or@ a<out the Gothic $ars on the Heruls ' a %or@ %hich he finished in ##3 -B. He told that the Heruls Jwere superior all the barbarians who dwelt about them both in

1"

The Heruls power and numberJF <ut due to arrogance and disregarding of their gods their @ingF HrodolphosF suffered a serious defeat against the 6om<ards and %as @illed himself. The defeatF %hich is dated to #!8 or #!9 -BF is also @no%n from much later 6om<ardic sources in a more anecdotal form. 1.1.#.1 Herulian raiders and mercenaries

The first historical appearance of the Heruls %as descri<ed in different sources in the third centur& -B. The& %ere placed at the /lac@ Sea in the neigh<ourhood of the Goths 7 as mentioned due to archaeolog& pro<a<l& south east of these at the Bniepr ,Map.. -fter 2! &ears of fighting the >omans returned in 271 -B to the south <an@ of the Banu<e lea)ing their Bacian (ro)ince ,>omania. for the Goths. The archaeologists regard the Sintana de Mures'culture in Trans&l)ania as a result hereof. *n that area the Ter)ingi Goths and the Gepides %ere for the first time mentioned as separate tri<al names in 291 -B. *n 237'39 -B a fleet of Herulian and Gothic )essels had plundered the coasts of Tur@e& and Greece 7 o<)iousl& as a part of the a<o)e mentioned %ar. - group of Heruls and Goths tried to operate on shore in GreeceF <ut these inland groups %ere destro&ed <& the >omans. The Herulian group attac@ed Thessalonica <ut their sur)i)ors had to surrender in Moesia. Their leader 2aulo<ates <ecame a >oman =consular insignia=1" ,$olfram 1988. indicating that the rest of these Heruls %ent into >oman ser)ice. - <ig fleet consisting of Heruls and Goths attac@ed all the time from the sea li@e the later 2ordic Ei@ings. +speciall& their looting of -thens is famousF <ut the& %ere successfull& ra)aging other places too li@e 9reteF >hodes and the coasts of -sia Minor. -fter a &ear the& returned to their homes 1#. -round 3#! -B a group of Goths in Moesia changed religion to the 9hristian -rianismF and their <ishop
1" 1#

$olfram 1988F Georgios S&n@ellosF 9hronographia. -lread& in 2#1 the /oradi ,an un@no%n people connected %ith the Goths. conLuered the na)& of the /osporani ,a 9rimian people.. 8irst time the& sent home the na)& operated <& /osporanians after the landingF and %ere luc@& to escape on stolen >oman ships after the attac@. 2eDt time the& had learned to operate as pirates %ith their ships read& for escape. The people of the /lac@ Sea %ere s@illed sailorsF %ho %ere %illing to teach the <ar<arians sailing ' %hich a group from 9rimea %ere punished for in "19. Ho% much the /osporanians %ere a<le to choose in the 23!5ies is dou<tful as archaeolog& re)eals that their to%ns at 9rimea %ere spoilt at that time 7 pro<a<l& <& the ne%l& esta<lished Heruls. *n 237 -B a fleet of #!! ships together %ith an arm& follo%ing at the north'%estern coasts attac@ed and ra)aged Greece including -thens. -t -thens the& %ere finall& defeated <& BeDipposF %ho called them Sc&thes in the fe% fragments %e @no% from his %or@. 6ater authors li@e S&n@ellos ,8th centur&. and Stephan of /&4ans ,3th centur&.F %ho <ased their %or@s on BeDipposF called them GothsF /oradi and +louroiF %hile Uosimus ,#th centur&. used the names GothsF /oradi ,/orani. and Heruli. Scriptores Historiae -ugustae from around "!! -B mentioned in this connection the +ruli as a Sc&thian group. Most of the Herulian %arriors in this campaign attac@ed after%ards ThessalonicaF %here the& %ere also defeated. 8rom there the& escaped in 238 -B against north into Macedonia and MoesiaF %here 3!!! Heruls %ere @illed at 2estos <& the >omans commanded <& emperor Gallienus. The& %ere not totall& destro&ed as their chieftain 2aulo<ates <ecame a >oman Jconsular insigniaJ ,$olfram 1988.. The name 2aulo<ates %as also the name of a /osporan co'ruler around 233 -B. -s the /osporan @ings had often Sarmatian names this ma& indicate that -lans ' rather than /osporani ' %ere miDed up %ith the Heruls as the& all li)ed in the same area near 6o%er Bnepr and the Sea of -so). *n 239 /&4antine sources persist that 2!!! ships %ere seen at /&4ans. These Goths and Heruls operated %ith success <& ships along the coasts of GreeceF -sia Minor and at the islands. The& pro<a<l& used ships conLuered from the >oman supporters. The historians do not totall& agree a<out the e)entsF <ut the )ersion compiled <& -ngeli@a 6intner'(ot4 is used here. Gnder all circumstances the relati)el& light armed JpiratesJ %ere o<)iousl& not a<le to fight against regular >oman forces on shore %hen these %ere prepared on the attac@F %hile the last group operating %ith Luic@ raids from their ships %as successful in that %a&.

1#

The Heruls
$ulfila translated the /i<le into Gothic language. -t the same time the Greutungi ,Astro'. Gothic @ing +rmaneric launched an offensi)e defeating and su<duing man& tri<es 7 the defeat of the strong Heruls ruled <& -laric %as especiall& emphasised <& Jordanes. -fter the defeat a group of -lans and Heruls ma& ha)e escaped against south or east instead of <eing su<dued <& the Goths. -s did a group of +udoses settling east of 9rimea and Tanais for a %hile. Such Germanics ma& ha)e follo%ed the Sil@road to +astern Tur@estan in order to settle there among related Sarmatian1-lanic people li@e the $u'SunF and some of them ma& ha)e continued their %a& into 9hina as the m&sterious *ndo'+uropean Holo'peopleF %ho arri)ed there around 38! -B. This has not <een further in)estigatedF <ut in 1318 /rother (elligriniF follo%ing Marco (oloF reported 3!F!!! 9hristian -lans li)ing at the 9hinese coast opposite Tai%anF %here the Holo'people %as supposed to end up. *n +astern Tur@estan the Huns had li)ed for centuries and terrori4ed their neigh<ours. *n this period the 9hinese $all %as erected. Some of the Huns tra)elled against %estF %here the& first su<dued the -lans and in 37! -B the& in)aded +urope ,crossed the Bon. defeating the Goths. The Eisigoths and man& of the Astrogoths escaped to the southern <an@ of the Banu<eF %here the& %ere granted eDile <& the >oman +mperor in 38! -B. +rmaneric committed suicide and the remaining AstrogothsF the -lans and other SarmatiansF the >ugiansF the Gepides and pro<a<l& also the Heruls <ecame su<Hects under Hunnic regime. 8rom Bacia the Huns and their follo%ers in)aded the 9entral +urope su<duing man& <ar<arian tri<es. -s a conseLuence the eastern trading routes from the >omans to the /altic Sea must ha)e <een cut off 13. Just at that time the >oman *ron -ges ended in Benmar@ and the superior ci)ilisation disappeared from the Banish peninsula Ste)ns. *n the Hunnic period %e do onl& hear a<out Herulian mercenariesF <ut it is o<)ious that the +astern Heruls follo%ed the Huns as the& %ere under Astrogothic reign at the /lac@ SeaF %hen the Huns arri)edF and sho%ed up neDt time in the upraise against the sons of -ttila at the Banu<eF %here the& got their share of his +mpire. -t that time the& %ere still pagans opposite the refugees in the >oman +mpireF and their disappearance from histor& %as not unusual as e)en the histor& of the Astrogoths in the Hunnic group is un@no%n ,eDcept for the stor& of Jordanes.. The& %ere o<)iousl& assimilated into the Gothic group of Hunnic follo%ersF regarded <& (riscus as one communit& of language 17. -s a parallel the $estern Heruls li)ed in the 8ristian area as mercenaries 7 especiall& in +ngland. -s %e are not a%are of connections <et%een the t%o groups the sparse histor& of the $estern Heruls is descri<ed in a separate chapter. Gnder the leadership of -ttila the campaign of the Huns and their follo%ers %as intensified until -ttila in "#1 %as defeated in 8rance <& a united >omanF Eisigothic and $estern Germanic arm&. -ccording to Sidonius -pollinaris the Heruls Hoined -ttila in 8rance18 ' ma@ing it pro<a<le that the& Hoined the Huns all the time. Shortl& after the death of -ttilaF the Gepides %ere in "#" -B the leaders of a re<ellion against the HunsF %here the elder son of -ttila %as @illed at the <attle of 2edao. The northern <an@ of the Banu<e %as di)ided <et%een the re<elsF and according to Jordanes the Heruls Hoined the Gepides in the re<ellion. This is confirmed <& a Herulian @ingdom north of (annoniaF %here the& apparentl& alread& had operated decades <efore the re<ellion. Most of the Huns returned to southern >ussia and Moesia at the /lac@ SeaF <ut at that time the /ar<arians had alread& %ea@ened the old >oman +mpire from %hich the +ast >oman ,/&4antine. +mpire %as separated in 39# -B.

13 17

18

The effect %as pro<a<l& increased <& a >oman <an against trade %ith the /ar<arians from 338 ,Maenchen Haelfen.. The& must ha)e <een assimilated into the group of Hunnic follo%ers. (riscus descri<ed in ""8 -B the headLuarters of -ttila in BaciaF %here he descri<ed the Huns as se)eral tri<es tal@ing either Hunnic or Gothic language ,$e<' )ersion.. The Heruls ma& ha)e Hoined the Astrogothic group counting also Gepides and >ugians. -t that time some of the -lans had left for Spain. Sidonius -pollinaris 7.12 and 8.1# ,7.319'322.

13

The Heruls
The large migrations of the centur& <rought man& of the Germanic tri<es against %est and south as the EandalsF /urgundiansF 6om<ardsF 8ran@s and -nglo'SaDons. *n the same period first the Eisigoths and later on the Astrogoths headed %est. The result %as the Eisigothic 9atalonia ,"18 -B.F the 8ran@ish @ingdom ,"82 -B.F the +nglish @ingdoms ,"#! -B. and the Astrogothic @ingdom in *tal& ,"93 -B. and the later 6om<ard& ,#38 -B.. *nstead the Sla)s dispersed o)er the 2orth +astern +urope from %here the& slo%l& penetrated into the 94ec@ >epu<lic ,3th centur&. and German& ,7th'8th centuries.. The general pattern appear to <eF that the 9hristian and -rian @ingdoms of Germanic people %ere esta<lished in the old >oman area inside 6imesF %hile the pagan tri<es such as /a)ariansF -lemanni and SaDons %ere first accepted outside ' pro<a<l& as the& had no strong and threatening @ingship. Ho%e)er in "98 -B the 8ran@s attac@ed the -lemanniF %ho thereafter concentrated around the Gpper Banu<e and 6a@e /oden. -lso the 9hristian /urgundians inside 6imes %ere defeated <& the 8ran@s in "9" and #3" -B after their @ingdom at the >hine had <een defeated <& the Huns in "3# -B 7 an e)ent %hich has <een miDed up %ith the %ars <et%een Heruls and Goths around #!! -B in the much later German legends. -ccording to Julius Honorius 7 %riting in the end of the "th or <eginning of the #th centur& 7 the Heruls had alread& then formed a @ingdom <et%een the Vuadi and the Marcomanni 19. $e shall reali4e that a @ingdom of horse'riding nomads pro<a<l& %ere settlements %ithout <orders %here the& su<Hugated a remaining population of farmers as far as the& could. -ctuall& Honorius %as indicating the same position of the Heruls as the later historians 7 <eing the lo%lands north of the Banu<e along Mora)a ,March. >i)er co)ering in the end most of Mora)ia and Marchfeld ,+astern $ein)iertel in -ustria and Uahoria in Slo)a@ia.. - group of remaining Sue<i ,Vuadi. li)ed east of the HerulsF <ut man& of the Vuadi pro<a<l& also li)ed inside the territor& of the Heruls. The Vuadi %ere mentioned <& Tacitus ,-nnales. as li)ing at the Marus >i)er ' a name deri)ed from JMarJ meaning s%amps and <ogs. This is pro<a<l& the name ending up in March and M?hren in Germanic language and Mora)a and Mora)ia in Sla)ic. *t is interesting to notice that also their settlement here %as connected %ith s%amps as told earlier <& JordanesF and it is realistic to assume that the name Marings2! %as a nic@name of these ne% coming Heruls to distinguish them from the $estern Herulian mercenaries. The Gepides settled in BaciaF %hile the AstrogothsF %ho hardl& Hoined the re<ellion eDcept a fe% groupsF %ere allo%ed to settle in >oman territor& in (annonia south of Banu<e. $est of the Heruls the >ugians settled as neigh<ours to the >oman pro)ince 2oricum %ith a centre in Krems 21. *n "38 -B Jordanes mentioned an alliance <et%een the people at the northern <an@ of the Banu<e ,Sue<iF SarmatiansF SciriF Gepides and >ugi. against the Astrogoths. He also mentioned a @ing -laric in this allianceF %hom he forgot to present <& ethnicit& follo%ing his o%n principle in the teDt. -s %e are missing the Heruls in the alliance and as the first @no%n Herulian chieftain also %as called -laricF this un@no%n -laric %as pro<a<l& a Herulian @ing MSch%arc4 2!!#F the Slo)a@ian 2ational Museum and -ngelica 6intner'(ot4 2!!7N. The leader of the SciriF +dicaF %as pro<a<l& related to the later officer of Herulian mercenariesF Adoa@erF <ut his tri<e %as totall& destro&ed <& the Goths after a <attle in 238 -B and the <attle of /olia in "39 -B together %ith the Sue<es and the fe% remaining Huns. Jordanes emphasi4ed the po%erful support from the Herulian mercenaries 22 %hen Adoa@er <ecame @ing of
19

2! 21

22

Here * disagree %ith -ngeli@a 6intner'(ot4 ,$alther (ohl . regarding their settlements as her unattested theor& a<out different settlements is opposed <& <oth HonoriusF 6aterculus Eeronensis and (rocopius. She has <ased her assumptions on the archaeological remains of the former peopleF <ut her remar@ a<out the Vuadi changing to horse' riders ma& ha)e <een the Heruls %ho settled in their area su<duing the remaining farmers. The name %as close to a Germanic %ord for famousF <ut if this is a coincidence or a conseLuence is outside m& @no%ledge. *t is ho%e)er the same as the Ald 2orse Mari@aF as 'i@a as a diminuti)e parallel to 'ing. +ugippius li)ing in 2oricum has mentioned the >ugians and the plundering Heruls. Julius Honorius ,geographer from the #th centur&. has mentioned the Heruls li)ing <et%een Marcomannen and Vuadi. Sidonius -pollinaris told that mercenaries from the <ar<arian group at the Banu<e Hoined the >oman +mperor against the Eandals in "#8 -B ' including Sciri and +ruli. -ngeli@a 6intner'(ot4 can <e misunderstoodF %hen she at page 1!# %rites: ;der relativ groe Anteil von Erulern in der Gefolgschaft Odowakars auf seinem Weg nach Italien.= Adoa@er and his Herulian mercenaries %ere alread& ser)ing at the imperial court in >a)ennaF %hile their @ing and the rest of the people pro<a<l& sta&ed in M?hren. Adoa@er shared out 113 of the land to his arm&F <ut it shall pro<a<l& <e regarded as a taDation. *t %as no migration and Adoa@er %as not the @ing of the Herulian people.

17

The Heruls
*tal& <& displacing the last >oman +mperor in "73F s&m<olising the final fall of the $estern >oman +mpire 23 . This is confirmed <& sources calling him J>eD HerulorumJ 2"F <ut he %as not a Herul himself and his group also consisted of other ethnicities than Heruls. *n "88 -B Adoa@er attac@ed the >ugiansF %ho left the area and Hoined Theodoric. The& %ere replaced <& the 6om<ardsF <ut according to (rocopius these 6om<ards %ere su<dued <& the Heruls. *n the neDt t%o decades the Herulian @ingdom eDpanded and the to%n of (0chlarn1Herilungo<urg 2# in 2i<elungengau ma& ha)e <een a %esterl& outpost against the 6om<ards. Shortl& after the Astrogoth Theodoric the Great attac@ed Adoa@er after an agreement %ith the /&4antine +mperor. Adoa@er %as defeated in se)eral <attlesF and escaped to >a)enna in "91 -B. The chancellor of TheodoricF 9assiodorusF told later a<out an e)ent %here ; Odoaker left avenna with the Heruls in the night across the !andidiani "ridge and met m# lord $heodoric in a memorable battle =23. *t <ecame later famous in the Germanic legends as the ; abenschlacht=F %hich ma& <e the reason %h& the stronghold in >a)enna , aben. %as called J%aeringaburgJ in the A2'poem Beor 7 named after the heroicall& defending Heruls from M?hren. The& %ere ne)er defeated <& TheodoricF <ut Adoa@er had no luc@ to <rea@ out and after <eing sieged in t%o &ears in ;%aeringaburg= the <ishop of >a)enna tried to arrange a peace agreement. Theodoric used the opportunit& to murder Adoa@er. The to%n no% <ecame the capital of Theodoric and the Heruls lost the 3!S income of their land in *tal& to the Gothic soldiers. Theodoric also made an agreement %ith the Heruls at the Banu<e 27F <ut that %as pro<a<l& later. 8or at least 2#! &ears the Heruls @ept their separate identit& in spite of a rootless life as piratesF plundering gangs and mercenaries %here Heruls e)en fought against Heruls in different armies. (ro<a<l& the& %ere @ept together <& a religious ancestor cult. $e shallF ho%e)erF regard them as a smaller <asic group around the ro&al d&nast& in the Hunnic times and then a host of follo%ers around this d&nast& in times of success. *n this %a& local VuadiF the remains of the Sciri and others ma& ha)e Hoined them.

1.1.#.#

The $estern Heruls

The $estern Heruls %ere first time mentioned <& the >omans in 283 -B %hen Heruls attac@ed Gallia 28. *n the third centur& the 8risians temporaril& left the coastal area due to a rising of the sea le)elF %hich made tur<ulence in the area. *f the Heruls li)ed in 2orthern 8risia the& pro<a<l& had the same pro<lemsF <ut %e do not @no% if their attac@s %ere pro)o@ed <& that situation. -mmianus Marcellinus told in the 33!5ies se)eral times a<out Herulian mercenaries in +nglandF %here the& Hoined the /ata)es. 6ater in "!9F "## and "#9 -B the Heruls plundered the coasts of Gallia and Spain as pirates 29. *t is rather o<)ious from the teDt that the Herulian mercenaries in the >oman armies until "#" -B %ere all $estern HerulsF %ho ma& ha)e <een recruited together %ith the /ata)es li)ing at the Mouth of the >hine.
23 2" 2#

23 27 28

29

*n 9onsularia *talica the Heruls %ere indicated to ha)e the most important role. -uctorium Ha)niensis ordo prior a. "73. *n the same source ,a. "87. Adoa@er %as once more mentioned as >eD Herulicus. (0chlarn at the Banu<e in 2i<elungengau %est of Eienna. Here the region of Herilungo<urg %as mentioned in a charter of 6ud)ig the German from 832 ,including (0chlarnF Harlanden and some other to%ns.. Herilungo<urg %as pro<a<l& the old >oman campF -rilapaF %hich is hidden under (0chlarnF <eing earlier an island at an important crossing of the Banu<e. +nnodiusF 9onsularia *talica and 9assiodorus Mommsen 9hronica minora saec. *E.E.E*.E** )ol 2. Ealenianus "91 and ma&<e a letter from 9assiodorus to an unnamed Herulian @ing. (anegr&ci of MamertinusF 289 -B. Bescri<ed in an earlier note JordanesF %ho is the source to the a<o)e description of the HerulsF did not mention the $estern Heruls 7 pro<a<l& <ecause the& had disappeared at his time %ithout <eing e)er in)ol)ed %ith his Goths. *n "## and "#9 the $estern Heruls %ere mentioned as pirates at the Spanish coasts attac@ing %ith "!! light armed men ,H&dacius. and in Gallia in "!9 ,Hieromnimus..

18

The Heruls
$e do not @no% ho% far north the Heruls li)edF <ut Mamertinus used the eDpression ; ultima loci=F J6aterculus EeronensisJ mentioned t%o groups ,the %esterl& group <eing mentioned <et%een the SaDons and the >ugians.3!F -mmianus Marcellinus told that the Herulian mercenaries in 33! -B had their homes <e&ond the >hine31F and in "78 -B Sidonius -pollinaris met Heruls in Toulouse li)ing at the furthest shore of the ocean some%here <ehind the SaDons32 7 at a time %hen the Heruls had a %ell'@no%n @ingdom in Mora)ia too. *t is o<)ious from these teDts that at least t%o groups of Heruls eDisted at that time. *f %e com<ine the sources the $estern Heruls must ha)e li)ed at the south %estern coast of Jutland ,Bithmarshen 1 2orth 8riesland. and in "78 -B ma&<e in +ngland. $e do not hear a<out these Heruls after "78 -BF unless the letter for assistance from 9assiodorus %as meant for themF %hich is rather unli@el& if the& li)ed north of the SaDons 7 though suggested <& $olfram.

1.1.#.%

The Herulian &ay of fi htin

-s mentioned the earl& Herulian mercenaries in +ngland and at the >hine %ere $estern Heruls. *t is most li@el& that the mercenaries follo%ing Adoa@er %ere +astern Heruls %ho had <een allied %ith the Sciri against the Goths and Huns since "#" -BF <ut %e cannot eDclude that some $estern Heruls Hoined them. The later Herulian mercenaries in the armies of Justinian %ere Heruls from Mora)ia 7 +astern Heruls 7 as told <& (rocopius. *n the earl& historical sources the Heruls %ere famous as s%ift on their feet and light'armed 33 foot soldiers opposite the Goths and the -lansF %ho %ere @no%n as hea)& ca)alr&. $e shall <e a%are that the sources normall& descri<ed the $estern Herulian mercenaries 7 eDcept (rocopius telling on his side a<out sla)es and &oung %arriors of the +astern HerulsF %ho had to demonstrate their courage <& fighting %ithout protecting armouring. $e ha)e no description of the eDperienced +astern Herulian %arriorsF %ho had Hoined HunsF
3!

31

32

33

Their presence is pro<a<l& confirmed <& 6aterculus Eeronensis ,"th centur&.F %here Heruls %ere mentioned <oth in north'%est ,<et%een >ugi and SaDonsF %hich could <e Jutland. and in east ,<et%een >ugi and Sarmathae. 7 Hust li@e the >ugi %ho %ere supposed to <e li)ing near the island of >&gen and in the Hunnic area. The >omans mentioned in the 33!Ties se)eral times Heruls and /ata)es together 7 especiall& in +ngland. The /ata)es li)ed according to (linius ,/9. south of the >hine'mouthF %here the $estern Heruls later appeared near<&. -mmianus M-mmianusF RRF11"N told a<out Herulian mercenaries in the arm& of Julian in +ngland ,<efore he <ecame an emperor.. $hen 9onstantine felt threatened <& the success of JulianF he demanded the strongest troops of Julian 7 HerulsF /ata)es and 9elts 7 to <e sent to the (arthian $ar. Julian protested arguingF that he had promised these soldiers the& could ne)er <e send <ehind the -lpsF as the& had their homes <e&ond the >hine ,;lari<us transrhenanis=.. 2o one %ould dare to use that argument against the emperor if these Heruls %ere soldiers li)ing at the Banu<e as claimed <& some scholars. Sidonius -pollinaris told in "78 MSidoniusF E***F*RN from the court of the $estern Gothic @ing +urich in /ordauD JHere strolls the Herulian %ith his glaucous chee@sF inha<itant of the Acean5s furthest shoreF and of one compleDion %ith its %eed& deeps=. *n this description the& %ere mentioned together %ith AstrogothsF /urgundiansF S&gam<rians and SaDons 7 the latter <eing mentioned as pirates also in E***FE*. The SaDons li)ed north east of the 8risians around the mouth of the +l<e 7 %hich is in accordance %ith 6aterculus Eeronensis ,"th centur& -B.. Sidonius %as a Gallic no<le <eing <orn in ArleansF %ho should <e supposed to @no% the geograph& of 2orth $estern +urope. These sources appear to <e stronger than guess%or@ <ased on names li@e Harlingerland and Herloga ,-dam of /remen.. claim a<out another name for Harlingerland Q Herlogango1Heruling has not <een attested. Se)eral sources including Jordanes descri<e the Heruls in this %a& ' opposite the Jhea)& ; Goths and -lans. (ro<a<l& the arms of these %ere a light single'edged s%ordF a shield and a dagger 7 and ma&<e in <attle formations a lance1spear. The hea)ier %eapons of that time %ere lancesF spearsF aDes and long dou<le'edged s%ords. /o%s %ere especiall& used <& the Hunnic horsemen. Together the Jlight'armed HerulsJF the Jhea)& Gothic horsemenJ %ith lances and the Jmounted Hunnic archersJ %ere a terrif&ing force. Separated the& %ere not a<le to match the >oman and /&4antine mercenaries in the long run. (rocopius later mentioned that the 3!!! Herulian mercenaries of 2arses %ere all horsemenF <ut that happened after the fello%ship %ith the HunsF and in the great <attle against Totila the& %ere forced to dismount <efore the <attle as 2arses %as afraid the& %ould ride a%a&. $olfram is guessing a connection <et%een Heruli and the %ord JfastJF %hich he also connected to the J>osomoniJ %ounding +rmanaric in Jordanes Getica. -ctuall& it is not surprising if the Heruls turned against their conLueror %hen he %as attac@ed <& the Huns. *n the 8th centur& the >a)enna'Geographer ,Source: The Gothic Marcomir. mo)ed the title ;the fastest= from the Heruls to the BanesF %hom Jordanes had called ;the tallest=. *s it a coincidence

19

The Heruls
Goths and -lans across the plains. Their st&le %as apparentl& a compromise <et%een Hunnic and Gothic st&le as horsemen using <oth s%ord and <o% or lance. T%o times the mercenaries of Justinian %ere mentioned as horsemen. +speciall& their li)ing places at ri)ersides and marches forced them to a)oid the hea)iest armouring. The light armed $estern Heruls on their side %ere foot soldiers <eing a<le to fight as Ei@ings from ships and in tight %oods.

1.1.#.!

The last mi ration of the Heruls ' (rocopius

-fter the death of Theodoric the /&4antine +mperor Justinian <egan to purge out the <ar<arians from his area of interest. $hen the /&4antines finall& defeated the Astrogoths in ##3 (rocopius finalised his last <oo@ a<out the histor& of the Gothic $ars. *t is Luite clear from the descriptions that he met the Heruls personall& as a secretar& and legal ad)isor of the great /&4antine general /ellisarius and later on he must also ha)e met officers in /&4ans li@e the Herulian general Suartuas. *n a miDture of fascination and despise he dedicated t%o chapters to a )alua<le description of the Heruls. These chapters <& (rocopiusF %ho as a reporter descri<ed his o%n timeF are the main source to the histor& of the Heruls. Gp to the siDth centur& the Heruls %ere regarded as one of the most primiti)e Germanic tri<es offering human <eings to their Jhost of godsJ3". This distincti)e character indicates that the& @ept their o%n religionF and the description could as %ell <e a description of the later Ei@ings of Scandina)ia. Ma&<e a Gothic %orshipping of the %ar god had <een turned more in the direction of the $est Germanic $othan or past mem<ers of their o%n ro&al famil&. (ro<a<l& the& %ere e)en influenced <& -lans and Huns Hoining the Herulian @ings. (rocopius sarcasticall& descri<ed ho% the&F as the& <ecame superior in po%er and in num<erF made their neigh<ours in (annonia su<Hect and tri<utar& to themsel)es including the 6om<ards. $hen finall& ha)ing no longer an&one in the %orld to assailF the& attac@ed %ithout reason the 6om<ards in a )er& careless %a&. >odolphus %as @illed in the <attle and the Heruls had to lea)e their @ingdom in Mora)ia 3#. -ccording to the general translation of (rocopius the <attle too@ place in "9" -B 3 &ears after -nastasius <ecame emperor. half centur& later (rocopius pro<a<l& miDed up the time of the defeat of Adoa@er %ith the defeat of Hrodolphus ' <oth <eing Herulian defeats. The <attle most li@el& too@ place in #!9 -B 33. (rocopius had
3"

3#

33

This eDpression <& (rocopius %as a<out the Heruls in old da&s. The Heruls and Astrogoths follo%ing -ttila %ere %ithout dou<t pagans ' confirmed <& an Astrogothic human sacrifice in *tal& in "!7. The Astrogoths <ecame -rians around "7#-B ' 1!! &ears later than the other Goths. 6ater also the Gepides %ere -riansF <ut (rocopius emphasi4ed the 6om<ards as 9hristians opposite the Heruls in the description of the <attle ' %hich pro<a<l& is an o)erstatement. Justinian persuaded the *ll&rian Heruls to <e 9hristians in #29F <ut (rocopius descri<ed them %ith disgusting pagan manners as late as in the #"!5iesF %hich indicates that the& had not <een -rians <& themsel)es <efore. The idea that the& had to find their @ing in the distant Scandina)ia indicates a pagan ancestor cultF and it is )er& unli@el& that these Heruls in Scandina)ia should <e 9hristian or -rians. His description is similar to the %a& Thietmar of Merse<urgs and -dam of /remen descri<ed godsF hangings and sacrifice of human <eings in the Banish and S%edish @ingdoms at the end of the first millennium. Jordanes had a similar description of the Goths in earl& times too. (rocopius and (aulus Biaconus ha)e their separate )ersions of the <attleF <ut in <oth )ersions the Heruls surprisingl& lost the <attle <ecause of arrogance 7 and according to the %riters also due to despise of the 9hristian God. -ccording to note 2.2.8 the Heruls made up an important part of the troops of Adoa@er. (rocopius told that a part of the deal in "73 %as to gi)e a%a& 113 of the farming land ,should <e regarded as 113 of the income hereof. to his mercenariesF %hich Theodoric in "9" transferred to his allies. - part of the HerulsF %ho did not support TheodoricF ma& ha)e returned to the @ingdom at Banu<e causing tur<ulence and a need of eDpansion there around "9" or later. -ccording to (rocopius the Heruls laid do%n their %eapons %hen -nastasius too@ o)er the >oman empire ' %hich %as in "91 -B. The <attle too@ place at least 3 &ears after this ceasefire. $olfram anal&sed the alliances of Theodoric against the 8ran@s. -ccording to $olfram 9assiodorus ,Theodoric. %ith the preser)ed letters to the HerulsF the Earni and the Thuringians tried to form a northern front line against the 8ran@s ' ma@ing these Heruls the $estern HerulsF <ut the& could as %ell <e the (annonian Heruls south east of the Thuringians. $olfram regards >odolphus as a strong all& to Theodoric at the eastern front lineF %ho %as let do%n %hen the 8ran@s attac@ed the Eisigoths in #!7 in south'%est. -ccordingl& the <attle <et%een the Heruls and the 6om<ards too@ place shortl& after #!7. Gnfortunatel& 9assiodorus5 letter to Theodoric5s Herulian Json in armsJ has

2!

The Heruls
o<)iousl& his s&mpath& at the 9hristian 6om<ardian side and his eDplanations regarding this <attle in the past is not con)incing. (aulus Biaconus told much later a 6om<ardian )ersion %here he on his side JforgotJ that the 6om<ards had <een su<duedF <ut he also emphasi4ed that Hrodolphus did not Hoin the <attleF <ut %as @illed after%ards. -lso (rocopius told that the 6om<ards follo%ed the Heruls after%ards and @illed a lot there. The sources do not appear to <e dependent of each otherF and the& <oth tell that the Heruls %ere defeated in t%o <attles. The& do not agree a<out the moti)eF <ut %e should ne)er eDpect the moti)e to <e correct 7 especiall& not (aulus. Ane of the historians is placing the death of Hrodolphus in the %rong <attleF <ut it %as no important fact to remem<er. $e could %onder %h& (aulus %as so interested in that <attleF <ut he %as at that time in)ol)ed %ith Scandina)ia as an en)o& from 9harlemagneF and he ma& ha)e <een a%are that the >o&al famil& of the Heruls no% li)ed in Scandina)ia. (ro<a<l& the real eDplanation <ehind the e)ents in (annonia %as that Theodoric agreed %ith the Heruls that the& should calm do%n and Hust collect the tri<ute according to the treaties %ith their neigh<ours. This most li@el& too@ place <et%een #!# -BF %hen a conflict <ro@e out <et%een Theodoric and /&4ans a<out (annoniaF and #!7F %hen the 8ran@s attac@ed the $estern Goths. Ma&<e due to that agreement and an alliance against the 8ran@s Hrodolphus ,%ho %as not mentioned <& name. %as in #!7 -B appointed %eapon son ,adoptio per arma. of Theodoric37 ' a title Theodoric %as earlier gi)en himself <& the emperor. He got horseF spearsF shield and other eLuipment from TheodoricF and the Heruls came under Gothic protection. The title eDplains %h& the >0@ Stone could call Theodori@ Jthe first of M?ringerJ ,se chapter 2.1.1.3.. - possi<ilit& is that an aggressi)e part of the Heruls on their o%n initiati)e in #!819 -B attac@ed the 6om<ards against their agreement %ith Hrodolphus ,e)en (rocopios made it clear that Hrodolphus %as against the attac@.. The Heruls lost and fled to the )ast mountains north of the 6om<ards ,Ald >ugian territor&.. The 6om<ardsF %ho until then had <een a smaller tri<eF got due to their success support from other tri<es <eing su<dued <& the Heruls. -fter%ards the& ma& ha)e attac@ed the Heruls in Mora)ia1Marchfeld @illing Hrodolphus and sending the escaping ro&al famil& up in the )alle&s of the 9arpathes. *n that %a& %e can read (aulus Biaconus and (rocopius. The part of the %arriors %ho did not care a<out the @ingdom and preferred to continue their life as mercenaries and harriers of their neigh<ours ,pro<a<l& those attac@ing the 6om<ards. %ent south along the Banu<e ' and %ere later dri)en a%a& <& the Gepides. Most of the famil& of Hrodolphus pro<a<l& %ent north alread& in #!9F and the fact that the ro&al famil& did not go to their allied Theodoric ,onl& fe% Heruls did so. indicate that the& had a more con)enient alternati)e. That %ill eDplain <oth the Herulian1/&4antine )ersion <& (rocopius of the <attle and the 6om<ardian )ersion <& (aulus Biaconus adHusted according to their moti)es. /oth authors %ere against the HerulsF <ut the 6om<ards pro<a<l& didn5t %ant to tell that the& had <een su<dued for &ears <& the Heruls and found another reason for the %ar.

37

no name or dateF <ut -ndreas Sch%arc4 has from the order of the letters of 9assiodorus dated the <attle to #!9 -B ,Sch%arc4 2!!#.. 9assiodorus5 Earia E 2 ,#!7'#11 -B.: 8rom King Theodoric to the King of the Heruli: ;It has been alwa#s held amongst the nations a great honour to be adopted as &filius per arma'& Our children b# nature often disappoint our expectations( but to sa# that we esteem a man worth# to be our son is indeed praise' As such( after the manner of the nations and in manl# fashion( do we now beget #ou' We send #ou horses( spears( and shields( and the rest of the trappings of the warrior) but above all we send #ou our *udgement that #ou are worth# to be our son' Highest among the nations will #ou be considered who are thus approved b# the mind of $heodoric' And though the son should die rather than see his father suffer aught of harm( we in adopting #ou are also throwing round #ou the shield of our protection' $he Heruli have known the value of Gothic help in old times( and that help will now be #ours' A and "( the bearers of these letters( will explain to #ou in Gothic +patrio sermone, the rest of our message to #ou.=

21

The Heruls

1.1.% The arrival of the royal family to Scandinavia

-ccording to (rocopius man& of the Heruls %ent north to the Scandina)ian (eninsula led ;b# man# of the ro#al blood=. 8irst the& %ent to the Earni li)ing in the +l<e'1Mec@len<urg'area. 8rom here the& passed the nations of the Banes %ithout )iolence and crossed the sea. -rri)ing to the Scandina)ian (eninsula the& settled Jat that timeJ at the G0tes ,JGautoiJ.. -s the Banish eDpulsion of the Heruls mentioned <& Jordanes is no% regarded to <e a contemporar& description from the 3th centur& his information %ill also <e an independent confirmation of the stor& <& (rocopius a<out the Herulic presence in Scandina)ia. $e shall <e careful a<out the use of information from Jordanes and (rocopius as the& had no general idea of the geograph& of 2orthern +urope. 8urthermore their sources regarding e)ents "! &ears <efore their o%n time could <e handled uncritical and circumstantial. The& had opposite moti)es to descri<e the arri)al of the Heruls. The interpretation of their %a& to descri<e it can therefore <e that the Heruls first settled <et%een the Banes and the Goetes from %here the& %ere later eDpelled further north ' in t%o steps. This is ma&<e confirmed <& (rocopius5 use of the eDpression Jat that timeJ.
-s mentioned the rest of the people lead <& man& of the ro&al famil& earlier left for Thule ,the Scandina)ian (eninsula. ' a Hourne& %hich pro<a<l& too@ place <et%een #!9 and #12 38. The& passed the Sla)sF crossed <arren countr& and came to the Earni. 8rom there the& passed the nations of the Bani %ithout suffering )iolenceF and from the shore of the Acean the& %ere sailing to ThuleF %here Jthe arri)ing Heruls at that time settled at1<eside the GautoiJ 7 one of the most numerous nations there. The route has often <een discussed among historians. -t that time the Sla)s had reached Slo)a@ia and Gpper Mora)ia. The teDt of (rocopius can <e eDplained if the Heruls tried to %al@ through the Mora)ian Gate the usual %a& to%ards the Eistula <ut %ere surprised <& the ne% Sla)ic groups. Therefore the& turned more %esterl& and crossed the <arren +ast SaDon Moors on their %a& to the /altic Sea. (rocopius %rote that the Earni li)ed <et%een the >hine and the 2orthern AceanF <ut he totall& neglected the SaDons in German& and +ngland. The Earni %ere generall& supposed to li)e in Mec@len<urg and +astern Holstein 39. -s the Earni later <ecame a part of the SaDons and the SaDons %ere missing among the potential allies in the letter of 9assiodorus fe% &ears earlier ,EarniF Thuringians and Heruls. %e cannot eDclude that the Earnian @ing represented the scattered SaDon tri<es at that time. #!! &ears later Helmold in his J9hronicle of the SaDonsJ told a<out Heruls li)ing %est of /erlinF <ut this is regarded to <e a simple mista@e 7 though the& could <e some of the Ma4ur'Germanen. The route has <een used in order to pro)eF that the Banes ' in spite of later sources ' li)ed in Jutland "! using
38

39 "!

-ccording to (rocopius the& %ent north <efore the rest of the Heruls crossed the Banu<e in #12. Since the <attle at least some of those going south li)ed in a <arren part of the former >ugian area in /ohemiaF <ut the& %ere star)ing and tried for a short %hile a corner of the Gepidian @ingdom in BaciaF <efore the& crossed the Banu<e. The Sla)ic tri<es in)aded according to some sources Gpper Mora)ia around #!2F %hich is indirectl& confirmed <& (rocopius. The period for the departure to Scandina)ia has to <e #!9'#12. (rocopius did not eDpress himself clearl& %hen the t%o groups separated as he possi<l& did not @no%F <ut pro<a<l& the& left Hust after the <attle. (tolemeus. The Earni %ere around ##! forced against %est <& the Sla)sF <ut apparentl& the ri)er name ;$arno%= sur)i)ed. *n the 9th centur& Attar called the Banish islandsF Scania ,S@aane. and Halland as the countr& of the BanesF %hile Jutland in the sagas %as called Hreidgotaland. 8rom the middle of the siDth centur& Bani <ecame the common name

22

The Heruls
the logical argumentF that if the Heruls first crossed an ocean after passing the BanesF the& had to %al@ to Jutland and from there cross Kattegat to the coast near G0taland in S%eden. Ho%e)er %e should ne)er eDpect (rocopius to <e eDact on Scandina)ian geograph& ' actuall& he did onl& mention people1nations ,or <arren countr& %ithout nations. eDcept for the %ord Thule %hich the >omans regarded as the farthest island in the north separated from the 9ontinent <& the ocean. (ro<a<l& the source of (rocopius simpl& told a<out the Earni as the onl& German people <ecause the Heruls had to negotiate %ith their former all& a<out ships for their tra)el directl& to Scania. *t made no sense to cross t%o Banish islands needing ships three times in order to go to Thule. *n Scania the& passed the Banes settling neDt to or at the Gautoi at the island in the farthest north ' the rest of the description might <e his o%n reconstruction <ased on (tolemeusF other old geographers and general @no%ledge. -s Thule %as regarded as an island he @ne% the& had to sailF <ut %e are not a<le to read %hether the& sailed the short %a& to the Banish *slands or Scania or the& passed Jutland and ma&<e 8&enF and %e do not @no% %hether the ocean %as KattegatF the /altic Sea or the narro% Aeresund. *t is rele)ant to compare %ith (rocopius5 description of /ritain1/rittia ,/oo@ E***F DD. ' he @ne% nothing a<out 2orth +uropean geograph&. -ccording to (rocopius the& passed the Banish nations ,in pluralise. J%ithout )iolenceJ 7 most li@el& <& passing the Banish islands and ma&<e e)en Scania <& ship ' and settled at the G0tes. *t has to <e noticed that the Gautoi %ere important to <e mentioned <& (rocopius as the& %ere supposed to <e the famil& of the Goths ' the target of the JreturningJ Germanic people. Ather Scandina)ian tri<es ma& ha)e <een closer. Jordanes told a<out a Banish eDpulsion of the Heruls. *f this eDpulsion referred to the same group it %ill pro<a<l& mean that the& settled in the <order areas <et%een the Banes and the G0tes ' /le@inge1Smaaland ' <efore the eDpulsion. -lso (rocoius indicatedF that this %as not their final settlement as the settlement at the G0tes %as Jat that timeJ ,%hen the& arri)ed. and that Jthe& remained there on the islandJ ,Thule. meaning that the& possi<l& %ere sent north of the G0tes <& the Banes. These sources are too short and unspecific in their eDpressions to <e regarded as certainF <ut this is discussed in a later chapter. The final settlement of the ro&al famil& has to <e identified <& archaeolog& or other @ind of information. (rocopius told a<out 13 @ingdoms in Thule and he mentioned the %ar god -res as the most important god there 7 <ut this remar@ must refer to the time %hen Batius returned to *ll&ria. >egarding the arguments <elo% it is %orth noticing that most of (rocopiusT description of Scandina)ia co)ered the Scridfennae and the midnight sun north of the S)ear. He e)en mentioned that he had inter)ie%ed e&e%itnesses to the midnight sun ta@ing place more than 8!! @ilometres north of Gppsala. (rocopius Hust mentioned Gautoi as a numerous group in ThuleF <ut Jordanes specificall& told a<out AstrogothsF Eagoths and Gautigoths at the JislandJ Scan4aF %hich he in his geographical description confused %ith Gotland"1. The Gautigoths could therefore <e the Guter at GotlandF <ut %e ha)e to noticeF that Tacitus descri<ed the Suiones in the %a& %e should eDpect the people of Gotland to appear. He had Sitones %ith a female rule neDt to themF %hich could mean S)ealand seen from the Eistula. The Suetidi or Suehans of Jordanes could <e the people of S)ealandF <ut the Suehans could also <e the people of H?lsingland1Medelpad. -s <oth Tacitus and Jordanes used pairs of names <oth groups could alternati)el& <elong to the M?lar Ealle& %ith the Sitones connected to the cult in /adelundaF <ut other possi<ilities eDist too. The eDplanation of the names is not important regarding the Heruls and the sources are )er& unrelia<leF <ut the Suehans of Jordanes %ith splendid horses li@e the Thuringians should in an& %a& <e noticedF as this ma& refer to people in)ol)ed in the south<ound fur trade 7 also mentioned <& Jordanes.

"1

for all people from the Scandina)ian countries to people from the 9ontinentF %hile the +nglish historians later called all Scandina)ians 2ormans. (tolemeus placed the " islands of Scan4a %ith the largest eastern island north of the ri)er Eistula. The >omans regarded the Scandina)ian (eninsula as an island in Sinus 9odanus ,The Gothic /a&.. 8ollo%ing Jordanes descriptions of tri<es in Scan4aF Scan4a must <e identical to the Scandina)ian (eninsulaF <ut in his geographical description he appears to descri<e Gotland due to the shape and the distance from Eistula. (rocopius used the name Thule ' meaning the farthest north ' <ut from his description of the tri<es and the midnight sun it is Luite clear he tal@ed a<out the Scandina)ian (eninsula.

23

The Heruls

1.1.! The Heruls in Illyria

Their remaining @insmen at the Banu<e drifted around until the& %ere recei)ed <& the +ast >omans in *ll&riaF %here the& settled near /elgrade. Their mercenaries later <ecame an important element in the arm& of JustinianF <ut his condition %as that the& %ere <aptised. 6ead <& Mundus the& assisted Justinian during the 2i@a're)olt in 9onstantinopleF %hich resulted in the re<uilding of the current Hagia Sophia church in #37 -B. (rocopius emphasi4ed se)eral Herulic officers ' especiall& (haraF %ho had a leading role in the defeat of the EandalsF and Suartuas. (rocopius %rote that these Heruls around #"8 -B sent an en)o& to Scandina)ia for a ne% @ing ' and found Jman# there of the ro#al bloodJ opposite in *ll&ria. The& returned %ith of BatiusF -ordus and 2!! &oung Herulian soldiers and sent <ac@ the candidate of JustinianF SuartuasF %ho instead <ecame his commander of 9onstantinople. *t is o<)ious that this stor& %as %ell @no%n in 9onstantinople #"8'##3 -B as ;hot ne%s=. *n ##1 -B Jordanes finished his %or@ in /&4ans and in ##3 -B also (rocopius finished his %or@ at the same place ' in other %ords t%o independent sources had # &ears after the return of the en)o& told a<out Heruls and Banes in Scandina)ia for the first time 7 <oth in com<ination. - small hint %ould <e understood and the& could not lie a<out that e)ent if their %or@s should <e ta@en seriousl& ' the& could Hust let out incon)enient facts. These contemporar& stories are decisi)e for the e)aluation of our information a<out the Heruls in Scandina)ia 7 <oth the migration to Scandina)ia and the misunderstood origin. (rocopius recei)ed from a position close to the /&4antine court information from this Herulian en)o&F %hich had Hust returned from Scandina)ia 38 &ears after their arri)al. He also told that the& %ere much dela&ed as their first candidate died at their %a& <ac@ at the Banes ' telling in this %a& that the& li)ed far north of the Banes at Sealand and in Scania. He e)en told that he had inter)ie%ed %itnesses from Scandina)ia a<out the midnight sun. Gnfortunatel& he did not mention the rule of their ro&al famil& in Scandina)ia in the first 38 &ears. His purpose %as to Jpro)eJ that the ne% @ing and his supporters in *ll&ria %ere faithless and Jutterl# abandoned rascalsJ ' a people impossi<le to ruleF as the& dismissed the ro&al candidate of Justinian. -mong these %ords he also indicated that the& %ere homoseDuals 7 raging %ords used toda& in connections %hich this uncertain @ind of historical foundation does not support. >egarding the num<er of HerulsF %ho settled in Scandina)ia %ith the ro&al famil&F it is %orth to notice that the *ll&rian group made up an important unit in the /&4antine arm&. This in spite of a massacre on the people in *ll&ria after #12 -B. (rocopius counted around ""8 -B 3.!!! soldiers in the arm& of Batius and 1.#!! in the >oman arm&F and in ##3 -B he counted 3.!!! soldiers in the >oman arm& 7 around 12S. The position of Batius in opposition to Justinian inside the empire %as impossi<le and he %as soon eDpelled to the Gepides north of the Banu<e at >i)er Ti4sa. /oth people %ere in #37 -B destro&ed

2"

The Heruls <& the >omans and the -)ars. - daughter of HrodolphosF SilingaF %as married to the 6om<ardic @ing $acho and her sonF EalthariF %as cro%ned as @ing of the 6om<ards. He died &oung and the onl& Herulian d&nast& <eing later mentioned in Southern +urope %as a <ranch of the descendants of (haraF %ho %ere a part of the -gilofing& d&nast& of the /a)arians at the upper Banu<e.
*t is %orth to notice that the >omans tried to assimilate the Herulian soldiersF as the& made up an important part of the >oman arm& in the neDt "! &ears "2. Their @ing Grepes %as <aptised in 9onstantinople in #28 -B"3. 6ater it %as a condition from Justinian that the& <ecame 9hristians <efore the& could settle in the area of SingidunumF %here the& co)ered an important hole in the >oman fortifications along the Banu<e. The Herulian soldiers in -frica fighting the Eandals %ere ne)ertheless mentioned as -rians. $hen the *ll&rian Heruls according to (rocopius around #"71"8 -B murdered their @ing Achus ,A2 Hoch .F the& had no ne% candidates of ro&al <lood ' confirming that nearl& all the ro&al famil& %ent north as he %rote. -n The Hagia Sofia 9hurch en)o& %as send to Thule in order to find a ne% mem<er of the ro&al famil&. The& found man& there of the ro&al <loodF <ut the first one fell sic@ and died among the Banes. The& %ent <ac@ and chose Batius to go south follo%ed <& his <rother -ordus ,A2 Hord . and 2!! &oung %arriors. (rocopius emphasi4ed the long dela& in this connectionF %hich Justinian too@ ad)antage of in *ll&ria placing his o%n Herulian general Suartuas as a ne% @ing. Ho%e)erF %hen Batius arri)ed he %as elected <& the Heruls as a ne% @ing and Suartuas had to ta@e flight to /&4ans "". - furious Justinian decided to reinstall Suartuas and caused once more a split among the Heruls. Man& of them Hoined the Gepides in Bacia *nferiorF %ho %ere enemies of /&4ans and the 6om<ards. The @e& to the understanding of these conflicts 7 hereunder the murder of Achus 7 might <e a general split among the *ll&rian Heruls. -fter the offer from Justinian in #29 -B the& appear to <e separated into a 9hristian group of at least 1#!!'3!!! professional soldiers follo%ing Justinian and a group of at least 3!!! %arriors %ho more and more openl& returned to <ar<arian manners 7 o<)iousl& neither orthodoD nor arian 9hristians and ma&<e %orshipping the %ar god and their distant ro&al ancestors. -t the time of the final split there %ere alread& hostilities <et%een the Gepides and 6om<ardsF the latter <eing supported <& Justinian. Gnder these hostilities -ordus %as @illed in <attle against the troops of Justinian. A<)iousl& his <rotherF BatiusF <ecame a Herulian @ing eDiled in Bacia ' %hich ma@es sense as he had caused the split. The defeat of -ordus lead to a short ceasefireF <ut in ##2 -B the Gepides in Bacia %ere defeated <& the 6om<ards %ith /&4antine support headed <& SuartuasF and in #37 -B under Justin ** the Gepides %ere defeated into o<li)ion <& the 6om<ards and the -)ars. -lso the Heruls disappeared from the histor& in Bacia no% <eing conLuered <& the -)ars. The Herulian mercenaries of 2arses had also disappeared ' pro<a<l& assimilated among the >omans and the 6om<ardsF %hen these shortl& after mo)ed to *tal&. Some of the Heruls simpl& <ecame 9hristian >oman pro)incials %ho mar@ed a distance to their former ethnic identit&. The onl& Heruls %e suspect to continue a rule in Southern +urope %ere the descendants from /ellisariusT Herulian commanderF (haraF %ho <ecame the ro&al d&nast& of the ne% esta<lished /a)ariaF the -gilofingi "#.
"2 "3 ""

"#

Sarantis 2!11. Malales 9hronographia. Suartuas might <e a source of (rocopius to the last part of the Herulian histor&F and he %as pro<a<l& %ell informed a<out his northern ri)als and the Hourne&s to Thule. (rocopius @ne% the officers from his former Ho< and the& %ere <oth in /&4ans %hen Suartuas returned from the HerulsF so it is )er& unli@el& that the historian should %rite t%o chapters a<out the Heruls %ithout Luestioning SuartuasF as he mentionedF that he as@ed people coming from there a<out the midnight sun. -ccording to (rocopius 3!!! Herulian %arriors Hoined the Gepides %hen -ordus %as @illedF %hile #!! Heruls Hoined the /&4antines send <& Justinian in order to help the 6om<ardian @ing -udoin. 6ater 3!!! Heruls %ere together %ith 6om<ards an important element in the arm& of the /&4antine 2arses ,these Heruls made up 12S of the >oman arm&.F %hen he defeated the Astrogoths for e)er ,$olfram 1988.F <ut the last time %e heard the name

2#

The Heruls
(rocopius co)ered %ithout dou<t political moti)es <ehind his description of the ;drun@en and treacherous= *ll&rian Heruls. 8irst the& denied to follo% /ellisarius and preferred the other /&4antine generalF 2arsesF %ho %as competitor of /elisariusF and later most of them re)olted against Justinian and Suartuas <efore going to the Gepides. An the other hand (rocopius had no o<)ious moti)e to t%ist the description of the Hourne& to Thule ' eDcept ma&<e for the sentence J%ithout suffering an& )iolenceJ and the settlement Jat1<et%een the GautoiJ. (rocopius could not change the fact that Batius %as found in JThuleJ and returned in his o%n timeF and some%here the Heruls had to sta& in the meantime. His and his readers5 @no%ledge a<out Scandina)ia and its geograph& %as )er& limitedF <ut there is no reason to <elie)e that the description of the Hourne& itself %as manipulation. His relia<ilit&F sources and moti)es are further discussed in chapter 1.3.1.#. Man& Luestions ha)e <een as@ed a<out the HerulsF <ut most scholars agree in the fact that the Heruls mo)ed from the /lac@ Sea >egion to%ards %est to a @ingdom in Mora)ia. *n the theor& the& could <e different groupsF <ut that does not ma@e much sense and their mo)ement is eDplained as a part of the Hunnic mo)ement. Most scholars also agree that the ro&al famil& "9"'#12 -B migrated to the Scandina)ian (eninsula )ia +astern SaDon& and Banish surroundings settling first as neigh<ours to or at the Gautoi. The& could still <e found in Scandina)ia 39 &ears later. 2e)ertheless %e ha)e ne)er heard a<out Heruls in Scandina)ian histor& and legends ' as Heruls. Ho% do %e imagine this people to disappear in Scandina)ia $as it possi<le for such an outstandingF indi)idualF fearedF po%erful and militant people to disappear from all the 2ordic narratorsF historians and archaeologistsF %hen the *ll&rian Heruls 3# &ears after their arri)al %ere a<le to find man& of ro&al <lood in Scandina)ia $h& did the& not all follo% their prince and his group of &oung %arriors <ac@ to the strong Herulian soldiers in *ll&ria if things %ent %rong in Scandina)ia The most ' and ma&<e onl& ' pro<a<le eDplanation is that the& appear under another name or are assimilated into another shape in Scandina)ia. Aur onl& contemporar& information from Scandina)ia is of archaeological characterF and therefore the archaeological conclusions and traces ha)e to <e anal&sed and compared independentl& %ith the histor& %ritten <& (rocopius in order to confirm this histor&. -fter%ards the more unrelia<le sagas and chronicles from 2orthern +urope %ill <e compared in order to find possi<le eDplanations and to sho% that the Heruls ma& ha)e <een mentioned in the legends after all.

Herul in the >oman sources %as %hen 2arses around #3! defeated a Herulian @ing Sindualt of the /rents near (asso de /rennero. -ccording to 8. +c@hardt <ased on chronicles from $uerts<urg and Sal4<urg the /a)arian du@e Gari<ald ,ancestor of the -gilofings. %as pro<a<l& son of the Herulian commander under /ellisariusF (haraF and du@e Tassilo *F %ho follo%ed Gari<ald as @ing of the /a)ariansF %as pro<a<l& son of his nephe%F the Herulian @ing Sindualt of the /reones. The daughter of Gari<ald %as married %ith the 6om<ardian @ing -uthari in #89 and her <rother <ecame du@e of the 6om<ardic -sti. This indicates that the *ll&rian Heruls %ere still accepted as a people of importance and too@ part in the political matrimonial alliances <et%een the Germanic d&nasties. -nother eDample %as the Lueen Silinga of 6om<ardiaF %ho according to Arigo Gentis 6ongo<ardorum ,ca 37! -B. %as the daughter of a Herulian @ing. *n the same chapter it is stated that the Heruls ,at the Banu<e. had no @ing after >odolphus and conseLuentl& Silinga should <e the daughter of >odolphus. These famil&'<ranches %ere not accepted as @ings <& the *ll&rian Heruls in #"8F and therefore the eDamples cannot <e used as e)idence against the ro&al famil& earlier lea)ing for Scandina)iaF <ut the& might indicate connections <et%een Scandina)iaF /a)ariaF >aetia and 6om<ardia. *n ##" the Heruls left 2arses during a <attle <ecause he eDecuted one of their officersF <ut the last &ears the& had <een fighting together %ith the 6om<ardsF so ma&<e the last contingent of Herulian mercenaries <ecame a part of the 6om<ards conLuering *tal& ' ma@ing together %ith Silinga a connection <et%een the Heruls and the 6om<ardian St&le ** possi<le in the late 3th centur&.

23

The Heruls

1.# Scandinavian connections )efore *+, (archaeolo y)

The migration of the ro&al famil& to Scandina)ia %as no coincidence as the Heruls had a close connection %ith Scandina)iaF %hich had nothing to do %ith their origin. The connection can <e di)ided into se)eral stages <ased on archaeolog& com<ined %ith histor&:
-s mentioned earlier the Mora)ian @ingdom of the Heruls co)ered in the second part of the #th centur& a part of Mora)ia and of the Marchfeld in +astern $ein)iertel and Uahoria. Mora)ia is a later Sla)ic name of M?hren 7 ma&<e identical %ith Maurungani1Mauringa mentioned <& 9osmographer of >a)enna and (aulus Biaconus as a 6om<ardian settlement after crossing the +l<e going south. *n the end of the # th centur& the Herulian superiorit& %as eDpanded to a.o. the former >ugiland up along the Banu<e until around 2i<elungengauF %here the 6om<ards soon after settled. -lread& -mmianus Marcellinus told in the 38!5ies that the Huns and their follo%ers had occupied the land north of the Banu<e from the /lac@ Sea to the area mentioned a<o)eF %hich is in accordance %ith Julius HonoriusF %ho alread& placed Heruls in Mora)ia in the end of the " th or <eginning of the #th centur&. -t this earl& point it %as pro<a<l& scattered camps of horse'riding nomads in the countr& of the Vuadi'agriculturists 7 half nomads %ho had also earlier <een used to li)e in marches. $hat made this position important %as that the Mora)ian Gate in the 9arpathes %as a @e& point at the main route to the /altic Sea from >ome and the /al@ans 7 the old -m<er >oute along the Ader >i)er or the Eistula >i)er ' <oth ri)ers ha)ing their %ells in Gpper Mora)ia close to the Mora)ian Gate. -s earlier mentioned the Marcomannic $ars in this area forced in the 2nd centur& the trade <et%een the Arient1>ome and Scandina)ia along the eastern routes controlled <& the Goths. Hoards from that connection are especiall& found at 8&n ,close to Gudme. and in the G0talands. $hen the Huns arri)ed and the Goths mo)ed these routes %ere <loc@edF <ut the -m<er >oute %as still a route <et%een Scandina)ia and the Huns and their follo%ers 7 used also <& Scandina)ian mercenaries and allied %ith the Huns. The route %as /&4ans1>ome ' -Luilaia ' 9arnuntum ' Mora)ian Gate ' Eistula ' Aeland1Gotland ' Helgoe ' H0gom ' Trondheim1/erntnem ' $esten 2or%a&16ofoten and %ith a <ranch Ader ' /ornholm ' Scania ' Eesterg0tland ' Ei@en ' South%estern 2or%a&.

1.#.1 The Eastern Heruls %-* ' !*! ((hase .1)

>emains from Hunnic <urial rites in S0sdala indicate that a group of Hunnic horsemen and their +ast Germanic follo%ers ,ae. Heruls or Astrogoths. operated at the Scandina)ian (eninsula in the first half of the #th centur& <efore or during the campaign of -ttila 7 ma&<e in order to recruit Scandina)ian %arriors for the campaign. -s the same t&pe of sacrificed horse eLuipment is found in great num<ers in the Scandina)ian %ar <ooties in the <ogs of 8innestorp and Eenne<o some of these horsemen %ere pro<a<l& @illedF %hen the& tried to penetrate Eestergoetland. The character and the num<er indicate that the& %ere no returning mercenaries. 6otte Hedeager has descri<ed these remains as the result of a more general Hunnic strateg& placing for a short period in the first part of the #th centur& strongholds in 2orthern Germania during their campaigns. *n this %a& the Huns got a strong influence on the Scandina)ian religion.
8irst %e %ill ta@e a loo@ at the finds in Southern S%eden indicating connection %ith the +ast Germanic people in the Hunnic campaign in the earl& #th centur&. *n S0sdala and 8ulltofta in the middle of Scania and in Eenne<o and 8innestorp in the <orderlands <et%een Halland and $estern G0taland eLuipment for horsemen is found in a conteDt Luite similar %ith the finds in Mora)ia and the Middle Banu<e >egion called the 9oso)eni or Gntersie<en<runn St&le M8a<ech 1991W TeHral 1997aN. TeHral has in 2!!7 MTeHral 2!!7F

27

The Heruls
#8'3!N descri<ed this st&le as connected %ith +stgermanic and -lanic people from the /osporanian area at the /lac@ Sea. He %rote that the& apparentl& had a po%er center at that time Hust north of the Banu<e and 9arnuntum in the first part of the #th centur&. This miDture of people %as eDactl& m& conclusion a<out the ethnogeneses of the +astern Heruls. The finds are unusual in 2orthern +uropeF <ut are according to TeHral @no%n at the mouth of the +l<e and at the mouth of the Eistula too. *n Eenne<o and 8innestorp ' <eing eDca)ated again in 2!!2'2!!" and later ' the finds come from %et or former %et areas co)ering a longer period of time until ##! -B ' also containing 2&dam'st&le M2ordL)ist 2!!7N. The fe% isolated places %ith a large num<er of foreign eLuipment indicate that the& cannot <e a result of general trade or a fe% returning mercenariesF <ut appear to <e offerings of %eapons from %arrior groups li@e the earlier finds in Jutland. 9harlotte 8a<ech has connected these finds %ith +ast Germanic horsemen 7 pro<a<l& Heruls or ma&<e Astrogoths. Her reason %as that the finds around S0sdala ,se)eral places <et%een >ingsH0n and 8enHasH0n in the middle of Scania. do onl& contain horse eLuipment <uried in hills of gra)el ' not far from <urial sites M8a<ech 1991N. This is similar %ith <urial rites found in places li@e (annonhalma in Hungar&. 8inds li@e (annonhalma are normall& connected %ith the Huns or ma&<e their follo%ers. *t is unli@el& that returning 2ordic mercenaries should use hunnic <urial rites <ac@ in Scandina)iaF and that the sur)i)ing should spoil the prestigious and eDpensi)e eLuipment the dead man <rought <ac@. These Scandina)ian finds must <e connected %ith a group of Huns or people closel& related to the Huns 7 pro<a<l& in a group of horsemen of a miDed ethnic origin <eing a part of the Hunnic eDpeditions. The finds in 8innestorp and E?nne<o are %ar <ooties leading to the most pro<a<le conclusion that a group of horsemen <eing those in Scania or related to these tried to intrude into E?sterg0tlandF %here the& %ere defeated and their eLuipment sacrificed to the gods. -s the Heruls according to Julius Honorius li)ed here in the earl& phase %ith Gntersie<en<runn in the their territor& Hust opposite 9arnuntum the Heruls pro<a<l& Hoined the horse'riding %arriors to Scandina)ia along the old trade route. *t has to <e emphasi4ed that a<o)e %e are onl& tal@ing a<out the special horse eLuipment in this st&le using stamped ornamentation and animal heads in profileF as the techniLue and st&listic elements <ecame more %idespread in South $estern Scandina)ia under the name S0sdala St&le in the first part of the #th centur&. This spread does not need to <e connected %ith the finds in S0sdala. The S0sdala St&le inspired from South +astern +urope eDisted side <& side %ith the car)ed 2&dam St&leF inspired <& >oman militar& eLuipment. 6ater these t%o st&les %ere com<ined in the Scandina)ian St&le *. 6otte Hedeager used a.o. the remains in S0sdala and a teDt <& (riscus as her argument for a Hunnic rule in Scandina)iaF <ut that has <een reHected <& other scholars ,9hapter 1.3.1.7..

1.#.# The Eastern Heruls !*! ' *+, ((hase .#)

-fter the Heruls esta<lished their @ingdom in Mora)ia around "#" -B se)eral archaeological finds indicate a continuation of the earlier Hunnic connection <et%een Scandina)ia and the +ast Germanic people in South +astern +urope 7 i.e. /ornholmF ScaniaF 8innestorp and Hoegom in +ast Scandina)ia and +)e<oe and Snartemo at the %estern coast of 2or%a&. -mong these artefacts are Hunnic1+ast Germanic saddles and their t&pe of arro% heads. - special @ind of a s%ord pommel %ith animal heads in Scandina)ian St&le * is onl& found similar in the South in the a<o)e mentioned Herulian gra)e in /lucinaF Mora)iaF and in another )ersion in the tom< of 9hilderic in TournaisF <ut se)eral pieces are found in gra)es and sacrifices in Scandina)ia near the trade route. More generall& the Scandina)ian fi<ulas in the region of the /altic Sea are influenced <& +ast Germanic st&listic elements li@e rosettes and cur)ed heads %ith three @no<s. Apposite the cur)ed fi<ulas %ith more than three @no<s from the -llemanni and the 8ran@s ne)er reached Scandina)ia. 28

The Heruls

+speciall& the chieftain in the mound in H0gom in 2orrland had close connections %ith the +ast Germanic people. *t %as this region Jordanes praised for its precious fursF %hich appear to ha)e <een one of the most important eDport articles of Scandina)ia at that time. He %as pro<a<l& a part of a net%or@ of chieftains along the trade routes at <oth sides of the Scandina)ian (eninsulaF eDtending the old -m<er >oute from 9arnuntum ' a net%or@ %hich appears to ha)e used the 9**a1 <racteat. -pparentl& the rich d&nast& in H0gom disappeared from that area around #!! -B. The Heruls pro<a<l& used their @no%ledge from their earl& connections as Hunnic allied and decided to @eep control %ith the -m<er >oute through the Mora)ian Gate in the 9arpathes %hen the& esta<lished their ne% @ingdom ' rather <& taDation than as merchants. -ccording to (rocopius that %as also the %a& the& treated their neigh<ours. Some of the Heruls should in that case <e eDpected to ride north in order to inspect the possi<ilities and negotiate deals a<out trade and protection ' or as mercenaries in Scandina)ian ser)ice. 2either can %e eDclude that a small group of Heruls and other allied follo%ing the Huns in the <eginning of the fifth centur& had settled in /le@inge1Eaerend. *t is important to <e a%are of the miDture of people <eing initiall& mentioned. This ma@es it impossi<le to separate the Heruls <& archaeolog& from the other +ast Germanic people follo%ing the Huns. (ro<a<l& the population in the Herulian @ingdom included <esides Heruls i.e. Sammartian -lansF HunsF ThuringiansF Sciri and the earlier population of S%e<es. Astrogoths and >ugians ma& ha)e ta@en partF <ut their o%n d&nasties %aged %ar on the Heruls and other +ast Germanics until some times after "93 -BF and all Gothic attention %as turned against the >omans. $e must therefore eDpect the Heruls to <loc@ the Gothic and >ugian access to the trade route through the Mora)ian Gate. *t is therefore most li@el& that the Scandina)ian connection at that time %ere the follo%ers of the Herulian d&nast&. $hen the Astrogoths later <ecame superior of the Heruls the& %ere 9hristians and <us& in *tal&. The& had no reason to settle in Scandina)ia <efore their defeat around ##! -B ' and hardl& at that time either. The archaeolog& cannot tell us %ith certaint& if the st&le and items %ere <rought to or from Scandina)ia <& HerulsF <& HunsF <& Scandina)ians or <& tradeF <ut the histor& can tell us that the Heruls controlled the @e& area passed <& the route along %hich the spread too@ place ' gi)ing in one %a& or the other the contact against northF %hich %ill eDplain their eDpectations and the later e)ents. Bue to their <lurred archaeological profile and their missing historical %riting some scholars ha)e claimed that the Heruls %ere Hust a <and of %arriors 7 i.e. -l)ar +llegaard. That must <e due to insufficient stud& of teDts li@e the one of (rocopius as it is o<)ious that the& %ere an ordinar& migration people %ith %omen and children and %ith their o%n d&nast&F gods and traditions ' @eeping together for 3!! &ears. 1.#.#.1 Solidi

6ots of solidi are found in the /altic region of Scandina)ia ,33! in S%eden 7 hereof most at GotlandF Aeland and Helgoe 7 and 1#! at /ornholm.F <oth from the #th and the 3th centur&. 77S of the solidi in Scandina)ia are /&4antineF <ut as some of the /&4antine solidi %ere made in %estern mints "!S of the solidi are from the %estern part of the empire M8agerlie 1937N. This percentage is nearl& the same from Theodosius to Justinian. *t should <e noticedF that none of them ,eDcept an old one. are from the Astrogothic mint of TheodoricF and the most intense stream %as from 6eo * and his contemporaries ,"#8'"73.. ,Adoa@er dismissed the Eest >oman emperor in "73 -B.. -fter ,or ma&<e during the reign. -nastasius ,"91'#18. the stream of golden

29

The Heruls
coins ceased dramaticall&. 82S of the coins are found at the three /altic islandsF <ut at Aeland nearl& no coins are from after "73. $e also @no%F that the highest concentration of Theodoric'coins ,3'"!!. %as found in South $estern German&F that "!! solidi of the same @ind as in Scandina)ia in the #th centur& %ere found at 6o%er EistulaF and that onl& # solidi %ere found in the middle Banu<e area. Anl& " coins of Adoa@er are @no%nF as he did not %ant to pro)o@e the emperor <ut used /&4antine coins or older coins. Ho% do %e interpret that The solidi %ere a usual pa&ment for mercenaries and tri<ute to threatening <ar<arians %ho could use them as ra% material. There is no dou<t that the concentration at the /altic *slands and Helgoe %as due to the status of these places as trade and %or@shop centres. Man& of the later precious fi<ulas and the =guldgu<<er= are found at these places too. Therefore the& are not necessaril& found %here those people li)ed %ho <rought the solidi to Scandina)ia. The societ& %as not <ased on eDchange of coinsF and the total lac@ of Astrogothic coins contradicts earlier theories a<out an Astrogothic connectionF and ma&<e also a generall& used trade routeF %hich should result in a more general spread geographicall& and regarding to t&pes of coins. Therefore the deposits of solidi found at the centres %ere pro<a<l& meant for ra% material. This is ma&<e also confirmed <& the fact that after the decrease of the stream of solidi and the disappearance of the golden hoards in #33 -B as the latestF nearl& all gold in Scandina)ia disappeared. The solidi ma& ha)e <een pa&ment from imperial mercenariesF <ut this is contradicted <& the constant spread <et%een /&4antine and %estern coins all o)er the periodF so tri<ute from )arious other peopleF %ho had got the solidi from the >oman +mperorsF is an o<)ious alternati)e. The <ig num<er of similar coins in the Eistula'area indicates that the connection %as esta<lished along the Eistula and ma&<e the Ader. *t is important to reali4e that the date of a coin %ill onl& tell the da& the first o%ner got the coin 7 the& %ere pro<a<l& lost or <uried in Scandina)ia &ears later. The spread 3!S1"!S indicates a collecting position <et%een >ome and /&4ansF and therefore a people operating in the Banu<ian area in the second part of the #th centur& 7 li@e the Heruls 7 is an o<)ious possi<ilit&. The general stream of solidi eDcept to Gotland first time ceased %hen Adoa@er too@ o)er ,or %hen a change too@ place on Aeland. and again %hen the Heruls left the Mora)ian Gate close to the %ells of Ader and Eistula ,or %hen the Sla)s eDpanded..

1.#.#.#

/urials ' 0oravia

8irst %e shall eDamine the finds in Southern +urope %here the Heruls had li)ed. *n that region there are no cremations at all found from the time %hen the Heruls li)ed there. -s %e @no% from (rocopius that the pagan Heruls <urned their deadF he must ha)e referred to the Heruls in S%eden. -ccordingl& %e %ill apparentl& %aste time on loo@ing for similarities regarding the ro&al famil& arri)ing in #!9 -BF <ut %e can still find connections in the #th centur&. Jarosla) TeHral has mentioned <urials of Germanic loo@ing %omen %ith Hunnic scull'deformations in the Banu<e'region in the #th centur&. *n his earl& %or@s he guessed these to <e HerulsF <ut later he has indicated that the& %ere Huns or Sarmatian -lans follo%ing the Herulian group. -lso in the /a)arian +rdingF %here a %oman %ith Scandina)ian He%eller& %as foundF 1! %omen %ere <uried %ith such scull'deformationsF <ut at this time some of the Huns %ere still present in $estern +urope 7 including in the arm& of 2arses. +)en if some of the Heruls used scull'deformationF the& pro<a<l& left this custom after the upraise against the Huns in "#" -B and neither %as the ha<it e)er mentioned <& (rocopius. Therefore there is no reason to eDpect scull'deformations in Scandina)ia %hen the Heruls %ent there in the 3th centur&. *n the Eolga'region 7!S of the -lanic male <urials sho%ed scull deformations. Scull'deformations ha)e <een used <& other people in other times tooF <ut the spread in +urope in the Migration -ges is similar %ith the pro<a<le spread of the Huns and the Sarmatian -lansF %ho had used this custom in -sia for centuries. This is onl& one of the man& eDamples of the uncertaint& %hen %e attempt to separate the tri<es in this tur<ulent period of (annonia and surroundings. *t is difficult to com<ine archaeolog& and ethnicit& in an area %ith a )er& miDed population. 2e)ertheless the archaeologists of the 94ec@ish >epu<lic and -ustria

3!
8rom the /lucina tom<

The Heruls
ha)e pointed out some <urials from the second half of the #th centur& in Mora)ia1Marchfeld to <e Herulian ' primaril& <urials %ith attri<utes of +ast Germanic horsemen in the area regarded to <e the Herulian @ingdom ,<ased on (rocopius5F +ugippius5 and 6ucius Honorius5 remar@s."3. The /lucina'9e4a)& tom<"7 south of /rno is of a standard close to the famous 9hilderich5s mound in Tournai ' the& e)en %ear fi<ulas and identical arm rings as signs of militar& ran@ among the >oman foederates. *t is interesting to notice that 9hilderic had an alliance %ith Adoa@erF %ho %as supported <& the Heruls. The archaeologists agree that his refleD <o%F arro%heads and horse eLuipment sho% that he %as <elonging to the +ast Germanic people earlier follo%ing the Huns. The richness of the /lucina tom<F the attri<utes of an officerF the dating around "33'8# -BF the <o%F the horse'eLuipment and the central location in this part of Mora)ia ma@es it almost certain that this gra)e in /lucina is the <urial of one of the Herulian leadersF %ho at that time <egan to su<due and tri<ute all their neigh<ours and to follo% Adoa@er. Ma&<e this %as the tom< of -laric 7 the @ing mentioned <& Jordanes in "37 -B. TeHral and $indl do also agree that the oldest tom< in the near<& Uhuran Hill must <e a ro&al Herulian tom< too"8. Gnder a gigantic 6om<ardian mausoleum at the top of the <attlefield of -usterlit4 the remains %ere
"3

*n the area of Eienna and Mora)ia finds from "#!'##! -B indicate a )er& miDed population %ith 6om<ardsF Sue<esF +astern GermanicsF Sarmatians1-lans and Huns. Man& of these are of course HerulicF <ut the pattern %ill <e complicated and the artefacts <rought to Scandina)ia ma& sometimes ha)e <een used for man& &ears <ecause of longer distances to the resources. Ho%e)er at /rno ,/lucina and Uuran Hill ,-usterlit4.. and at >othenseehof ,Mistel<ach north of Eienna. ro&al <urials from the second half of the #th centur& are found ' some of them in com<ination %ith large mounds. The& are supposed to <e gra)es of Herulian or 6om<ardian @ingsF <ut also other Herulian gra)es are pro<a<l& found there.

"7

"8

The lo% mound in /lucina contained the s@eleton of a chieftain at 3!'"! &ears from "#!'"8# -B %ith a spathaF a saDF a <o%F a shield and precious horse eLuipment including a saddle. -t the shoulder he %ore a J<uegelfi<ulaJ ' generall& accepted as a sign of high militar& ran@ in the >oman arm& according to TeHral M-rticle in Menghin 1987N. - part of the eLuipment %as cloisonnX similar to the Mero)ingian 9hilderic'tom< ,"82 -B. and the later Sutton Hoo. - similar <uc@le in Gudme is <& the Banish 2ational Museum used as an eDample of the connection <et%een Benmar@ and the 8ran@s though the cloisonnX appears nearl& identical %ith the <uc@le in /lucina possi<l& <eing <uried <efore the Mero)ingian +mpire %as esta<lished. *n Jarosla) TeHral5s article J-rchaeologisher /eitrag 4ur Kenntnis der )0l@er%anderungs4eitlichen +thnostru@turen n0rdlich der BonauJF chapter **F2 Min 8riesinger 199!NF the chieftain in /lucina is regarded to <e a Herulian and connected %ith (rocopiusF Attars MoundF the Gppsala Mounds and Uuran Hill. He mentioned that the top of the golden handle of the spatha appear to <e a t&pe @no%n as Scandina)ian. Ather scholars call the <urial Herulian or at least +ast Germanic in the literature M$indl in TeHral 1997aF Karel Tihel@aF (armat@& -rch. #"F 1933 and >G- ,/lucina.N. -ccording to /irgit -rrhenius M-rrhenius 198#N the cloisonnX of that time %ere /&4antine modules used in local %or@shops 7 not 8ran@ish or -lemannic craft as often referred to in Scandina)ia. *n Uhuran Hill 3 plundered <urials from the Herulian16om<ardian (eriod %ere registered at 3 mounds from the Stone -ges. -t the east side of the old central mound a man from the second part of the #th centur& %as <uried %ith man& horses as 9hilderich. *t is not registered if a separate mound %as erected o)er himF <ut there is no dou<t that the& used )isual effect of the top of the plains and the ro% of 3 eDisting mounds. Anl& some Hunnic1+ast Germanic iron pieces and a piece of %ood %ith strap %or@ of JScandina)ianJ St&le * J<andflet%er@J %ere found. The <urial appears in a %a& indicating hurr& %ith the <urialF <ut this is difficult to determine due to the later destruction. (oulic searched for the 3'<and strap %or@ <ut found it onl& in a similar strap %or@ of metal at a 6om<ardian cross in *tal& from around 3!! -B. TeHral ho%e)er referred to the +rilar'<racteat from +s@etorp <ut this must <e confused %ith the -asum'<racteat from Scania %ith identical strap %or@ 7 <oth 2 and 3 <ands identical %ith the 6om<ardian cross ' <ut nearl& a centur& older. The same strap %or@ is found on <racteates at /ornholm and AelandF and at a spear shaft in 2&dam. The -asum'<racteat is of a t&pe %ith a horseman %hich Malmer called 9**a2 found mostl& in Scania and at the Banish islandsF <ut the similar 9**a1 is the t&pe of <racteat found in most of Scandina)ia and 12 in +astern +urope too. -s the <racteates are of 2ordic origin the general spread of the 9**a1 t&pe in Scandina)ia ma@es it impossi<le to tell from %here the +asteuropean <racteates arri)edF <ut it is li@el& that the strap %or@ in Uhuran %as influenced from the coasts of the /altic Sea. Strap %or@ %ith eDactl& the same <ands <ut other patterns can <e found at the helmet in Eendel R*EF at the shield <oss in Eendel R** and as a fragment in the eastern Gppsala Mound. This @ind of strap %or@ %as generall& used <& the Ei@ings later on. TeHral has later M>G- UhuranN changed the dating of the gra)e <ased on the strap %or@F <ut he has missed that this @ind of strap %or@ %as alread& used in 2&dam.

31

The Heruls
found of the <urial of a horseman %ith se)eral horses li@e 9hilderic. The tom< %as dated around #!! -BF <ut li@e the later tom< of a 9hristian %oman <eside it and li@e the mausoleum this gra)e %as totall& plundered. Anl& t%o fragments %ere found: *ron pieces of a character of horse riding nomads from the >ussian (lains and a piece of %ood %ith a pattern onl& @no%n at that time from 2&dam ,spear shaft. and Scandina)ian <racteates from the Scania'region. The com<ination %ith the later gigantic 6om<ardian mausoleum ' %hich the eDca)ator Josef (oulic regarded to <elong to $accho ' might indicate that the other tom<s contained his Herulian %ife Silinga and her father ' %ho is often supposed to <e Hrodolphus. Ho%e)erF this is guess%or@F and it %as rather $altari than his father $accho %ho %as <uried in the mausoleum. *n the southern region of this @ingdom around Mistel<ach in $ein)iertel $indl has referred to mounds in >othenseehof and female gra)es in 6adenhoff as Herulian. *t is important to noticeF that K. Hauch in 19#"F Menghin in 1987 and TeHral in 199! in articles com<ined the /lucina tom< and Uhuran Hill %ith (rocopiusF Attars Mound in Eendel and the mounds in GppsalaF and TeHral also mentioned similar artefacts in Mora)ia and Scandina)ia ' including the top of the golden s%ord'handle in /lucina and the strap %or@ in Uuran *F %hich is found similar in Scania and the Eendel <oatgra)es"9. *t has ho%e)er to <e stressedF that the <urial mounds in Gppsala are not li@e /lucina and Uhuran * 7 or an& other earlier <urial.

1.#.#.%

/urials ' H1 om23or&ay

*n Scandina)ia %e ha)e rich chieftain <urials in the # th centur& %ith connections along the trade route 7 especiall& in H0gomF 2or%a& and Gotland. -round #!!-B the custom %ith flat cremations in the field %as introduced in large num<ers all o)er +astern Scandina)iaF <ut also earlier a maHorit& of the people had <een cremated. The <urial in Scandina)ia most similar to /lucina is the gra)e in Mound ** in H0gom. *n Sunds)all in the S%edish 2orrland ,Hust north of H?lsingland. the largest of the 12 H0gom mounds contained a )er& rich inhumation <urial of a chieftain %ith o<)ious connections to Southern +urope 7 i.e. /lucina. These %ere the onl& mounds in Scandina)ia of that time eDcept for some mounds in South $estern 2or%a&. $hile the s%ord in H0gom points in the direction of Southern 2or%a& and +ngland MMenghinF 1983N and a <ridle points at 8innestorp M2ordL)istF 2!!7NF 13 three'%inged arro%heads and especiall& a saddle point at a close contact to people follo%ing the Huns M-n@eF 1998N. -s the arro%heads %ere more identical %ith the 2or%egian arro%heads than %ith the hunnic arro%heads -n@e %rote that the arro%s in the tom< could <e due to fashionF <ut the 2or%egians apparentl& had the same connection. -lso in the /lucina tom< three' %inged arro%heads %ere found. 8inall& 2 antiLue glasses from the /lac@ Sea region %ith a position indicating a cultic purpose M>amL)ist 199!N %ere found in the mound. -s the signs of high ran@ li@e ringsF fi<ulasF s%ords and eLuipment %ith cloisonnX %ere common among all Germanic chieftains ser)ing the >omans at that timeF the& do not re)eal the ethnic origin of the man in the gra)e. The other mounds contain earlier cremation <urialsF <ut in Mound 3 onl& a glo<e stone li@e the one at
-t the north side of the central mound in Uhuran a %oman %as <uried in the first part of the 3th centur&. The gra)e contained se)eral pieces of glass of a @ind also @no%n from Gppsala1Eendel and the +ast Germanic area and t%o fragments of a small relief of i)or&F %here one figure carried a cross. -t the top of the central mound a ne% mound and mausoleum %as erected co)ering the t%o earlier gra)es. The mausoleum dated to <efore #37 -B %as of a t&pe li@e -ugustus5 and Hadrian5s in >ome %ith a radius of 3! meters. *t %as destro&ed earl& %hen the stones %ere used ' including the gra)e cham<er. The eDca)ator (oulic regarded the horseman as +ast Germanic and the t%o in the other tom<s as ro&al 6om<ards ' due to the unusual nature he guessed the mausoleum contained the famous @ing $acho. -nother possi<ilit& %hich fits the com<ination of an +ast Germanic horseman and 9hristian 6om<ards in the same mound is $acho5s third Lueen SilingaF their son $altariF %ho died as a &oung @ing in #"7 -BF and one of her Herulian ancestors ' as eDample Hrodolphus. This %ould also eDplain the character of the first <urialF as the Heruls had Hust <een defeated in this region.
"9

(ictures of the /lucina and Uhuran mounds including the finds can <e found in Germanische Museum5s JGermanenF Hunnen und -%arenJ MMenghin 1987NF %here /irgit -rrhenius descri<es connections <et%een Scandina)ia and South +astern +urope and Menghin descri<es li@e TeHral connections <et%een UhuranF /lucina and the Gppsala mounds. The report a<out Uhuran is found in Slo)ens@a -r@eologia 199# M(oulic 199#N.

32

The Heruls
*nglingehoeg in E?rend %as <uried ' %ithout an& ornamentsF ho%e)er. The mounds in H0gom are dated around 3#!'#!! -B %ith Mound ** dated in the end of the #th centur& ' the time <et%een the S0sdala finds and the Heruls of (rocopius. *t should <e mentionedF that H0gom is placed at the earlier mentioned trade route to Halogaland. This %as pro<a<l& the centre of the people trading %ith furs as mentioned <& Jordanes. /ridles %ith similar'loo@ing eagle heads are found in H0gomF Stoc@holm and the sacrifice in 8innestorp in G0taland. >egarded isolated in the light of the finds of southern S0sdala'eLuipment in 8innestorp and Eenne<o this could indicate that losers from $estern G0taland also tried their luc@ in the cultures of H0gom1S)ealandF <ut the attac@ers could of course originate from these regions. -lso an eDample of the +ast Germanic inspired fi<ula't&pe %ith cur)ed heads mentioned a<o)e is found in the H0gom'region and 6ofoten 7 indicating a connection <et%een the -tlantic route along the 2or%egian coast to 6ofoten and the /otnic route along the S%edish coast from Helgoe1Gppsala crossing the mountain range at the lo%est place <et%een H0gom and /ertnem. This ma& <e the %a& (rocopius got his information a<out the midnight sun and the Scridfennae <rought south <& Heruls from H0gom or Gppsala. The mound eDca)ated in H0gom constitutes the centre of a ro% of 3 <ig mounds li@e the mounds in GppsalaF Eada and /ertnem in 2amsdal north of Trondheim ' all found on the trade route. There are no signs of this acti)it& later than Mound ** indicating that this societ& disappeared contemporar& %ith the emerge of the societ& raising Attars Mound and the 3 mounds in Gppsala. *n +)e<O ,+ide. at 2ordfHord in $estern 2or%a& a similar mound %as found ' also %ith three'%inged arro%heads and a S&rian glass ' and at /arshalderhed at Gotland such a gra)e %ithout a mound %as found too ' %ith identical arro%heads and a glass from the Banu<e'region. The onl& other three'%inged arro%heads of iron are found at the %estern coast of 2or%a& as +)e<O ,at least 17 places. from JYren to TrOndelag indicating this as the origin of these 2ordic arro%s inspired <& +ast Germanic horsemen ' <ut also indicating a connection %ith H0gom as mentioned a<o)e. *n the mound at +)e<O %as also found a geometrical to& of @ind onl& @no%n from *ran and -fghanistanF and at /arshalderhed a clasp %as of Slo)a@ian origin. -ll three chieftains %ere <uried %ithout cremation in the end of the #th centur&F and together %ith the contemporar& gra)e at Snartemo in Southern 2or%a& these <urials constitute the four richest <urials in Scandina)ia in the #th centur&. *n Snartemo gra)e E near the south coast of 2or%a& a chieftain %as <uried in a small mound %ith his famous s%ord in St&le * from the second half of the # th centur& MMenghin 1983N. The s%ord pommel is of the same t&pe as in /lucina %ith t%o animal heads 7 %hich %ere originall& inspired from South +astern +urope. Such s%ord pommels are found in /roZsen ,Grimeton'Hunnestad in Halland.F SH0rup ,Scania. and 8innestorpF <ut these find places %ere no gra)es. -s the st&le is Scandina)ian St&le *F the s%ord pommel in /lucina should <e eDpected to <e Scandina)ian 7 <ut as 9hilderic5s s%ord pommel in Tournais as one of the onl& 9ontinental pommels ,in more eDpensi)e materials. had these animal heads too %e cannot <e sure of the <ac@ground. Gnder all circumstances the s%ord pommels sho% a connection <et%een /lucina and Scandina)iaF and especiall& the s%ord pommels in /lucina and 8innestorp are )er& similar. The golden handle from /lucina is found in Tournais and Snartemo too. The guard of the s%ord from /lucina is found in SnartemoF ScaniaF Gotland ,".F S0dermanland and Sutton Hoo. Most of these finds are dated in the second part of the #th centur&. The s%ord t&pe in /lucina is regarded as a transition from Hunnic to Germanic s%ords. There is no dou<t that the chieftains in Scandina)ia %ere connected in a %a& %hich in)ol)ed the +ast Germanic people in the Banu<ian area. *f the& %ere Scandina)ian mercenaries or +ast Germanics %e are not a<le to decide ' ma@ing Scandina)ians the most pro<a<le ans%er. Their locations could together %ith the other finds indicate that the& at that time formed a net%or@ eDtending the old -m<er >oute from the %or@shops at Gotland o)er H0gom to 2orthern and $estern 2or%a&.

33

BalshOH 8i<ula

The Heruls
%ibulas 2 Style ; The fi<ulas are often indicating trade connections and1or mo)ements of people. *n the old Herulian @ingdom co)ering Mora)ia and Marchfeld man& cur)e headed relief'fi<ulas %ith 3 @no<s are found <eing called the So@olnice't&pe MTeHral 1997aN. TeHral dated these fi<ulas to the period Hust after "#! -B %hile /ier<rauer has placed them in the last Luarter of the #th centur&. The& are found all o)er the area 7 %ith # @no<s also in the female gra)e in 6adendorfF %hich according to Helmuth $indl MTeHral 1997aN %as Herulian #!. T%o )ersions of identical fi<ulas are found in Melsted near GudhHem M-n@eF 1998N and a similar in >uts@er ' all at /ornholm. 8urther locall& de)eloped t&pes are found at [landF GotlandF [stert?lHe near Helg0F 8alster and BalshOH1Sorte Muld at /ornholm #1. Most of these places are @no%n as trade centres %ith central %or@shops on the /altic trade routeF <ut 2 items in Medelpad and in Steigen at 6ofoten MSHO)old 1993N point further north too. The So@olnice't&pe is also found at the Gpper >hineF in /urgund&F in Kerch at the Sea of -so) and in 2orthern *tal&F <ut the& are all <& the 8rench archaeologist Michel Ka4ans@i MTeHral 1997aN characteri4ed as Banu<ian of origin and <& the 94ec@ish Jarosla) TeHral MTeHral 1997aN characteri4ed as +ast Germanic. /oth the Heruls and the Astrogoths had operated in all these areas ' <ut the Astrogoths li)ed in the area south of the largest concentration of these fi<ulas. -lso east of the mouth of Eistula in the Als4t&n region a t&pe of cur)ed relief
#!

#1

- fi<ula from So@olniceF gra)e #F near the mound Uuran Hill at /rno is <& Jarosla) TeHral M;2eue <eitr?ge 4ur So@olnice 8i<ula erforschung in Mittler Bonauraum=F TeHral 1997aN called a forerunner of se)eral +ast Germanic ;drei@nopf= relief fi<ulas %ith ;spiralran@en=. The end of them all %as the head of an animalF %hich more st&li4ed <ecame an important moti)e in St&le **. *dentical fi<ulas are found o)er all Mora)ia1=Mittler Bonauraum= and eDamples are found single in 8ranceF South German&F *tal&F Kerch at the Sea of -so) and /ornholm. -t /ornholm t%o Luite identical fi<ulas are found in GudhHem and one in >uts@er. More de)eloped the& are found at Aeland and 6a@e M?lar near Helg0. *n 6adendorf near >othenseehof north of Eienna t%o nearl& identical fi<ulas ,<ut ;funf@nopf=. are found in a female gra)e <& Helmuth $indl called Herulian M-rticle in TeHral 1997aN. Since the eDca)ations of Eendel in the 19th centur& se)eral gra)e&ards ha)e <een eDca)ated <et%een GudhHemF Ko<<eaa and Aesterlars. The latest description used from South +astern /ornholm is <& 6ars JOrgensen and -nne 2Orgaard JOrgensen M6ars JOrgensen 1997N mentioningF that the area had <een inha<ited <& a rich famil& of chieftains in se)eral famil& <ranches from around #!! -B until 8!!. +speciall& in the <eginning the gra)e goods %ere )er& impressi)eF <ut later this changed to standard eLuipment 7 pro<a<l& not <ecause the richness decreasedF <ut <ecause the po%er %as so consolidated that %aste and <oasting %as superfluous. Some chieftains got their horses %ith them in the gra)eF and the gra)es %ere often lo% mounds 7 sometimes co)ered %ith stones. The So@olnice'fi<ulas are found south of GudhHem in a female gra)e in Melsted and one similar in >uts@er. The larger cemeteries are in the hills near the coast a.o. GlYsergaardF /Y@@egaard and at Ko<<eaa. -t 2Orre Sandegaard the %omen %ear their <iggest fi<ula across the chest in a high position <et%een the shoulders and t%o smaller fi<ulas lo%er at the chest. Here se)eral disc'on'<o% fi<ulas of the St&le ** t&pe %ith cloisonnX are found 7 a common t&pe at the Scandina)ian coasts and islands at the /altic Sea 7 including Eendel. *n the hills <ehind S)ane@e 1! @ilometres south of GudhHem there %as since the >oman *ron -ges a <ig settlement consisting of i.e. Sorte Muld and BalshOH. -ccording the archaeologists the old settlement %as destro&ed around #!!-BF <ut a ne% settlement %as esta<lished %ith an important mar@et place. BalshOH is famous for the hoard %ith a fi<ula and 1! solidi %ith -nastasius as the latest. He %as emperor since "92 and %hen the Heruls left (annonia. Se)eral of the hoards %ith the <ig fi<ulas and coins are @no%n in Benmar@F <ut onl& the hordes at BalshOH and +lseho)ed ,8&en near Gudme. contained solidi 7 normall& the& contained <racteates. The most impressi)e are the finds of 23#! gold foil figures at Sorte Muld. The& are normall& found at mar@etplaces li@e 6unde<org at Gudme. The gold foil figures are thin stamped plates li@e the plates at the helmetsF <ut )er& small. The stamped st&le %as first met in Scandina)ia as the S0sdala'st&le similar to the Gntersie<en<run'st&le. The purpose is un@no%nF <ut the moti)es and the lo% )olume of gold indicate religious purposes. (ro<a<l& the& s&m<olic plates %ere sold as offerings for the gods gi)ing the principal of the temple a solid income. -t >uts@er a die is found used for some of the gold foil figures in Sorte Muld. *n the settlement iron from the 6a@e M?lar'area is found. *n 2!!1 a ne% goldhoard %as found at Sorte Muld containing >oman coins from the #th centur& and <racteates from #!! <eing contained in a >oman sil)er plate. The hoard is for the moment regarded as a sacrifice.

3"

The Heruls
fi<ulas %ith 3 @no<s are found ,Ma4ur'Germanen. MKleeman 19#3N 7 in the same region as the a<o)e mentioned finds of the Gntersie<en<run'1S0sdala'st&le at the ;-m<er >outes=. $oHciech 2o%a@o%s@i M9urta 2!11F p31'#2N has in ;2eglected /ar<arians= suggested that culture as a Germanic group ;returning= to this region <eing successi)el& integrated among the surrounding Sla%s. GalindiansF Astrogoths and Heruls are mentioned. The& pro<a<l& li)ed of trade %ith fursF am<er and <ees%aD. *n the second part of the #th centur& simple )ersions of the So@olnice'fi<ula %ere also found around (aris and the >hineF <ut after%ards all relief fi<ulas in the 8ran@ish region got # @no<s and e)en more @no<s in the -lemannic and 6om<ardian regions. *t is important to notice that these common -lemannic and 8ran@ish cur)ed fi<ulas %ith # or more @no<s are ne)er found in Scandina)iaF %hile cur)ed relief fi<ulas %ith 3 @no<s are found in 13 cases Mcomparing Koch 1998 and SHO)old 1993N. The dating of the finds and of the de)elopment at /ornholm does not fit in %ith the description of the Heruls <& (rocopius and the finds ma& as %ell <e caused <& +ast Germanic inspired craftsmen at /ornholm. -mong the 13! Scandina)ian relief'fi<ulas Mthe maps of SHO)old 1993N 18S had cur)ed head platesF <ut in the districts up to the /altic Sea south of Gotland these made up 8!S against #!S at Gotland and 3S in the rest of Scandina)ia. Af course the anal&ses of the shape do not co)er all aspects of these fi<ulasF <ut the geographical spread of a fashion should not <e neglected ' especiall& as Kuhn has paid much attention to the s&m<olic importance of shape and ornamentation MKuhn 1973N. The significant num<er of these fi<ulas in South +astern Scandina)ia pro)e that this part of Scandina)ia had some )er& strong connections <eing a<sent in the rest of Scandina)iaF and this total a<sence in the neigh<ourhood also indicates that the distri<ution %as not due to normal trade ' the s@illed craftsmen of the islands pro<a<l& changed their products due to the presence of people %ith other s&m<ols in Scania1/le@inge and the /altic *slands. The character of the head plates ,including the three <uttons. and the geographical position point at the +ast Germanic people in the 9arpathian /asin. Ho%e)er the fi<ulas at /ornholm are <ased on a So@olnice st&le at a stage earlier than the Heruls arri)ing around #12F and according to the teDt of (rocopius the Heruls did hardl& choose /ornholm as their destination. *t has to <e stressedF that the nomadic Heruls of (rocopius and their possi<le follo%ers from $estern +urope ma& ha)e <rought st&les %ith them from man& corners of +urope forming a ne% miDed st&le 7 <eing later a part of the Eendel st&le. - st&listic element of the So@olnice fi<ula %as the ro% of spirals %hich %as also a part of the special SH0rup' st&le found )er& close to S0sdala in Scania #! &ears later than the S0sdala finds. This st&le %as according to /irgit -rrhenius closel& related to +ast Germanic st&le in the >oman <order areas around #!! -BF and also these elements <ecame a part of St&le *. M-rrhenius 198#W TeHral 1997<N -t some of the fi<ulas in Scandina)ia a <order around the head plate %as used %ith triangles and a small circle at the top. Such a stamp %as also used at man& of the items in 8innestorp and later on the top frie4e at the mausoleum of Theodoric. -t the BalshOH'fi<ula the triangle is cur)ed as if the <ac@ground %as forgotten. A<)iousl& the relief'fi<ulas spread from the <eginning of the siDth centur& all o)er Scandina)ia in the upper le)el of the societ& %ere a com<ination of the st&le from So@olnice and the traditional Scandina)ian sLuare' headed fi<ula. Therefore the Scandina)ian fi<ulas are much more )aried than the sLuare'headed relief fi<ulas in Kent1Mercia1+ast -ngliaF %here onl& one cur)e headed fi<ula is found from around "#! -B ' regarded as Jutish. The Scandina)ian fi<ulas appear more eDpensi)e than the small So@olnice'fi<ulas 7 pro<a<l& %ith the purpose to demonstrate po%er and richness. The archaeologist Jutta $aller from Gppsala has in her dissertation %ondered %hich connections from outside lead to the changes of fi<ulas and dress'pins in the M?lar Ealle& Hust <efore the Eendel (eriodF <ut she primaril& loo@ed in the direction of +ngland ' not of (annonia M$aller 1993N. Ane of her reasons %as that the richest of the later Scandina)ian fi<ulas got a disc on the <o% ,i.e. the KitnYs and S@od<org finds.F and the& are also found in +ngland. *n Gppland surprisingl& fe% relief fi<ulas are foundF <ut later disc'on'<o% fi<ulas %ith cloisonnX %ere common there as in most of Scandina)ia. The cloisonnX'inla& in Scandina)ia is descri<ed as Mero)ingianF <ut the method %as /&4antine and it %as alread& used <& the +ast Germanic people at the Banu<e <efore the Mero)ingian @ingdom %as esta<lished.

3#

The Heruls

1.#.#.!

The trade route and the Heruls

*t is o<)ious from the man& similarities that there %as a connection along the old trade route 7 especiall& after the Huns left and normal trade connections to >ome and 9onstantinople could <e re'esta<lished along the route. +Dcept for a fe% finds such as /lucina the archaeolog& cannot tell us a<out the ethnicit& of these +ast Germanic connectionsF <ut due to their @e& position in M?hren the Heruls and their follo%ers are the o<)ious choice. The Astrogoths ha)e <een mentioned tooF <ut as the Astrogoths %aged %ar against their earlier companions from "#" to sometime after "9" the Heruls pro<a<l& <loc@ed the trade route for supporters of the d&nast& of the Astrogoths. That is confirmed <& the fact that no Theodoric coins are found in Scandina)iaF <ut 3'"!! in Southern German& 7 indicating that the -rian Goths had no interest in Scandina)ia at that time. There is no reason to <elie)e that the Heruls %ere merchants at the route themsel)es as (rocopius descri<ed their %a& of income as tri<uting and looting of their neigh<ours. (ro<a<l& this %as the %a& the& treated those passing <& at the trade route tooF though taDation and protection pro<a<l& %as their method rather than looting 7 Hust li@e the Banes later used their position in \resund. *t is impossi<le to sa& ho% often the& %ent to Scandina)ia themsel)es. (ro<a<l& the& %ent north for negotiation and reconnaissanceF and ma&<e some of them %ent into Scandina)ian ser)iceF <ut in the time of Adoacer the& pro<a<l& rather headed south. Ho%e)er it is a possi<ilit& that some of them esta<lished a position in Scandina)ia i.e. in H0gom. The archaeolog& indicates that a Germanic people ,GalindiansF Goths or Heruls ,JMa4ur'GermanenJ.. at the mouth of Eistula %ere an important partner at the trade route as <oth the Gntersie<en<runn'st&leF the round headed 3'@no<'fi<ulas M9urta 2!11N and the solidi are found there too. *n the <eginning of the 3 th centur& the Sla)s penetrated the area around the ri)er EistulaF <ut the Ader'route %as pro<a<l& used until around #37 -BF %hen all Scandina)ian connections turned against the +l<e and the >hine. The finds in the %et areas of 8innestorp and Eenne<o contain 2&dam'F +Hs<Ol' and S0sdala'st&le from a longer period up to around ##! -BF indicating that these artefacts %ere <rought up <& attac@ers <eing defeated <& the G0tes. This Luestion %ill <e discussed later.

1.#.% The $estern Heruls #45'*+, ((hase /)

-s a more or less independent parallel the $estern Heruls li)ing at the 2orth 8risian coast pro<a<l& harried the south %esterl& Scandina)ian coasts ' Hust as the& according to the sources harried Gallia in "!9 -B and Spain in the "#!5ies -B. These Heruls had ser)ed as >oman mercenaries ' mostl& in +ngland in the "th centur& ' <ut after the >omans left +ngland and the emperor %as remo)ed their mercenaries had to find other sources of income. The& %ere mentioned for the last time in the historical sources in "78 -B. *t is o<)ious to suspect that the& %ere among the mercenaries <eing called to +ngland <& the /ritains in ""8 -B. 6ater man& of the other $estern Heruls pro<a<l& %ent <ac@ to +ngland together %ith their -nglo'SaDon neigh<oursF <ut some of them ma& ha)e turned north against the Scandina)ian @ingdoms as militar& ad)isors and mercenaries. These suggestionsF ho%e)erF are h&potheses %hich %ill <e discussed in a later chapter.
Hundred &ears after the e)ent the 9eltic mon@W Gilda #2F %rote that the SaDons %ere in)ited to +ngland <& the
#2

Gilda ca. #"8 -BF 23: ;At that time all members of the assembl#( along with the proud t#rant( are blinded) such is the protection the# find for their countr# +it was( in fact( its destruction, that those wild -axons( of accursed name( hated b# God and men( should be admitted into the island( like wolves into folds( in order to repel the northern nations' .othing more hurtful( certainl#( nothing more bitterl#( happened to the island than this' =

33

The Heruls
/ritons as a defence against the (icts and Scots. The same %rote the clerical historian /ede in the <eginning of the 8th centur&. He added that the -nglo'SaDons %ere led <& Hengist and Horsa #3. The -nglo'SaDons first tried to call the >omans as the& did in 333 -B %hen the >omans sent the Heruls and the /ata)iF <ut no% 7# &ears later the >omans had left +ngland and %ere <us& %ith -ttila. $hat %as more natural than to call the $estern Heruls <ac@ again to fight the (icts and the Scots once more
This shield painting is @no%n from the $est Herulian mercenaries in the *talian infantr& unit JHerules SenioresJ. *t %as found in a medie)al cop& of 2otitia Bignitatum from the <eginning of the #th centur& -B. 9onseLuentl& %e cannot <e sure of this picture ' and %e do not @no% %hich s&m<ol is <ehind the circles. The circle %as ao. a s&m<ol of the sun in the soldiers5 Mithras 9ult ' %orshipped in temples along the $all of Hadrian in +nglandF %here the Heruls %ere posted together %ith the /ata)es. *t is un@no%n %hether the +astern Heruls used the same s&m<olsF <ut circles and half circles are recognised at man& artefacts found in their trac@s.

Gilda and /ede did not @no% the details of the pastF and together %ith (rocopius the& mentioned 8risiansF SaDonsF -ngles and Jutes#" 7 or Hust <ar<arians. $e cannot put much )alue into names of people the& mentioned so much later. -t that time pirates in the South %ere simpl& called SaDons if their Germanic tri<al name %as un@no%n. $e must assume that mem<ers from all the tri<es along the coast from 2ormand& to Jutland Hoined the migrationF including the $estern HerulsF %ho 7 as argued earlier 7 li)ed at the %estern coast <et%een the SaDonsF the -ngles and the Jutes. +speciall& for the $estern Heruls this %as as mentioned a return to their earlier area of operations. -rchaeologists <elie)e the& ha)e traced the Jutes <& some <ig fi<ulas found in Jutland and in KentF and at the 6a@e 8le)o in 2etherland a settlement points at the Jutes too. -ll these people %ere pro<a<l& miDed up in the Migration -ges. - <ranch of the $estern Heruls remaining at the peninsula of Jutland could <e the later M&rgingas in 2orthern 8risia mentioned onl& in $idsith. Their name ma& ha)e an et&molog& similar %ith the t%isted et&molog& mentioned <& Jordanes: +loi Q JThe people from the s%ampsJ %hich in $est Germanic could <e M&rings ,S%edish Jm&rJ ' A2 Jm&rrJ ' German JmoorJ ' Ald'8risian JmorJ.F Hust li@e the later mentioned JMaringsJ in Mora)ia ,9hapter 2.1.1.3..

$e cannot reach an& historical conclusion a<out the fate of the $estern Heruls as the& pro<a<l& %ere split up <et%een Scandina)iaF +ngland and the 8risian 9oast 7 h&pothesis <eing mentioned or used in the follo%ing chapters.
#3

#"

/edeF 731 -B: =In the #ear of our /ord 001 ''' the nation of the Angles( or -axons( being invited b# the aforesaid king 23ortigern4( arrived in "ritain with three long ships( and had a place assigned them to reside in b# the same king( in the eastern part of the island( that the# might thus appear to be fighting for their countr#( whilst their real intentions were to enslave it' Accordingl# the# engaged with the enem#( who were come from the north to give battle( and obtained the victor#) which( being known at home in their own countr#( as also the fertilit# of the countr#( and the cowardice of the "ritons( a more considerable fleet was 5uickl# sent over( bringing a still greater number of men( which( being added to the former( made up an invincible arm#' $he newcomers received of the "ritons a place to inhabit( upon condition that the# should wage war against their enemies for the peace and securit# of the countr#( whilst the "ritons agreed to furnish them with pa#' $hose who came over were of the three most powerful nations of German# -axons( Angles( and 6utes' 7rom the 6utes are descended the people of 8ent'' $he two first commanders are said to have been Hengist and Horsa'Of whom Horsa( being afterwards slain in battle b# the "ritons( was buried in the eastern parts of 8ent( where a monument( bearing his name( is still in existence' $he# were the sons of 3ictgilsus( whose father was 3ecta( son of Woden) from whose stock the ro#al race of man# provinces deduce their original' In a short time( swarms of the aforesaid nations came over into the island( and the# began to increase so much( that the# became terrible to the natives themselves who had invited them' = (rocopius ##3 -BF E***F DDD: ;$he island of "rittia is inhabited b# three ver# numerous nations( each having one king over it' And the names of these nations are Angili( 7rissones and "rittones ''' And so great appears to be the population of these nations that ever# #ear the# emigrate thence in large companies ''' and go to the land of the 7ranks' And the 7ranks allow them to settle=. (rocopius miDed up the 2orthern geograph& and he ne)er mentioned an& $estern Heruls %ho had disappeared 7# &ears <efore his time.

37

The Heruls

1.% Evaluations and conclusion re ardin the history

1.%.1 Sources and critics
The official Germanic histor& of the 3'3th centuries is not a scientific conclusion <ased on factsF <ut mostl& a Jdecided truthJ <ased on conser)atism in the scholarl& net%or@s. Ariginall& it %as accepted as the truth that the Heruls %ere eDpelled <& the Banes in the 3rd centur&F and returned around #!!-B. *)ar 6indLuist and )on 8riesen assumed the& settled south of the G0tesF %hile 6u@manF Gudmundsson and in 1939 $essXn assumed the& <rought the +ast Germanic legends to Scandina)ia. -lread& in 192# 6aurit4 $ei<ull raised dou<t a<out their Scandina)ian originF and later the interpretation of all the sources has <een discussed.

1.%.1.1

.lvar Elle aard

*n 1987 the sources of the Herulian histor& %ere eliminated <& -l)ar +llegaard ## eDcept (rocopius and some <rief >oman reports of Herulian mercenaries. $ith help from the ineDact 6atin of Jordanes +llegaard in this %a& made room for alternati)e theories. The searching and criticism of the sources carried out <& +llegaard is mostl& a careful %or@F %hich %ith modifications has <een used here. An the other hand his final theor& loo@s li@e a pro)ocation #3. $hen +llegaard %rote in 1987F he %as not the firstF <ut he is here used as the most recent representati)e for the actual scholarl& attitude to the Heruls in Scandina)iaF as man& historians support similar theories or elements hereof. *n most Scandina)ian histor& <oo@s the Heruls still ha)e their origin in Scandina)ia ' dating the eDpulsion in the 3rd centur& as /rOndsted and )on 8riesenF <ut in the last decades most scholars ha)e accepted the interpretation maintained <& i.e. +llegaardF Goffart and -ndreas Sch%arc4 that this %as a recent e)ent %hen Jordanes %roteF as alread& descri<ed in 9hapter 2 a<o)e. This shall not <e repeated here as that claim of +llegaard is accepted in this article too though the arguments are not identical. The neDt claims <& +llegaard are impro<a<le. He claimed that (rocopius5 telling a<out the Heruls in Scandina)ia %as onl& co)ering some hundred indi)iduals for a period of 3# &ears 7 or in other %ords: The eDpulsion descri<ed <& Jordanes might <e the same stor& as the return of t%o princes follo%ed <& 2!! &oung %arriors <eing descri<ed <& (rocopius. +llegaard accepted as a source (rocopiusF %ho in ##3 -B told that the ro&al famil& %as still numerous in Scandina)ia and that the Heruls remained on the JislandJ. He also told that the en)o& %ent <ac@ to the Scandina)ian HerulsF %hen the first candidate died on his %a& to *ll&ria. Therefore the information that Batius the second time left for *ll&ria follo%ed <& his <rother and 2!! &oung %arriors gi)es +llegaard no <asis at all for his claim that all the Heruls returned 7 Luite opposite the %ords implicate that the rest remained. *t is e)en in this %a& indicated that the& %ere a rather large group in S%eden since the& could send these %arriors a%a&. His claim does not an& ma@e sense. Man& scholars regard the num<er of Heruls going to Scandina)ia to <e )er& lo%F <ut this is not due to the information in the historical sourcesF <ut an adHustment of the num<ers in order to fit the official opinion in S%eden regarding sagasF archaeolog& and foreign influence. Moreo)er +llegaard claimed that the Heruls %ere not a tri<e or a people <ut a group of %arriors formed <&
## #3

The articles in Scandia 1987 ,#3. 7 G0tis@a Minnen nr 113F 1992 are regarded as the latest Scandina)ian research concerning the Heruls. -l)ar +llegaardF %ho %as earlier a professor in +nglish languageF pro)o@ed in Scandia 1993 the historians and the theologians %ith a )er& hard criticism of their sources and %ith theories in opposition to the accepted theories regarding the /i<le.

38

The Heruls
the >omans around 3!! -B in 9astra /ata)a. This claim stands in contradiction to the rest of m& description a<o)e supported <& most +uropean historians and the sources he referred to himself #7F and he forgot <oth the $estern Heruls and -<lasius. Ho%e)er his eDplanation ma& co)er the much earlier esta<lishment of the Heruls in the 3rd centur& as mentioned in 9hapter 2. *n the #th and 3th centur& there had to <e a people <ehind the Herulian %arrior groups operating in so man& places o)er so man& &ears ' as tell i.e. (rocopius of the Gepides at the court of Justinian: J...Indeed thou hast bestowed upon the 7ranks and the nation of the Eruli and these /ombards such generous gifts of both cities and lands( O Emperor( that no one could enumerate them. ...J. Theoreticall& his claims are possi<leF <ut his t%o last claims are )er& unli@el& 7 especiall& as his conclusions do not follo% (rocopiusF although he has proclaimed (rocopius to <e his onl& relia<le source. +llegaard %ent too far in order to pro)o@e and find an alternati)e to the Scandina)ian origin. *t has to <e emphasi4edF that +llegaard 7 as the linguist he %as 7 regarded the connection <et%een +ruli and +orl1Jarl as J)er& pro<a<leJ 7 %hich in a %a& e)en contradicts his o%n claims too.

1.%.1.#

.ndreas Sch&arc6

-ndreas Sch%arc4F professor at the Gni)ersit& of EiennaF %rote in 2!!# the essa& JBie Heruler an der BonauJ descri<ing the histor& of the Heruls until the& left March1Mora)a. 2earl& all the content of that essa& is accepted a<o)e as the most pro<a<le eDplanations. Ho%e)er he also %rote in the essa& that the stor& a<out
#7

+llegaard de)eloped %ith reference to $ens@us the theor& that all migration people in fact %ere )agrant groups of %arriors 7 including the Heruls. He forgot to distinguish <et%een simple ro<<er <andsF militar& eDpansion into the neigh<our countriesF )agrant nomads and a real migration of a people to a ne% countr&. 8irst of all (rocopius mentioned the Heruls as a numerous superior people %ith its o%n @ingF secondl& he mentioned their different religion ,%ith a ;host of gods= %hich could not <e -rian. and curios famil& ha<itsF and thirdl& he mentioned ho% the Gepides raped their %omen and stole their cattle. -mmianus mentioned the Heruls among other independent peopleF and Jordanes called them a nation. The historical e)idence of that time is therefore against +llegaard and apart from thisF a group of %arriors %as not a<le to eDist separatel& in 2!! &ears 7 still less to arise in the >oman arm& %ith a separate religion. There must ha)e <een a people <ehindF %hich did not interest other >omans than (rocopius. The Heruls %ere pro<a<l& a half nomadic people from the <order area <et%een the Goths and the nomads at the >ussian steppes. Some of their &oung men formed %arrior <ands ser)ing as mercenaries or acting li@e ro<<ers. These %arrior <ands %ere often miDed up %ith the people <& the %ritten sourcesF as these groups %ere e)er&%here in the front line. +llegaard5s theor& a<out the Heruls starting as a German %arrior group in 9astra /ata)a ,(assau at Banu<e 2#! %est of Eienna. in the "th centur& is <ased on a h&pothetical fello%ship %ith the /ata)es in 9astra /ata)a. Ho%e)er the onl& common stamps <et%een Heruls and /ata)es are the reports of mercenaries from -mmianus a<out campaigns in +ngland and at the >hine. (ro<a<l& the >oman use of the t%o people together %as due to their li)ing places in 8risia near the >hineF %here the /ata)es %ere mentioned from around &ear ! and the Heruls from 283 -B. -s mentioned in note 2.2.# the historian -mmianus told the Heruls %ere li)ing J<e&ond the >hineJF %hich is ma&<e a little diffuseF as he also mentioned 9eltsF <ut this could ne)er descri<e the area north of (assauF %here it also %as difficult to argue %h& the& ne)er should cross the -lps ,note 2.2.#.. 6aterculus EeronensisF mentioning Heruls in north%est and eastF is reHected as ;corrupt= <& +llegaard %ithout mentioning other reasons than it %as contradicting his claim. *t is correctF that the >omans as a defence against the <ar<arians stationed some /ata)ian cohorts in 9astra /ata)aF %ho %ere still mentioned <& +ugippius in "8!F <ut contrar& hereto +ugippius mentioned the Heruls as plundering <ar<arians 7 coming from their @ingdom at the northern <an@ of Banu<e a little more east in the old Hunnic +mpire. 2ormall& the Herulian mercenaries are supposed to <e stationed in 9oncordia near Triest due to gra)e stones. The /ata)es later <ecame a part of the 8rancs. The information used <& +llegaard to indicateF that the Heruls arose as a group of %arriors at (assauF could indicate se)eral other eDplanations. Therefore there is no reason to choose an eDplanation %hich contradicts all other information. 8urthermore the theor& depends on a mista@e <& Jordanes miDing up ;Heruli= %ith some h&pothetical ;Heluri=F supposed <& +llegaard to operate together %ith the Goths at the /lac@ Sea in 237-B. 8inall& the stor& <& Jordanes a<out +rmaneric defeating -laric in 3#! had to <e free fantas&. -s man& Heruls li)ed around Jordanes in *tal& and /&4ans such a signal mista@e of their home onl& 1#! &ears <efore is possi<le in the theor& <ut )er& unli@el&. /ut e)en in this caseF the Heruls might <elie)e %hat Jordanes <elie)ed.

39

The Heruls
the ro&al famil& of the Heruls in Scandina)ia must <e regarded as speculation. He has earlier called the Scandina)ian sources literatureF and he is right that e)er&thing regarding their destin& in Scandina)ia can <e called speculation in a historical sense 7 <ut their migration is not a part of that speculation. The conclusion in the article is a little unclear at that point as it %as not the purpose of the essa&F <ut he had earlier emphasi4ed his )ie% at an open mail list ,Gothic'6ist. confirming that (rocopius is relia<le in this connection and that it can <e regarded as certain that a group %ith the ro&al famil& of the Heruls arri)ed and settled at JThuleJ. He has reconfirmed that statement in 2!11. *n 2!!# -ndreas Sch%arc4 accepted the traditional German opinion since MuchF that the Heruls had their origin in Scandina)ia. *n 2!11F ho%e)erF he has stated that he has changed his mind and is no% regarding the +astern Heruls to <e an ethnogenesis at the /lac@ Sea. *n his )ie% it pro<a<l& %as an eDample of integration. He also suggested that the interpretation of (rocopiusT use of the %ord =para= can <e that the Heruls settled among the G0tes and %ere integrated as a part of the G0tes. The general translation of =para= is =<&= ' normall& in the meaning =<eside= or JalongJ. Sch%arc4 has argued that (rocopius also used JparaJ descri<ing the settlement of the Heruls at SingidunumF %hich <ecame a part of the /&4antine +mpire. These HerulsF ho%e)erF settled at the southern <an@ of Banu<e at the )er& <order of the >oman +mpireF the& remained Heruls %ith their o%n @ingF and a part of them separated from the >omans again <& going north to the Gepides after nearl& "! &ears ' the& %ere ne)er integrated. *t ma@es sense that the Heruls %ere attracted <& the Gothic legends to settle in the area of G0talandF <ut nothing in the archaeolog& and m&ths indicates changes or ne% settlers in G0taland in that periodF and it ma@es not much senseF that these unrul& %arriors 7 and especiall& not the ro&al famil& ' should %al@ =to the end of the %orld= in order to <e su<dued <& a local people. The >0@ Stone is the onl& 2orse source %hich connects the ro&al famil& %ith G0taland ' <ut that %as 3!! &ears later after the eDpansion of the Eendel 9ulture. The& @ne% %here the& %ere going in #!9 -BF and the& had %ithout dou<t a plan %hen %al@ing so farF as the& could ha)e esta<lished their o%n @ingdom in the <arren countr& the& met earlier in +astern German&. *f the ro&al famil& had lost their so)ereign positionF the& had not sur)i)ed as a ro&al famil& and the Heruls in *ll&ria had not sent for losers 3# &ears later. -round 3#! -B the& %ere su<dued <& +rmanericF <ut 1!! &ears later the& did still eDist as a strong people %ith their o%n @ing. *f integration into a stronger societ& %as their planF Theodoric %as the natural superior @ing to Hoin 7 <ut onl& fe% did so ' and other possi<ilities %ere the /&4antinesF GepidesF 6om<ardsF Thuringians or $estern Heruls. -ndreas Sch%arc4 is pro<a<l& right that the mentioning of the Gautoi is no coincidenceF and that the Heruls at their arri)al intended to settle in or <eside the %idespread territor& of the G0tesF %hich the& pro<a<l& did. ThisF ho%e)erF does not mean that the& <ecame su<Hects to the G0tes against their natureF and it does not mean that the& sta&ed. -ndreas Sch%arc4 has also mentioned that (rocopius5 use of the %ord =tote= ,meaning =of1at that time=. a<out the settlement might indicate a later change of settlement 7 and in that case the& could not ha)e <een integrated first time. -ccording to -ndreas Sch%arc4F $alther (ohl and other scholars a successful migration could onl& end up as a settlement %here the former inha<itants %ere eDpelled or as an integration. This is pro<a<l& correctF <ut the %ord ;integration= must ha)e )er& %ide limits ' from the intruders placing themsel)es in the top of the societ& or as occupiers to an acceptance of the eDisting @ingship. The lo%er groups of the societ& should in all cases <e integrated o)er time. *f <oth ro&al families sur)i)ed the future cooperation could <e secured <& marriage. -ndreas Sch%arc4 has earlier eDpressed dou<t if the& had a @ing after HrodolphusF as Arigo Gentis 6ongo<ardorum later told that the& had no @ingl& office after the fallen Hrodolphus. /ut JArigoJ pro<a<l& referred to the Heruls remaining in the region of the 6om<ards ' not to the Scandina)ian Heruls %ho %ere not mentioned in this source as the& had lost an& importance for the 6om<ards. (rocopius ho%e)er told that the tre@ against north %as led <& man& of ro&al <lood though he did not mention a name of the @ing. $e @no% that there %as a @ing in the *ll&rian group at the time of JustinianF and %e @no% that the& still found man& of ro&al <lood in Scandina)iaF %hen there %ere no candidates <ac@ in *ll&ria. This strongl& indicates that most of the famil& %ent north and it is o<)ious that a group at such a mission had a leader among themF

"!

The Heruls
%ho necessaril& had superiorit& o)er the ro&al famil& ' a @ing or an earl. -ll (rocopius5 tal@ a<out ro&al <lood indicates that the @ingl& office %as important for the HerulsF and it should <e so for a people of %arriors.

1.%.1.%

$alter 7offart

Headed <& $alter Goffart some scholars maintain that the moti)e of the /&4antine (rocopius %as solel& to sho%F that the Heruls could <e sent <ac@ to their ancestral homes safel&. -s a general moti)e this could <e correctF <ut (rocopius ne)er mentioned a past in Scandina)ia ' onl& that their ancestral homes %ere <e&ond the *ster ,Banu<e. 7 and their success in S%eden %as in no %a& emphasi4ed eDcept ma&<e the ro&al famil&. *f (rocopius5 moti)e %as to tell a<out a successful repatriationF his manipulation %as misera<l& carried out. 2e)ertheless there ma& <e a grain of truth in GoffartTs claimF if the purpose %as to sho% that it %ould <e possi<le for the Goths to settle at the GautsF <ut this %ould onl& lead (rocopius to lie a<out the peaceful character of the arri)al to Thule and the Gauts 7 and this %as pro<a<l& %hat he did ,chapter 3.#.. He did not in that %a& get an& moti)e to change the description of the route and the conseLuential stor& a<out @ing Batius 7 actual and %ell @no%n in (rocopius5 o%n societ& and time. #8 Goffart has made a pro)o@ing and sophisticated %or@ regarding JordanesF <ut his anal&ses of (rocopius are )er& <rief and insufficient 7 as this %as not the purpose %ith his %or@. -s Jordanes %as his stud& it is pro<a<l& more important to notice that Goffart in his footnote 333 acceptedF that the eDpulsion of the Heruls <& the Banes %ritten <& Jordanes %as a recent e)ent. The conseLuence is that he in that %a& accepted that <oth Jordanes ,9assiodorus. and (rocopius %ith opposite moti)es %ere reporting a<out contemporar& Heruls in Scandina)ia 7 the details a<out Scandina)ia e)en from independent e&e%itnesses as JordanesT ,9assiodorus]. information pro<a<l& %as due to the eDiled >oduulf#9 at the court of TheodoricF %hile (rocopiusT information pro<a<l& %as due to the people follo%ing Batius as descri<ed <elo%. Therefore the interpretation of Jordanes <& 6. $ei<ull 7 supported no% <& GoffartF (ohlF Sch%arc4 and +llegaard 7 has strengthened the information of (rocopius a<out a Herulian settlement in Scandina)ia.

1.%.1.!

"ordanes8 sources

Jordanes5 Getica is <ased on a lost 12')olume %or@ <& 9assiodorus. 9assiodorus %as the chancellor of Theodorich and finished his final )ersion of JHistor& of the GothsJ <efore #33 -B ,pro<a<l& around #19 -B.F %here one of the purposes %as to sho% that the -mal'famil& of Theodorich according to the tradition had the legal rights to the Astrogothic throne. Jordanes had li)ed in an -lanic1Gothic en)ironment in Moesia and finished his Getica in /&4ans in ##1 -B. His purpose appears to ha)e <een to support the falling Gothic Kingdom. He told that his %or@ %as <ased on 9assiodorus5 %or@F <ut that these <oo@s had not <een a)aila<le for him all the time. $hile Jordanes o<)iousl& had his o%n sources for the time after 9assiodorusF the Getica

#8

These scholars maintainF that the description <& the Gothic Jordanes %as caused <& moti)es opposite (rocopius 7 <ut Jordanes ser)ed the >omans the <est possi<le argument to send the Goths and Heruls to Sc&thia or Scandina)ia. -t that time ethnic purging happened e)er& da&F and the a<o)e theories are e)en more difficult to follo% regarding the passages %here Jordanes used the teDt of 9assiodorusF although he %as chancellor in the Gothic @ingdomF %here no one could dream of sending the Germanic tri<es <ac@. 9assiodorus5 purpose %as of course ' li@e SaDo5s ' to gi)e his master Theodoric and his ro&al -mali famil& a superior position in the Gothic histor& in order to protect the legitimate right for his descendants to the throne of the Goths. Goffart is of the opinion that Jordanes did not follo% 9assiodorusF as Jordanes %anted assimilation <et%een the >omans and the Goths. -ngeli@a 6intner (ot4 ,(ohl . has reHected >oduulf as a person separate from the Herul >odolphus claiming that such a coincidence is impossi<le. That argument as such is too %ea@F and it is e)en o<)ious from the teDt that the @ing from Scandina)ia lea)ing his people cannot <e the Mora)ian @ing <eing @illed %hen ruling his people <efore the& left for Scandina)ia. Her mista@e is possi<l& caused <& the <ra@es in the translation she presents in her thesis.

#9

"1

The Heruls
<efore this time is regarded as an a<<re)iation of 9assiodorus5 %or@ 3!F %here he accordingl& had to concentrate on the Goths and to let out the descriptions ,<eing irrele)ant at the time of Jordanes. of the political landscape around TheodorichF %hich a politician li@e 9assiodorus %ithout dou<t %ould pa& much attention to in his %or@. -rne SO<& 9hristensen ,;9assiodorusF Jordanes and the Histor& of the Goths=F 2!!2. is among the scholars claiming that the %or@s of 9assiodorus and Jordanes cannot <e regarded as histor&. His argumentsF ho%e)erF are <ased on irregularities in the ro&al genealogies of 9assiodorusF %hich had a clearl& manipulating purpose ' and %hich are irrele)ant regarding the Luestions <eing discussed here. -s another eDample he demonstrates that the episode presenting the %ord J-nsisJ is not historicall& correct and concludes <& using this argument that -nsis Jcannot <e part of a long Gothic traditionJ ,p. 127. ' not%ithstanding his o<ser)ation regarding a single @ing does not lead to such a firm conclusion as -nsis pro<a<l& %as a general custom. The discussion if some of the Getae ended up as a part of Goths is also a)oided <& him ' though this %ould eDplain some of the pro<lems he points out. There is no dou<t that a great part of the earl& histor& of the Goths and the -mal famil& lines %ere collected or ma&<e e)en constructed <& 9assiodorus for political purposes ' %hich %as %hat caused -rne SO<& 9hristensen5s eDamples ' <ut %hich >oman or medie)al historian ,or modern . %as not influenced <& politics *t appears to <e popular in certain schools of historians %hen %riting their doctoral theses to reHect a %hole classical source of <& demonstrating inconsistenc& or unrelia<ilit& some%here in that or others %or@s of the author. This is especiall& a pro<lem if descriptions of earlier e)ents are used to conclude a<out episodes contemporar& %ith the author. 2ot e)en a serious classical author used old sources after our scholarl& criteriaF <ut that does not influence his o%n contemporar& o<ser)ations. -s %e ha)e too fe% sources to pro)ide us %ith the necessar& confirmationF %hen anal&sing Germanic histor& <efore 7#! -B and 2ordic histor& <efore 12#!-BF there is no reason to spend time on histor& of that time at all if all the information from a historian can <e reHected in that %a& ' especiall& if the comparison %ith archaeolog& is a)oided <ecause it is another scholarl& <ranch. -s %e @no% from the letters of 9assiodorus the Heruls had pla&ed a role in Gothic politicsF and the& could still at his time <e eDpected to pla& a future role ' indicated <& political marriages li@e Silinga5s and the %a& Justinian treated them. Therefore their eDpansionF defeat and split must ha)e <een mentioned in his )oluminous %or@ ' including the stor& of the group of Heruls migrating against north. -s Jordanes mentioned a Scandina)ian @ing >oduulf at the court of Theodoric 9assiodorus %as pro<a<l& %ell informedF and the chapter a<out the people of Scan4a in Jordanes5 Getica is <& most scholars regarded as a cop& of 9assiodorus5 teDt ' eDcept ma&<e the short sentence a<out the Heruls. Jordanes %as not interested in the Heruls. $hen he finished his %or@ in ##1 -B the& could not support the GothsF as the Heruls %ere no% >oman soldiersF Gepidian su<Hects or a distant Scandina)ian people ' eDcept for the fe% <eing assimilated among the Goths "! &ears earlier. /ut not e)en these Heruls %ere mentioned. He Hust mentioned the Heruls as participants in the stories of +rmanericF Adoa@er and -ttila ' pro<a<l& <eing important stories in 9assiodorus5 Gothic histor& ' <ut nothing a<out the Heruls around the Gothic Kingdom and the >oman +mpire in his o%n 3th centur& and nothing a<out the $estern Heruls at all. The onl& other remar@ is the small sentence put into the chapter he copied from 9assiodorus a<out Scan4a ' JHerulos propriis sedi<us eDpuleruntJ. -s mentioned 9assiodorus pro<a<l& %rote a stor& a<out the Heruls going to Scandina)ia <eside the chapter descri<ing the original people li)ing in Scandina)ia. *n that case it %as natural to Jordanes to let out the description of the Heruls in the a<<re)iation process. *n order to @eep a correct listing of the people in Scandina)ia he ma& simpl& ha)e put a short sentence into the eDisting teDt %ith their name related to one of the other people ' causing the clums& grammar. Ho% did he choose that remar@ The most natural choice %as a concluding element from 9assiodorus5 stor& a<out the Scandina)ian Heruls ' ma&<e from the last report <& >oduulf ' or later information a<out an eDpulsionF %hich (rocopios did not %ant to <ring. Some scholars ,i.e. Goffart. ha)e claimed that his purpose <& mentioning the eDpulsion %as to point out that the
3!

-rne SO<& 9hristensenF J9assiodorusF Jordanes and the histor& of the GothsJ ' Boctoral thesis 2!!2.

"2

The Heruls
Goths could not <e sent <ac@ to Scandina)iaF <ut in that case he %ould pro<a<l& ha)e used more %ords on that pro<lem instead of indicating a Gothic origin from Scan4a. *f he used the eDpulsion for that purpose it is not an argument against the eDpulsion <eing an e)ent in the 3th centur& ' especiall& as the <etter informed (rocopius did not mention such a recent e)entF <ut indicated in his %ording that the Heruls in the #"!5ies did not li)eF %here the& settled at their arri)al. *f %e assume that Jordanes did not refer to a Herulian origin in Scandina)ia since he descri<ed an et&molog& from the /lac@ Sea ,9hapter 2. this eDpulsion must ha)e ta@en place after the Heruls had left the /lac@ Sea and <efore ##1 -B. *n this %a& %e ha)e t%o independent contemporar& sources reporting a<out Heruls in Scandina)ia after the Hunnic campaign. The pro<a<le time of this eDpulsion is <et%een #!9 -B and #33 -B ' long time <efore ##1 -B ' as the eDplanations of (rocopius and Jordanes in this %a& %ill fit totall& into each other. -s the area <et%een the Banes and the G0tes according to archaeolog& appears to sho% +ast Germanic presence alread& in the #th centur& the eDpression Jpropriis sedi<usJ %ill ma@e sense e)en at an eDpulsion shortl& after the Heruls of (rocopius arri)ed.

1.%.1.*

(rocopius8 sources

-s all historians of his time (rocopius %as not critical %hen using his old sourcesF and furthermore he had no clear picture of the geograph& outside the >oman +mpire of his time. Therefore his geographical descriptions and the legends and num<ers of %arriors from the past %ere often unrelia<le ,as his description of +ngland in /oo@ E***F DD D.. This cannot <e used as an argument against his description of contemporar& e)entsF as the most important part of his %or@ co)ers the %ars %hich he had <een )er& close to as the secretar& or legal ad)isor ,assessor. of /ellisarius ' at least until around #"! -B %hen he settled in 9onstantinople %ith close connection to the court of Justinian. His tas@ %as the description of the %ars and not the earlier histor&F %hich he Hust used to gi)e a <ac@ground ser)ing his purpose. Therefore his details from the past ma& <e in)ented or distorted <& himself or his sources in order to ma@e a colourful stor&F <ut he pro<a<l& @ne% onl& the general headlines from the <eginning of the 3th centur&. Therefore his description of the defeat <& the 6om<ards in #!9 -B and their route to Scandina)ia must <e regarded as uncertain ' <ut comparing %ith other sources and his general %a& to %rite there is no dou<t that this @ind of e)ents too@ place in one %a& or another. 2either is there an& dou<t that (rocopius manipulated the teDtF <ut his possi<ilities %ere limited regarding e)ents in his o%n neigh<ourhood and time as he %ould lose relia<ilit& among his readers if his descriptions %ere not inside the limits of their o%n @no%ledge. *n such cases suppression and distortion %ere the tools. (rocopius had definitel& <een close to the *ll&rian HerulsF and he regarded them %ith a disgust and curiosit&F %hich is o<)ious from his teDt ,+Dtracts of his teDt.. *n case of the midnight sun in the chapter a<out the returning Heruls he specificall& stressed that he J made in5uir# from those who come to us from the islandJF and the description has correct details %hich are not found at earlier authors and JordanesF %ho %rote a<out the midnight sun. There is no dou<t that he also used Suartuas and other Herulian officers as sources %hen follo%ing /ellisarius and li)ing in /&4ans after%ards at the same time as Suartuas. 2either is there an& dou<t that he after #"! -B met se)eral participants in the e)ents in)ol)ing the *ll&rian Heruls and that he at the imperial court or at a Hourne& tal@ed %ith at least one person coming from Scandina)ia @no%ing %here the Heruls had settled. 8rom the teDt of (rocopius it is also o<)ious that JustinianF /ellisariusF Suartuas ' or ma&<e e)en (rocopius himself as an earlier assessor 7 %anted to Hustif& the political change or mista@e %hich too@ place regarding the Heruls. Some of the Heruls %ere more lo&al to their o%n ro&al famil& than to Justinian in spite of the >oman =generosit&= gi)ing this totall& defeated people a chance to get a ci)ili4ed life. (rocopius therefore called them Jthe <asest of all menJ and used all @inds of a<usi)e language. (ro<a<l& in order to smear them he indicated homoseDualit& among themF %hich is sho%ing ho% homoseDuals %ere regarded at that time rather than sho%ing that the Heruls %ere different than other groups of mercenaries in that %a&. The& had to <e descri<ed as unci)ili4edF ungratefulF unrelia<le and dislo&al in order to eDplain to the >omansF their allies and themsel)esF %h& the politics of Justinian in that case %ere unsuccessful and %h& a maHor part of these <rilliant soldiers %ere forced to lea)e the empire and Hoin the hostile Gepides ' ma@ing it necessar& for

"3

The Heruls
Suartuas and t%o other generals to attac@ them. This is a strong moti)e to <e considered %hen interpreting (rocopius5 descriptions of the Heruls. +speciall& (rocopius5 former chief /ellisarius ' no% also close to him in /&4ans ' had the pro<lem that he had not <een a<le to ruleF 9hristiani4e and sociali4e his Herulian soldiers ' and (rocopius ma& e)en as the secretar& or assessor of /ellisarius ha)e <een personall& in)ol)ed in this process. Therefore it %as important for (rocopius to emphasi4e that the Heruls could not <e ruled at all ' and therefore he made a long stor& out of the destin& of Achus and of Suartuas. *n spite of his %ords it is o<)ious that the& %anted a @ingF <ut he had to come from the group 13!! @ilometres a%a& in the pagan Scandina)ia. -<out this Scandina)ian Batius (rocopius Hust indicatedF that he %as a second choice the& had to ma@e in a hurr& among the numerous ro&al famil&. (rocopius could in no %a& tell in his <oo@s that the& had successful rulers in the Scandina)ian group ' <ut his silence a<out the d&nast& in Scandina)ia is spea@ing too. - more traditional moti)e also mentioned a<o)e is the description of the 9hristian 6om<ardian forces destro&ing the pagans <& the help of God "! &ears earlier ' an e)ent %hich %as no% a part of the past %hich could <e JpaintedJ a little %ithout creating uncertaint& among the readers. *t has to <e noticedF that (aulus Biaconus told another )ersion pleasing his people <etterF %hile Arigi Gentis 6ongo<ardorum %as neutral. -nother description %hich could <e distorted is according to Goffart the arri)al to Scandina)ia. -s mentioned (rocopius5 moti)e in this connection %ould primaril& <e to hideF that there %as no fertile land to get there %ithout hostilities for the Goths if the& %ere eDpelled from *tal&. This ma& <e the reason %h& he did not tell a<out an earl& eDpulsion and the later integrationF <ut onl& told a<out the numerous ro&al d&nast& and their settlement at the numerous Gauts ,claimed to <e Goths <& 9assiodorus.F emphasi4ed the first peaceful passage of the Banes and Hust slightl& indicated a second relocation.

1.%.1.5

The S&edish archaeolo ists

Apposite )on 8riesen and *)ar 6indLuist the S%edish archaeologists to da& do not descri<e an& theories a<out the Heruls of (rocopius 7 their arri)al is not e)en mentioned in the %or@ =Eendel (eriod= from the Historical Museum of S%eden. Since $orld $ar ** Scandina)ian archaeologists are in general sceptical or at least cautious %hen archaeolog& is used to eDplain ethnicit& ' as this is done no% in German& and +astern +urope. /ased on this attitude most S%edish scholars reHect that archaeolog& and histor& gi)e an& reason to <elie)e that an +ast Germanic people settled in S%eden. The& are arguing that the Eendel 9ulture %as a natural local de)elopment <& the tri<e of S)ear ,Suiones. influenced #!'7! &ears later <& the Mero)ings 7 and that this could <e supported <& the H0gom'finds. This is not surprising as alread& Alof >ud<ec@ in the 17th centur& tried to pro)e that the Gppsala'societ& %as the lost -tlantis from %here +uropean culture %as spread out. *n spite of the usual reaction against such claims the ro&al mounds in Gppsala ha)e <een the s&m<ol of the S%edish nation e)er since. 2ormall& the popular modern critiLuesF Goffart and especiall& +llegaardF are referred to support this )ie%F <ut none of these scholars ha)e tried to den&F that the Heruls had <een in S%eden ' the& Hust claim that the Heruls ne)er got a position %orth mentioning. This possi<ilit& cannot <e reHectedF <ut not e)en traces of such a lo% acti)it& are registered <& the S%edish archaeologists as possi<le Herulian in Gppland or G0talandF and integration in an eDisting local people of a small num<er of immigrants ,primaril& upper class. does not appear to <e anal&sed either. -n argument against (rocopius has <een that there are no similarities <et%een the 2ordic po%er centres and the archaeolog& of Mora)ia1Marchfeld. 8irst of all this is not correct as TeHral and Menghin ha)e demonstrated similarities and mentioned the possi<ilit&. Secondl& the similarities should not <e significant as no specific Herulian characteristics are @no%n from Southern +urope and as a maHorit& in S)ealand or G0taland still %ere local tri<es after the arri)al of the Heruls. 8urthermore the argument is eliminated <& the mounds in S)ealandF some similar finds in Mora)ia and GppsalaF the de)elopment of the fi<ulas in the /altic areaF the S0sdala'eLuipmentF and the presence of Scandina)ian artefacts in the Herulian surroundings in *ll&ria1Bacia. -lso the spread of solidi could <e regarded in this %a&. *n this connection it ma@es no difference that the earl& finds of S0sdala'eLuipment and the fi<ulas do not point at Gppsala.

""

The Heruls
-nother argument against (rocopious has <een that the Eendel'finds and 'st&le point at the Mero)ings. -s earlier demonstrated the earl& Mero)ingian st&le is in man& %a&s similar %ith the Herulian st&le ' pro<a<l& <ecause the& %ere <oth <ased on >oman1/&4antine st&le as the& %ere allies and >oman foederati. 6ater the st&le <ecame $estern GermanicF <ut due to political and religious conflicts <et%een Heruls and 8ran@s other connections than the 8ran@s themsel)es are more pro<a<leF though the Scandina)ians ma& ha)e copied the strong enem&. Af course %e can al%a&s find eDceptions. *n all fairness against the S%edish archaeologists shall <e mentioned the head of the eDca)ations in 8innestorpF /engt 2ordL)istF and the late professor of archaeolog& from the Gni)ersit& of Stoc@holmF P@e H&enstrand. P@e H&enstrand5s Luestions in his <oo@ J6eHonetF dra@en och @orsetJ ,H&enstrand 1993. %ill <e <asis for the neDt chapter.

1.%.1.-

9otte Hedea er : the Huns

The Banish professor of archaeolog& at the Gni)ersit& of AsloF 6otte HedeagerF is in)ol)ed in scholarl& discussions regarding a h&pothesis of a similar character. She has presented the h&pothesis 31 that the Huns ruled in Scandina)ia for a short period in the first part of the # th centur& <ased on information from (riscus. He %rote <& referring to the *talian am<assador at -ttila5s courtF >omulus: ; "# no one ''' had such great things been achieved in such a short time( since he ruled even the islands of the Ocean and( in addition to -c#thia( held the omans also to the pa#ment of tribute' = The islands in the Acean are generall& regarded to <e the /altic islands ,incl. Scandina)ia.. /ased on this historical informationF the shamanistic character of AdinF the a<o)e mentioned finds in S0sdalaF the mirror in Gppsala and 1! earrings found in Benmar@ and 2or%a&F she has suggested that the Scandina)ian animal st&le and the cosmolog& %as inspired <& the Huns. Her suggestions ha)e caused a heated de<ate regarding the %a& the Scandina)ian archaeologists are treating ne% theories 7 especiall& %ith the S%edish professor Glf 2?sman 32F %ho in his doctoral thesis from 198" %rote that the Huns %ere hardl& a<le to control land north of the 9arpathians. Her arguments regarding the Huns are a lot %ea@er than the arguments regarding the Heruls <rought for%ard in this paper. *t %ill not change the h&pothesis a<out the Heruls if she is right that the Huns ruled Scandina)ia a fe% &ears in the #th centur&F <ut her arguments %ill under all circumstances strengthen the h&pothesis a<out the HerulsF as it can eDplain most of her o<ser)ations and resist the <iased o<Hections from Glf 2?sman. *n spite of the heated de<ate <oth sides agree that the Huns had impact on Scandina)ia and 8ran4 Herschend has stated that the character of the life of the Huns has caused that onl& fe% remains of them are recognised in +urope 7 and the same could pro<a<l& <e said a<out the Heruls %ho %ere their follo%ers.

1.%.1.4

;lorin <urta= >3e lected /ar)arians?

-s an editor 8lorin 9urta in 2!1!12!11 pu<lished the composite %or@F ;2eglected /ar<arians=F %hich has <een rather neglected itself 7 ma&<e due to the high price. Toda& some of the articles can <e found free at the internet. T%o chapters are dedicated to the Heruls: >oland Steinacher5s ;The Herules. 8ragments of a Histor&= and -leDander Sarantis5 ;The Justinianic Herules. 8rom /ar<arian -llies to >oman (ro)incials=. -leDander Sarantis 7 presented in the <oo@ as (hB from ADford Gni)ersit&F no% the Gni)ersit& of Kent 7 has onl& <een as@ed to %rite a<out the Heruls in *ll&ria ser)ing Justinian. M& present article ,%hich he has referred to in his introduction. is in accordance %ith his article 7 and he has gi)en a )alua<le record of the importance of the Herulic armies in >oman ser)ice in the 3th centur&. He has seen through the attitude of
31 32

Hedeager 2!!7 and Hedeager 2!11. http:11forn)annen.se1pdf12!!!talet12!!8^111.pdf F http:11forn)annen.se1pdf12!!!talet12!!8^279.pdf W http:11forn)annen.se1pdf12!!!talet12!!9^!"#.pdf .

"#

The Heruls
(rocopius regarding the HerulsF and is concluding that the& must ha)e consisted of t%o different political groups in Singidunum. Ane group su<mitting to JustinianF %hile the other %as more pagan than <aptised. He is therefore also a%are %h& the en)o&s from the second group %ent to Thule to find a ne% ro&al candidate 7 and in that %a& he has recogni4ed their presence in Scandina)ia in the 3 th centur&F %hich he has also later directl& confirmed.

This is apparentl& conflicting %ith the statement in the same <oo@ of >oland SteinacherF %ho at that time %as a Hunior scientist 7 no% at the [sterreische -@ademie der $issenschaften. He has referred to
man& sources a<out detailsF <ut he has missed some important Luestions regarding the HerulsF as his eDpertise is the Eandals. He is mostl& follo%ing other authors li@e +llegaard 7 <eing alread& hea)il& critici4ed a<o)e 7 and GoffartF %ho %as not especiall& interested in the Heruls. Ho%e)erF opposite +llegaard Steinacher has concluded that the Heruls should <e regarded as ;gens= 7 not as a %arrior <and. Steinacher is dismissing the $estern Heruls as a separate group li)ing at the coasts of the 2orth Sea. He is arguing that the statement of Sidonius -pollinaris ma& <e a possi<le mista@e <ased on a 2!! &ears old stor& 7 the same @ind of method used <& the linguist +llegaard. His second argument is that the letter from Theodorich to three <ar<arian @ings ma& ha)e <een sent to the Herulian @ing in Mora)ia ,in %hich * agree.F <ut that is no argument against the $estern Heruls as the letter in no %a& can <e regarded as a proof of their eDistence 7 it has Hust <& se)eral scholars <een com<ined %ith the $estern Heruls <ecause the& %ere alread& regarded to eDist. Though he is a%are of the episode he does not mention that the strongest argument 7 supporting -pollinaris and the eDistence of the $estern Heruls 7 is the one of -mmianus Marcellinus placing their homes <ehind the >hine at the opposite side of the -lps than (ersia. 2either did he mention that t%o groups of Heruls %ere mentioned <& 6aterculus Eeronensis. +llegaard %as a%are of the sources and chose the eas& %a& to declare the source corrupt as it did not support his o%n theor&. -mong the more general arguments against Steinacher it appears rather unli@el& that mercenaries from Mora)ia should suddenl& operate se)eral times as pirates in the -tlantic Acean. *t can <e agreed that the& %ere mentioned in that %a& in the -egean Sea t%o hundred &ears earlier 7 <ut as %arriors Hoining a /osporanian fleet 7 and did -pollinaris @no% that stor& 33 Gnfortunatel& Steinacher %as so <u4& %ith the political fear that right %ings %ould misuse their migration histor&3"F %hen reading m& articleF that he did not care a<out m& arguments. Ma&<e he therefore also missed the arguments regarding -mmianus MarcellinusF 6aterculus Eeronensis and Goffart. Steinacher claims in his final section ,page 3#9. that the Heruls did not origin from Scandina)ia and did not return. * could agree in that statementF <ut it is am<iguous and apparentl& he still does not <elie)e the& %ent to Thule. He Luoted Goffart and %anted to follo% him. /ut Goffart had another purpose and Steinacher did not notice that Goffart in his note 333 regarded the remar@ <& Jordanes a<out Heruls and Banes to <e a recent e)ent. That implicates that the Heruls %ere in Scandina)ia in the 3 th centur&F ma@ing Steinacher selfcontradicting3# %ith the %ell'@no%n attitude caused <& eDaggerated source criticism: What I am not able to explain did not happen. The Hourne&sF ho%e)erF are %ell attested and their later disappearance in Thule is eDplained <& the main conclusion of -leDander Sarantis: ; $he integrated barbarians tend to be neglected barbarians=.
33 3"

3#

The arguments regarding the $estern Heruls are descri<ed in 9hapter 1.1.2.2. Steinacher Luoted in his note "" a discussion of the $icingas of $idsith 7 found in chapter 3.".1of this %or@ 7 completel& out of its conteDt. *t is a part of the eDplanation that the author of $idsith ma& ha)e @no%n the stor& a<out the Banes and Heruls told <& Jordanes 7 <ut %ithout using their original name. *t is a part of the main chapter 3F %hich in the preface is told to <e an attempt to eDplain ho% the name of the Heruls could disappear in Scandina)iaF <ut it %as clearl& stressed that ;these observations shall not be used as a proof for a Herulic presence in -candinavia.= He has eDplained that mista@e later as a fear that their migration histor& in that case could <e used <& right %ings 7 in %hich * dou<t as the Heruls %ere no Scandina)ians 7 <ut * ha)e recei)ed his apolog&. His remar@s at page 3#3'3#" and his %a& to refer to m& article in his note 133 must implicate that he does not <elie)e the& %ent to Thule. 2e)ertheless the discussion he promised at those pages against their presence in Scandina)ia in the 3th centur& is a<sent in the final section. *t ma& loo@ li@e the editor has remo)ed some <lunders in the final section in a clums& %a&.

"3

The Heruls 1.%.1., 7eneral contradictions : their num)er

- general contradiction has <een that Herulian soldier' and pirate'@ings %ere not a<le to esta<lish a ne% hierarchical le)el in this %ide region. The total population in Gppland and surroundings %as assumed to <e around 1!.!!!'3!.!!! at that time %hile H&enstrand in 197" assumed "!.!!! in the %hole 6a@e M?lar Ealle& eDcl. 2?r@e ,H&enstrand 1993. in the end of the *ron -ges. This corresponds to 1.#!!'8.!!! men <eing a<le to fight in that @ind of societ&. $e ha)e to remem<er that parts of Gppland %ere ne% territor& at that time due to the fall of the sea'le)el. (rocopius toldF that the Heruls in the Banu<e'area <ecame their neigh<ours superior in num<er and in po%er. The <attle against the 6om<ards %ea@ened the Heruls percepti<l&F <ut his reference to the interference of God sho%ed us his moti)e to eDaggerate the )ictor& of the 6om<ards. $e do not @no% the relati)e difference <et%een the t%o splitting groups after the <attle in #!8'!9F <ut since man& of ro&al <lood %ent north and the *ll&rian group ,;some of the Heruls=. had to send for a @ing thereF it %as a su<stantial group. 6ater the >omans under -nastasius held a massacre on the *ll&rian HerulsF <ut still the& %ere at least 3.!!! _ 1.#!! Q ".#!! %arriors in #"8-B33. The& %ere e)en more %arriors than that as the imperial group consisting of 1.#!! mem<ers in #"8 -B %ere 3.!!! mercenaries in ##3-B 7 <eing an important unit in the arm& of 2arses. The group %as still )er& interesting to Justinian and (rocopius 37F so it is o<)ious that the group of Heruls crossing the *ster in #12-B %ere )er& po%erful 7 and that must count for the group around the ro&al famil& too. The figures of (rocopius should in this case <e relia<le due to his professional roleF as this %as the actual num<er of soldiers in their o%n arm&. *t is impossi<le to guess their num<er of %arriors in S%eden %hich could <e all <et%een #!! and #.!!! %arriors. The Luestion is also ho% much it %ill tell us as militar& strength is not Hust a Luestion of num<ersF <ut also of eLuipmentF trainingF attitudeF organisation and leadership ' demonstrated <& the relati)el& lo% num<ers of soldiers used <& the >omans at 6imes ,3!.!!!. and <& Theodoric ,2!.!!!.. *t has to <e consideredF that the Heruls %ere trained <& >omans and HunsF and that the& had actual eDperiences from the Banu<e'region su<duing the other migration people 1!'2! &ears <efore. 8urthermore the& had o<ser)ed or Hoined Theodoric and Adoa@er. Ma&<e the& %ere Hoined <& follo%ers ' a1o $estern HerulsF people the& met on their %a&F suppressed people in Scandina)ia or refugees from the -lemanni from "98F the Eisigothic defeat in Gaul in #!7 or the later /&4antine eDpulsion of /ar<arians. *n 2orthern +urope in the #th centur& &oung Scandina)ian leaders full of initiati)e heading south against the %armer climate and the >oman gold or heading to +ngland in order to get their part of the remains of the >oman +mpire might ha)e caused a )acuum in leadership or a lac@ of &oung %arriors. -s mentioned the Heruls must ha)e @no%n the situation in Scandina)ia. Bid the Heruls get a strategic ad)antage mo)ing opposite the usual migrations using the Theodoric'model step%ise in the )acuum This %a& of thin@ing %as in 193" put into a gloom& perspecti)e <& the German eDpert in the GothsF 6ud%ig SchmidtF %ho %ithout @no%ing the destin& of the Heruls 7 and his o%n people 7 presented this e)aluation of the Heruls in ;Bie Astgermanen=: ;9ie Heruler waren ein echtes Herrenvolk=` The e)aluation is a<surdF <ut if the& regarded themsel)es in that %a&F the need of reha<ilitation of the ro&al famil& after the defeat in Mora)ia might together %ith a need of distance to the ne% 9hristian nations ,see <elo%. eDplain the po%er %hich urged them all the %a& to Scandina)ia ending as neigh<ours to the Gautoi. *t is a strong indicium that a neigh<our region to the Gautoi 7 Gppsala 7 for the first time in the histor& got a superior position among all the small @ingdoms of Scandina)ia at the )er& time the Heruls arri)edF %ho left
33 37

This interpretation of (rocopius is confirmed <& -leDander Sarantis ,-arantis :;<<,( %ho has descri<ed the importance of the Heruls in the armies of Justinian. Justinian persuaded the Heruls to <e 9hristiansF he used them earl& against the 2i@a're)oltF later the& %ere an important element of his arm&F and he interfered in their election of a @ing. (rocopius seems to <e )er& interested in the Heruls in spite of his disgust and he often emphasi4ed them in the arm& together %ith the 6om<ardian mercenaries. +)en the letter from Theodoric and 9assiodorus to the @ing of the Heruls ma& ha)e <een sent to the Heruls at Banu<e.

"7

The Heruls
such a position in Mora)ia38. #!! &ears later this process %as recognised againF %hen the Ei@ing -ges %ere put to an end <& the 2orman du@es from 2ormand& esta<lishing in +ngland as a ne% ruling class. 6ater the 2ormans <ecame +nglish as the population the& ruled 7 <ut for generations these ne% +nglish earls %ere still called 2ormans li@e the Heruls ma& ha)e <een called +arls. The purpose %ith these comments is not to claim that the Heruls su<dued the people of Gppland 7 Hust that it %as possi<le and that the& under all circumstances constituted a militar& force of importance. *n chapter 2.2 is presented the scenario that the& simpl& tra)elled to the eDpanding societ& in Gppland as mercenaries 7 Hust as the& had <een earlier in *tal& 7 and <ecame related to the ro&al famil& of the S)ear as their earls ,Harler..

1.%.# <onclusion
The archaeological Scandina)ian connections mentioned a<o)e are here onl& used as indications eDplaining %h& the HerulsF %ho did not %ant as&lum at the +ast >oman or Gothic 9hristiansF %ent north %ith their pagan ro&al famil&. The eDplanation is supporting the contemporar&F independent second hand reports <& Jordanes and (rocopius regarding the presence of the Heruls in Scandina)ia in the 3th centur&. This %ill lead us to the simple conclusion: There is no reason to dou<t that a group of high'ran@ing Heruls %ith their follo%ers settled some%here at the Scandina)ian (eninsula around #1! -B. The open Luestion is: $here and ho% man& -s a historian the leading eDpert in the HerulsF (rofessor -ndreas Sch%arc4 from the Gni)ersit& of EiennaF has confirmed this final conclusion regarding Scandina)ia. He has suggested that the& %ere integrated in one or more Scandina)ian peopleF <ut has left that open for the archaeologists or speculation in 2orse literature. Ho% could the leading d&nast& of this strong and feared people of %arriors disappear in Scandina)ia %ithout a trace in archaeolog& or legends That is one of the man& neglected Luestions our conclusion should lead to.

38

(rocopius told a<out the man& @ingdoms in Thule. *n ;To rede and to ro%n= S)ante 2orr descri<es a later hierarchical structure of @ingship in Scandina)ia. Ma&<e it %as caused <& the Herulian ;occupation= of @ingdom and religion.

"8

The Heruls

"9

The Heruls

The settlement in Scandinavia

#.1 ;ive @uestions )y ABe Hyenstrand

Scandina)ian historians and archaeologists ha)e ' %ith a fe% eDceptions ' ignored Jthe returnJ of the Heruls onl& <eing interested in their JScandina)ian originJ ' that in spite of the fact that onl& their arri)al in the 3th centur& is confirmed <& histor&. *nstead the su<stantial de)elopment in Scandina)ian culture in the end of the Migration -ges ,especiall& in S%eden. has <een regarded as an internal eDpansion ' in spite of its o<)iousl& international character. *n modern times first of all /irgit -rrhenius has pointed out the clear +ast Germanic influences on the first stages of the Eendel 9ultureF %hich pro<a<l& made P@e H&enstrand as@ his fi)e Luestions a<out the Heruls in 1993 ,<oth professors in archaeolog& at the Gni)ersit& of Stoc@holm.: Which connections exist = "etween Heruls and -vear> = "etween Heruls and the god Eric> = "etween Heruls and the powerful elite later called Earls> = "etween Heruls and boat graves> = "etween Heruls and unes> *n 2!!7 6otte Hedeager ,professor of archaeolog& at the Gni)ersit& of Aslo. first time presented her h&pothesis that the Huns for a short %hile in the <eginning of the #th centur& esta<lished strongholds in Scandina)ia and got a strong influence on Scandina)ian cosmolog& and iconograph& ' %hich does not conflict %ith this article. Vuite opposite she is confirming that the Scandina)ian archaeologists ha)e neglected the strong South +ast +uropean influence on Scandina)ia in those tur<ulent &earsF and that a nomadic people %ould lea)e )er& fe% direct traces. *f her h&potheses regarding the Huns are found too eDcessi)e the historicall& attested presence of their Herulic companions can eDplain her o<ser)ations. Af course the Luestions a<out the Scandina)ian h&potheses <eing indicated here ma& not <e full& ans%ered. $e cannotF ho%e)erF a)oid them in this time of change if %e %ant to descri<e the de)elopment in Scandina)ia leading to the famous Eendel +ra. H&enstrand himself found that idea o<)iousF <ut no official ans%ers ha)e e)er <een pu<lished. /elo% the intention is to ans%er the Luestions as %ell as possi<le ' <ut in another order. -fter%ards the Luestion a<out the settlement of the Heruls %ill <e ans%ered as an eDample %ith the most li@el& scenario.

#.1.1 Heruls and RunesC

#.1.1.1 The first runes

The first inscription in runesF JHar*a JF %as from around 13! -B. *t %as at a com<F pro<a<l& from 2orthern German&F <ut it %as found in a %ar <oot& in Eiemose at 8&en. Most of the runes in the >oman *ron -ges until 37# -B are concentrated around South $estern 2or%a&F 8&en and +astern Sealand ' if %e ignore the %ar <ooties in Jutland ha)ing a foreign origin. Ma&<e this pattern indicates a connection %ith the $estern part of the culture connecting HimlingOHe at +astern #!

The Heruls SealandF -)aldsnes in 2or%a& and /adelunda in the M?lar Ealle&. Apposite there are no earl& runic finds in the Herulic areas of that time eDcept a single one in Molda)ia. 9onseLuentl& there is no reason to refer the origin of the runes to the Heruls.
The runes in South +astern +urope are spread %here the +astern Heruls earlier operatedF <ut the finds are so fe% that the 2" sign 8uthar@'alpha<et %as hardl& in)ented here. *n a gra)e from the end of the second centur& -B in Ae)ra Sta<uF Appland in 2or%a& a spear point of South +astern +uropean t&pe %as found %ith the inscription J>auniHa>J ,A2 >e&nir.. -ccording to most scholars the runes %ere in)ented in Benmar@ or 2orth $estern German&F %hich could rather point at the $estern Heruls. The first 2orth +uropean letters ' pro<a<l& <eing an earl& )ersion of the runes ' from the first centur& -B ,/ernard Mees in Sto@lund 2!!3. %ere found in Bithmarschen ,Meldorph and Asterroenfeld am +ider.F and the first runes from a centur& later %ere found at the %ar <ooties in Eiemose and Thors<erg not so far north from Bithmarschen.

#.1.1.#

The ErilaR inscriptions

Turned primaril& against the south %esterl& coasts of Benmar@F 2or%a& and S%eden 1! runic inscriptions %ith Jek erila J ,;* the +ril=. are found from around "#!'##! -B. *f the %ord meant Herul it %as pro<a<l& connected %ith the $estern Heruls %ith this @ind of spread of the inscriptions. +arlier there %as no dou<t that Jerila>J %as identical %ith JHerulJ. 6ater that %as opposed <& dogmatic linguists %ho still accepted that it could ha)e <een the <ac@ground for the title JearlJ1JHarlJ. The reHection of the connection <et%een Herul and +rila> is according to the >ussian runologistF Ma@ae)F done on %rong premises as the transferral of names <et%een different language groups does not follo% the rules of linguistic e)aluation. JThe missing lin@J <et%een the 6atin1Gree@ ,H.erul and the Germanic +ril is found in the old @ingdom of the Heruls at the Banu<e in shape of the place names JHerilungoburgJ ,832 -B. and JHerilungoweldeJ. >unologists ha)e interpreted +rila> as Jrune masterJF <ut the title JearlJ is more li@el& ta@ing the militar& role and Lualifications of the Heruls into consideration. -n eDception is the fragment of a stone found in a church %all at the southern shore of the Maelar ,Str?ngn?s.. The find has <een hidden for the pu<lic for #! &ears ' claiming it %as a fa@eF %hich is no% refuted <& se)eral eDaminations. The reason %as the clear and incon)enient teDt J'rila ' wodin J. The car)ing indicates that it could <e a little &ounger than the other inscriptions. The connection <et%een the +rila> and the $oden cult is o<)ious ' <ut it also indicates a connection <et%een the Maelar region and Southern German&F %here the other earl& $oden'inscription %as found in 2ordendorf.
The name ;+rila>= in 1! runic inscriptions %as earlier %ith certaint& interpreted as ;Herul=F <ut toda& the connection is reHected <& some linguists <ecause of the missing JHJ and the transition from JuJ to JiJ %hen translating the name from 6atin to Germanic. - %or@ li@e >G-F ho%e)erF confirms the connection. Man& linguists suspect the runic J+rilarJ to deri)e from a (rotogermanic Jaerla4J ,%ith an epenthetic )o%el de)eloped to +rilar. and de)eloping to the later A2 JHarlJ as a parallel to the A2 JeorlJ and the AS ,SaDon. JerlJF <ut it has to <e stressedF that aerla4 is a reconstructed %ord <ased on a general theor& a<out an undistur<ed historical de)elopment of the languages inside a people %ithout an& historical attestation of the %ord itself. This theor& is <ased on a general <rea@ of Jaerl'J <efore 7!!-B ' <eing contradicted <& the *rish J+rellJ from 8"7 ,ma&<e deri)ing from Scandina)ian Ei@ings.. /asicall& this de)elopment is a false scenario. The >ussian scholar +.-. Ma@ae) has claimed that pro<lems %ith a de)elopment from >oman Herul to +rilar ha)e no )alue as arguments. ;+rouloi= and ;+ruli= must ha)e <een formed in earl& translations from Germanic to Gree@16atin ' not the opposite %a&. *n this process

#1

The Heruls
also a transition from JiJ to JuJ could ta@e place. Here among the >omans the name %as fro4en <& their %ritten language and used as the name of their >oman mercenaries as the +astern Heruls had no separate contact %ith the >omans the neDt 2!! &ears. $e shall remem<er that our present )ersion of ;,H.erul= is a much later translation from 6atin to the modern languages %hen the Heruls had disappeared 7 it is not a sur)i)ing Germanic )ersion and it does not necessaril& represent the Germanic pronunciation from the 3th centur&. +arlier historians claimed that the name %as deri)ed from the Gotic JhairusJ ,s%ord. %here JaiJ %ould <e pronounced JaeJF <ut that did not eDplain the JlJ. Ane of the readers of this %e<siteF >ichard (aulssonF has suggestedF that JhairusJ %as used together %ith the diminuti)e suffiD J'ilaJ as the Heruls %ere descri<ed as s%ift and lightl& armed ' %hich might indicate small s%ords opposite the hea)& Gothic %eapons. *f %e follo% this suggestionF this %ill lead us to a name <eing pronounced JHaruilaJ or JHaerulaJ follo%ing the de)elopment from Gothic JmagusJ to JmagulaJ. -s the Heruls had no %ritten language it is o<)ious that a Gree@ or >oman listening to the Goths and Heruls around 238 -B in pluralise could %rite the name as JHeruliJ or J+ruliJ. This %ould <e fro4en <& the >omans in %ritten language ' used as the name of the mercenariesF %ho %ere primaril& $estern Heruls in the "th and #th centuries. The +astern HerulsF %ho follo%ed the HunsF did not use %ritten language and in their +ast Germanic %orld the name %ould still <e JHaeruilaJF %hich might <ecome the personal name JHerilaJ used <& a ;comes= in >ome in "32 -B. -mong the -lamanni the name JHeriloJ %as @no%n. The name is also found in the -ustrian territor& of the +astern Heruls at the Banu<e in the end of the #th centur&F Herilungo<urg and Herilunge)elde. This name %as first attested in 832 -B and here the suffiD J'ingeJ1J'ungeJ representing descendants %as added39 <& people %ho did not necessaril& @no% that the suffiD J'ilaJ %as alread& a part of the name. This is pro<a<l& the same as the personal name found in $idsithF HerelingasF %hich <& man& scholars is connected %ith the Harlungen T%ins. The Harlungen'name ,in much later Germanic m&ths. <elonged to t%o <rothers <eing hanged <& +rmaneric ' and regarded to <e Heruls <& $olfram. These names are all mentioned in an article in >G- a<out the Herelingas. 8rom the 11th centur& should <e noticed the 8risian name Herloga for Harlinger 6and ,-dam of /remen ' claims of Herlingo1Herulingo as the earlier name of this peninsula are not sufficientl& attested.. *n +nglandF to %here some of the $estern Heruls possi<l& migratedF the Harle'name is %idespread and the @ing in the J%ild huntJ is @no%n as King Herla. These names attested in the Herulian en)ironment indicate that the name could ha)e <een de)eloped directl& from a Gothic JHaeruilaJ to a Germanic JHerilaJ. The pro<lem is if the JHJ could disappear in a transition from JHerilaJ to the name J+rila>J spelled in 2ordic runes ,> is the grammatical ending of a name.. Apposite the silent >oman JHJ the loss of an JHJ is unusual in GermanicF <ut as the runes %ere used in Scandina)ia <efore the Heruls arri)edF J+rila>J %as pro<a<l& %ritten <& a fe% Scandina)ians listening to +ast Germanic Heruls. -t least the change of name %as not a current change of languageF <ut a more unpredicta<le translation. Ho%e)er %e also ha)e to consider if the Heruls presenting their name in Scandina)ia %ould use an international pronunciation. -s man& of them had <een >oman mercenaries their nationalit& ma& ha)e <een influenced <& the silent >oman JHJ. -s the Heruls disappeared as a name in the 3th centur& most later scholarl& spelling ma& <e due to the traditional 6atin spelling after 33# -B %hen JHJ %as used in the name. Bue to their migrations and the translations %e cannot use the common linguistic rules to pro)e that the +rila> %as a HerulF <ut the linguistic rules do not contradict a connection in this situation. *n the neDt centuries %hen the Heruls disappeared as a separate people the name ma& ha)e changed to a title
39

(0chlarn at the Banu<e in 2i<elungengau %est of Eienna %as called Herilungo<urg in a charter of 6ud)ig the German from 832 ,including (0chlarnF Harlanden and some other to%ns.. Herilungo<urg %as pro<a<l& the old >oman campF -rilapaF %hich is hidden under (0chlarnF <eing earlier an island at an important crossing of the Banu<e. *t ma& ha)e <een used <& the Heruls as a %estern outpost %hen the& su<dued the 6ongo<ards. *n 8#3 also a Herilunge)elde %as mentioned.

#2

The Heruls
of their leading officers spread out o)er Scandina)ia. 6inguists ha)e sho%n that J+rila>J could change slo%l& to A2 J*arlJF A*rish J+rellJ ,8"7.F ASaD J+rlJ ' the last form <eing changed in A+ to J+orlJ and modern J+arlJ. This part of the de)elopment is generall& accepted. $olfram has as earlier suggested ,G0tis@a Minnen 1992. that the name %as deri)ed from the (rotogermanic JaharHaUJ ,arm&. ' <eing ma&<e e)en in this %a& connected %ith the earlier >oman )ersions of Hirri1Harii. Ho%e)er Harii ,in pluralis. could also <e Tacitus5 %a& to misunderstand JhairusJ ,in singularis. ' if this %as %hat Tacitus %rote ,Harii is ma&<e a later misunderstanding <& a %riter.F and the name in HimlingoeHeF JHarisoJF could <e deri)ed from this %ord too. *f that is correct the Gothic name J+rioulphosJ ,/le@inge: Hari%ulf1HYrulf.F mentioned <& +unapius ,8ragmenta of +unapiusF BindorfF Historici Graeci MinoresF )ol. 1F p. 2#3.F could ma@e a <ridge to <oth Gree@16atin J+rulJ and >unic J+rila>J. The earl& de)elopment might linguisticall& <e influenced <& an ethnogenesis at the /lac@ Sea ,9hapter 2. as a fe% of the Herulian names did not follo% the Germanic patternsF <ut contained *ranian1Sarmatian elements instead ,i.e. the Herulian officer 2aulo<atesF %hich %as also the name of a /osporanian @ing.. *t has to <e stressedF that the linguistic connection JherulJ ' JerilarJ ' JearlJ is still a topic <eing discussed among the scholars ' and that * ha)e no eDpertise in that matter. The 9 ,1!. @no%n ;+rilar='inscriptions7! indicate that the +rila> %as the %riter or at least the person ordering the inscription to <e %ritten. Mind& Mc6eod has in J>unes and their secretsJ ,Sto@lund 2!!3. suggested that if J+rila>J %as a titleF the inscriptions %ould ma@e sense ' i.e. leading to a possi<le translation of the Kragehul spear shaft: J* am called the follo%er of +arl -nsugislasJ 71. The Jarls %ere according to >igstula the persons in the top of the societ& @no%ing the secrets of the runesF %hich confirms a connection <et%een ;+arl= and ;+rila>=. *f the connection <et%een the %ords +rila> and +rul is confirmedF there is accordingl& a connection <et%een the Heruls and the class of earls in the societ& too. *t has to <e noticedF that the ;+rila>='inscriptions pro<a<l& originate from a short transition period ,"#!'##!-B. and that some of the 2or%egian inscriptions and ma&<e the inscription from Kragehul are dated <efore the arri)al of the Heruls of (rocopius. *f this 2or%egian dating is correct the connection <et%een Heruls and earls must <e de)eloped <& earl& Heruls in S0sdala or rather <& the $estern HerulsF %ho %ere originall& spelled %ithout ;H= <& the >omans.
7!

8rom 1 runic inscription in Benmar@F " ,#. in S%eden and # in 2or%a& ,some of the 2or%egian stones dated to the #th centur& and the rest from the 3th centur&. %e @no% the inscription +rilar in Scandina)ia ' one at Gotland spelled +rla>. Most of them are ;signatures= %ithout a specific content. 2ormall& the name of a people should onl& <e eDpected as a signatureF %hen the signing person %as not among his o%n people. *n 2or%a& %e also ha)e the inscription -irling> pro<a<l& meaning +rling. The earl& inscriptions might theoreticall& <e connected %ith the earl& ring <uttons in note 3.11.3 as the result of a Herulian )anguard or $estern Heruls )isiting Scandina)ia. *n 1977 a spear %ith the runic inscription ;+rilar= %as among the offerings of %eapons in Kragehul at 8&en. The spear should therefore <e eDpected to <elong to a mem<er of a smaller group defeated <& the local tri<e. The ne%est dating point at "!!'3!! 7 primaril& the first part due to the ornaments ,JOrgen *l@HYr.. *tems from man& centuries are miDed up in Kragehul and -r@Yologis@ 6e@si@on descri<es these spears as the later St&le **. The teDt is ;+K +>*6-> -SGG*S6-S +M GH- H+*T+= follo%ed <& an incantation or ;* +rila> 1 -su'gils am 1 Gha called=. +ril has <& some scholars <een interpreted as HerulF %hile -su'gils has <een regarded as a name consisting of -s1-nsu ,god1ancestral god. and gils1gidsel ,;hostage= or more li@el& ;arro%1<eam=.. *n Bischingen a sil)er fi<ula %as found %ith t%o runes JHorseJ and J-,n.susJ ,meaning Horse'-esir according to Krause. and one in 2ordendorf %ith J$odanF BonarF 6o@eJ. /oth are found in -lemannic territor& north of the Banu<eF <ut the& are dated in the middle of the 3th centur&. The same metrical foot is found on a <racteat from Sealand %ith a horseman dated "#!'##! and on an amulet from 6indholm in Scania dated 3th centur& 7 the latter ha)ing the inscription ;+K +>*6->=. These finds are )er& interesting in connection %ith the H&pothesis of the HerulsF <ut unfortunatel& the uncertaint& a<out the interpretation and dating of the Kragehul find and the others is so considera<leF that all possi<ilities are open.

71

#3

The Heruls
The J+rila>J'inscriptions are all eDcept one distri<uted o)er the Southern and $estern parts of Scandina)ia ' opposite the regions %here the Heruls %ere eDpected to settle according to the h&potheses of this article. This paradoD can <e eDplained in a logical %a& <& the fact that no<od& %ill or can use their nationalit& as identification among their @insmen ' these inscriptions %ere used <& Heruls <eing Ja<roadJ. Some of the Heruls are supposed to ha)e %or@ed as mercenariesF officers and ad)isors in the small Scandina)ian @ingdoms ,6u@man.. (ro<a<l& the& left their JsignaturesJ in this %a&. 9onseLuentl& the spread of the inscription %ill <e natural to <oth the +astern and the $estern Heruls. -n eDception is the fragment of a stone found in a church %all in Str?ngn?s at the southern shore of the 6a@e M?lar "! @ilometres from Gppsala. The find has <een hidden for the pu<lic for #! &ears ' claiming it %as a fa@eF %hich is no% refuted <& four eDaminations <& laserF R'ra& and 3B scanning 72. -ccording to S)en Janson it %as regarded as a fa@e <ecause it %as )er& %ell conser)ed and he concluded that the incon)enient teDt J'rila ' Wodin J %ould gi)e the scholars pu44les for &ears. The car)ing indicates that it could <e a little &ounger than the other +rila>'inscriptions as similarities %ith >0@ and Sparl0sa %ere foundF <ut the alpha<et %as still the old 8uthar@. The inscription pro)es a connection <et%een the +rila> and the $oden cult 7 and it confirms a connection <et%een the M?lar region and Gpper Banu<e'regionF %here the other earl& runic $oden'inscription %as found in 2ordendorf 7 spelling the name ;Wodan=.

#.1.1.%

The 0Drin s and the R1B Stone

8rom the #th centur& t%o runic inscriptions are @no%n from the Banu<ian region %here the +astern Heruls %ere operating. Totall& 3 runic inscriptions ha)e <een connected %ith the Astrogoths due to the s&lla<le JsJ and %ords used <& $ulfilaF <ut as the Heruls pro<a<l& spo@e the same language and the Goths had de)eloped another alpha<et at that time it is more li@el& that the runes are Scandina)ian or Herulic. The (ietrossa >ing is mentioning the name GothsF <ut ma& ha)e <een a gift or %ritten <& a Herul or Scandina)ian. The other find ' a <uc@le in (annonia opposite the mouth of >i)er March ' has the inscription J%aringsJ. -ccording to the simple logics of naming the Maerings should <e the people from MarF %hich %as the name of ri)er March according to Tacitus. That region %as the @ingdom of the Heruls under the Germanic name MaehrenF %hich li@e the J+loiJ of Jordanes meant marsh areasF corresponding in this %a& e)en %ith the later Sla)ic names Mora)a1Mora)ia. The scholars ha)e com<ined Marings %ith the Ald +nglish poem JBeorJ %hich tells: J$heodoric held in ?; #ears %aeringa "urgJ. Maeringa /urg must <e the stronghold in >a)ennaF %here the Heruls and Adoa@er %ere <esieged in t%o &ears <& Theodoric. -ccordingl& there is no reason to <elie)e that the name meant JGothsJ as man& scholars ha)e done %ithout <eing a<le to eDplain the origin of JMarJ in that case. The scholars could ha)e used this as a @e& to the interpretation of the >0@ Stone in [esterg0tlandF %hich according to the official reading <& >i@santi@)ar?m<etet is mentioning Theodoric as Jchief of seawarriorsJ ,%hich is un@no%n as a Gothic la<el. and Jfirst of %@ringsJ. The riddle <efore this inserted stan4aF ho%e)erF can <e ans%ered %ith the @ing of the HerulsF HrodolphusF %ho 9 generations earlier %as appointed J%eapon sonJ under the protection of Theodoric. *n that %a& the t%o eDpressions %ill suddenl& ma@e sense as the Heruls had <een either M?rings or pirates. *n that %a& also the neDt inserted stan4a <et%een the num<ered riddles %ill gi)e us 8 names <eing together %ith the fatherF EarinF the 9 generationsF %ho must <e the 9 missing riddles indicated <& the num<ers at the stone. The first father in this matriD of 8 names is >adulf ' (rocopios5 Hrodolphos ' and there<& the circle is closed. The name com<inations correspond in all directions. *n the first num<ered riddles at the stone Earin simpl& traced his famil& <ac@ to the %eapon son of the Germanic heroF TheodoricF and his famil& going to Scandina)ia. *n that %a& it <ecame a )er& traditional element at the memorial for a dead son ' and it %as set up according to the culture
72

8orn)?nnen nr. " 2!11. Gusta)sonF Helmer b S%antessonF Jan A.H. Str?ngn?sF S@ramle och Tomte<oda: tre urnordis@a runins@rifter. Sid. 3!3'321.

#"

The Heruls %hich a fe% decades earlier had merged at the court of 9harlemagne. *t has to <e mentioned that the interpretation of the >0@ Stone is still eagerl& discussed among the runologists. *t is all )er& simple in this %a&. The pieces of the pu44le ha)e <een %rongl& com<ined ' %ith the result that the scholars no%here %ere a<le to eDplain names and connections. $hen the +astern Heruls arri)ed to >i)er Mar,us. the& must ha)e got the <&name Marings1Maerings to distinguish them in the $est from their @insmen ' the $estern HerulsF %ho in Scandina)ia %ere @no%n as +rila>. *n Scandina)ia names and legends indicate that the +astern Heruls %ere also confused %ith the Huns the& had follo%ed.
*t is li@el& that the remar@a<le >0@ Stone ,>0@stenen. in Aesterg0tland %as raised <& descendants of the ro&al famil& of the Heruls around 8!! -B. The scholars ha)e %or@ed %ith the stone for 1"! &ears and nearl& all runes and %ords can no% <e read ' <ut there is no generall& accepted interpretation. The teDt consisting of 7#! runes is )er& complicated %ith a lot of information %hich should <e eDpected to ha)e a meaning since a man used all this effort to %rite it. - )er& simple structure in the teDtF ho%e)erF is indicated <& Jsa@umJ ,J* sa&1tellJ. follo%ed <& %ho1%here1%hich. (ro<a<l& the teDt of the stone consists of riddles and ans%ers as man& other teDts of the Ei@ing -ges ' %here the ans%ers here are hidden in the neDt riddle. The teDt and the riddles are descri<ed in a separate article to %hich the reader is referred , >0@ Stone.. Here it shall onl& <e mentioned that one of the conclusions is that Earin pro<a<l& regarded his ancestors to deri)e from the Herulian @ing HrodolphusF <eing %eapon son of the Germanic heroF Theodoric the Great. He also told that his dead son <elonged to the famil& of the JHgAldigaJ %ith di)ine roots. This famil& %ere according to the teDt ruling the Mari@a1MaringsF %hich ma& as earlier mentioned <e a name of the +astern Heruls also met as a runic inscription at a Hungarian <uc@le and in A+ Beor. - runic teDt of that age %ill al%a&s <e uncertain and of course such an interpretation %ill <e critici4ed ' at least <& scholars figthing for their o%n interpretations or Hust %anting to @eep their old m&steries ali)e. The runic JHgAld,i.gaJ is normall& translated as *ngoldings or *ng%aldingsF as the root for these names is J*ng)ald>J. *ng)ald> is also the root for Ing)e <eing the ancestor to the Inglinga'famil& ,Ing)e'8re&.. Af course %e do not @no% if the name refers to the Inglings of Gppsala and %e do not @no% if there %as a d&nast& of Inglings there. This source alone is too uncertain to sho% that the Heruls ended up as @ings in Gppsala ' <ut the presence of the name as the connecting lin@ <et%een the 2orse gods and a famil& claiming to deri)e from the Herulian @ing Hrodolphus is )er& interesting. Gnder all circumstances a connection <et%een the Heruls and the famil& of Earin in +astern G0taland in the 9th centur& %ill not rule out the possi<ilit& that the Heruls settled in Gppsala in the 3th centur&. -ccording to the sagas the ro&al famil& in Gppsala spread out laterF and this is supported <& the contemporar& Sparl0sa Stone in $estern G0taland referring to a father sitting in Gppsala and ro&al names similar %ith the names in Inglingasaga.

#.1.1.!

Rune stones in /leBin e

*n /le@inge the three rune stones at 6ister and the /H0r@etorp'stone ha)e traditionall& <een com<ined %ith the Heruls. The& are from the transition period <et%een the 2"' and 13'sign futhar@sF and the& are conseLuentl& dated to the time #!!'7!! -B. The connection %ith the Heruls has primaril& <een <ased on the repeated com<inations of the names Hari%ulf ' Hathu%ulf ' Heru%ulf. *n that %a& %e do not ha)e the same certaint& as on the >0@ StoneF <ut the odd sentence Jput staves ? fffJ at the Gummarp Stone %ill eDplain an uneDplained sign at the >0@ StoneF %hich all the runologists agree should <e a JthJ. The sign is com<ined <& fff and a re)erse fffF %hich can ##

The Heruls mean JthJ ,3F3 in ciffercode.. JfffJ must <e a religious incantation li@e the %ord Jfuthar@J %here the JfJ is the first sign ' and is in that %a& it %ill <e a common cultic feature <et%een the stones in /le@inge and >0@.
*t is often claimed ,since )on 8riesen and *)ar 6indL)ist. that the rune stones around 6isterland in /le@inge ,*sta<&F Stentoften and Gummarp. %ith the names JHari%ulfJF JHacu%ulfJ and JHYru%ulfJ %ere Herulic. That cannot <e pro)edF <ut the names of the famil& mem<ers are constructed in the same %a& as the names at the >0@ StoneF J>aculfJF JHraiculfJ and J>u@ulfJ. 8urthermore the Gummarp'inscription contains 3 JfJs as a possi<le parallel to the 3 JfJs in line 21 at the >0@ Stone. -s earlier mentioned JHari%ulfJ %as pro<a<l& the Gothic name in Gree@F J+rioulphosJ.

#.1.1.*

Ether runes after *+, .D

-fter the Heruls arri)ed to Scandina)iaF the spread of the runes changed. The& %ere no% spread in Scandina)iaF +nglandF 8risia and north of the upper Banu<e ' correlating the areas %here the +astern and $estern Herulian d&nasties esta<lished after the defeats in Southern +urope. 8rom that time the first runes are found mentioning $odin in the Maelar Ealle& and at the Gpper Banu<e.
8rom #!! -B to 8!! -B the old runic inscriptions %ith 2" characters %ere slo%l& su<stituted <& the 13 sign 8uthar@ ' a change %hich is contemporar& %ith a change in the Scandina)ian languagesF as some linguists called the 3th centur& the most storm& centur& of 2ordic language. *t should <e noticed that the onl& high concentration of runes outside Scandina)ia increased as late as in the 3 th and 7th centur& around the Gpper Banu<e among the -lemanni and /a)arians 7 pro<a<l& %hen these pagan people <ro@e their ties %ith their 8ran@ish so)ereigns in 338 -B and struggled for independence. Buring the 8 th centur& the& %ere reduced to pro)inces of 8rancia again and %ere <aptised73. This %as the time %hen also St&le ** %as found in -llemaniaF 6om<ardia and +ngland and mem<ers of the Herulian families ruled in /a)aria and 6om<ardia. $e ma& %onder %h& the more efficient %ritten languages from the South and from +ngland did not reach Scandina)ia for #!! &earsF <ut the eDplanation ma& <e found in >igsthulaF %here the runes %ere descri<ed as magic runes controlled <& the earls ' ma&<e confirmed <& the Sparl0sa'stone and the man& incantations on %eapons. 2e)ertheless the <ac@ground for the runes %as pro<a<l& )er& prosaic as messages car)ed in %ood ,Eenantius 8ortinatus in the 3th centur&.F <ut %e cannot eDclude that the pagan 2ordic earls did not %ant to gi)e up the eDclusi)e po%er pro)ided <& a %ritten language ' especiall& as general reading supported the 9hristian <elief. Gnder all circumstances a common languageF JBanish TongueJF %as said to <e used in the Ei@ing -ges and the simplification of the runes from 2" to 13 characters ma& support that.
+arl& finds of runes are @no%n from JutlandF <ut their place of origin is un@no%nF though man& scholars point at Southern Scandina)iaF %here most of the earl& runes are found. The other high concentration is found in -lemannic and /a)arian territor& at the Gpper Banu<e ,(rimaril& in the S%a<ian -lps.F <ut this isolated group %as from ##!' 8!! -B. The 13'sign 8uthar@ of the Ei@ings %as first seen in Scandina)ia around #!!F and in the neDt 2!! &ears it totall& succeeded the old 2" sign 8uthar@. The (ietrossa'ring and the runes of +astern +urope ' including the fe% runes at the /lac@ Sea ' are found concentrated near the earl& Gothic centres. *n German& there is a concentration of runes in the Gpper Banu<ian areaF <ut the& are later than the Migration (eriod. - tri<e tra)elling as a part of the Goths might <e the <est eDplanation. +)en as the runes are found near the route of the HerulsF there is no clear connectionF <ut the ne% 13'sign form might ha)e <een de)eloped <& the Heruls. The histor& of the runes is too uncertain to <e used hereF <ut more a<out runes can <e read at -rilds runes and the lin@s found there. The language connected to the runes in Scandina)ia demonstrate a de)elopment similar to the runes. The 3th centur& is <& Scandina)ian linguists called Jthe storm& centur& in the histor& of the Scandina)ian languagesJ introducing the s&ncopeF the )o%el mutations and the <rea@. Ho%e)er this also happened in other Germanic languages ' some%here a little earlier ,Eemund S@ard..

73

#3

The Heruls #.1.1.5 The personal names

Ather names should <e noticed too. Achus is pro<a<l& a 6atini4ed Hoch ,/eo%ulf1$idsith. or Hau@1Ha@eF and -ordus is a 6atini4ed Hord ' <eing ma&<e deri)ed from the Harudes in Jutland and 2or%a&. This name is pro<a<l& also found in (rocopiusT Herulic names -ruth and -ruphus 7 <eing under all circumstances the same name as the runic Haruth at the >0@ Stone. The ro&al Herulian names HrodolphusF -laric and Haruth and the Gothic Theodoric and +ric are all found at the t%o runestones in >0@ and Sparl0sa from around 8!! -B. These runestones are found in the G0talandsF <ut as Sparl0sa refers to their father sitting in Gppsala this does not point at the G0talands as the place of the final Herulian settlement 3!! &ears earlier. -lso the Gothic +rioulphos as Hari%ulf in /le@inge and the Herulian Herila as +rilar are as mentioned pointing that %a&F %hile the earlier Hariso in HimlingoeHe and 9onstan4a can onl& <e a rele)ant connection if it %as caused <& the $estern Heruls. $e shall ho%e)er <e a%are that Germanic names %ere often <ased on the same roots.

#.1.1.-

The ans&er

/ased on the arguments a<o)e %e must conclude that there is no reason to <elie)e that the Heruls in)ented the runesF <ut the pattern of spread indicates that the& %ere some of the later usersF %ho spread the runes.

#.1.# Heruls and EarlsC

#.1.#.1 3iels 9uBman and /arFi 7uFmundsson

The Banish scholarF 2iels 6u@manF ela<orated in 19"3 in his doctoral thesis on the theor& that the Heruls <ecame earls in the Banish @ingdoms. He suggested that their families <rought the man& legends from 9entral and South +astern +urope to Scandina)ia. He %rote in German during the German occupation of Benmar@ gi)ing his theories no future in Benmar@ in the follo%ing decades. *n 19#9F ho%e)erF he %as supported <& the national *celandic antiLuarianF /arCi GuCmundssonF %ho connected a transfer of Herulic legends to the *celandic sagas %ith +ast Scandina)ian settlers at $estern *celand. Since then no scholars ha)e used these theories as the fol@lorists are of the opinion that legends cannot <e remem<ered for so man& &ears. -s %e are tal@ing a<out distorted fragments this argument %ill onl& %or@ as a reHection of the sagas as historical sourcesF and 6otte Hedeager has pointed out the similarit& <et%een man& of these legends and the archaeolog&. Some of the theories of 2iels 6u@man are discussed in chapter 3.1.3. *t should <e mentioned that also +lias $essXn supported the idea that the Heruls <rought %ith them the +ast Germanic legends in 2orse literature. #.1.#.# . liBely explanation

$ithout using the legends as an argument it must <e a fact that the $est Herulian officers and mercenaries lost an important source of income %hen the $est >oman emperor left +ngland and his empire later collapsed. The& had to find %or@ else%here. *n the "#!5ies -B the& performed the )i@ing raids against SpainF <ut such ships could Hust as li@el& <ring them north. -t that time the ne% Scandina)ian @ingdoms emerged %ith an o<)ious mar@et for the eDperienced Herulic officers as militar& ad)isors and arm& commandors. ThoseF %ho did not Hoin the -nglo'SaDons to +ngland in the same roleF %ould hardl& lea)e out that possi<ilit&. (ro<a<l& the J+@ erila>J inscriptions shall #7

The Heruls <e regarded as their Jcarte de )isiteJ ' and it is no surpriseF if the& <rought $odin %ith them as the Str?ngn?s'inscription indicate. Their role leads to the titles JHarlJ in Scandina)ia and JeorlJ in +ngland ' and in this %a& the %ell@no%n cultural connection <et%een these areas ma& ha)e <een esta<lished. -fter the defeat of Adoa@er also +astern Herulian mercenaries ma& ha)e follo%ed the trade route against north pla&ing the same role as their @insmen. -n eDample of such a role model in the legends could <e the Star@ad figure ' Ster@edius %as e)en the name of an +ast Germanic officer in >ome. *n the Eendel +ra in Gppland a more formali4ed structure of earls %as apparentl& esta<lished ' s&m<oli4ed <& the ring s%ords ,an earlier 8ran@ish tradition. and the golden ringsF as sho%n a<o)e at the helmet plate ,matric. from Thorslunda. #.1.#.% The ans&er

*t is )er& li@el& that the title Harl1earl has a <ac@ground in Herulian mercenar& officers ' e)en %ithout using the linguistic <ac@ground as an argument ' <ut it is not possi<le to pro)e that.

#.1.% Heruls and SvearC

#.1.%.1 The eneral development in Scandinavia !++'5++ .D

*n the first half of the #th centur& the golden <racteates appeared. Some of the 9'<racteates %ere apparentl& connected %ith the cult of Adin. Soon after the sacrifices disappeared from the <ogs and the <urial customs %ere changed to flat <urials and especiall& cremations directl& in the field. Together these changes could indicate a change in religionF %here the Germanic $othen during the neDt t%o centuries spread from south %est and <ecame the 2orse god Adin. *n the 3th centur& ne% greater @ingdoms emerged 7 i.e. the Banes %ere no% mentioned for the first time <& Southern historians in 3 cases. The militar& eLuipment <ecame more uniform and %as more rapidl& and contemporaril& changed. The <urial mounds had in a fe% cases <een used in 2or%a& and H0gomF <ut no% the <ig ro&al mounds %ere raised in S%eden ' %ith the mounds in Gppsala as the greatest. -lso 6eHre %as esta<lished in the 3th centur& as a small cop& of Gppsala ma@ing no% among the @no%n settlements Gppaa@reF 6eHre and ma&<e Gudme the most important centres of the Banes. -lso the first <oat gra)es appeared in the second part of the 3th centur& ' especiall& in GpplandF %here the& are supposed to represent a ne% structure of )assals or earls. The& are a s&m<ol of the Eendel 9ultureF %here Gppland emerged as the po%er centre of Scandina)ia. *n this period of change +urope %as also hit <& a climatic catastrophe %ith Jthe three dar@ &earsJ #33'#38 follo%ed <& Jthe disease of JustinianJ. *n that period especiall& the Scandina)ian famine must ha)e %ea@ened the old d&nasties connected %ith the failing fertilit& gods ' <eing an ad)antage to the ne% Adinistic %arrior d&nasties as the Heruls. -rchaeolog& indicates a connection <et%een the Eendel 9ultureF the -nglian part of +nglandF Southern German& and 6om<ardia ' such as identical pictorial moti)es at the helmetsF -nimal St&le **F runes and the name $oden ,no runes and $oden'names in 6om<ardia.. That spread is identical %ith the last places %here %e heard a<out Herulic d&nasties outside Scandina)ia. The spread could indicate d&nastical connections <et%een these places. Apposite the militar& #8

The Heruls eLuipment %as nearl& the same in all the Germanic societies.
The mo)ements and the split'up of the arm& of the Hunnic -ttila and the Germanic migrations to +ngland %ere follo%ed <& significant changes and formations of ne% people. This has %ithout dou<t caused a more diffuse archaeological pattern in +urope in the &ears after "#! -B. Moreo)er the Germanic people along the >oman <orders and the mercenaries %or@ing closel& together in the >oman armies got a more homogeneous characterF ma@ing it e)en more difficult to identif& the indi)idual people 7 especiall& %hen anal&sing ro&al gra)es as the& %ere also influenced <& political marriages. 6anguageF econom&F the earlier *ron 9urtain and different educational and scholarl& traditions ma& ha)e caused man& Scandina)ian lin@s to point at the %ell documented %estern reference groupF the Mero)ings. The finds in the mound of 9hilderic in the /elgian Tournai from "82 -B are regarded as a model for the ro&al eLuipment n the follo%ing generationsF <ut the ne% empire of the Mero)ings should rather <e regarded to <e esta<lished %ith the <aptism of 9lode%eg in "93 -B. 9hilderic should <e regarded as one of the Germanic mercenar&'@ings 7 the >oman foederati. The 9hristian 8ran@ish societ& <ecame during the 3th centur& a cultural centreF <ut <efore the Herulian settlement in S%eden the Heruls had the same characteristics as the other Germanic people follo%ing the Huns. -s eDample the finds made in the 94ec@ish /lucina tom< in the former Herulian territor& are <oth similar %ith and contemporar& %ith the tom< of 9hilderic. The $estern Heruls %ere close to the /ata)es in +ngland in the " th centur&F <ut the /ata)es Hoined the 8ran@s later in the #th centur&. $e do not @no% for sure %hat happened to the $estern Heruls <ut it is o<)ious that ne% <loc@s %ere formed %ith the 9hristian 8ran@s and the people the& su<dued along the >hine at one side and at the other side the pagan people ending up in the <igger groups of 8risiansF SaDons and Banes. The %a& the ThuringiansF -lemanni and /urgundians %ere treated must ha)e influenced the northern people. The& %e no friendsF <ut it is o<)ious that the pagans had to follo% and cop& their strong enem& in their de)elopment of %eapons and militar& organisation. The +astern Heruls could not <e separated <& archaeological characteristics at the @no%n li)ingplaces in the #th centur&F <ut +ast Germanic people did of course ha)e certain other characteristics than the Scandina)ians. *t isF ho%e)erF important to reali4e that the migration of the Heruls of (rocopius should not <e eDpected to cause a significant +ast Germanic impact on Scandina)ian archaeolog&. The& %ere a militar& force 7 not a cultural trend setter. *n Benmar@ the significant )oti)e gifts ceased in the moorsF and <oth in Benmar@ and S%eden numerous golden treasures from the pre)ious period %ere deposited in the dr& soil ' including destructed cultic o<Hects. This ma& <e the <ac@ground for the in)ention of some legends of dragons defending golden treasures 7". 2earl& all the gold disappeared eDcept gilded sil)er and the thin gold foil figures ,guldgu<<er. normall& found close to the mar@et places. *n 1993 P@e H&enstrand summari4ed these general changes in S%eden. 7#
7" 7#

This supernatural protection is descri<ed in e.g. /eo%ulf. -t page 119 in J6eHonetF dra@en and @orsetJ H&enstrand %rote that in the Migration -ges ' primaril& in the 3th centur& ' se)eral important changes too@ placeF %hich should <e regarded in connection %ith the changes in +urope ,he Luoted especiall& Jordanes and (rocopius regarding the Heruls.: 9hanges in the settlements ,especiall& in the M?lar Ealle& and on Gotland. Befended %or@shop areas ,especiall& in the M?lar Ealle& and Aesterg0tland.. 9ulmination of Helg0. 9ham<er <urials. /urial mounds ,a.e. Gppsala and H0gom.. 9hanges in <urial customs. /oat gra)es. S&m<ols regarding horsemen. Afferings of gold ,especiall& E?sterg0tland.. Golden <racteates. *ron production. $ar <ooties ,S%edish a.e. 8innestorp and Eenne<o.. -nimal st&le * b **. >une stones.

#9

The Heruls
The richness of a societ&F ho%e)erF %ill not necessaril& <e re)ealed <& the finds in the ground as a Scandina)ian societ& %ould ne)er %aste the imported metals eDcept due to accidentsF hiding for enemiesF religious reasons or a special need for a manifestation of po%er. The Banish archaeologist Morten -D<oe has recentl& suggested that some of the Banish hoards %ere offerings to the gods due to a <ad har)est in #33'#38F %hich is the latest date of these hoards ,especiall& the eDpensi)e fi<ulas %ith <racteates li@e KitnYs.M-D<oe 2!!7N. The purpose could also <e hiding due to plunderings follo%ing the <ad har)estF %hich is supposed to <e caused <& dust in the air from a )olcanic eruption in the 8ar +astF <ut the com<ination of fi<ulas and <racteates is in that case too uniform. Gnder all circumstances some of the general changes shall <e regarded in connection %ith the famine caused <& this e)entF %hich %ould support a %ar'li@e people li@e the Heruls. *f the latest dating of the mounds in Gppland M6Hung@)ist 2!!#N is correct this ma& e)en eDplain such a Herulic ta@e'o)er in Gppsala. The dar@ &ears %ere follo%ed <& a plague raging +urope Hust <efore ##! -BF <ut man& archaeologists dou<t it had an& impact in Scandina)ia as no signs of the <lac@ rats spreading the disease are found in the eDca)ations. #.1.%.1.1 /racteates

Most of the <racteates are Scandina)ian. The& %ere inspired <& >oman coinsF <ut in the middle of the #th centur& the& appeared in South $estern Scandina)ia %ith a<stract pictures ' pro<a<l& connected %ith the ne% $othan 9ult. Standard t&pes of ornamentation co)er most of the <racteates <eing called -' to 8' <racteates. -ccording to statistics presented <& Mats Malmer MMalmer 1933N especiall& one t&pe called 9**a1 can <e found in South +astern +urope ,12 out of the 23 items in +astern +urope.F <ut this t&pe is also %idespread all o)er Scandina)ia ,77 items in 1933. %ith a rather high concentration in Southern 2or%a&. -s the <racteates are of Scandina)ian origin and not a usual trading o<Hect the flo% must ha)e follo%ed Huns or +ast Germanic horsemen from Scandina)ia <ac@ to South +astern +urope. /ecause of the spread %e cannot tell from %here in Scandina)ia these <racteates and their carriers arri)ed. *f %e regard the similar 9**a2 <racteat a 3'<and strap %or@ used at some of these <racteates and at spear shafts in Kragehul and 2&dam %as also found in the 94e@ish Uhuran'mound ,9hapter #.". indicating ma&<e a Scandina)ian connection. These <racteates %ere found in +astern ScaniaF /ornholm and Aeland around the Hanoe /a&. The moti)e at the 9'<racteates is <& some scholars Mlatest Jensen 2!!"N regarded to <e a picture of a shamanistic Adin lea)ing his <od& ,contradicted <& a human foot at some <racteates. %hile other scholars interpret it as the stor& a<out Adin and the horse of /alder ,The Merse<urg charm.M-D<oe 2!!7N. The <racteat sho%s a head li@e an emperor and / sho%s the head at the 9'<racteates. -lso the B'<racteat could <e a s&m<olic picture of Adin at a shamanistic stage ,animals and a fe% human parts ,the ear.. ' Hust li@e it %as descri<ed <& Snorri in Inglingasaga. The t%o most o<)ious moti)es sho% T&r and /alder <eing disa<led and @illed ' their eDit as ruling gods. *t is remar@a<le that these m&ths could <e told 7!! &ears later %ithout a %ritten languageF <ut %e should also noticeF that these are the onl& @no%n m&ths a<out these gods losing their importance due to these stories. 2o of the gods <eing important at the late stage are recognised at <racteates and guldgu<<er ' eDcept ma&<e Adin and /alders horse. Their stories ma& ha)e <een currentl& changed. These <racteates ma& <e the first indication of a change of the religion ' pro<a<l& the presentation of the $est Germanic $oden as a 2orse Adin. 6ater %hen the stream of gold ceased the <racteates %ere su<stituted <& the small gold foil figures ,guldgu<<er. also %earing stamped religious moti)esF %hich ha)e not <een interpreted.

#.1.%.#

The place of arrival : /leBin e2GDrendC

-s mentioned the Heruls arri)ed to Scandina)ia from the Earni. (ro<a<l& the& %ere sailed directl& to the Scandina)ian (eninsula <& their earlier alliedF and it is most li@el& that the& landed in Scania or /le@inge %ithout an& fight against the Banes. The teDt could impl& that the& simpl& passed the
/urials %ith horses.

3!

The Heruls Banes in Scania <& <oat. $hen reading the com<ination Jordanes1(rocopios the eDplanation %ill <e that the& first settled in /le@inge1E?rend <et%een Banes and G0tes ' %hich alread& )on 8riesen pointed out <ased on archaeolog&. /eside the man& +ast Germanic finds in the area the archaeologists first of all paid attention to the rune stones in /le@inge and the first Scandina)ian <oat gra)e in the Migration -gesF %hich is situated near the rune stones. More important is pro<a<l& the glo<e stone on *nglingehoeg at ThorsH0F as the ornamentation is similar %ith +ast Germanic fi<ulas ' and the S0sdala'mount from Eenne<o sho%n a<o)e. Ma&<e the s&m<olism e)en point at the <ig monolith at the Mausoleum of Theodoric. - similar stone is found in a mound <eside to the chieftain in H0gom. The %a& to cut the hard stone %as hardl& done <& Scandina)ians as no similar %or@ is @no%n at that time in Scandina)ia ,the Gotlandic stones are of another @ind.. 9lose to *nglingehoeg the legendar& /lot<erg ,<lotQsacrifice. is found %ith 12 mounds from the *ron -ges at the small location JAdensH0J. *t is possi<le that the Heruls had a temporar& settlement in /le@inge1E?rendF <ut as the& %ere no farmers the& had no chance to li)e there ' eDcept if the& <egan looting and tri<uting the G0tes and Banes in Scania. This ma& <e the reason %h& the SH0rup St&le %as found in 8innestorp and the Banes formed a stronger alliance eDpelling the Heruls 7 and <ecame for the first time @no%n in the South. Such an e)ent ma& e)en <e reflected in /eo%ulfF $idsithF Snorre and SaDo ' though the names %ere miDed up so long time later. -ccording to (rocopius %e shall loo@ for a place further north of the Banes %here the de)elopment indicates the arri)al of such a strong people in the <eginning of the 3th centur&. *t has to <e a place generating )alues %hich could <e pic@ed up <& the HerulsF %ho according to (rocopius had li)ed of %arfareF looting and pa&ment for protection.
#.1.%.#.1 Expansion

(rocopius5 %a& to tell a<out the peaceful passing of the Banes around #12 indicates that there had <een a fight Hust as told <& JordanesF <ut in #"3 their prince fell sic@ in Benmar@ though the& could ha)e passed Benmar@ <& <oat. - de)elopment against peace had ta@en place since the eDpulsion. The archaeolog& sho%s us a change in Benmar@ around #3!'"!F and se)eral <uried hoards %ith fi<ulas and <racteates indicate a contemporar& threat. Gr&dehoeH in 6eHre indicates similar ' <ut not identical ' ro&al <urial customs in the middle of the centur& as Gppsala. There ma& <e a connection %ith the Jdar@ sunJ #33'#38F forcing the Banes to get a more peaceful relationship %ith the ne% @ingdom in Gppsala 73. There is ho%e)er no dou<t that marriage <et%een the d&nasties %as used as among the Germanic d&nasties in Southern +urope ' ma@ing the ro&al d&nasties along the Scandina)ian coasts of the /altic Sea and Kattegat one <ig famil& using all Herulian militar& ad)isors and spea@ing all JBanish tongueJ as told in the Ei@ing -ges. -t Aeland the hoards are dated so earl& that the& might <e connected to an attac@ from the horsemen in S0sdalaF Banes or othersF %hile the archaeologists at /ornholm ha)e dated the changes in GudhHem to the time of the arri)al of the Heruls of (rocopius. The @ingdom at /ornholm might therefore <e connected either to these HerulsF to Goths from the Eistula'area or to refugees from the 8ran@ish eDpansion. *n the <eginning /ornholm might <e an independent @ingdomF %hich later Hust li@e Gotland got man& characteristics in common %ith Eendel. There are no indications that Gudme or Gotland %ere attac@edF <ut Gudme lost its dominating position as the ci)ilisation disappeared in the 7th centur&. Ane of the reasons might <e that the rich trade centres made an
73

(rocopius ma& <e understood in the %a&F that the Heruls first <ecame @ings of the Banes after the )isit of the *ll&rian Heruls in #"3 ' if the& e)er did so ' <ut the peaceful histor& of the passage and dead of the first candidate indicates that the Heruls had su<dued the Banes at that time. 2otice also the remar@s a<out the fi<ulas of the KitnYs t&pe in 9hapter 3.3.

31

The Heruls
alliance %ith Eendel ' ma&<e pa&ing tri<ute to eDist in peace. 9laiming tri<ute %as the li)ing of the Heruls in Mora)ia. #.1.%.#.# Traces of the arrival of the Heruls

$hat precisel& happened in the #th centur& %ill <e assumptions as this is not eDplained <& the historical sourcesF <ut it is o<)ious that the Heruls from the @ingdom in Mora)ia %ere under all circumstances full& a%are of the situation in Scandina)iaF %hen their ro&al famil& Hoined <& a part of the people in #12 -B or three &ears earlier set out for S%eden after their great defeat. *f %e follo% the eDplanation a<o)e the migration mentioned <& (rocopius %as onl& the culmination of a long de)elopment <uilding up a net%or@ ' originall& for trade purposes. (rocopius did onl& descri<e the route <& mentioning the most important people the& passed 7 eDcept for the final goal Thule. -s the& passed the Earni ,%ho later <ecame SaDons. and the Banes the& pro<a<l& follo%ed a more %esterl& route than the 6o%er Ader ' ma&<e surprised <& man& groups of the eDpanding Sla)s in the +ast. *t is li@el& that the& esta<lished contact %ith some of the peopleF %hom 9assiodorus <efore #!7 -B tried to gather in an alliance against the 8rancs 7 HerulsF Thuringians and Earni. The passage of the Earni %as e)en mentioned <& (rocopius. He emphasi4ed the surprisingl& peaceful passage of the BanesF %hich indicates that the& did not thread Banish territor& directl& %hen the& passed ' also indicating that the hostilities mentioned <& JordanesF <ut not <& (rocopiusF too@ place at another time. The later remar@ of (rocopius appearing independent of the earlier description of geographical route Jit %as at1<eside the Gauts the arri)ing +ruli settled at that timeJ does not tell if the& settled <eside or among the G0tes. Ho%e)er Jat that timeJ indicates that the& later mo)ed a%a& from the G0tes and if this is com<ined %ith a peaceful arri)al and Jordanes5 eDpulsion <& the BanesF the Heruls must ha)e settled a first time <et%een these t%o people. The place for the first settlement %as pro<a<l& some%here in the area <et%een >ingsH0nF /olmenF E?DsH0 and -ugerum. Most li@el& the& first settled i open areas of the forests north of the plains of ScaniaF %hich %ould not upset the Banes77. -t the northern side of the forests the& had the G0tes. The SH0rup finds ma& origin from these ne% HerulsF and so could *nglingehoegF the <oat gra)e in -ugerumF the 6ister'stonesF the nec@lace in >a)lundaF the /osH0'eagle ' Hust to mention some possi<ilities in the surroundings of S0sdala pointing at +ast Germanic connections around #!! -B. This is the same region %here the <racteates %ith the Uuran'pattern %ere found and the So@olnice'st&le %as spread. The most impressi)e mound in southern S%eden is *nglinge Hoeg in E?rend %ith the remar@a<le Jglo<eJ'stone at the top. These stones are not found else%here %ith ornaments of that characterF <ut a similar stone %as as mentioned <uried in one of the other mounds in H0gom. /irger 2ermann regarded the stone as a <ron4e age stone <ecause of the ornamentsF <ut similar ornaments are found at the <racteates and fi<ulas li@e the one from BalshoeH ' the st&le is the earlier mentioned SH0rup St&le connected %ith South +astern +urope. 6ater the& spread %ith the fi<ulas along the Banu<e and are @no%n from the cur)e headed fi<ulas ' li@e the Scandina)ian BalshoeH ' and the -nastasius dish from Sutton Hoo. *n the
77

6ocal S%edish historians are tal@ing a<out Herulian finds consisting of inheritance rulesF runic inscriptions and coins in E?rend and 6isterland ,SmZland1/le@inge.. These theories %ere earlier presented <& *)ar 6indLuist and Atto )on 8riesen. *n E?rend %omen had the same rights as men in the inheritance rule li@e in >oman rules until the 13th centur&. E?rend means place %ith man& men ,earlier called Eirdar.F %hile E?@sH0 once %as EesHeo pro<a<l& deri)ing from J)iJ ,hol& place. and the <ig la@e is called JHelgasH0J %ith the island JHelg0J %here JhelgJ is Jhol&J too. *n the neigh<ourhood %e can find these names and *nges H0gF *ngelstad at TorsH0F AdensH0F AdenlandaF /orlandaF SalenF S@?ggel0saF >in@a<&F TunatorpF Ho)torpF Huse<&F 6idhemF Ei@ens)edF Ei@ensH0 and BansH0 %ith /rZ)alla. -lso an unrecorded <oat gra)e should <e found in E?rend long time ago. The onl& strong indications of Heruls in this area are ho%e)er the finds in S0sdalaF <ut dated <efore "#! -B the& must <e forerunners long time <efore the Heruls of (rocopius. Snorri mentioned a stop of Adin in Adense&F %hich he regarded as AdenseF <ut the old legend he used ma& as %ell ha)e mentioned a place li@e AdensH0 in E?rend. H&enstrand has mentioned Ho)shage ' a northern su<ur< to E?DsH0 ' as the place %ith most finds in the area ,H&enstrand 1993F page 28..

32

The Heruls
centre of the stone there is a figure %ith four corners and around this a circle %ith J<eamsJ ' ma&<e s&m<oli4ing the four corners of the %orld and the sun. *n the neDt circle 19 lilies are found and at the side of the stone the 12 a<o)e mentioned spirals are placed. The mound is not eDca)atedF <ut it is <& other archaeologists dated around #!! -B ' as are some of the gra)es around. Sune 6indLuist regarded the mound to <elong to the Gppsala'd&nast&. $est of *nglingehoeg an AdensH0 is situated and here a cliff can <e found called J/lot<ergetJ ,Affering Mountain. %ith 12 mounds from the &ounger *ron -ges on the top ,uneDca)ated.. -n old legend a<out %omen defeating the Banes %hile their hus<onds %ere in %arfare else%here is connected %ith this cliff ,a similar 94e@ish legend a<out the female %arrior Uar@a is @no%n from the 3th centur&.. -s the Heruls Jremained there on the islandJ the& settled neDt time farther a%a& from the Banes and the %a& it is eDpressed pro<a<l& also apart from the G0tes at Thule ' pointing north of the G0tes %ith Ei@enF the M?lar Ealle& or H0gom as the most li@el& possi<ilities. This northern position ma@es sense as (rocopius through the en)o& met people %ho %ere a<le to gi)e a precise description of the Saami and of the midnight sunF %hich <egins 7!! @ilometres north of Gppsala and %hich %as not descri<ed so detailed <& an& other author though the midnight sun %as alread& @no%n <& (&theas 3!! &ears /9. -lso the dela& of the en)o& due to the return to the Heruls ,<ecause of the death of the first candidate at the Banes. indicates such a position far north of the Banes. (rocopius5 focusing on the Gauts might indicate that these Gauts %ere in some %a& in)ol)ed as a target of the migration. -ssuming there %as a religious communit& <et%een the Gauts and the Goths until the -rianismF as proposed <& *ngemar 2ordgreenF it is li@el& that the HerulsF %ho had follo%ed the pagan Astrogoths until "#3 -B %ere attracted to settle in their neigh<ourhood after all their pro<lems %ith the 9hristdan Germanic tri<es. The $estern Gauts on their sideF ho%e)erF appear to ha)e had trou<les alread& %ith the +ast Germanic JforerunnersJ ,8innestorp and Eenne<o.. $hen the Heruls too@ up their old %a& of li)ing ,plundering and tri<ute. ' %hich the& had to do %hen li)ing in Smaaland1/le@inge ' the& pro)o@ed the Banes to eDpel themF and the Gauts %ould pro<a<l& support the Banes. Therefore the neDt choice of the Heruls most li@el& %as the M?lar Ealle& %ith its increasing richness due to the trade routes %ith the Helgoe' centre and the ne% methods of metal'%inning in /ergslagen ' especiall& if the northern outpost of the same trade route in H0gom %as alread& ruled <& their allies. 8rom Gppland the& could control the trade %ith furs descri<ed as )alua<le <& Jordanes. This position %as similar to Mora)ia. *n Smaaland the& do not appear to ha)e <een integrated since the& %ere eDpelled and the& ma& therefore ha)e eDpelled or su<dued a smaller people there unless the& found <arren countr&. *n the M?lar Ealle& the& o<)iousl& found a rather peaceful solution ' as eDample <& offering the S)ear militar& assistance as Gilda5s description ,#"# -B. of the SaDons and the /ritains in "#! -B ,later /ede5s Hengist'tales. ' %ith unclear archaeological conseLuences. $hen this second settlement too@ place %e do not @no%F <ut as mentioned in 9hapter 3." it pro<a<l& too@ place in the decades after #!9 -B. This is confirmed <& the missing significant archaeological signs of a settlement south of the G0tes. The onl& place found <& the archaeologists north of the Banes at ThuleF %here a societ& arose of the @ind %e should eDpect <eing influenced <& the HerulsF %as at Gppsala. GudhHem and Gotland do not fit his description of ThuleF %hich o<)iousl& %as the Scandina)ian (eninsula north of the Banes. H0gom %as pro<a<l& too far a%a& and the culture of the societ& <egan and ended up too earl&. The dating and the character indicates that the mounds in Gppsala could <e connected %ith the first mem<ers of the ro&al famil& of the Heruls in Scandina)iaF and Hust this place %as <& -dam of /remen descri<ed as the religious centre of the Adin 9ult around 1!!!-B. Some ma& %onder %h& the <oat gra)es are also found in EendelF Ealsg?rde and the ='tuna=')illagesF <ut pro<a<l& Gppsala <ecame the hol& temple area for superior priest @ingsF %hile the local )assals or rulers of S)ealand ,Harls. li)ed at strategic and con)enient places in the neigh<ourhood ' ma&<e Tuna')illages. *n the <eginning these earls ma& ha)e <een a part of the ro&al famil& in GppsalaF <ut the )er& fe% B2-'tests do not indicate that the position as earl in a certain district %as inherited.

33

The Heruls #.1.%.% The final settlementC

-ccording to the historical sources a final settlement shall <e found at the Scandina)ian (eninsula and %e shall according to (rocopius5 eDplanation a<out the Herulian delegation loo@ for a place far north of the Banes. The place shall fulfil three conditions: 1. The place shall <e generating )alues %hich could <e pic@ed up <& the HerulsF %ho according to (rocopius had li)ed of %arfareF looting and pa&ment for protection. 2. *t shall <e a place %here general changes in the 3th centur& sho%ed strong international influence. 3. $e shall find there the necessar& traces of a nomadic people of mercenaries ' <ut as in Southern +urope these traces %ill <e fe%.
#.1.%.%.1 3or&ayH 71taland and the islands

The 2or%egian %est coast could ha)e <een a target due to the connections in the #th centur&F <ut these small isolated societies flourished alread& in the #th centur& and no su<stantial eDpansion is realised in the <eginning of the 3th centur& pointing at an arri)al of the Heruls. -lso Eesterg0tland flourished alread& in the #th centur& %ith rich golden treasures and the famous golden nec@ rings. The finds pointing at +ast Germanic people are %ar <ooties indicating that the local people there %ere a<le to @eep the intruders outF <ecause these people at the S%edish plains according to Jordanes %ere used of a pressure on their <orders. Just li@e the Gudme area the& had contacts %ith the /lac@ Sea in the <eginning of the Migration -ges. The later sacrifices in 8innestorp ha)e a clear +ast Germanic touchF <ut the culture in the area still appear to <e local ' e)en though Herulian earls ma& ha)e supported the de)elopment at a later stage. - fe% scholars do no% attempt to date The Sparl0sa Stone in the 3th centur&F <ut that interpretation does hardl& %or@ as <oth the runic teDtF the house and the ship indicate a dating in the late 8th centur&. Therefore the stone cannot <e used as a proof of an earl& dating of a connection. 2either in Halland nor [sterg0tland %e @no% centres indicating the arri)al of such a people. +)en though the >0@ Stone is found there it ma& <e caused <& a <ranch of the ro&al famil& mo)ing there some time in the follo%ing 3!! &ears ' and the teDt of the Sparl0sa Stone e)en indicate such a mo)ement from Gppsala. -t [land the impressing and unusual strongholds of stone %ere erectedF <ut that too %as in the #th centur& ' as the a<o)e mentioned ci)ilisations. *f the strongholds had an&thing %ith the Heruls to do the& %ere rather pro)o@ed <& the Hunnic and +ast Germanic horsemen in the #th centur&. /esides (rocopius told the& remained in ThuleF lea)ing out also Gotland and /ornholm. -ll the places mentioned a<o)e ma& ha)e recei)ed Herulian mercenaries ' or for that sa@e Astrogoths %ho <elie)ed Scandina)ia %as their original home. This ma& <e one of the reasons <ehind the uniform militar& de)elopment in the 3th centur&.

3"

The Heruls
The eDca)ations in 8innestorp sho% )er& o<)ious traces of Heruls <eing eDamined for the moment. The finds are %ar <ooties <elonging to people %ho %ere defeated <& the local population around this central place in 8al<&gden. The possi<le connection %ith the Heruls can <e di)ided into follo%ing phases:

37#'"#" Huns and +ast Germanic horse riding %arriors ,S0sdala St&lea. "!!'##! $estern Herulian officers and mercenaries ,2&dam St&lea. "#"'#!9 Heruls %andering along the trade route ,+ast Germanic1SH0rup St&lea. #!9' Heruls li)ing <et%een Banes and G0tes ,+ast Germanic1SH0rup St&lea. a Simplifications

The first three groups are descri<ed in the chapters a<o)e. *t is also mentioned that the group around the ro&al famil& ma& ha)e plundered and tried to attac@ E?sterg0tland <efore the& %ere eDpelled <& the Banes. - )er& interesting find in 8innestorp is the <uc@le sho%ing the head of a man. /engt 2ordL)ist %ill in a ne% article argue con)incingl& for an interpretation as Adin. $hat is interesting too are the small circles at his chee@s 7 appearing to <e tattoos. Sidonius -pollinaris %rote in "78 -B %hen descri<ing the man& different people in in Toulouse: ;Here strolls the Herulian %ith his glaucious chee@s=. This is <& the scholars interpreted as <lue1green tattoos at the chee@sF <ut though it is mentioned <& Sidonius as a special mar@ of the Heruls also other Germanic people used tattoos. The circlesF ho%e)erF are Luite similar %ith the red shield mar@ of the ;Heruli Seniores= in 2otitia Bignitatum from around "1! -B. *n this %a& the t%o onl& )isi<le signs @no%n a<out the Heruls are found at this head in 8innestorp 7 most li@el& pointing at a mercenar& officer from the $estern Heruls as the o%ner. 8innestorp is in the <order area of the ;+rilar=' inscriptionsF %hich spread from the same region as the first <racteats if +rilar meant Herul. -s the s&m<ols at especiall& the 9'<racteats and some of the 8innestorp finds ma& <e similar there could <e some interesting connections here. [landF flourishing li@e Gotland in the pre)ious periodF %as characterised <& a <ig threat in the #th and 3th centur&F %here the people concentrated inside <ig stone %alls li)ing there until the 7th centur& 78. These castles appear to <e constructed <& people ha)ing <een south in +urope. -s mentioned the stream of solidi ceased earlier at [land than at the other mar@etplaces in the /altic Sea ' around "73 -B. [land must ha)e <een situated close to a people plundering their houses and spoiling their trade. $hile [land appear to <e %ea@ened around "7! -B ' as earlier mentioned ' Gotland still recei)ed solidi and the change is primaril& indicated in the end of the 3th centur&F %hen Gppland and Gotland got more finds in common. Gutesaga from Gotland indicates that the people of Gotland al%a&s %ere independentF <ut that the& once made a peace treat& %ith the @ings of S)ealand. This ma& <e a political manifestation li@e the manipulations of SaDoF <ut according to Karen HOilund such a de)elopment is pro<a<le in the end of the 3th centur&. -t /ornholm around GudhHem and S)anne@e a ne% %ealth& @ingdom %as esta<lished around #!! -B. 6ater the inspiration apparentl& <ecame Mero)ingianF <ut in the <eginning there %as also an o<)ious connection to the +ast Germanic people li)ing at the %ells of the >i)er Ader and Eistula. 6i@e a nomadic people these chieftains around GudhHem primaril& @ept cattle opposite the agriculturists dominating the island until then. 1! @ilometres against south the settlement Sorte Muld %ith the famous gold foil figures flourished as a mar@et place. -lso hill forts are found at /ornholm 7 one of them in the hills <ehind GudhHem 7 and the first Scandina)ian <oat gra)es from the >oman *ron -ges are eDca)ated at Slusegaard at the south coast of the island. The archaeologists ha)e recognised man& similarities <et%een /ornholm and the Eendel'cultureF and also the similarit& %ith the names around Gppsala should <e noticed: GudhHem ,Gudium 1#"7.F %hich means
78

9oins and fi<ulas in a1o +@etorp indicates a directl& or indirectl& connection to the Astrogoths MThe museum at +@etorpN 7 or theoreticall& to the Heruls. Glf 2?sman has demonstrated ,Militar& -spects of Scandina)ian Societ&. the ring%alls to <e spread in e)en districts all o)er the island of [land %ith the farmers cottages inside the %alls. This indicatesF that the %alls are ideas of local earlier mercenaries from the island and not caused <& an occup&ing arm&. +arlier scholars ,a.o. $erner. claim that [land %as attac@ed "8!'#!! causing a lot of hoards %ith solidi. -s a reaction against a possi<le o)erinterpretation this is reHected <& modern scholars ,a.o. Herschend..

3#

The Heruls
;Home1place of the Gods= at ;Salene /a&= north of ;Saltuna=. *n e)er& second of the to%ns %ith <oat gra)es in the Eendel'culture ;tuna= or ;sala= is a part of the nameF <ut no <oat gra)es or helmets are found until no% though the people at /ornholm %ere some of the first to use <oat gra)es at an earlier stage. /ornholm %as still a separate @ingdom in 899 according to $ulfstan. Just north of /ornholm in -ugerum in /le@inge the oldest <oat gra)e %as found. #.1.%.%.# The 0Dlar Galley

*t is o<)ious that the Maelar region fulfilled the t%o first conditions a<o)e. *t %as placed at the trade route from north ,H0gom. mentioned <& Jordanes ' the same route the Heruls had controlled in Mora)ia ' and the iron in /ergslagen %as another source of gro%ing %ealth. 8urthermore the changing le)el of the sea caused an increase of ara<le land in the region for cattle and agricultureF %hile other societies had eDhausted their land. The mounds and especiall& the content of the <oat gra)es indicate a ne% structure of the societ&. Here %e find the eDpansion the Heruls could ma@e use of according to their historical record and here %e find in the Eendel 9ulture the changes the& %ould cause. Gppsala and the Eendel 9ulture %as archaeologicall& characteri4ed as the po%er centre of the Scandina)ian (eninsula from the 3th centur& ' a culture <eing initiall& strongl& influenced <& an +ast Germanic culture %ith contact to the regions %here the Herulian d&nasties still appeared to li)e. Here /irgit -rrhenius emphasi4ed especiall& the shield <ossF a <uc@le and a mount from the Eendel <oat gra)e R*EF %hich is regarded to <e the first of the <oat gra)es. *dentical items are found at >i)er Ti4sa in >omeniaF to %here Batius escaped to the Gepides. The shield <oss is of a t&pe %hich is t&pical for Eendel in those &ears. -nother identical shield <oss is found in a tom< at the >hine containing also items of Gepidic character. The time connections ma& indicate that it <elonged to the Batius'group %here the sur)i)ors pro<a<l& ma& ha)e escaped to%ards the %est after the destruction of the Gepides and the *ll&rian Heruls in #3# -B. Eendel R*E also contained one of the famous helmets for parades. The& %ere made in Scandina)ia <ut loo@ed li@e >oman ca)alr& helmets from the #th centur& ' <elonging to people %ho pla&ed on and had a strong )eneration for a past as >oman mercenaries. The content and character of the Attars5 Mound in Eendel and ma&<e Sami'B2- in a <oat gra)e ma& indicate a connection %ith the societ& of H0gom in 2orrland <eing influenced <& +ast Germanic culture. This societ& appears to ha)e <een left in the <eginning of the 3th centur&. Apposite H0gom the mound contained a cremation. *n the ashes %as found a )er& seldom coin from the +ast >oman emperor /asiliscus ruling onl& in the &ear "73 -BF %hen Adoa@er dismissed $est >oman +mperor. This coin is also @no%n from the tom< of 9hilderic. Ma&<e the d&nast& from H0gom met their Herulic allied in Gppland and Hoined them. Here in Gppland a ne% centre of richness emerged <ased on the fur trade route )ia Helgoe and the ne% iron eDtraction in /ergslagen ' acti)ities %hich %ithout an& dou<t %ould attract the Herulian %arrior @ings. This %as eDactl& %hat the& needed. The three ro&al mounds in Gppsala are dated inside the inter)al #!!'32# -B ' %hich %as the time %hen the Heruls esta<lished in the area. The eldest mound in the middle is not eDca)atedF <ut it is @no%n to contain a cremation pac@ed %ith stones as the t%o other mounds. The +ast Mound contains a %oman and ma&<e also a <o& <urned at temperatures so high that nearl& e)er&thing in the mound %as destro&ed. -mong the fragments %as a helmet for a %oman or a child %ith a helmet plate identical %ith some of the plates in Sutton Hoo in +ast -nglia. The moti)e is dancing %arriors %ith horned helmets 7 pro<a<l& the Germanic mercenariesF 9ornutiF from the >oman arm&. *n the mound also t%o simple female articles for dail& use %ere found ' a ma@eup palette and 33

The Heruls a mirror %ith an e&e to <e hanging in the <elt. /oth <elong to the %omen of the nomads in South +astern +uropeF and the mirror is found in 1!! eDamples at the Banu<e and at the /lac@ Sea. 2orth of the Banu<ian /asin onl& t%o such mirrors are found ' one in Thuringia and the one in in Gppsala. Therefore the +ast Mound of Gppsala must contain a %oman of +ast Germanic1Sarmatian famil& ' the Herulic miDture of people. The $est Mound is the &oungest containing fragments of glass from the /lac@ SeaF i)or& gaming pieces from South +astern +urope and Sassanidian camees. The ne% cremation customs in the M?lar region are Luite opposite the old <urial customs of the Heruls as no cremations are found %here the& operated in Southern +urope. -s (rocopius could tell a<out pagan Heruls <urning their dead in <ig firesF he must ha)e descri<ed the ha<its the Heruls in Scandina)ia <eing referred <& follo%ers of Batius. The Heruls must ha)e changed their <urial customsF %hen the& %ere integrated in Scandina)iaF %hich ma& ha)e <een a part of the general changes of the <urial customs <eing o<ser)ed at that time <& archaeolog&. 2o characteristics of the Heruls are @no%n in the areas %here the& li)ed in South +astern +urope ' eDcept ma&<e the <urial mounds from the #th centur& in Mora)ia1Marchfeld <eing connected %ith Gppsala <& 94ec@ish archaeologists. The Heruls %ere ethnicall& so miDed and had Hoined so man& other people that the& cannot <e separated from other +ast Germanic people follo%ing the Huns. Ta@ing into consideration the )er& limited material <eing left from the cremations in Gppland %e can conclude that %e ha)e found all the traces %e could eDpect to find after a Herulian d&nast& and their follo%ers <eing integrated as a minorit& %ith the local people. Most of the mounds and <oat gra)es <eing eDca)ated are from more than #! &ears after the& left Mora)ia. +)en %hen the contacts after the destruction of the +ast Germanic people turned against the 8ran@s ' or rather their pagan easterl& neigh<ours ' the content of the <oat gra)es is still of the same character as the other rich +uropean princel& gra)es. Anl& local patriots ' or people caught <& the promising ideas of Alof >ud<ec@ ' can claim that the Eendel 9ulture is <ased on an internal S%edish de)elopment. Af course the flourishing of Gppsala is not an argument %hich can stand aloneF as such a people in the theor& could arise as a reaction on the arri)ing Heruls ' as the Banes. Apposite no places are found %ith a de)elopment su<stantial enough to match this dominating +ast Germanic people. *f this %as the case too much +ast Germanic influence is found in Gppsala and the <oat gra)es. -s late as in the 11th centur& this centre in Gppsala %as descri<ed <& -dam of /remen as the centre of AdinF %here AdinF Thor and the old Eanegod 8reH %ere %orshipped side <& side.
The Luestion a<out the settlement can onl& <e ans%ered <& anal&sing the archaeolog&. *n the follo%ing chapters each @ind of finds %ill <e descri<ed separatel&.
#.1.%.%.#.1

/urials ' 0ounds in Ippland (5th c.)

-round #!!'32# -B the 3 <ig ro&al mounds %ere erected in Gppsala 79. The content of the t%o &oungest
79

Most of the <ig mounds and especiall& the later <oat gra)es are found near the small ri)er 8&ris -an an its tri<utaries in Gl. GppsalaF Ealsg?rde ,3 @m a%a& from Gppsala. and Eendel ,3! @m a%a&.. Gppsala %as o<)iousl& the religious center %ith 1!!!'2!!! mounds and o%n <oat gra)esF %hile Eendel and Ealsg?rde ma& ha)e <een the seats of local @ings1earls. The eastern mound in Gppsala is from #2#'7#F the %estern from #3!'3!!F and the mound in the middle is undated M-rrhenius 1993W But4co 1993W 2orr 1998 ,mail.N. >ecentl& John 6Hung@)ist has suggested these t%o inter)als to <e ##!'3!! and #7#'32# M6Hung@)ist 2!!#N. The other mounds in the area are &oungerF <ut in the %estern part of H0gaasen at least one of the mounds is older. The mounds here contain cremations. Some of the

37

The Heruls
mounds eDca)ated until no% are small fragments <urned at a pile of %ood at )er& high temperatures. *n the eastern mound %as pro<a<l& <uried a &oung prince and1or a %oman in the t%enties. *n the %estern mound a %arrior @ing %as <uried. The cham<er in the third and earliest mound is not eDca)atedF <ut the t&pe of the inside cham<er of stone indicates a cremation too. Some of the small mounds at the hill in Gppsala are supposed to <e erected earlierF <ut the cremation in the 3 <ig mounds of a si4e not seen <efore in Scandina)ia totall& de)iate from usual <urial practise and cremation in the region. +Dcept for the si4e of the mounds and the t&pe of <urial1cremation the mounds in Gppsala %ere most li@el& inspired <& the earlier mounds in H0gom ,and ma&<e 2or%a&.. Bue to the high temperatures nearl& all artefacts in Gppsala %ere spoiltF <ut %e @no% that the cremated persons %ere supplied %ith rich giftsF horses and other animals. 6i@e in H0gom prestigious %eapons li@e s%ords do not point at the specific origin of the <uried manF as these %eapons %ere made in special %or@shops a)aila<le for all the Germanic chieftains and mercenar& officers. The& %ere pro<a<l& often used as an o<Hect of gifts. -mong the less prestigious items %ere in <oth mounds some items pointing against South +astern +urope and (ersia 8!. *n 1993 the German archaeologist /odo -n@e anal&sed the horse riding nomads of the Migration (eriod in his (hB'dissertation. Ane of the important items in his in)estigation %as a mirror %ith an e&e ,0senspiegel. <eing originall& Sarmatian. The mirror %as made for hanging in the <elt of a horse riding %oman. Totall& he found 9" mirrors %est of the /lac@ Sea and 87 of these %ere found in rich female tom<s at the lo%er and middle Banu<e and its tri<utar& ri)ers ' especiall& Tis4a and Mora)a. # %ere found %est of Mora)ia in regions %here the Huns and -lans had operated around the -lpsF and the last 2 %ere found north of Mora)ia. Af these t%o the first one %as found in Thuringia in the tom< of a %oman %ith a deformed scullF %hich as mentioned earlier is a clear indication of Sarmatian -lansF Huns or ma&<e their +ast Germanic follo%ers. The last fragment of such a mirror %as found in the eastern mound of Gppsala as the onl& one in 2orthern +urope. The mirror %as not prestigious <ut antiLue %hen the mound %as raised. - slightl& different t&pe of these mirrors is often found in the same conteDt as the So@olnice'fi<ulas from Mora)ia. *n the mound %as also found a ma@e'up palette. There is pro<a<l& onl& one reason to find such a mirror for dail& use in Gppsala: - &oung %oman cremated in the eastern mound had ancestors among the people earlier follo%ing -ttila. -t that time she %as %ith high pro<a<ilit& one of the Heruls 7 ma&<e one of Sarmatian origin. +arlier she %as regarded to <e an old %oman <eing cremated together %ith her son or master. -t that time a
settlements are older than the ro&al mounds confirming that the Suiones had li)ed here long time <efore the Eendel -ge <egan in ##!'#7! %ith a period of transition defined from #2! ' according to the archaeologists. -round #!! chemical tests sho% an increase in organic material around Sigtuna supposed to <e horse dung in the area ' <ut this might as %ell <e from cattle li@e in GudhHem at /ornholm. (rocopius descri<ed a situation %here the Southern Herulian mercenaries used horses in <attle. (ossi<l& the& had learned to use horses from the Huns and the -lansF <ut it %as impossi<le to use the horses in fight in this %a& in the 2ordic forests li@e at the open plains of Southern +urope. *n Scandina)ia the first @no%n <attle of ca)alr& %as at 8ode)ig in the 12th centur&F <ut %e ha)e much earlier pictures of soldiers fighting <& horse and the chieftains used horses for transportation alread& <efore #!! -B. The %arrior %as <uried %ith a horse in se)eral of the <oat gra)es of the Eendel periodF <ut also in GudhHem at /ornholm horses are found in the gra)es. The horse %as often used in offerings in the 2orse religion and %as regarded as an animal close to the gods. *n the &oungest %estern Gppsala mound are found " camees of sardon&D of Sassanidian originF a gaming piece of i)or& and pieces of glass ,as in /lucina. from South +astern +uropeF a golden @no< for a s%ord and cloisonne from a %or@shop in the >hine area ,Trier .. *n the eastern mound is found a fragment of the helmetplate t&pe sho%ing the dancing %arriors in %ith horned helmets ,the mercenaries 9ornuti. li@e in Ealsg?rde and Sutton Hoo. - strap%or@ %as found %ith a <and li@e in UhuranF <ut the most important find is a mirror of Sarmatian t&pe for dail& female use M-n@e 1998N. The special )ersion found in Gppsala %as found also in ThuringiaF 9arnuntumF Hungar& and >omenia. The highest concentration of these mirrors is found around the Mora)a >i)er ,the Herulian Kingdom. and around the Tis4a >i)er ,%here the Batius'group ended up.. The fe% <ones from the esca)ation in the 19th centur& are not fit for B2-'testsF <ut tests ha)e recentl& sho%ed that some of the <ones <elonged to a &oung %oman in the t%enties. ne% esca)ation is discussed according to the ne%spapers.

8!

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The Heruls
small Ha% %ith colour from metal li@e a helmet %as regarded to <elong to a teenage prince. Ho%e)er preliminar& B2-'tests from other <ones sho%ed in 2!!! a &oung %oman in the t%enties. /ecause of the fragments of a s%ord and a helmet plate a man is still assumed to <e cremated tooF <ut in 2!!3 the tom< from the 3th centur& of a tall female %arrior %earing shield and dagger %as found in 6incolnshire. -s the helmet plate in the same mound in Gppsala has a picture identical %ith the one in Sutton Hoo south of 6incolnshire a connection eDisted <et%een the customs in the t%o regions. 9onseLuentl& %e cannot eDclude that the mound %as raised to honour a %arrior Lueen ' %hich should not surprise the readers of SaDo as he mentioned such a Lueen. - fe% @ilometres south of the <oat gra)es in Eendel Attars Mound %as erected. The mound has <een eDca)ated sho%ing a cremation <urial %here the ashes %ere collected in a %ooden <uc@et. This @ind of <uc@et is onl& @no%n from the inhumation <urial in the <efore mentioned +)e<OF %here the <uc@et had another purpose. The <uc@et contained a /asiliscus coin from "7#173 %hich %ill <e commented later. The tom< is dated around #!! -BF and /irgit -rrhenius mentioned M>G- Attars MoundN that the tom< pro<a<l& <elonged to the founder of this ne% societ& ,indicated <& pollen'anal&ses to <e a ne% settlement.. *n this mound a man and a %oman %ere cremated together. She suggested as a possi<ilit& that he could <e a 2or%egian )assal of the @ings in GppsalaF <ut as the similarit& in <uc@ets can <e eDplained <& the connection +)e<O ' H0gom ' Gotland mentioned a<o)eF it is more li@el& that the connection %as H0gomF as the d&nast& left H0gom at that time. 9onseLuentl& a mo)ement from H0gom to Eendel %ill eDplain the ne% societ& in Eendel and the custom %ith mounds in Gppland 7 <ut not the societ& in Gppsala. /ig mounds from the Eendel' and Ei@ing ages are found all o)er Scandina)ia. Some of the most impressi)e are S@alundahoeg from the 7th centur& in Eesterg0taland and the <efore mentioned *nglingeh0g in E?rendF <ut the& are not connected %ith rich finds and an o<)ious ci)ilisation li@e Gppsala. /ig mounds are found o)er the most of +urope too including at the mouth of >i)er Bon and in the later 8ran@ish territor& ' and of course including the later Sutton Hoo <oat gra)e in +ngland from around 32# -B. Thus the first ne% @ings in Gppsala used a %ell'@no%n effect @no%n from Southern +uropeF <ut the custom %as @no%n in Scandina)ia too and %as used in 2or%a& and H0gom and e)en in a fe% eDamples in Gppsala. $hat %as ne% %as the si4e and the cremation in the mound inspired <& the customs of the local people. $hen <eing transferred to Gppsala cremation %as used according to the description of (rocopiusF and the later increase of the first mound in the middle indicatesF that the <ig si4e %as a ne% idea. The first mound has a )er& <ig centre of stoneF <ut later the& filled more sand on the top to ma@e it similar to the t%o later mounds %ith smaller centres of stone. 2o% the mounds got nearl& the same si4e as the contemporar& 6om<ardian mausoleum in Uhuran co)ering the earlier Herulian gra)e there. The cremations in the 3 Gppsala'mounds ma& appear to de)iate from the logic if the ne% d&nast& %ere HerulsF <ut here the description <& (rocopius support the eDplanation. (rocopius descri<ed as mentioned the death of an old Herul 7 @illed <& a dagger and <urned at a pile of %ood. This is <& (rocopius descri<ed as the old <urial ha<it of the HerulsF <ut in the last 2# &ears <efore he %rote these *ll&rian Heruls had <een 9hristians and in the regions of Mora)ia1$ein)iertel and /elgrade %here the& had li)ed since 1!!'1#! &ears ago there %ere as mentioned no cremations at all ' nor in the rest of the region. He ma& of course ha)e descri<ed a )er& old ha<itF <ut comparing %ith his usual detailed st&le and his other descriptions this does not appear to <e something from a distant past ' and %ould the& @no% that 2either the Goths had used cremation funerals for centuries since their time in (oland. -ccording to the archaeolog& the custom descri<ed <& (rocopius did ne)er eDist in Mora)ia and *ll&riaF %hen the Heruls li)ed there. Apposite %e @no% for certain that the custom at the time of (rocopius eDisted in Gppsala and the rest of S%eden. (rocopius told that the <ones after%ards %ere gathered and <uriedF and this %as eDactl& %hat happened in Gppsala %ere the <ones from the fire %ere placed in a )essel at the place of the fire and co)ered <& stones. He pro<a<l& <elie)edF that the customs he heard from the Heruls returning from the pagan S%edenF %ere also the old ha<its of the pagan Heruls ' and this is for the moment the onl& %a& to eDplainF %h& (rocopius com<ined such a description %ith the Heruls. The onl& Heruls (rocopius @ne% %orshipping openl& the old gods %ere the Heruls arri)ing from S%eden. 8urthermore (rocopius mentioned %ith surprise that the %ife of the dead man %as eDpected to ta@e her o%n life ' and in Attars Mound and ma&<e in Gppsala %omen are

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found in the ashes too.
#.1.%.%.#.# Helmets and &eapons

$hile the gra)e goods ,eDcl. /ornholm. and the finds of gold generall& disappearedF it is alread& descri<ed ho% the rich ro&al <urials too@ a <eginning in the Gppsala area ,Gppland.. -fter #!! -B the <ig mounds %ere erected 7 especiall& the Gppsala MoundsF -nunds H0g and Attars H0g. The spoilt Gr&dehOH in 6eHre from around ##!'3#! -B %as a cremation mound too and close to that in Ge)ninge a part of a JEendel' helmetJ %as found. Gnfortunatel& the gra)e goods are nearl& totall& spoilt due to the high temperatures of the fire at the <urial in <oth Gppsala and 6eHre. -round #37 -B the first <oat gra)es of the Eendel (eriod %ere esta<lished in the settlements around Gppsala 7 later also recognised in Sutton Hoo in +ast -nglia. The eLuipment in these <urials is connected %ith the special /&4antine inspired JSt&le **J %ith heads of <easts and <irds %hich flourished in Scandina)ia ' Hust li@e at the 6om<ards in *tal&81. 2ormall& the st&le is attri<uted to the -lemanniF <ut this is not clear at all. The st&le is not identical in the different regionsF <ut the local st&les had se)eral similar elements and structures in common. +speciall& in Gppland and +ast -nglia the armouring had sometimes an *ranian touch. The famous helmets found in the ship <urials of Gppland are pro<a<l& local %or@F <ut the& loo@ Luite similar %ith the >oman helmets from the #th centur& or /&4antine1Gothic helmets from "!!'##! -B. Some of the pictures at the helmet plates sho% <oar crests at the helmets. These <oar crests had the same function as the eagle heads found on >oman helmets. Similar <oar crested helmets are alread& found as pictures at the much earlier Gundestrup EesselF <ut this is regarded to <e a 9eltic )essel originating from Bacia1Thracia. The <oar crested helmet of >oar is mentioned in /eo%ulf and Inglingesaga and t%o contemporar& eDamples li@e the helmet plates in S%eden are found in the +nglish @ingdom of Mercia 82 ,+Damples.F <ut in Scandina)ia the
81

-ccording to most archaeologists the eDpansion of the so called St&le ** accelerated in the middle of the 3th centur& 7 ma&<e from the -lemanni. -ccording to Johan +ngstr0m in JThe Eendel 9hieftainsJ ,-nne 2Orgaard JOrgensen 1997. pictures in the Eendel gra)es and eLuipment often loo@s li@e *ranian armouring 7 and especiall& the cloa@s of the horned %arriors found <oth in EendelF the Gppsala Mounds and Sutton Hoo. The Heruls had at the /lac@ Sea and as mercenaries <een in contact %ith the *ranian tri<esF %ho %ere related to the -lans ' companions %ith the Heruls in the "th centur&. The 6om<ardsF %ho also adapted St&le **F had li)ed in the area of the +l< in German&F <ut later the& fought se)eral times against Herulian @ings. *n spite of thisF marriages and fello%ship in the /&4antine arm& seem to ha)e caused a reconciliation <et%een groups of these t%o tri<es ' at least %ith the *ll&rian Heruls. The helmets ha)ing a central position in the ship <urials of Eendel and Ealsg?rde are possi<l& the @e& to the understanding of the connections. The helmets are o<)iousl& produced in Scandina)iaF <ut /ertil -lmgren has in JEendeltidJ ,pu<lished 198! <& the Historical Museum of S%eden 7 and in an the english )ersion in =Eendel (eriod Studies=F 1983. demonstrated a similar appearence as the helmets from the imperial ca)alr& of >ome and the helmet in Sutton HooF %hich also has a face protection similar to a helmet from the imperial palace of /&4ans. This attitude among S%edish archaeologists is as late as in 1999 confirmed <& /urenhult in J-r@eologi i 2ordenJ and in 2o)em<er 2!!! <& S)ante 2orr in the +'list +uropean-rchaeolog&. *n ThorslundeF AelandF a die for metal foils is found sho%ing a picture of a column of %arriors %ith <oar helmets from around 3!! -BF %here the first %arrior has a ring <utton on his s%ord 7 pro<a<l& an officer1chieftain ' and the neDt %earing armringsF %hich according to /eo%ulf %ere the re%ard for the %arriors. The <oat gra)es of Gppland contain se)eral of these metal foils sho%ing %arriors %ith crested helmets loo@ing li@e <oar heads. These crests are also found on >oman helmetsF %here the crest ended in an eaglehead. -n eDample of such an eagle or griffin head ,from a standard. is found in Eiemose at 8&en. Snorri told that >olf conLuered a <oar'helmet from -dils of GppsalaF and as mentioned /eo%ulf told a<out the golden helmet %ith the <oar crest <elonging to the ;S@&ldings=F <ut none of the eDca)ated helmets %ear at the first )ie% this crest 7 onl& found as pictures on the metal foil plates of the helmets. The difference <et%een the crests of the real helmets and the crests pictured at the helmet plates forced Greta -r%idson ,Eendeltid. to consider if these helmet plates %ere >oman ' <ut pro<a<l& this is contradicted <& the die from AelandF the Sparl0sa runestone ,note 1!.3.3. and finds in Mercia ,2ottingham area. of t%o helmets %ith <oar crests ' /ent& Grange ,1837. and as late as in 1997 a JSpangenhelmetJ in 2orthhamptonshire ea hrefQJhttp:11%%%.angelc&nn.org.u@1histor&^helmet.htmlJ targetQJruteJf,Homepage -ngelc&nn.e1af. Man& helmet

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The Heruls
real crests are more st&li4ed. The poems and %or@s ' %ritten do%n much later and therefore dou<ted ' are in this %a& confirmed <& the archaeolog&. The dou<le'edged ring <utton s%ordsF @no%n from the <elt >a)enna'SaDon&'2orthern 8ran@iaF %ere also found in chieftain <urials in Scandina)ia and +nglandF %hile a simple cop& of the light single'edged ScramasaD %as found all o)er Scandina)ia. The ring <utton is regarded as a s&m<ol of an officer5s oat to the @ing 7 used in man& Germanic societies. The Banish archaeologist -nne 2oergaard Joergensen descri<es a change in militar& s&stems around #!! against international uniform %eapon sets changing fast all o)er Scandina)ia 7 <ut most significantl& in the eastern parts 83. (rimaril& she refers to similar %eapon <urials in Southern German&F <ut Mero)ingian %eapon <urials as a general term are mentioned to include <urials in -ustria1Hungar& too. Apposite the de)elopment in the south eastern part of the /altic Sea no% differs from Scandina)ia 7 the old connection %ith the Goths in that region had pro<a<l& ceased %hen the Sla)s settled there.

plates are foundF <ut the same moti)es of animals and oldfashioned %arriors are repeated again and again 7 pointing into the past. Some of the helmets in Eendel are also identified as the Spangenhelmet't&peF and loo@ing at the <oars from Mercia com<ined %ith the Aeland die it is o<)ious that the crests of the later Eendel helmets and the one of Sutton Hoo are also st&li4ed animals 7 pro<a<l& sna@es or dragons. $e @no% that the <oar %as a sacred animal connected %ith 8re& in 2orse m&tholog&F and possi<l& also earlier connected %ith the fertilit& cult and *ng. - )er& earl& eDample of t%o <oar helmets and one %ith a <ird %ere sho%n at the Gundestrup Eessel #!! &ears earlier. This could indicateF that the helmets had nothing to do %ith the arri)ing HerulsF <ut the Gundestrup Eessel is no% regarded as a Thracian %or@ from !'1!!/9 originating from Thracian19eltic tri<es in the 6o%er Banu<e area near the /lac@ Sea ' possi<l& <rought home <& 9im<rians. -lso a coin %ith a <oar helmet %as found at the Banu<e and other finds indicate that the <oar %as a common s&m<ol among the 9elts. Therefore the <oar crested helmets could <e <rought from the Banu<e area to Scandina)ia <& the Heruls. /efore the Goths left the /altic Sea Tacitus mentioned the <oar in relation to the -estis as a de)ine %eapon and protection connected to the mother of godsF so pro<a<l& also these <oar crested helmets s&m<oli4ed a di)ine protection of the %arrior. Gnder all circumstances the <oar crest helmet in the /eo%ulf poem indicate together %ith s&m<ols of po%er as the ring<utton s%ords and the golden rings common @no%ledge or traditions <et%een the courts of Mercia1+ast -ngliaF the Eendel d&nast& and >oar of 6eHre ' and the last emperors of >ome or their mercenaries. -nne 2Orgaard JOrgensen eDpressed in another connection follo%ing in ;$arrior and retinue in Germanic *ron -ge= ,2ationalmuseets -r<eHdsmar@ 1993.: J-gainst the <ac@ground of the 9ontinental inspirationF a militar& elite arose in Benmar@ as earl& as #!! -BJ. *n JMilitar& -spects of Scandina)ian Societ&J ,1997. she %roteF that around #!! -B the militar& s&stem changed from regionall&'differentiated arms to an international arming ' a so'called (an' +uropean hori4on %ith uniform sets of %eapons. -t the same time the %eapon'sacrifices %ere follo%ed <& a fe% rich %eapon'gra)esF according to %hich she in ;2Orre Sandegaard Eest= primaril& referred to <urials in South%estern German& ,>eihengr?<er.F <ut also referred to 8ran@s in general and to %eapon <urials in -ustria and Hungar&. *n 1999 she has in ;$affen und Gr?<er= <& anal&4ing the Scandina)ian <urials %ith %eaponsets demonstrated that the %eapons %ere changed often and o)er all Scandina)ia at the same time 7 especiall& in the south eastern part. The distri<ution of the dou<le'edged ring <utton s%ord in +urope is similar to the route of the Heruls and the people mentioned in 2i<elungenlied ,note 2.2.9. and the south eastern +ngland. *n Sutton Hoo there %as also a ring <utton on the shield. *n Scandina)ia the& are found in SealandF /le@ingeF G0talandF S)ealandF Ei@en ,Aslo.F Gotland and the south'%estern 8inland from #!!'7#!. 8rom an earlier phase around "#!'#!! another ring <utton t&pe of pure gold is found in GudmeF 2or%a& and the northern part of the 8ran@ish @ingdomF %hich %as Hust then under formation ,The four in Gudme %ere %ithout s%ord 7 pro<a<l& merchandise.. The ring <utton is supposed to s&m<oli4e the oath the chieftain has s%orn to his @ingF and %as pro<a<l& in Scandina)ia and +ngland the sign of dignit& to the officers of the ro&al arm& 7 o<)iousl& inspired <& an earlier Mero)ingian use. The scramasaD <ecame the principal %eapon found in drasticall& increasing num<ers from the end of the 3th centur&. Ma&<e the Huns <rought it to +urope. *n another )ersion ,)er& fe% eDamples. the& also eDisted in Benmar@ !'2!! -B.

83

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The Heruls
#.1.%.%.#.% Shield marBs and helmet plates

*n medie)al )ersions of 2otitia Bignitatum from around "!! -B %e can find lists of the militar& >oman units and their shield mar@s. The ;Heruli Seniores= are found in a group of auDiliar& troops under Magistri (editum in the %estern part of the +mpire. The& are found <eside the /ata)i %hom the& Hoined in +ngland in the "th centur&. -t that time the +astern Heruls still Hoined the campaign of the Huns. The shield mar@ of the Heruli Seniores consists of %hite and red concentric circles ,%%%.gede)asen.d@1Shieldmar@s.pdf.. *n the group %e also find the 9ornuti and their fello%sF the /rachiati. The 9ornutiF %hich means ;horns=F <ecame famous in the <attle at Mil)ian /ridge in 312 -BF %here 9onstantine * %on his great )ictor& 7 and their horned helmets can <e found at the -rch of 9onstantine in >ome M-ld0fi 19#3N. -mmianus Marcellinus told a<out their dancing <efore the <attles and their %ar cr&. The horns are the shield mar@ of i.e. the 9ornutiF the /rachiatiF the 9eltaeF the Marcommannae and the /ata)i Juniores ,%e do not @no% a shield mar@ of Heruli Juniores.. *t ma& appear li@e the $estern Heruls Hoined a group of primaril& $est Germanic %arriors %orshipping a god %ith this featureF though their seniores used the common s&m<ol of the circles %hich ma& <e connected %ith the sun and Mithras ' <eing %orshipped among the >oman soldiers in +ngland. The interesting is that these horns are similar %ith the horned helmets at the helmet plates found in EendelF GppsalaF Sutton Hoo and -llemania. (ro<a<l& the $estern Heruls and ma&<e also the later +astern Heruls %ere mem<ers of a <rotherhood or cult among the mercenaries. An the other hand it is o<)ious that the helmet plates do not point especiall& at the Heruls. $hat is more interesting is that the shield mar@ of the Heruls has the same circles <eing found at the chee@s of the head of ;Adin= at the <uc@le in 8innestorp. -ccording to Sidonius -ppollinaris tattoos at the chee@s %ere characteristic for the $estern Heruls he met at the court of the Eisigoths in "78 -B.
#.1.%.%.#.! 9ater fi)ulas and Style II (5th c.)

*n Eendel tom< R*E containing one of the most famous helmets ,%ith a Uhuran'li@e strap %or@. a shield' <oss is found <eing identical %ith a <oss from Hodme4o)asarhel&' Kishomo@ at the Tis4a >i)er 18! @m north of /eogradF %here also 2 of the # solidi mentioned a<o)e %ere found. -s the Gepides %ere eDpelled <& the -)ars in #37 -BF this <oss in Eendel must according to /irgit -rrhenius <e dated to #3!'#7! -B. *n <oth gra)es also identical mounts and <uc@les %ere found. -n identical shield'<oss %as found in Mor@en'Harff in 8ran@ish territor& near -achen %ith Gepidic items too. More ad)anced Shield <oss from Eendel R*E t&pes of that shield <oss %ere later de)eloped <oth at the >hine and in Eendel. The Tis4a region %as pro<a<l& the area %here the Herulian @ing Batius settled after his escape from *ll&ria around ##!F and here his %arriors must ha)e <een defeated in #37. /irgit -rrhenius primaril& used the similarities <et%een these tom<s for dating purposesF <ut she also mentioned in 1983 that important elements of the Eendel'st&le appear to come from +astern +urope. The shield <oss in Eendel R*E indicate a connection <et%een Eendel and the region %ere the Heruls of Batius disappearedF and the one at the >hine ma& <e due to refugees from the Gepidic defeat. (recious =disc'on'<o%='fi<ulas of the S@od<org1KitnYs t&pe are primaril& <ased on the Scandina)ian sLuare'headed fi<ula %ithout the +ast Germanic elementsF and such Banish fi<ulas are normall& found in hoards %ith solidi or <racteates <eing hidden <efore #"! -B. These fi<ulas possi<l& <elonged to people <eing attac@ed and su<dued <& other chieftains ' <ut as mentioned the& could <e offerings due to the <ad har)est #33'38. -t the 9ontinent the Scandina)ian fi<ulas are found at the ri)er Tis4a Ma.e. S4olno@'S4andas4ollos 12"N and at the coast of 8risiaF %here the $estern Heruls earlier li)ed. 8urthermore t%o Jdisc on <o%J'fi<ulas are found in Glpiana in Koso)o ,the militar& headLuarters of *ll&ria. in a female gra)e &ounger than #38. The fi<ulas %ere placed in the gra)e in a %a& similar to the position of the fi<ulas in GudhHem MMihailo Milin@o)icF Gni)ersit& of /eogradN. *n GanlOseF 2orth +astern Sealand near a principal road to S%eden a piece of a cicada'fi<ula of South +ast +uropean 3th centur& origin %as found ' possi<l& as metal'scrap. These fi<ulas %ere often Hunnic.

72

The Heruls
+arlier 2ils -a<erg claimed a trading route to eDist <et%een the earl& Eendel 9ulture and the 9arpathian /asin %ithout <eing a<le to identif& it. Haseloff has later as@ed for an eDplanationF %hen he identified 1# eDamples of Scandina)ian -nimal'st&le * from the <eginning of the 3th centur& around the middle and lo%er Banu<e and Tis4a Ma.e. S4entes'2ag&heg& 8" and G&alaN. He %rote in 1982 that he %as una<le to compare <ecause of the lac@ of Scandina)ian anal&4es. He connected the finds %ith the 6om<ardsF <ut also Gepides and Herulian mercenaries %ere operating in that area of the %ithdra%ing Goths. Batius arri)ed around #"3 from Scandina)ia to the Heruls in Singidunum ,/elgrade. and he escaped later to the Gepides north of the Banu<e1Sa)a'line 7 possi<l& to the area %ith the highest concentration of Scandina)ian finds at Tis4a 18! @m north of Singidunum. *t is also o<)ious that the Herulian mercenaries had connection %ith the /&4antine militar& headLuarters in GlpianaF %here the female <urial %ith 2 disc'on'<o% fi<ulas %as found. South of the Banu<e in the area of Singidunum Germanic gra)es are foundF hereunder 2 so called Herulian gra)es in Kameno)o at the ri)er Mora)a ,in Bacia >ipenses.F <ut the fi<ulas and other artifacts in these gra)es point <oth at 6om<ardsF Gepides and /&4ans. +)en though this historicall& is @no%n as a Herulian area the gra)es are Germanic in general and do not re)eal an& special characteristics M-ttila KissF 198"N. These finds are confirming the historical information a<out Batius and his group of &oung %arriors lea)ing S%eden around #"8 -B. There is no reason to %onder a<out this attested connection <et%een Scandina)ia and the *ll&rian1Bacian region. The interesting is that some of them point so directl& at the items in Eendel R*E.
#.1.%.%.#.* Ships

The first pictures of ships using sails in Scandina)ia are dated around 3!! -B 7 earlier the picture'stones at Gotland sho)ed ro%ing <oats. - fe% picture stones dated around 3!! -B sho% a simple sail. The ships %ere the fleDi<le and sea%orth& Scandina)ian <oat t&pes. *n the >oman *ron -ges the& had <een constructed for ro%ing ,The 2&dam /oat.F and the& did not ha)e the stem and @eel necessar& for an efficient sail. -ccording to (rocopius the in)aders of +ngland did not use sails in the # th centur& M(rocopius ##3F E***F DDDN and also Sidonius -pollinaris %rote a<out the SaDons oarsmen in Gallia MSidonius E***F )iF "8!N. *n the 3'7th centur& the ships %ere changed and eLuipped %ith sails li@e the >oman sails. The ne% ships <ecame an important factorF %hen Scandina)ia %as esta<lished as a great po%er in the Ei@ing -ges.
#.1.%.%.#.5 Halls and marBetplaces

The <ig halls appear to ha)e an important function at the ro&al courts of the Scandina)ian @ingdoms ' ; mead halls= as /eo%ulf called them. The inner of the <ig hall in 6eHre is according to 8rands Herschend MHerschend 1998N arranged to function li@e the <asilica of Theodoric in MlHet. These halls ha)e no% <een found in GppsalaF S@iringssalF GppZ@reF 6eHreF TissO and Gudme a.o.. Most of the @no%n halls are dated later around 8!! -BF <ut the first hall in 6eHre is from the middle of the 3 th centur& 7 as is the temple and a hall in GppZ@re. The theories are rapidl& changing in these &ears. Small temple li@e <uildings ' pro<a<l& in more than one stoc@ ' from the 3th centur& are found in Gppaa@re and 6eHre and later at TissO. 9lose to the halls in Sealand hoards of stones are found. *n GppZ@re and Sortemuld offerings of spearheads are found at an earl& stage around #!! -B. *n the end of the *ron -ges and in the Ei@ing -ges a more standardi4ed pattern is found in Scania and Sealand %ith a hall and outside the south %estern door a fence around a temple li@e <uilding. *n 6eHre a gra)e is found inside such a hall <eing re<uild t%ice ' indicating that it %as a gra)e of a founder or rather a @ing <eing di)ini4ed li@e the S%edish +ri@ as told <& >im<ert. (ro<a<l& these groups of <uildings %ithout agricultural functions %ere the local representati)e and religious centres of a tra)elling @ing of the Banes. -nother @ind of centres %ere connected %ith craft and mar@et places. Trading acti)ities are o<)ious at the 3 island in the /altic Sea and religious ceremonies too at /ornholm. GppsalaF Ald Sigtuna and the Eendel 9ulture at 8&risaan are closel& related to the trade centre eDca)ated in 6a@e M?lar ' Helgoe1/ir@a ' %here

73

The Heruls
-nsgar )isited the @ing of the S)ear around 83!-B and 8#" -B. His <iographerF >im<ertF also mentioned another ;thing= in the @ingdom of the S)earF %hich must <e Gppsala <eing mentioned as the religious centre of Scandina)ia <& -dam of /remenF Snorri and SaDo. -ccording to the archaeolog& Gppsala and the Eendel culture appear as a significantl& stronger po%er centre than an& other @no%n cultures at the Scandina)ian (eninsula in the 3th centur&. The centre @ept its religious and commercial position until 9hristianit&. 2o other Scandina)ian centres of this character are mentioned eDcept Thietmar of Merse<urg5s %ords a<out 6eHre.
#.1.%.%.#.. summary of the archaeolo y

*n the areas at the /lac@ Sea'regionF Mora)ia and Singidunum1/elgradeF %here %e @no% %ith certaint& that the Heruls li)edF it has until no% <een impossi<le to find signs separating the Heruls %ith certaint& from their neigh<oursF and no archaeologists ha)e found common trac@s of that @ind <et%een these southern regions though %e @no% the Heruls li)ed there. The archaeolog& com<ined %ith histor& indicates that the Heruls %ere a Germanic people %ith signs common %ith the other +ast Germanic people in the region north of the -lps from 8rance to Slo)a@ia and Hungar&. The& are e)en confused %ith $est Germanic 6om<ards and Vuadi. The rich Herulian gra)es after -ttila %ere e)en hea)il& influenced <& the connection %ith the other Germanic mercenaries in the $est. Therefore an a<sence of significant trac@s of Heruls in Scandina)ia should not <e an argument against a Herulian integration there. *n Scandina)ia the archaeological finds indicate a general change ta@ing place around #!! -B %ith the first signs coming from south in the first half of the #th centur&. Ane <ranch penetrated through Jutland and spread first around Kattegat and the 2orth SeaF %hile the other <ranch affected the /altic coasts and islands %ith an o<)ious +ast Germanic stamp 7 possi<l& )ia ScaniaF /ornholm and Gotland. - connection %ith the >oman +mpire had <een o<)ious for centuries and the local armies had e)en <een eLuipped %ith >oman %eaponsF <ut around #oo -B the earlier differences <et%een the regions disappearedF a fe% strong po%er centres arose ' a.o. Gppsala ' the gold %as replaced <& sil)er and a change of the religion %as traced. 2ormall& these changes are regarded to <e due to the eDpanding Mero)ingian +mpireF <ut the st&le'elements from the South $est primaril& appeared later in the centur&F %hile the connections around #!! -B could point at the Middle Banu<ian area as %ellF as there %as no significant difference <et%een TournaiF /lucina and the Gepidic'16om<ardian finds 7 all <eing inspired <& the /&4antines. $e shall e)en eDpect to find t&pical $est Germanic signs caused <& earlier $estern Herulian mercenaries. 8urthermore the coins point against a more easterl& connection than 8ran@sF -lemanni and Goths. 2othing contradicts the changes in the first part of the 3th centur& to <e a miDture of +ast Germanic influence as in the #th centur&F adaption of general militar& s&stems from the earlier mercenaries and influence from the nearest neigh<ours in south. The a<o)e mentioned <urial traditions %ith ne% t&pes of gra)es either in moundsF <oats or plain in the fieldF the cease of the )oti)e gifts in %etlands and the increase of and the moti)es on <racteates1guldgu<<er indicate a change of religion around "#!'##! -B. The parallel inhumation and cremation could indicate that t%o religious philosophies of life continued side <& side in the same settlementsF <ut as the inhumation %as onl& connected %ith one person per generation per centre this custom %as pro<a<l& connected %ith a separate religious status of the @ing1earl. *t has to <e noticed that normall& there has ne)er <een found a conseLuent choise of cremation or inhumation in the societies of Scandina)ia ' e)en %hen the& %ere supposed to share the same religion. 6oo@ing at the 9'<racteates an Adin'shape appear to ha)e <een introduced at latest in the second part of the #th centur& -BF and these <racteates indicate a $othan eDpanding from south%est8". +Dcept for <racteates and guldgu<<er and a fe% earlier %ooden statues %ith a <ig phallusF %e do not @no% man& pictures of the 2orse gods for certain. -lread& in 83" -B the pope in a letter to Hori@ ** critici4ed that his gods %ere made <& human hands 7 <eing statues or e)en figurines li@e the one ne%l& found in 6eHre. -dam of /remen later told a<out in the temple of Gppsala. Such statues %ere pro<a<l& spoiled <& the 9hristians as SaDo descri<ed the destruction of S)ante)itF the god of the $ends.
8"

The <racteates are found <efore the Heruls arri)edF %hich can <e eDplained <& the eDpansion of the $othan'cult ' also lea)ing names li@e EoHens and Eonsild in Southern JutlandF %hile the normal Banish form is JAden'J and JAns'J. The <racteates %ere succeded <& the guldgu<<er ,gold foil figures. <eing found concentrated at mar@et places from 3!! -B and later.

7"

The Heruls
Ma&<e other pictures %ere not allo%edF Hust li@e the name of Adin %as ta<oo. 2either %ere statues allo%ed in *slam 7 de)eloped in the same centuries. Strong impulses from outside formed %ithout dou<t the changes #!!'#7!-B around Gppsala. Gnder all circumstances the <ig mounds %ith the uniLue cremation <urials and the <oat gra)es pro)e a change in the traditions of the ruling d&nasties in Scandina)ia in the first half of the centur&F and the inhumated @ings1chieftains ' ma&<e together %ith the flat cremations in the field ' a change of the religion. *t is difficult to eDplain these fast contemporar& changes of <oth religiousF st&listicF economic and d&nastic character to <e a local de)elopment so far north as the character is international %ith too man& +ast Germanic stains in the <eginning to <e a coincidence. Such signs can ne)er <e used to point out a specific ethnicit& <& archaeolog& aloneF %hich is the usual pro<lem for the archaeologistsF <ut that is not our situation this time. $e are searching the other %a& round loo@ing for the settlement of a peopleF %e @no% arri)ed some%here at a certain time 7 a settlement %hich %e should eDpect to ha)e a <oasting character of soldiers %ho had seen much stronger monumental manifestations of ro&al po%er than %e @no% in Scandina)ia. The onl& manifestations of po%er centres <eing still )isi<le in the landscape are the <ig ro&al mounds <eing raised at that time and the stone forts. $e @no% that the halls %ere used in that %a& tooF <ut this %as alread& common among the Scandina)ians and the& had a short life. That means that the places should not <e hiddenF <ut %e cannot <e sure of that. [land can pro<a<l& <e ruled out as other islands and a dating <eing too earl&. 2or%a& is too isolated for the Herulian %a& of lifeF eDcept the Ei@en'area %here there are no signs of such emerging cultures at that time. *n the same %a& the centres in the Goetalands %ere flourishing too earl&. The Banish areas in Benmar@ and Scania can <e ruled out due to the <asic historical sources. H0gom attracts attention %ith the mounds and the ro&al tom< <eing a t&picall& princel& %eapon gra)e among the Germanic tri<es of that time %ith elements pointing at a close connection %ith people follo%ing the Huns. $e cannot let out that the colonisation of Eendel %as caused <& the d&nast& from H0gom going southF <ut %e should not eDpect the Eendel 9ulture as a %hole to <e de)eloped <& that small northern societ& alone. *f the& %ere a part of that the& rather the& met their old Herulian partners in Gppland due to a rene%al of their old alliance. 8or a centur& some archaeologists ha)e pointed at /le@inge and E?rend as the settlement of the Heruls. -ccording to earl& %or@s of /irgit -rrhenius +ast Germanic finds eDist in the triangle -ugerum ' S0sdala ' E?DsH0F and the finds li@e *nglingehoegF the runestones and the <oatgra)e are mentioned a<o)eF <ut no permanent culture of that @ind is registered. H&enstrand has pointed at Ho) in E?DHoe and /olmen as a possi<le centre in the *ron -ges ' especiall& around /olmsoe and 6Hung<& ' and he mentioned that an area north of Stora Mosse indicated su<stantial changes in population in the *ron -ges MH&enstrand 1993F page 28'29N. That leads us <ac@ to the impressi)e mounds in GpplandF %hich also had the <est strategic position to the Heruls placed as it %as at the old trade route %ith access to the iron eDtraction. Here %e ha)e the signs of an international mercenar& d&nast& %ith clear +ast Germanic traces in the first generations 7 most directl& confirmed <& the presence of a Herulian or Sarmatian %oman in the +ast Mound and the shield <oss in Eendel R*E. Gnfortunatel& the cremations at high temperatures do not lea)e us %ith man& traces 7 especiall& as the num<er of Herulian gra)es has to <e small due to the minorit&. $ith the datings of the mounds presented <& John 6undL)ist the )ariations of the first general changes in Scandina)ia are up to "! &ears later than the arri)al according to (rocopiusF <ut that can <e due to the natural inter)als in ro&al <urialsF a first settlement <et%een the Banes and the Goetes or a connection %ith changes pro)o@ed <& the atmospheric dar@ening #33'#38 -B. $e canF ho%e)erF pa& much attention to impressi)e ro&al monuments in the Herulian @ingdom of Mora)ia and in GppsalaF to similarities <et%een the descriptions of deathF and to eDplanations a<out the changing <urial ha<its Hust %hen the relati)el& fe% Heruls arri)ed. $e can conclude that the <urial traditions do not

7#

The Heruls
contradict the h&pothesis that some Heruls settled in Gppsala ' <ut neither is the rest of S%eden eDcludedF though the indications there are much %ea@er. *f the ro&al famil& of the Heruls arri)ed to S%edenF %e should according to the 94ec@ish and -ustrian finds eDpect ro&al tom<s %ith gifts and inhumation <urials ' ma&<e in mounds. The original <urial t&pe of their people is primaril& recognised in H0gom and later at /ornholmF <ut if the eDplanation of the change of <urial ha<its <& (rocopius a<o)e is acceptedF the mounds and <oat gra)es point at the Gppsala region as the onl& other pro<a<le location @no%n toda&. $hile the indications in the #th centur& pointed against connections <et%een Scandina)ia and Mora)ia1Marchfeld this changed in the first half of the 3th centur& to the Banu<e1Tis4a area in Hungar&F (annonia and the old Iugosla)ia. 8rom the Eendel'period ,<eginning #3!17!. it is o<)ious that the cultural connections %ere <et%een Scandina)ia and the $estern Germanic people ' especiall& in Mercia1-nglia and around the Gpper Banu<e1>hine in Southern German& indicated <& St&le ** and runes. The& are e)en so strong that the& indicate a d&nastical connection 7 ma&<e <et%een a d&nast& of $estern Heruls and the Herulian d&nasties of (hara5s famil& or refugees from the *ll&rian Heruls. -t the +astern /ornholm also traces of refugees from the 8ran@ish eDpansion ' a.e. -lemanni or /urgundians 7 are found in cham<er gra)es. $hat should also <e noticed is the cremation at high temperatures in Gr&dehOH in 6eHre ' contemporar& ,<ut not identical. %ith the mounds in Gppsala. Ma&<e Hust a short st&le'interme44o separated <& 3!! @mF <ut the eDca)ated halls and the shared religious cults MThietmar1-dam of /remen1SnorreN indicate a later religious commonship <et%een these places. Karen HOHgaard 2ielsen has demonstrated that the artefacts %ere not identical in Gppland and Southern Scandina)ia at that time ' the& %ere not a part of the same societ& or a close trade net%or@ *t is not possi<le to eDpound the archaeolog& in an uneLui)ocal %a& <& using onl& the archaeolog&F <ut if a ;ta@e o)er= too@ place %ithout a total su<stitution of the people the archaeological signs %ould appear in the successi)e %a& descri<ed a<o)e.

#.1.%.!

The ans&er

*n the theor& the Eendel culture ma& ha)e arisen as an alliance against the Herulian d&nast& supported <& other Herulian earls. 9onseLuentl& the conclusion is <ased on the fact that no other place is found %ith su<stantial changes matching this strong people of %arriors. This does not eDclude that such a place has eDistedF e)en though it should ha)e <een indicated <& mounds. Therefore the conclusion regarding the connection <et%een Heruls and S)ear should <e: The most pro<a<le eDplanation is that the +astern Heruls settled in the Gppsala region and that their d&nast& as @ings or earls <ecame a part of the d&nast& of the S)ear. The archaeolog& does sho% the necessar& trac@s of that.

#.1.! Heruls and )oat ravesC

/oat gra)es are un@no%n in the areas %here the Heruls li)ed in the South and the& do not ma@e much practical or s&m<olic sense regarding the +ast Heruls. <oat gra)es are @no%n from /ornholm in the >oman *ron -ges and must <e regarded as a Scandina)ian de)elopment. The <oat gra)es %ere hardl& a Herulian idea. The content of the <oat gra)es in Gppland is similar %ith the content of the other pagan princel& gra)es in +urope. These customs %ere pro<a<l& in Scandina)ia com<ined %ith the <oats as a 73

The Heruls miDed <urial custom. -s mentioned /irgit -rrhenius has emphasi4ed the +ast Germanic connection %ith the earl& Eendel 9ulture ' hereunder Eendel R*E ' %here the spread of the <oat gra)es appear to <e connected %ith a structure of earls. #.1.!.1 The )oat raves

-round #3#'3!! the <oat gra)es spread in the region ' nearl& all containing inhumation of <odiesF %eapons and rich eLuipment. Most of these <oat gra)es are found in places containing <urials since the end of the >oman *ron -ges and these gra)e&ards %ere used until the Ei@ing -ges. /irgit -rrhenius MTuna och Hus<& i EendelF 2!!!N has <ased on the esca)ations around Eendel demonstrated that ne% settlements too@ place in Eendel around #"! -B. -ccording to her these settlements appear li@e Ealsg?rde to <e connected %ith the @ing in Gppsala and possi<l& the Tuna'name too ,a Tuna has eDisted in Eendel too.. /oth in Eendel and Ealsg?rde there %as in a)erage onl& one <oat gra)e per generation %ith the s@eleton of a man 7 all other gra)es at these places %ere simple cremations. *n the later Glltuna and Tuna in -lsi@e this %as not so conseLuentl& done and the <oat gra)es of Tuna in /adelunda contained onl& %omen and no men. This place is ho%e)er usuall& regarded as a cultic place since the 2nd centur&. *n Tuna in -lsi@e B2- tests ha)e sho%n @inship in the male line among t%o of the <uriedF <ut not %ith the third. The third had according to articles a male Saami among his ancestors due to an I'chromosomal allele of the mar@er BIS388 @no%n from a gra)e in 2orrland. Ho%e)er reading the (hB'dissertation of -nders G0therstroem this conclusion %as )er& uncertain as the S%edish reference sample missing this allele %as too small ,nQ37.F %hile the allele %as found in a German sample. *t %as not mentioned if this allele eDists among people of Mongolian originF and e)en if he had a male Saami among his ancestors this does not eDclude the Heruls as the& had <een in contact %ith the people of 2orthern S%eden. *n later <oo@s pu<lished in 2!!1 and 2!!3 the archaeologists from the S*E'proHect made conclusions %hich cannot <e co)ered statisticall& <& these small samples mentioned <& -nders G0therstroem ' ma&<e <ecause the <oo@s %ere <ased on seminars earlier than his dissertation %as pu<lished. Thus the <ac@ground of the third man is uncertainF <ut e)en the )er& limited num<er of tests does indicate that there %as not Hust one ruling famil&. The position %as not necessaril& inherited %hich indicates that the <oat gra)es contained )asals or militar& commandors ' as suggested <& /irgit -rrhenius regarding the earlier Attars Mound too. (rocopius description of the en)o& and the returning Batius around #"# -B sho%s that the ro&al famil& %as )isi<l& and numerousl& represented in Scandina)ia 3# &ears after their arri)alF that the& ma& ha)e had a peaceful relationship to the rulers of the Banes at that timeF and that the& had a @ind of ancestor cult sta<ili4ing the po%er of the ro&al famil&. The reason for the last statement is that this is the <est reason %h& some of the *ll&rian Heruls %ould go so far for a @ingF and it corresponds %ith the cult of Gaut1$othan1Adin. The find in Koso)o of fi<ulas li@e the one in S@od<org ,placed in the gra)e li@e the fi<ulas at /ornholm.F the finds of se)eral Scandina)ian artefacts in the Banu<e1Tis4a'area and the identical shield'<ossesF could <e a confirmation of this part of the description of (rocopius ' though these finds could theoreticall& also <e due to trade.

#.1.!.#

<remations after *5* .D

/esides the ro&al <urials in <ig mounds and nearl& in)isi<le <oat mounds a ne% ha<it %as as mentioned introduced %ith flat cremations in the field in large num<ers all o)er +astern Scandina)ia around #!! -B. *t %as primaril& the t&pe of the gra)e %hich changedF as a maHorit& of the people had all the time <een cremated. +arlier some of the rich people had <een <uried in cham<er gra)es %ithout cremation. So it %as also in 2orthern Jutland ,6indholm HoeHe. and 2or%a&F <ut in the GudhHem'area at /ornholm the& <egan to use similar flat <urials %ithout cremation 7 sometimes %ith a lo% mound of stone. *n the rest of Benmar@F

77

The Heruls
%here cremation and rich inhumation <urials %ere earlier foundF tom<s are simpl& missing after #!! -B eDcept for 6eHreTs Gr&dehoeH8# of Gppsala't&peF and a fe% eDamples %ith spatha and inhumation ,K&nd<&. ' indicating cremation directl& in the field as the ne% tradition here too. $here the soil %as suited for agriculture and %here stones for <uilding materials %ere sparse ' as in Benmar@ ' such gra)es %ere pro<a<l& spoiled later <& agriculture if the& %ere not protected <& se)eral stoneships li@e at 6indholm HoeHe. *n /ir@a a group of gra)es sho%ed inhumation in cham<ersF <ut the& are supposed to <e 9hristians or foreign merchants1craftsmen. -mong the <oat gra)es a similar num<er of cham<er gra)es eDisted %ith the same @ind of <urial as the <oat gra)es. Ta@ing onl& the a<o)e mentioned archaeological o<ser)ations in consideration the conclusion must <e that the people of the M?lar Ealle& continued their old 7 <ut earlier not conseLuent ' cremation customs. The %a& the& %ere cremated %as normall& changed from #!! -BF %hen also the <urials of the @ings <ecame clearl& separated from the people <& raising )er& <ig mounds. -fter 2'3 generations the @ing1earl %as <uried un<urned %ith full eLuipment as the onl& person in the societ&. These heads of the societ& o<)iousl& eDisted in at least 2'" parallel places in the region <eing local @ings or earls. The ro&al mounds could indicate that the change %as initiated <& a ne% d&nast& accepting the general traditions of the eDisting people <ut mar@ing the importance of the @ing %ith a <ig mound. 8irst the& totall& accepted the old cremation traditions of the people though the <urial concept %as changedF <ut %hen a ne% <alance %as esta<lished ,o<)ious due to the %ealth of the societ&. the chieftain1priest %as <uried as a person going to a ne% life ' pro<a<l& in Adin5s Ealhalla ,/irgit -rrhenius has suggested the theoretical alternati)es that this %as a cult of 8reHa ,Schoen<ec@ 199". or a sacrificeF <ut the purpose of the <urial ritual %as %ell descri<ed in /eo%ulf and the sagas. This difference continued for "!! &ears until 9hristianit& and must therefore ha)e <een due to a sta<ile status of the @ing and the religion. +Dcept for the <oats these ro&al gra)es %ere similar to the earlier ro&al pagan Germanic %eapon gra)es along the >oman <order in 9entral +uropeF <ut there his different status is not so o<)ious to o<ser)e toda& as neither his people %as cremated there. *n Scandina)ia the difference indicates a special religious role of the dead chieftain ' indicating that the southern ancestor cult <ased on $othan1Gaut %as no% esta<lished around Gppsala. The change of <urial practice has <een used as an argument against the h&potheses of this articleF <ut inhumation and cremation has eDisted side <& side in Scandina)ia all the time indicating that one religion did not necessaril& afford one single <urial practice. (rocopius description of the cremation demonstrates that the Heruls cannot <e indentified in S%eden <& their inhumation <urial custom from Mora)ia as the& could use cremation too. 6ater the& ma& ha)e found it necessar& to gi)e the @ing1chieftain in S%eden a separate status in death s&m<oli4ing an eternal life of a di)ine person ' using their old ha<its from Mora)ia and the s&m<olic Scandina)ian <oat. *n the last 1! &ears <oat gra)es are found at Sealand as the >oman *ron -ge <oat gra)es at SlusegaardF /ornholm. $hat is found in the Gppsala region ma& <e a miDture of the old Herulian inhumation <urialsF the ro&al mounds used <oth in 9entral +urope and GppsalaF and the 2ordic cremation <urials caused <& the integration of t%o people different ha<its 7 not finding the final <alance in the first round. -lso %hen the Goths %ere earlier gathered as a ne% group at Eistula a ne% <urial practice %as esta<lished. This %ill <e further discussed in 9hapter 11.# as Snorri ma& ha)e eDplained this pro<lem. $e shall not forget ho%e)erF that this could also <e a more conseLuent organisation of the old miDed customs <efore the Gppsala Mounds 7 as archaeolog& lea)es <oth possi<ilities open. Banish archaeologists ha)e mentioned similarities <et%een the -lemannic =reihengr?<er= and /ornholmF
8#

*n Gr&dehOH remains of golden clothe %ere found ,also found in Gppsala.F and the cremation resulted in the same high temperatures as in Gppsala. The gra)e is <& 91" dated around ##!'3#! -BF and a fi<ula is found in the area from the same time. 2one of the other mounds are eDca)ated eDcept the JMound of Harald HildetandJ 7 from the Stone -ges. This eDample sho%s usF that %e can not rel& on the old names of the moundsF %hich should <e noticed in Gppland too. The Jstone shipsJ of 6eHre are still dated to the Ei@ing -ges <ecause of gra)es from the iron ages underneath. *n the last decades the <ig halls from around ##!'9#! -B ha)e <een eDca)atedF <ut onl& small parts of 6eHre ha)e <een s&stematicall& eDca)ated until no%. Bo%nstreams in Ge)ninge an e&e<ro% of a helmet <eing of the same @ind as the helmets in Eendel %as found in 1999.

78

The Heruls
%here horses are found in the tom<s li@e in Eendel1Ealsg?rde1TunaF <ut also these tom<s are from the later Eendel'period. +'$'oriented Jreihengr?<erJ %ere under de)elopment in Mora)ia alread& in the #th centur&F <ut the gra)es at /ornholm could <e connected %ith other people along the >oman and 8ran@ish <orders. *n general Scandina)ian archaeologists ha)e referred to similar ro&al Mero)ingian gra)esF <ut after 9hilderic5s <urial in "82 -B the gra)es in 8rance %ere church <urials and of those onl& the gra)e of -rnegunde in St Benis around #7! -B is @no%n toda& ' containing onl& personal He%eller& as <urial gifts. The gra)es %ith precious gifts and %eapons referred to as Mero)ingian are situated in K0ln and Mor@en at the >hineF /ec@um in $estfalen and 2iederstot4ingen at the Gpper Banu<e 7 all in the eastern <order'areas of the 8ran@ish @ingdom and %ith man& artefacts of an +astern +uropean character. Mero)ingian shall in this case refer to the period and not to the 9hristian 8ran@ish people and their d&nast&.

#.1.!.%

The ans&er

The connection <et%een Heruls and <oat gra)es %ill therefore <e an indirectl& conseLuence of the earlier Luestions a<out +arls and S)ear.
*n the old settlements of the Gppsala'area ,EendelF Ealsg?rde and the ='tuna=')illages. the <oat gra)es and St&le ** first appeared 2#'7# &ears after the first Scandina)ian change of ci)ilisation in Gppsala. (ro<a<l& this demonstration of %ealth %as the result of a consolidation of the ro&al po%er and the ;earl'structure=. The ne% st&le points %as as mentioned influenced <& +ast Germanic st&leF <ut spread primaril& in the 6om<ardianF -lemannicF /a)arian and -nglo SaDon regions too. *n the t%o last regions also the Scandina)ian runes %ere spread. This could simpl& <e due to the change in +urope %hen the +ast Germanic @insmen of the Heruls disappeared from South +astern +urope 7 some of them to 6om<ardia1*talia and the >hine. The 8ran@s <ecame dominating in the trade centres along the >hineF %here former allies of the Heruls and the $estern Heruls li)ed at the eastern <an@ of the ri)er. - small part could in the theor& <e due to pagan -lemannic refugees from the 8ran@ish eDpansion follo%ing the Herulian @ing ' ma&<e from /ornholmF %hich name could indicate /urgundian refugees too. The de)elopment in Scandina)ia indicates that the Banes and the people at the islands in the /altic Sea had <etter craftsmen than the HerulsF %ho pro<a<l& had another focus in the tur<ulent &ears. /esides an original st&le of Herulic eLuipment and craft %as %ashed out <& the )agrant life together %ith other tri<es as nomadsF mercenaries and thie)es. *t %as onl& natural that the ne% miDed societ& used the impulses coming from the successful Mero)ings and their later supportersF the -lemanni after the destruction of the +ast Germanic people in #37. There is especiall& an o<)ious connection regarding the s&m<olism of po%er <et%een Gppsala and +ast -nglia1Mercia until the <eginning of the 7th centur&. /ecause of the character it %as hardl& due to tradeF <ut <ecause of a common d&nastic connection. This topic %ill <e discussed separatel& as a %hole in chapter 3.

#.1.* Heruls and Eric : the odC

#.1.*.1 The od Eric

This Luestion <& P@e H&enstrand referred to the <iograph& of -nsgar <& >im<ert %ho in the second part of the 9th centur& )isited /irca and mentioned the considerations a<out raising a dead @ing +ric to a god. H&enstrand referred to the ro&al names +ricF -lric and >olf as HerulicF <ut no Herul is @no%n <& the name +ric and all these ro&al names are formed <& general Germanic %ords. Therefore the name itself cannot <e used to identif& an& HerulsF <ut it is rele)ant to discuss the more general connection <et%een the ancestor gods and the pagan Hunnic and Germanic people 79

The Heruls li@e the Heruls 7 or the general change of religion as 6otte Hedeager has done %ith focus on the Huns.
The Germanic ending ='ric= is the same as the 6atin =reD= and indicated that the name %as ro&al. P@e H&enstrand had noticed that according to >im<ert the gods of the S)ear had announced through a man listening to their meeting: =We will agree to summon #our former 8ing Eric to *oin us so that he ma# be one of the gods= M>im<ert 1>o<inson 1921F 9hapter RRE*N. H&enstrand compared %ith Jordanes mentioning the names +ri@ and -lri@F %hich %ere also found in Inglingatal. JordanesF ho%e)er did not mention an& Herulic @ing of that name ,her referred to a Eisigoth. and Inglingatal referred to much older legends. The pro<lem is not that %e do not @no% a Herul of that name as the& pro<a<l& used it. The pro<lem is that it %as a generall& used Germanic name. 9onseLuentl& the use of it in S%eden %as not necessaril& caused <& a Herulic presence there. Gnfortunatel& H&enstrand focussed on the name instead of the principle. He should ha)e as@ed: Heruls and ancestor gods

#.1.*.#

Heruls and ancestor odsC

(rocopius told a<out the *ll&rian Heruls that these rec@less <ar<arians %orshipped a host of gods. Jordanes on his side told that the migrating Goths earlier ' <efore the& %ere <aptised as -rian 9hristians ' %orshipped the heroes among their ancestors. He told that the Gothic %ord for ancestor gods %as JansisJF %hich appear to <e the <ac@ground for the rune name JansuUJ ,God. and the di)ine group of J-sesJ. The first ancestor in JGeticaJ %as Gapt. *n the earl& ro&al genealogies in +ngland from the 7th centur& Geat and $othen %ere placed in front ' indicating a similar connection <et%een the gods and the ro&al ancestors there. Gapt and Geat %ere possi<l& identical %ith the god named GautF %ho in the A2 poem Grimnismal %as mentioned as an earlier name for Adin ' the main god of the -ses. *n spite of the mentioning of ancestor gods Jordanes also told that the %ar god of the Goths %as earlier MarsF Hust as (rocopius told that the main god in Scandina)ia %as a %ar god ,-res1Mars.. %ar god as main god %as pro<a<l& Adin ' though he %as not a real %ar god in his later shape. +arlier the gods in Scandina)ia %ere MercuriusF T&rF 2erthus and *ng according to Tacitus. The t%o last gods ma& ha)e <een fertilit& gods of the old societ& of independent farmers ' the Eanes. $hen the %arrior elite emerged83 the importance of the gods changed too. The main god of the Scandina)ian %arrior eliteF AdinF pro<a<l& first arri)ed as the $est Germanic or Hunnic inspired god $oden1$othan in the #th centur&. Ma&<e he had a parallel in a 2orth' or +ast Scandina)ian cousin Gaut. Some of his shamanistic features could e)en together %ith the animal st&les point <ac@ against the Hunnic1Sc&thic1Sarmatian nomads. The Heruls ma& ha)e <rought %ith them some of these elements of the main godF <ut he eDisted in Scandina)ia <efore their ro&al famil& arri)ed as pointed out <& 6otte Hedeager. The miDed (antheon is mainl& @no%n from the 2orse literature and %ill <e discussed in a later chapterF as it cannot <e used as arguments regarding the Heruls.
Jordanes %rote a<out the Goths: ;And because of the great victor# the# had won in this region( the# thereafter called their leaders( b# whose good fortune the# seemed to have con5uered( not mere men( but demigods( that is Ansis' $heir genealog# I shall run through briefl#( telling the lineage of each
83

6otte Hedeager has descri<ed the theor& a<out the elite of %arriors in her doctoral thesis primaril& <ased on the circumstances in Jutland. The offerings of %eapons in Jutland and 8&en indicate man& %arsF and <ased on the finds in *llerup Pdal JOrgen *l@HYr has sho%n armies penetrating from German&F 2or%a& and G0taland !'3!!. 6ater finds are also located along the Scandina)ian shores of the /altic Sea.

8!

The Heruls
''' .ow the first of these heroes( as the# themselves relate in their legends( was Gapt = MJordanes1Miero% 1921W 9hapter R***1R*EN. -rne SO<& 9hristensen has denied that -nsis %as a Gothic traditionF <ut his arguments do not lead to that conclusion 7 Hust that the @ing "!! &ears earlier %as not historicalF %hich is no surprise ,see chapter 1.3.1."... *t is Luite o<)ious that Jordanes referred to a usual ancestor religion as a parallel to the maingodsF %here he mentioned that their %ar god %as Mars: ; highl# were the Getae praised that %ars( whom the fables of poets call the god of war( was reputed to have been born among them''''.ow %ars has alwa#s been worshipped b# the Goths with cruel rites( and captives were slain as his victims = MJordanes1Miero% 1921F 9hapter EN. $hen Jordanes %rote the Goths %ere -rian 9hristiansF <ut he referred to earlier customs at a time %hen the Heruls and Goths %ere closel& related +ast Germanic peopleF %hom %e should eDpect to ha)e the same @ind of religion. $e ha)e no details a<out the gods of the HerulsF <ut (rocopius %rote the& %ere ;worshipping a great host of gods( whom it seemed to them hol# to appease even b# human sacrifices.= M(rocopius1Be%ing 1921F /oo@ E*F R*EN. -<out the religion in Scandina)ia he further %rote a<out their first capti)e in %ar: ;for the# sacrifice him to Ares whom the# regard as the greatest god = and he mentioned that the& had gods for all elements M(rocopius1Be%ing 1921F /oo@ E*F REN. Ma&<e the t%o historians could not distinguish <et%een the religions of these peopleF <ut the same @ind of religion appears to ha)e <een used <& all the other Germanic people led <& their %arrior elite. The Gothic eDpression ;ansis= is of course related to the %ords for ;ancestor=F <ut it is also )er& close to the rune ;ansuU=F %hich meant ;god= as a rune name. This linguistic connection indicates a Scandina)ian relation <et%een gods and ancestorsF %hich is further supported <& the di)ine name ;-ses=F %hich is regarded to deri)e from -nsuU. This is of course far from our %a& to regard a godF <ut it is in accordance %ith the Germanic %a& to regard the ro&al famil&. $hen the Germanic people %ere <apti4ed and got a %ritten language one of their first tas@s regarding histor& %as to set up a ro&al genealog&. -mong the first @ings in these lists %ere al%a&s found some of their earlier main gods such as GautF GeatF $othenF AdinF *ng and Thor. This %as not in order to thro% suspicion on the old religionF as claimed <& some scholarsF <ut in order not to thro% out the traditions %hich placed the right to the throne on the ro&al famil&. -ll these ro&al lists must ha)e <een manipulated for that purpose. This %as not possi<le in a religion %orshipping as eDample the sun as a god. Here the @ing could <e a representati)e or a reincarnation of the god 87. This is ma&<e the original difference <et%een the socalled Eanes from the old societies of farmers and the -ses of the %arrior elite. *n this %a& the same societ& could operate %ith more than one le)el of gods 7 as also Jordanes indicated a<o)e. GodsF %here some of them could <e placed in the ro&al genealogiesF and ancestors <eing raised as gods. *t is o<)ious that the Heruls had such a famil& since (rocopius told a<out ;ro&al <lood= and the *ll&rian Heruls searched for a @ing from the famil& 1!!! @m a%a&. -<o)e %e ha)e one eDample of the ro&al lists %here Gapt is normall& <eing regarded as a misspelling of Gaut M$olframNF the Scandina)ian god of the G0tesF as Jordanes regarded the Goths to <e S%edish Gautoi ,G0ter.. He %as pro<a<l& the same as Geat in the +nglish listsF <ut more eDamples %ill <e mentioned in a
87

-ccording to Tacitus alread& the old fertilit& cult of the *ng)iones had sacral @ings or @ingsF %ho %ere reincarnations of gods. The name Suiones ma& indicate a %orshipping of the sunF as the first part of the name deri)e from S)iF and therefore the S)ear possi<l& also had a fertilit& cult. 6ater these @ings <ecame descendants of the di)ine ancestor GautF and the same is supposed to <e the <ac@ground of the Southern Germanic god $othanF %ho %as pro<a<l& J<ornJ in the tur<ulent <order areas <et%een Germania and the >oman +mpire. /oth Gaut and $othan %ere primaril& gods of the %arriors and nomads. This change of religion ma& <e caused <& a change from agriculture to cattle1nomadic life as the climate changed or as the farmers %ere attac@ed <& enemies. The Heruls li)ed side <& side %ith Goths and -lansF %hom the& pro<a<l& %ere influenced <&. There are also o<)ious Sc&thian remains in the 2orse m&ths. 6ater on most of the Goths <ecame 9hristians ,-rians.F %hen the& met the >omans.

81

The Heruls
later chapter. /oth JordanesF >im<ert and the ro&al genealogies tell us that ancestor cults %ere a part of the Germanic religions. That is not contro)ersial at allF as the& also %ere a part of the >oman religion <efore 9hristianit&F the cult around the >oman emperors <eing raised as god after their death 7 and the cult around the earlier Scandina)ian <urial mounds. *n that %a& %e should eDpect a @ind of ancestor cult among the S)ear independentl& of a Herulic settlement in the M?lar Ealle&.

#.1.*.%

The ans&er

-pparentl& the Germanic people regarded their ro&al families as descendants of the gods ' at least %hen the -ses %ere introduced. A<)iousl& the& used to raise heroes to gods as Jordanes and >im<ert toldF <ut the& also manipulated the ro&al lists <& putting eDisting main gods in front of their ro&al genealogies ' ma&<e a part of the change of religion. Gnder all circumstances the de)elopment of the pagan religion %ith its miDture of ancestorsF -ses and Eanes appear to <e Germanic in general and %as hardl& caused <& the Heruls alone.

#.# . possi)le scenario

/ased on the most pro<a<le ans%er a possi<le scenario can <e that the +astern Heruls sailed from the Earni to /le@inge and passed the Banes %ithout suffering an& )iolence. -t the arri)al the& settled in /le@inge1E?rend ' ma&<e around ThorsH01AdinsH0. The archaeolog& indicate that there ma& alread& ha)e <een a settlement there of former allies or +ast Germanic horsemen from the earlier Hunnic eDpeditions. -s the& %ere no farmers and the local farmers %ere fe% the& had to ta@e up their usual plundering and threat of their neigh<ors. 9onseLuentl& the JBanish 2ationsJ made an alliance and threatened to do li@e the 6om<ards. The Heruls focused instead on the economic and strategic position of the S%edes ' if this %as not the final target from the )er& start. Man& com<inations of possi<ilities %ill no% lead to the same result. The @ing of the S)ear ma& ha)e called on the Heruls as professional ad)isors and mercenaries against neigh<ors threatening their eDpanding %ealth ' a pro<lem at that time for the people on the S%edish plains according to Jordanes. *t is impossi<le to sa& if the& too@ po%er or simpl& <ecame militar& commanders ,earls1Harler. in the la&er neDt to the @ing. *t %ould <e usual to ma@e an alliance <& marriageF %hich %ould place the Heruls in the top of the societ&. The& could also later use their po%er as the 9ontinental <ar<arians did in +ngland according to Gilda and /ede. -lternati)el& the Heruls and their allied from H0gom simpl& attac@ed the S)ear and too@ po%er. The& esta<lished a ne% structure of earls at the Tuna'centres and planned an efficient integration of the t%o peopleF %here <urial customsF religion etc. %ere harmoni4ed. - part of the model for such a successful esta<lishment of po%er the& had learned from Theodoric 1! &ears earlier and Adoa@erF and the& themsel)es had <een used to change customs after the people the& ser)ed or follo%ed. The difference <et%een the fiasco in *ll&ria and a possi<le success in Scandina)ia %as pro<a<l& the monotheistic character of the 9hristian religion. *t is o<)ious <& reading (rocopius that the Heruls in *ll&ria could not <e accepted as true 9hristians. Apposite told the SaDon historianF $idu@indF much later that the Scandina)ians accepted foreign gods side <& side %ith their o%n gods. The 82

The Heruls gods of the %arrior eliteF the -sesF could in that %a& <e miDed up %ith the old fertilit& gods of the S)earF the Eanes ' a de)elopment %hich had alread& started i Scandina)ia <efore the Heruls arri)ed. -s in the other Germanic people $oden and 8reH %ere placed in front of the ro&al genealog& to secure the famil&5s eDclusi)e right to the throne ' and at a later time the god $oden1Adin found his %a& into fragments of their old legends a<out the migrations of the people. 9enturies later the d&nast& spread their po%er to other @ingdoms ' or escaped that %a& ' %here the rune stones in Sparl0sa and >0@ %ere raised 3!! &ears later. *n the same %a& Inglingetal and Inglingesaga %ere later %ritten. *t is possi<le to put more details into the scenario a<o)e <& reading Inglingasaga <& Snorre and the legends a<out 8rode and G&lfe. This shallF ho%e)erF <e regarded as literature and not as historical sources as descri<ed <elo%.
$e @no% that the Heruls %ere li)ing in Scandina)ia 7 at least in the 3th centur& 7 <ut the historical sources fail to descri<e the settlement in Scandina)ia. Se)eral scenarios can <e set up eDplaining %hat happened <ased on the information and h&potheses a<o)e. *n order to sho% ho% li@el& it isF a single one %as chosen here out of se)eral possi<ilities.

#.#.1 The Journey and the motives )ehind

-s descri<ed in main chapter 1 a group of Heruls %as alread& present in Scandina)ia in the #th centur& ' pro<a<l& due to trade. Gnder all circumstances a trade route eDistedF as did a connection of %arriors <ringing the solidi to the Scandina)ian %or@shops and mar@et places. Therefore the Heruls @ne% eDactl& %hat the& %ere heading against. (rocopius indicated that the Heruls %ere among the last Goths %orshipping the old godsF and pro<a<l& their ro&al famil& <ased their po%er on an ancestor'cult %orshipping the %ar god 7 <eing GautF $othan or another name. The general political situation in #!7'!9 -B %as that the alliances of Theodoric against the 8ran@s failed. The Eisigoths %ere defeatedF the -lemanni %ere pressed up against the -lps and the Heruls suffered a disastrous defeat. 2o% the 9hristian 8ran@s and 6om<ards <egan to dominate the Germanic people. -s Theodoric had ta@en the Heruls under protection and regarded Hrodolphus as his =son in arms=F the Heruls should <e eDpected to go into eDile in *tal& at TheodoricF <ut onl& a small group %ent there according to the scholars 7 pro<a<l& <ecause the& %ere pagan and the Goths %ere -rian 9hristians. The homeless ro&al famil& of the Heruls pro<a<l& needed to settle in an area %here their old religion and their o%n ;di)ine= position %as still accepted. The legendar& JhomelandsJ of the Gauts at Scandia ,accepted <& Gothic historians of that time. %ere of course an o<)ious possi<ilit&F and later (rocopius e)en stressed that here ;the Gautoi %ere numerous=. Af course the& could find religious freedom else%hereF <ut their natural choice %ould <e to follo% the trade route %hich had gi)en them a part of their income <& taDation until no%. This should also <e possi<le further north. 8irst the& tried to follo% the EistulaF <ut here the Sla%s %ere eDpanding. Therefore the& turned against 2orth $estF <ut the& did not settle in the empt& areas %est of the Sla)s and the& did not follo% the Ader. Ma&<e the& instead )isited some of the people %ho Theodoric19assiodorus had tried to gather against the Mero)ingian @ings 7 as the& passed near to the regions %here the Thuringians and the Earni ,later a part of the SaDons. li)ed. Ma&<e groups of these people e)en follo%ed a charismatic @ing of the Heruls to%ards the dream of a religious sanctuar&. Ma&<e also pagans among the other people along the 8ran@ish <orders and e)en among the 8ran@s follo%ed the Herulian @ing going north. *n the second part of the 3th centur& archaeolog& sho%ed connections from Scandina)ia to the )er& same areas.

83

The Heruls
The @no%ledge a<out Scandina)ia from their partners up there ma& ha)e caused the migration to follo% a plan after %hich the& from an interim <ase at their alliedF the EarniF negotiated %ith the Earni and Banes a<out the right to pass the Banes on ships sailed <& the Earni ,as the /osporanians sailed them earlier.. Therefore (rocopius could tell that the& ;passed the 2ations of the Banes %ithout suffering )iolence=. *n that case the& %ould go to shore some%here at the eastern coasts of Scania or in /le@inge 7 %ith 6isterland is a li@el& possi<ilit&. Here and up along the ri)er in E?rend in a scarcel& populated area the& could sta& for a %hile %aiting to <e gathered and reconsolidated inside the reach of Scania and the trade centres at /ornholm and Aeland. The& %ere pro<a<l& a<le to <u& some cattle for their golden treasuresF <ut the& had to ta@e up their old %a& of li)ing too. The& pro<a<l& needed such a place of gathering. $e shall <e careful <& regarding this as a migration of one single arm&. - group of the original Goths %ere under pressure at the mouth of the Eistula. Their destin& is un@no%nF <ut some of them ma& also ha)e migrated to Scandina)ia %hen the Sla)s penetrated the +astern +urope88. -lso small groups of Heruls and pagan Goths can <e supposed to arri)e from the Germanic defeats in Southern +urope89F <ut there are no signs of 9hristian Goths in Scandina)ia at that time. Ma&<e the& e)en @ne% themsel)es that it %as onl& a matter of time <efore the Banes had to stop them. (rocopius mentioned the Bani ;nations= in pluralise 7 ma&<e at least ScaniaF Sealand and Halland as separate nationsF <ut the& more li@el& consisted of man& local chieftains. (ro<a<l& one of the Banish chieftains too@ the lead at that time and formed an alliance as a @ing 7 a process %hich %ent on until the 1! th centur&. That %as pro<a<l& %hat also the 6om<ards did. The Heruls did not find the poor area %orth to fight for 7 at least does the scattered information indicate that the Banes Hust frightened or eDpelled the HerulsF %hich is e)en reflected in the 2orse legends ,9hapter 3.".. *f the& had not alread& done it <efore the& arri)edF the& had no% had the opportunit& to search for and anal&se the possi<ilities. The Banes had <ecome too strongF the 2or%igean places %ere too small and isolated 7 e)en more than E?rend 7 the G0tes at the plains had <een used to @eep out the intruders for centuries. The G0tes had earlier slain the horse ridersF and the finds in 8innestorp ma& indicate that the Heruls had tried again. *t %as still the fur trade route %hich %as most interestingF <ut the islands on the route %ere not %hat the +astern Heruls %ere used of 7 the& %ere horse riders. Their allies from H0gom had possi<l& at that time found a ne% li)ing place in the M?lar Ealle&. This %as open fertile landF in the near<& /ergslagen the& had found a lot of ironF and the trade route passed the area %ith Helg0 in the mouth of the M?lar ,at that time a firth. as a rich trade centre for centuries. The M?lar Ealle& %as the o<)ious choice 7 a flourishing econom& %as eDactl& %hat the& needed.

#.#.# The taBe over and the inte ration

The& had t%o main possi<ilities. The& could negotiate an alliance regarding militar& protection as mercenaries or the& could conLuer the area. The alliance is not unrealistic. The S)ear %ere pro<a<l& attac@ed all the time as Jordanes descri<ed the situation for the people in the fertile areas. /ede told 9! that the -nglesF SaDons and Jutes #! &ears earlier
88

89 9!

Some scholars find them identical %ith the Heatho<eards 7 hereditar& enem& of the Sc&ldingsF <ut this is not correct. The Heatho<eards %ere a <ranch of the Sc&ldings ' descendents of 8rode ,Troels /randtF 2!!": Banernes Sagnhistorie.. +Damples: +rmaneric 3#!'7#F -ttila "#1F Adoa@er "93F Eisigoths #!7F Heruls "9"'#12 and #"8'#33 or Astrogoths #33 and ##3. /ede5s ;Historia +cclesiastica= ,c. 73!. and the 9eltic Gilda from around ##! -B. Gilda called them all /ar<arians or SaDonsF and according to Gudmund Sch&tte /ede %as not 2#! &ears later a<le to distinguish the different people and tri<es. -s Gilda mentionedF that these %ild <easts %ere feared as the& had <een there <eforeF and that the& defended their coasts against themF it is therefore more li@el&F that the& first called for assistance in the near<& 8risian areaF %here groups of Herulian mercenaries %ere supposed to li)e. +arlier the /ritains called >oman

8"

The Heruls
%ere called to +ngland to help the /ritons against the (icts 7 a group pro<a<l& containing $estern Heruls too. 6ater these protectors turned their %eapons against the same /ritons. -n alliance of that @ind %ould pro<a<l& impl& marriage <et%een mem<ers of the ro&al d&nastiesF %hich could later lead to an integration of the d&nasties. (olitical marriages %ere usual among the Germanic d&nasties. Ma&<e the Heruls %ere eDperienced soldiersF <ut %e ha)e under all circumstances to regard them as a minorit&. *f it %as a militar& ta@e o)er together %ith the allied from H0gomF the& ma& ha)e su<dued some of the local tri<es one <& one instead of eDpelling them. 1!'2! &ears earlier the %ar'eDperienced Heruls su<dued their neigh<ours around the Banu<e 7 and lost the po%er again. The& had pro<a<l& learned <& their mista@es using no% the same tactics as their all& Theodoric did in *tal& #'1# &ears <efore the& left. Theodoric had occupied *tal& %ith a Gothic1>ugian arm&91 after the %ar against Adoa@erF <ut he let the ci)ilian >oman societ& %or@ %ithout interference 7 to his o%n economic ad)antage. -lread& Adoa@er had follo%ed such tactics <& the use of Heruls. The people of 2orthern *tal& %ere pro<a<l& happ& to pa& 113 of their har)est in taD as the& for the first time in man& &ears could li)e in peace. He %as an -rian though gro%ing up in 9onstantinopleF <ut he accepted the 9atholics in *tal&. Theodoric is e)en mentioned at the >0@ Stone and he is supposed to <e a model for the Banish m&thical @ing 8rode 8redegod ,the German Bietrich of /ern. a<out %ho is toldF that he under his J8rode (eaceJ could place a golden ring at the road %ithout an& one touching it ' Hust li@e Theodoric under his JGothic (eaceJ. *f Theodoric could end up in the Banish legends as the great ideal 7 ma&<e through the narrati)es of the Heruls 92 7 he could also <e a role model to the people of his ;son in arms=. *t is not so important if a mem<er of the Herulian d&nast& <ecame @ing or the& remained earls as the d&nasties Hust ma& ha)e melted together. The important is that the Herulic minorit& pro<a<l& %as integrated %ith the S)ear. Ho% it could <e done %e can onl& guess. The& <oth spo@e a Germanic languageF <eing at that time closer to each other than toda&. *n that %a& the initial pro<lem %as easil& sol)ed. *n general the Heruls %ere pro<a<l& eager to support the integration process in order to follo% the ideas of Theodoric 93. The& pro<a<l& <uild up a structure of smaller units controlled and protected <& an earl and his soldiers as Theodoric did in *tal&. The structure is indicated <& the Tuna'settlements and the <oat gra)es. Scandina)ia must ha)e <een se)erel& hit <& the ;dar@ &ears= #33'38F %here the sun disappeared in a cloud of dust all o)er the %orld. *t %as a catastrophe <eing descri<ed <& man& historians as a great famine. The @ing of a societ& of pagan farmers %ould normall& <e held responsi<le for thatF <ut hardl& the earls and their soldiers %ho %ould profit on that situation. The %arli@e Heruls %ould %ithout dou<t strengthen their position at that time. The religion %as o<)iousl& a great pro<lem <et%een Justinian and the Heruls as indicated <& (rocopius. The
6egions for helpF %ith the result that $estern Herulian mercenaries in the 33!Ties t%ice assisted at the Scottish <order ,-mmianus.. Theodoric is supposed to ha)e used 2!.!!! soldiers to defeat Adoa@er and co)er >ome and *tal&. *n Banish histor& %e find man& @ings under the name 8rodeF %ho might ha)e Theodoric as their model. Some scholars regard 8rode as a general nic@name ;The %ise=F others regard 8rode as 8re&F <ut in Ald +nglish ;8reothu= means ;(eace=. (ro<a<l& 8rithu ,peace in Gothic. is the lin@ <et%een Theodoric ' famous for his Gothic peace ' and the name 8rodeF %here the most famous 8rode later on got the nic@name 8redegod consisting of the elements JpeaceJ and Jgood1gode1GothJ in Banish. The description of the death and funeral of 8rode 8redegodF %here his <od& %as transported around in the %hole countr&F has according 2iels 6u@man similarities to ancient Gothic ha<it of ro&al funerals. This ma& <e the reason %h& the name of the Heruls could disappear impercepti<l&. The& %anted to <e identified %ith their ne% people as their ruling class.

91 92

93

8#

The Heruls
reason here %as the monoteistic character of the 9hristian religion. That is the reason %h& -ngeli@a 6intner' (ot4 could call her thesis ;The Heruls 7 a failed ethnogenesis=. -mong the pagan religions the pro<lems did not need to <e so hea)& ' especiall& if the religions had the same character as descri<ed a<o)e. The& pro<a<l& had different godsF <ut it is no coincidence that the >oman authors could translate them %ith their o%n names. The SaDon historian $idu@ind told much later that the Banes could accept 9hrist as a god side <& side %ith their o%n gods. *n that case it %as Hust a Luestion a<out merging the t%o (antheons 7 and that %as eDactl& %hat appear to ha)e happened in Scandina)ia. The final result %as the three main gods AdinF Thor and 8reH side <& side in Gppsala as told <& -dam of /remen. The change of the religion %as a processF %hich %ent on for centuriesF <ut as mentioned a radical change happened "#!'##!9". This %as the introduction of $othen1Adin in Scandina)ia 7 and that %as %ithout dou<t used <& the Heruls too. The Heruls had pro<a<l& <een used to man& <urial customs %hen tra)elling around and ser)ing other people. -s semi nomads the& had pro<a<l& not felt it necessar& to raise impressing monuments <efore M?hren. The change of religion made it also possi<le to change the <urial rites of Scandina)ia. The result %as the anon&mous cremations placed flatl& in the field 7 ineDpensi)e %ithout difference <et%een ordinar& people. Anl& the @ings got monumentsF <ut the& %ere <urned as the rest as also (rocopius told. 6ater the earls %anted to sho% their position in the societ& and religionF and found a com<ination of the +uropean princel& gra)es %ith the 2orse customs. *n order to tie the throne to the famil& the& had to ma@e the god a part of the famil& as descri<ed earlierF <ut ho% this %as done %e can onl& guess. Ma&<e Adin <ecame the head of the Herulic d&nast& and 8reH of the d&nast& of the S)ear. - conseLuence ma& ha)e <een that the high'priest'function ,the JgodeJ. %as eDercised <& or controlled <& the @ing. Ma&<e the JgodeJ'function in Gppsala %as the onl& official Hustification of the superior @ing ' eDcept for the superiorit& inside the famil&. The superior ro&al courts ,thing. ma& ha)e <een com<ined %ith sacrificeF feast and mar@et ' ma&<eF if the @ingdom co)ered %ide areasF com<ined <& an astronomical calendar <eing used in e)er& corner of the @ingdom. 2arrati)es and archaeolog& ma& indicate such a com<inationF <ut this %ill ne)er allo% us to conclude the opposite %a&.

#.#.% The consolidation

The ne% societ& and its official religion %as pro<a<l& formed o)er a period of at least #! &ears 7 though <eing continuousl& changed after%ards. Most of the small Scandina)ian @ingdoms pro<a<l& continuedF <ut some of the neigh<ouring @ingdoms %ere in the Eendel (eriod su<dued and ma&<e sometimes ruled <& the J+arlsJ ' and e)en the islands in the /altic Sea sho%ed around 3!!-B a uniform st&le. *n the middle of the 3th centur& the Heruls lost their old connections %ith the area of Bacia and (annoniaF %hen the -%ars replaced the 6om<ardsF Gepides and Heruls. Therefore the connections %ith the $estern Germanic cultural centres <ecame the most importantF %hich ine)ita<l& affected the cultural de)elopment in Scandina)iaF %hen the d&nast& had to manifest its po%er and %ealth imitating their )ictorious former enemiesF the 8ran@s and the 6om<ards. The archaeological signs of a contemporar& militar& and religious change all o)er Scandina)ia to a homogeneous area %ith a ne% strong concentration of po%er around Gppsala 7 and %ith some less significant centres in GotlandF GudhHemF 6eHre and Gudme 7 could indicate that the @ings in Gppsala
9"

Ma&<e the timing %as perfect after the fifth centur&F as the cult of $othan alread& had eDpanded from south displacing the old fertilit& cult of the *ng)iones in man& regions 7 a.o. Jutland. +speciall& the <racteates of the #th centur& ma& indicate that eDpansion. The Banes at Sealand and Scania J%ere of the same stoc@ as the SuionesJ according to Jordanes ' ma&<e Hust meaning original %orshippers of the sun ' %hich corresponds %ith Tacitus.

83

The Heruls
eDpanded their po%er %ith Gppsala as the <ase of the superior @ing. This %as pro<a<l& onl& the case in the Middle and 2orthern S%eden ' and first at a later stage ' as the trade connections <et%een the centres appear to <e lo% most of the time ,Karen HOilund 2ielsen. and as the uniformit& can <e eDplained as a<o)e %ith Heruls %or@ing as JearlsJ in the other @ingdoms or Hust as their s&m<ols and %eapons ma& <e copied. 6ater the d&nast& appears to ha)e <een spread to other places %hich the rune stones in >0@ and Sparl0sa indicate around 8!! -B. The same %as e)en indicated in the 2or%igean Inglingatal in the 1! th centur&. $e do not @no% if this %as due to superiorit& or if the famil& %ere no% refugees due to a ne% d&nast&. The Sparl0sa'stone could indicate an Gppsala'superiorit& o)er G0taland around 8!! ,unless it referred earlier e)ents. ' ma@ing these @ings a part of an old d&nast& from Gppsala. Such a rule shall not <e regarded as an Gppsala'empireF <ut su<Hugation for a short period of time %ith pa&ment of tri<ute. Ma&<e Gppsala had a @ind of a religious superiorit& %ith Heruls placed in some of the other @ingdoms or married into the ro&al families ' Hust as in Southern +urope.

#.% <onclusions re ardin the settlement

The Luestions <& P@e H&enstrand could not <e ans%ered %ithout an& dou<tF <ut the main Luestion a<out Heruls and S)ear lead to the most pro<a<le eDplanationF %hich also indirectl& ans%ered most of the other Luestions. The ans%er <ased on a com<ination of histor& and archaeolog& %ithout an& use of legends leads to the follo%ing conclusion a<out Scandina)ia: There is no dou<t that the Herulian d&nast& %as operating in Scandina)ia in the 3th centur& and that there %ere connections <et%een the Heruls and Scandina)ia in the #th centur&. The most pro<a<le eDplanation is that the Mora)ian Heruls settled in the Gppsala region and that their d&nast& as @ings or earls <ecame a part of the d&nast& of the S)ear. The archaeolog& does sho% the necessar& trac@s of thatF <ut archaeolog& %ill pro<a<l& ne)er constitute a proof. The usual attitude has <een that Gppsala and Eendel is an internal de)elopment until the opposite is pro)en 7 %ith an article <& the professor in +nglishF -l)ar +llegZrdF as the historical ali<i. This attitude is 7 li@e the Str?ngn?s'episode 7 irresponsi<le as the ris@ is that the most li@el& eDplanation regarding the Heruls %ill <e left out of the archaeological research and eDaminations 7 Hust as it is hardl& mentioned in the S%edish literature.

#.%.1 .lternatives
Eariations of the H&pothesis of the Heruls %ith the same conclusion can <e descri<ed in this %a&:

The Herulian people left in the 3rd centur& Scandina)ia 7 ma&<e eDpelled <& the Banes. Most of the Heruls follo%ed the Goths to the /lac@ Sea and settled at the Bnepr. - group of the Heruls ho%e)er %ent o)er Jutland to 2orthern 8risia operating there as mercenaries and Ei@ings ,The old eDplanation of the origin.. - group of the Herulian pirates attac@ed Thessaloni@i in 238 -BF <ut surrendered to the >omans and <ecame mercenaries headed <& 2aulo<ates. The& %ere transferred to the mouth of >hineF %here the& from 283 -B %ere mentioned as pirates and mercenaries. - group of forerunners settled in the #th centur& in ScaniaF %here the& attac@ed their neigh<ours and the finds at 8innestorp and Eenne<o are due to such defeats. Therefore the& %ere eDpelled <& the Banes from Scania as mentioned <& Jordanes and settled ma&<e at /ornholmF Aeland or E?rend. $hen the ro&al famil& arri)ed in #!9'#12 -B the& settled for a %hile at their @insmen in Southern S%edenF %ho in the meantime had got ships and %ere 87

The Heruls a<le to sail from Southern S%eden to Gppland. Ane of their Scandina)ian @ingsF >oduulfF ga)e up and returned to the court of Theodoric.

(rocopius and Jordanes can <e interpreted in all four %a&sF and the alternati)es %ill neither <e in conflict %ith the archaeolog& nor %ith the H&pothesis of the Heruls. The alternati)es ma& <e com<ined in se)eral %a&s.

#.%.# <onclusion a)out history compared &ith archaeolo y

The )er& concrete information from (rocopius that the Heruls settled at the Scandina)ian (eninsula 7 first time at or <eside the Gauts ' and that their d&nast& still possessed po%er in S%eden 39 &ears laterF should <e regarded as relia<le as this %as a contemporar& information 7 o<)iousl& e)en passed to him <& e&e%itnesses. He %as not a<le to manipulate the description of the return of Batius from Scandina)ia as this %as alread& %ell'@no%n <& his rele)ant contemporar& readers. He %ould onl& loose his credi<ilit& <& manipulating that information. 8urther a Herulic presence in Scandina)ia after the defeat of the Huns should <e regarded as confirmed <& Jordanes and 3!! &ears later pro<a<l& also <& the >0@ Stone. *t %ill e)en <e demonstrated in the neDt chapter that the earlier argument against the Heruls that the& left no trace in the 2orse legends is no longer )alid 7 though it can neither <e used as an e)idence for their presence. Their arri)al can not <e neglected as alread& concluded in 9hapter 1. The com<ination of the indications in the %ording <& (rocopius and Jordanes points at an interim settlement <et%een Banes and G0tes. This should <e follo%ed <& a later integration %ith a Scandina)ian people further northF %here their ro&al d&nast& %as still acti)eF <ut that part of the historical conclusion is not uneLui)ocal as statements in the sources used for the purpose are )er& short and unclear. Though Jordanes in this %a& ma& confirm (rocopius this is too uncertain to <e a historical proof of a settlement in GppsalaF <ut %e ha)e a clear historical indication of a settlement so far north. 8urthermore %e should in the opposite case find international archaeological traces from the 3th centur& in one of the former countries of the G0tes stronger than in S)ealand 7 %hich is not the case. The theoretical possi<ilit& that also the ro&al famil& disappeared is reHected <& the >0@ Stone. The& %ere ma&<e integrated <& intermarriageF <ut the& did not forget the origin of the famil&. This %ould also <e totall& against their earlier <eha)iourF their militar& <ac@groundF the determination <ringing them all the %a& to S%eden and especiall& the fact that the& %ere %orth sending forF %hen the *ll&rian Heruls %anted a ne% @ing of the ro&al <loodline 39 &ears later. The archaeological recognition in the Gppsala area of a ne% @ind of ro&al manifestation %ith a touch of >oman mercenar& culture should <e regarded as certain ' and independent of (rocopius. The area %as since then ' and according to some legends also <efore ' the residence of the @ings of S)ealand. The +ast Germanic fi<ulas and the Scandina)ian <racteates from the #th centur& confirm that the Heruls in Mora)ia had heard a<out the Scandina)ian destinationF <ut the& do not specificall& point at the M?lar'region. 2either does the more general change in offerings and <urial traditions in the first part of the 3th centur&. $hat does point against the M?lar >egion is the archaeolog& from the 3 th centur& as summari4ed in 9hapter 2.1.3.3.2.7F %hich shall not <e repeated here. -s also concluded in that chapter the founders of the ci)ilisation %ill ne)er <e identified uneLui)ocall& <& archaeolog& %ith the usual technolog&. The conclusion that Gppsala is the most li@el& eDplanation is <ased on the com<ination of histor& and archaeolog&F as %e @no% their trac@s shall <e found. $e cannot eDclude that Gppsala %as a local de)elopmentF %hich %ould mean that t%o similar international societies of former mercenaries %ith +ast Germanic connections gre% up contemporaril& near the G0tesF <ut it is rather unli@el& 7 especiall& as %e ha)e no trac@s of such a second societ&. The last Luestion in 9hapter 1 %as: ;Ho% could the leading d&nast& of this strong and feared people of

%arriors disappear in Scandina)ia %ithout a trace in archaeolog& or legends = The ans%er to the 88

The Heruls first part of the Luestion is that %e ha)e such traces in Gppland matching this former allied %ith Adoa@erF 9hilderic and TheodoricF <ut it is not possi<le to identif& them %ith certaint&

#.%.% <ertainty and further possi)ilities

$anting more certaint& %e do ha)e to %ait for further archaeological finds or in)estigationsF including more detailed anal&ses of %eaponsF <urial traditions and fi<ulas. B2-'anal&ses of human <ones and ma&<e horses in the gra)es comparing the countries along the Banu<e %ith the Scandina)ian centres around #!!-B %ill <e )er& important. *n this connection B2-'anal&ses of the 2or%gian Lueen in the Ase<erg ship <urial ,<eing regarded as a descendant of the Inglinga'famil& <& 2or%egian scholars. sho% that she pro<a<l& had an ancestor in the /lac@ Sea region ' <ut that ma& ha)e <een centuries or millenniums <ac@ in time. - planned eDca)ation of the +astern Mound in Gppsala could <e a step in the right direction if the B2-'profiles are compared also %ith B2- samples from the tom<s around /lucina. Ho%e)er the archaeological characteristics of the Heruls %ere <lurred <& 7# &ears of fello%ship %ith Huns and Astrogoths ending onl& #! &ears <efore the migrationF and <& the role as mercenaries in armies of miDed Germanic nationalit&. -s the& %ere a relati)el& small part of the population in Scandina)ia %e shall ne)er eDpect man& such findsF <ut something should <e found. -nother group of sources is found among the 8ran@ish historians and the Scandina)ian and +nglish stor&tellersF %here the single information does not ha)e an& historical )alue <ecause of a late recording. Ho%e)er the total impression might gi)e us some headlines of the historical de)elopment in Scandina)ia. Snorri Sturlasson clearl& tells usF that the @ings of Gppsala originated from the area around Bon 7 Hust li@e the Heruls 7 %ithout mentioning the Heruls at all. -ctuall& this %as the missing lin@F if %e %anted to present a con)incing e)idence of the H&pothesis of the Heruls using onl& histor&F <ut the source is not relia<le for this purpose. Ho%e)er if %e regard this =literature= from a higher perspecti)e %e %ill in a surprising %a& get an eDplanation of the h&pothesis descri<ed in the follo%ing chapter.

89

The Heruls

The 3orse myths and le ends

*t has often <een used as an argument against the Heruls in Scandina)ia that the& %ere ne)er mentioned in the rich literature found in 2orthern +urope a<out the Scandina)ian past. *t is therefore necessar& to e)aluate this part of the literature tooF though it is common for nearl& all these %or@s that the& %ere %ritten do%n 1!!!'13!! -B 7 long time after the e)ents. -ccordingl& the& can ne)er <e regarded as historical sources though the& contain in)alua<le information a<out the Ei@ing 9ulture. 6otte Hedeager has as a part of her theories a<out the Huns suggested that the m&th a<out Adin5s Hourne& in Inglingesaga %as inspired <& -ttila. *n *celand Snorri Sturlasson %rote in the +dda a dialog <et%een the S)ea'@ing G&lfe and the god AdinF <ut initiall& he told the traditional stor& a<out the origin of the gods and the ro&al famil& in Tro& 7 a late 9hristian )ersion. -fter tra)elling around in Scandina)ia Snorri later told in Inglingesaga another legend a<out a @ingF AdinF and his Jmen from -siaJF %ho came from the surroundings of Tanais ,>i)er Bon.. This JAdinJ first time settled at one of the se)eral places called JAdinse&J 7 %hich could as %ell <e AdinsH0 in S%eden as at the Banish Adense as Snorre <elie)ed. 8rom here the @ing negotiated %ith G&lfe. 6ater he mo)ed to Sigtuna and got a temple in the to%n of G&lfe 7 Gppsala. He told a<out Adin merging the -ses and the Eanes 7 the $othan cult of the %arriors and the old Scandina)ian fertilit& cultF %here Tacitus5 2erthus and *ng %ere succeeded <& 2Hord and 8reH. He told ho% the @ing ;Adin= %as raised as a god 7 in accordance %ith the stories <& Jordanes and >im<ert 7 a natural process in the histor& of religions. Then he told a<out a successful Scandina)ian integration proHectF including ne% <urial customs %ith cremation ,eDcept for 8reH 7 the ancestor of the Inglings.. >ather than the histor& of -ttila this narrati)e ma& remind us of the histor& of the +astern Heruls %ho also <elie)ed their origin to <e Tanais according to Jordanes. Though Snorri5s description of the route %as <ased on the geographical understanding and the tra)el routes of the Medie)al -ges it is possi<le to recogni4e elements of the histor& of the Heruls and partl& of their Hunnic @ahnF -ttila 7 though man& of the old narrati)es pro<a<l& had melted together o)er the long span of &ears. - settlement in t%o stages li@e the Heruls5 7 ending finall& up in Gppsala. $e are not a<le to decide toda& ho% much of the %or@s <& Snorri are reconstructions and ho% much are fragments of old legends a<out the @ingsF %here the gods in the traditional %a& %ere placed in the front. >a<id scholars ha)e accused Snorri for in)enting it all as a 9hristian in the 13th centur& in order to thro% suspicion on the pagan religion as euhemeristic. The case is that he did not need to in)ent that. The Germanic ancestor cult and the cult around the >oman emperors %ere <& nature euhemeristic. Vuite opposite a lot of the material used <& Snorri is @no%n from earlier historians and poems. *n 2!11 6otte Hedeager presented in the end of her <oo@ a reha<ilitation of the Banish scholar 2iels 6u@man 7 mentioned in chapter 2.1.2.1 7 %ho claimed that the Heruls <rought their old m&ths a<out their companionship %ith the Huns in 9entral +urope to Scandina)ia and <ecame @no%n there as JJarlsJ. *f %e com<ine these t%o h&potheses 7 considering that the Heruls pro<a<l& %ere regarded as a part of the Huns in 2orthern +urope and influenced <& these Huns 7 her ideas %ill <e in accordance %ith the histor& in the former chapters. This %ill appl& regardless of an e)entuall& deser)ed criticism <& Glf 2aesmann regarding her historical and archaeological argumentationF and regardless of 2iels 6u@mann pro<a<l& eDaggerated ho% man& Scandina)ian m&thical @ings had an +ast Germanic or Hunnic origin. 9!

The Heruls

6ater in 2!11 the pu<lication of the Str?ngn?s inscription J.rila> . $odin>J has e)en pro)ed a connection <et%een $othan and +rila> 7 an inscription %hich %ould ha)e supported 6u@man if it had <een pu<lished in 1932 %hen it %as found. The Hourne& in Inglingesaga %as Hust one eDample of possi<le traces of the Heruls in the 2orth +uropean literatureF %here the name Herul had disappeared 7 ma&<e <ecause it %as no% understood as the title ;Harl=1=earl=. Ather eDamples can <e found in $idsith and /eo%ulf containing ma&<e the e)ent descri<ed <& JordanesF %hile SaDo possi<l& miDed them up %ith the Huns. There is no dou<t that the sources <ehind the sagas ha)e <een changed o)er the &ears 7 %hich the *celanders %ere not a<le to see through. The (antheon of Snorri is as eDample a fro4en picture %hich onl& indirectl& reflects the man& differences locall& and o)er time in a d&namic process 7 <ut most religious people regard their religion in that %a& too. Snorri told i.e. a<out the changes in <urial customs in the 3th centur& %hich the archaeologists re)eal in our time 7 Hust as /eo%ulf ,and Snorri. descri<ed the <oar helmets of the 3th centur&F %hich are no% eDca)ated. *t is more li@el& that Snorri got this information from old poems than he in)ented such information. 2either could the Scandina)ians ha)e in)ented the +ast Germanic touch in man& of the legends. Ma&<e the manipulated and unrelia<le Scandina)ian sagas and chronicles do in this %a& contain fragments of the histor& of this )agrant ro&al famil& and their superior Huns. *t is of course interesting to search for the hidden trac@sF %hich ma& put a ne% content in the legends and ma& eDplain ho% the Heruls could disappear in Scandina)ia 7 <ut the& cannot change the historical e)idence.
The conclusions in the t%o first main chapters are in no %a& dependent of the 2orse literatureF <ut due to the arguments and eDamples referred from the main article a<o)e the 2orse literature %ill <e anal&sed %ith focus on these topics. *n the follo%ing chapter the rele)ant information %ill <e emphasi4ed in: 1. SagasF chronicles and legends 2. The 2orse religion as the <ac@ground for 3. The Hourne& of Adin. -fter%ards t%o other eDamples of parallels <et%een classical histor& and 2orse literature %ill <e mentioned: ". The eDpulsion of the Heruls 7 2orse parallels to Jordanes #. /urial costumes 7 (arallels <et%een SnorriF (rocopius and the archaeolog&

%.1 Sa asH chronicles and le ends

The 2ordic m&ths and legends %ere %ritten do%n se)eral hundred &ears after the e)ents. The& contain man& contradictions and o<)ious mista@esF and accordingl& most scholars reHect them as sources at all ' Hust li@e the& ha)e <een neglected in the chapters and the conclusion a<o)e. +)en the most ingenious philological interpretation of these legends can <e reHected <& critiLueF and man& of the legends are of course pure fair& tales or narrati)es com<ined from different places or times. -mong scholars it is popular in a thesis to demonstrate @no%ledge a<out historical source criticism <& sho%ing parallels <et%een these medie)al %or@s and the classical %or@s. Scholars li@e 9urt $ei<ullF 2iels 6u@manF Karsten 8riis'JensenF *nge S@o)gaard'(etersenF Hein4 Klingen<ergF 9laus Krag and -rne SO<& 9hristensen ha)e demonstrated that single st&listic elementsF names or general stor& lines ma& ha)e <een copied from classical %or@s. There is no dou<t that a %riter li@e SaDo used his classical @no%ledge %hen he manipulated the legends. Ho%e)er se)eral scholars eDaggerate the conseLuences of these o<ser)ations ' <ut

91

The Heruls
not necessaril& the a<o)e mentioned scholars themsel)es. Karsten 8riis'Jensen has as eDample o<ser)ed that SaDo must ha)e used a %or@ <& Ealerius MaDimus o%ned <& -<salonF %hich he Luoted 1832 timesF <ut Karsten 8riis'Jensen has eDplained that SaDo used these sentences to ma@e his language more sophisticated in the classical st&le. He did not use the content 7 eDcept for the use of Eergil in parts of /Har@emaal. A<)ious presence of classical st&listic elements in a poem implicates that the poem %as createdF changed or %ritten do%n <& a %riter educated in >omanesLue st&leF <ut that does not tell an&thing a<out the content ' eDcept that such a 2ordic source must <e a secondar& stor& if the e)ents too@ place earlier than the 11th centur&. Similarities <et%een names from the Migration -ges and names from the 2orse Sagas and M&ths do not pro)e that such stories are late transferred legends as 9urt $ei<ull and 2iels 6u@man ha)e claimed. The +ast Germanic names from the Migration -ges %ere common at the 2ordic rune stones alread& in the 9th centur& and earlier. The same is the case regarding similar e)ents. *t is normall& possi<le some%here to find a general line of histor& appearing similar %ith the one <eing anal&sedF <ut onl& elements of a classical stor& identified %ith certaint& <& se)eral details and names ma& pro)eF that the 2ordic source is unrelia<le. +)en in such cases the %or@ ma& still ha)e a su<stantial 2ordic contentF as the pro<lem ma& <e a miD up caused <& the compiling <& later authors. +)en though st&listic elementsF names and elements of action in the stor& in this %a& can <e pro)en to originate from a classical %or@F this %ill not pro)e that the total %or@ is made up or has a classical <ac@ground. The 2orse poems and legends cannot in general <e <rushed aside <& the a<o)e mentioned @ind of argumentsF <ut on the other hand the& can ne)er <e claimed as relia<le and con)incing. /asicall& the& are literatureF <ut literature is a mirror of the @no%ledge at the time it %as %ritten ' including the eDisting earlier sources at that time. $e %ill ne)er get an& @no%ledge of the e)ents and the %a& of thin@ing in the 2ordic *ron and Ei@ing -ges if %e do not carefull& tr& to find the headlines in the superior structures and courses of e)ents in those sources 7 if possi<le com<ined %ith archaeological or eDternal historical information. +speciall& the <asic religious m&ths %ith their headlines and la%s are supposed to <e <etter preser)ed until 9hristian times than the normal legends ' if political considerations did not contradict. /elo% %e %ill go through the most rele)ant chronicles and sagas. The connection <et%een EendelF 6eHre and +ast -nglia %ill <e discussed <ased on /eo%ulfF $idsithF the histor& of the +ast Germanic people and the pro<lems %ith the name Geat. The connection <et%een South +ast +uropeF the HunsF the Heruls and the sagas %ill <e discussed <ased on Her)ararsaga and the theories of 6u@man. The last %or@s %e %ill go through are Budo mentioning the m&sterious Banish1Bacian connectionF the purpose <ehind the Banish chronicle of SaDoF %here the Heruls can <e traced and then of course the %or@s of Snorri. 8inall& a short discussion of the confusion of names <eing pro<a<l& the reason %h& the Heruls ha)e ne)er <een identified in the 2orse m&ths and legends.

%.1.1 /eo&ulf and $idsith

*nitiall& the Ald +nglish poemsF /eo%ulf and $idsithF shall <e discussed as the& ma& illustrate the pro<lems %ith the identification of the )arious Germanic people. /eo%ulf is @no%n in onl& one )ersion from the 1!th centur&F <ut it is <& man& scholars supposed to origin from a 9hristian +nglish court in the 8th centur&. *t %as <ased on old pagan legends ,man& of them usuall& regarded as Banish as the& tell a<out Banes and S%edes. put into a fair& tale a<out the dragon @illerF /eo%ulf 7 Hust li@e the use of historical persons in poems i.e. 2i<elungenlied.

92

The Heruls %.1.1.1 7eat and the 7eats

Ma&<e %e should notice that /eo%ulf %as a Geat ' a name %hich is @no%n as a personal name from the ro&al genealogies and the poem BeorF <ut un@no%n as the name of a people. The +nglish <ishop -sser told around 887 -B in JThe life of King -lfredJ that -lfred5s ancestor Geat %as %orshipped as a pagan god for a long time. To support that he referred to the *rish1>oman poet SediliusF %ho in "## -B mentioned the JridiculoLue GetaJ ' o<)iousl& the ancestor god of the pagans 9#. -t that time JGetaeJ %as according to <oth (rocopius ,##3 -B. and Budo ,1!2! -B. a common name for the JGothic peopleJ ' GothsF GepidesF EandalsF -lansF Sarmatians a.o. ' and pro<a<l& also the HerulsF %ho %ere often regarded as a Gothic people. Since the #th centur& this name had <een generall& usedF though it %as miDed up %ith an old non Germanic people of Thracia93 ' neigh<ours of these ne% ;Bacians=. Af course -sser could <e mista@enF <ut as he com<ined the +nglish Geat %ith the 6atin Geta97 he and his contemporaries pro<a<l& regarded the Geats as the Getae. Jordanes called his o%n %or@ a<out the Goths JGeticaJF %here he referred the claim of 9assiodorus that the Goths %ere originall& Gauts from S%eden. 9onseLuentl& the Gauts1G0tes of S%eden %ould to an +nglishman @no%ing Jordanes <e a part of the Geats 7 if the& regarded the ethnic manipulation <& 9assiodorus as the Gothic origin. That ma& eDplain %h& +nglish poets com<ined G0tic ,the fights against the S%edes. and the Gothic legends as that of +rmaneric in /eo%ulf. The attempts <& the 9hurch to identif& the Goths1Getae %ith Gog and Magog of the /i<le ,*sodor de Se)illeF *. cannot <e used to Luestion the reasoning a<o)e. - <ac@ground for the confusion ma& ha)e <een that GautF Gapt ,misspelling <& Jordanes.F GetaF Geat and Geot %ere all names in different languages co)ering the same Germanic ancestor god of old timesF %ho in Scandina)ia according to Grimnismal %as later su<stituted <& Adin. *t could <e a part of that su<stitutionF %hen Arigo Gentis 6ango<ardorum and (aulus Biaconus used Godan for $odenF and %hen 8rau Gauden in the fol@lore of Mec@len<urg %as @no%n as a female $oden in the J%ild huntJ 7 <ut the change could also <een a usual change <et%een 6atin and Germanic. *ngemar 2ordgren5s suggestion a<out a common cultic league %orshipping Gaut around the /altic Sea ,2ordgren 2!!". ma& <e one of the %a&s to eDplain thatF <ut less %ill do regarding the eDplanation of /eo%ulf. The confusion %ill eDplain %h& the Gothic @ing +rmaneric had a role to pla& in /eo%ulfF and %ill eDplain from %here the death of the Geatic @ing Higelac ,the uncle of /eo%ulf. %as copied. The latter %as called @ing H&glaco of the Getorum in 6i<er Monstrorum from the 3th centur&. The death of this @ing %as <& Gregor& of Tours descri<ed as the death of a Banish @ing 9hochillaicus ' @illed in Southern 8risia #1#'#3! <& the 8ran@s98. $h& he #! &ears later %as called a Bane <& Gregor& is un@no%nF <ut at that time also Eenantius used JSaDones et BaniJ as the names of the pirates in 8rance. He %as rather the @ing of a group of Getae 7 i.e. Gothic refugees or remaining $estern Herulian pirates from 2orthern 8risia ,later Benmar@.F %ho at that time disappeared from the sources.

%.1.1.#

/eo&ulf and the >Dane? <hocillaicus

*n connection %ith the mentioning of Bani in 8rance %e shall notice that the >a)enna 9osmograph& around 7!! -B told that neDt to the Serdifinni ,Scridfenni1Sami. %as situated Ja countr& called Bania. *n this
9#

93 97 98

6in@ to ;The life of King -lfred=. Sedilius or Sedulius %as pro<a<l& of *rish <irth and studied pagan religions <efore he settled as a poet in *tal& and GreeceF %here he %rote this )erse in 9armen (aschale. He shall not <e confused %ith the later *rish mon@ of the same name. The A+ name JGeotJ ,%hich %as used as a parallel to JGeatJ. ma& according to /en Slade ,Slade 2!!3F Beor'notes. <e deri)ed from J&eotanJF %hich meant Jto pourJ. Similaril& *ngemar 2ordgren ,2ordgren 2!!"F page 173'178. has referred to the scholars discussing JGautJ <eing deri)ed from an old A2 )ersion of this )er< Jto pourJ ,Ba: Jg&deJF S%: JgHutaJF AS%: JgiutaJF A$2: JgHotaJ.,ao. Th. -ndersson 1998F page #.. Se)eral connections from the %ater <eing connected %ith the god of <irth from old o)er the spread of sperm <& the phallus'dominated idols to the meaning JmanJ ha)e <een proposed. /oth 9laudianF Marcellinus 9omesF JordanesF (rocopiusF *sodor of Se)ille and Arosius made that mista@e. -s did 2ennius in spellingF %hile the -nglo'SaDon 9hronicle used the com<ined people name JGeataJ and the -nglian ro&al lists of 6indisfarna used Geat1+at %ith the son God%ulf. The e)ent in the description <& Gregor& is normall& dated to #13F <ut at that time Theodo<erthF the @iller of 9hochillaicusF %as )er& &oung. Therefore 9hochillaicus ma& ha)e died some &ears later. Eenantius descri<ed a similar e)ent in the middle of the 3th centur& %here SaDons Hoined the Banes as pirates. 6i<er Monstrorum mentioned JH&glacoJ as @ing of JGetorumJ.

93

The Heruls
countr& people deri)edF according to the learned GothsF -ithanariusF +lde)aldus and MarcomirusF <eing faster than all other people Mas the Heruls %ere earlier descri<edN. This Bania is no% called the countr& of the 2ordomans ,2ormans..J M>a)enna 9osmograph&F *EF 12N. -s @no%n the name 2ormanni %as later used to co)er all the people from Scandina)iaF %hich ma& indicate that the name BaniF %hich first appeared around ##! -BF %as used <& the earl& 8ran@s as a general name of all Germanic people coming from Scandina)ia. -mong Banish historiansF ho%e)erF it %as accepted as a conseLuence of Gregor& of Tours and /eo%ulf that a friend of /eo%ulfF King >olf ,Hrod%ulf. in 6eHreF should <e dated to the time around #!! -B. Ho%e)er the dating does neither correspond %ith the archaeolog& of 6eHre nor %ith the range of the Scandina)ian %arships in the <eginning of the 3th centur&99. >ather should the founder of 6eHre li)e in the middle of the 3th centur&. The death of Huglei@ is mentioned 3'" times in /eo%ulf poem %ithout moti)ation and sometimes in a %rong place in the chronolog& 7 pro<a<l& a result of a 9hristian <rea@'up of the original pagan en)ironment1!!. The onl& lin@ <et%een the Banish >oar ,Hrodgar. and the death of H&glaco in 8risia %as limited to the m&thical figureF /eo%ulfF in a poem se)eral hundred &ears later 7 un@no%n from all other sources and %ith the onl& role to fight against supernatural dragons. *t is difficult to regard the claimed lin@ as con)incing. Iears after m& first pu<lishing of m& statement a<o)e also the Banish historianF -rne SO<& 9hristensenF claimed in Historis@ Tidss@rift 2!!#'1 that 9hocillaicus %as not a Bane ' after * had as@ed him some Luestions in that regard. Ho%e)erF he also %rote that the 9hocillaicus of Gregor of Tours could not <e Higelac of /eo%ulf due to differences in spelling. Gnfortunatel& that conclusion is t&pical for the scholarl& reactions against the poem. Higelac could easil& <e ;H&glaco= of 6i<er MonstrorumF %ho %ithout dou<t %as the same as the later 9hocillaicus of Gregor& of Tours as the& descri<ed the similar e)ent. 2o Goths nor Geats %ere mentioned <& /edeF <ut %hen he listed up the pagan Germanic people around /ritain ,8risiansF BanesF >ugiansF Ald SaDons and /ruchters ,/ede EFiD.. he also included the Huns ' a name %hich ma& ha)e included their Germanic follo%ers i.e. Astrogoths and +astern Heruls. The Heruls had <een forgotten as a people for &ears %hen /ede %rote. The Huglei@'stor& of /eo%ulf has pro<a<l& an origin among these +ast Germanic ,Getic. groups %ithout an& connection %ith the histor& of >oar and his Banes. $hat is interestingF ho%e)erF is that the @ings @no%n from the Banish legendsF i.o. >oar and >olfF %ere @e& figures in /eo%ulf. -s %ere the S%edish @ings of Gppsala <eing mentioned in Inglingatal 7 Angentheo%F Anela and -dils 7 the last name also mentioned at the Sparl0sa'stone from around 8!! -B. >oarF >olf and Angentheo% 7 <ut not Huglei@ and /eo%ulf 7 are also mentioned in the +nglish poem $idsithF <ut that poem miDed up heroes from 3!!'3!! -B1!1.

%.1.1.%
99

En landH Scandinavian archaeolo y and /eo&ulf

The names in the /eo%ulf poem and the fact that it %as found in +ngland indicate a lin@ <et%een 6eHre and
>olf %as the second generation in 6eHreF and he pro<a<l& li)ed around 3!! -B ,This is eDplained in JBanernes SagnhistorieJ <& Troels /randt.. 1!! Apposite the st&le of the poemF the first episode descri<es a future e)ent and as an eDplanation of the importance of the nec@lace /risingemen it has %ithout dou<t contained the pagan stor& of 8reHa and /risingemen. The episode a<out /eo%ulf s%imming home loo@s li@e a repetition of the earlier /re@a s%immingF and it indicates that his home %as +ngland or 8risia. The t%o other episodes are a part of the historical frame%or@ li@e in $idsith and 2i<elungenliedF %here the frame%or@ %as a miDture of e)ents from different times and places. 1!1 The poemF %hich 3 separate parts pro<a<l& originate from the time around 7!! -BF had o<)iousl& the same sources as /eo%ulf. Af the @ings from the later Benmar@ $idsith JmetJ >oar and >olfF the Seadane SigerF the might& Banish @ing -hle%i ,%ho li)ed at the same time as the -nglian @ing Gffe ,#th centur&..F the Hoching ,the Halfdane Hnaef5s father in /eo%ulf %as Hoch. HnaefF the +ute ,Jute. Gef%ulf and some small Banish @ingdoms. -lso tri<es %ith the names Herefarer ,King Hring%ald. and Herelingas are mentioned. 2otice the similarit& <et%een HerelingasF Herilunge',)eld 7 earlier note. and +rila>. Ho%e)er Herelingas is normall& connected to the Harlungen T%insF %ho according to Malone are again connected to JThe %ild HuntJ and $othan ,HarHan. ' <ut <& $olfram mentioned as possi<le Heruls.

9"

The Heruls
Mercia1+ast -nglia. *n the poem also the <oar crested helmets are mentionedF though the& disappeared in the gra)es around 7!! -B. These helmets are found in gra)es in +ngland and on helmet plates in S%eden indicating that these old 9eltic s&m<ols %ere used again as signs of social ran@ in <oth the Scandina)ian countries and the @ingdoms of Mercia1+ast -nglia 7 e)en though the ne% @ind of <oar helmets first appear after the -ngles had left Jutland. *n the -nglian countries the @ings all claimed to descend from Adin1$oden 7 here the mem<ers of the d&nasties had later the same titleF eorl1Harl 7 and here in <oth areas the ring <utton s%ords %ere found ,earlier a 8ran@ish s&m<ol.. The St&le ** found in Eendel is also found in the Sutton Hoo gra)e in +ast -nglia from a<out 32# -B among artefacts of >oman or /&4antine origin 1!2. -lso the runes %ere used in +nglandF <ut as +ngland had <een >oman %ith a %ritten language the& %ere not used in the same %a&. These connections <et%een the d&nasties of Scandina)ia and +ngland %ere apparentl& lostF %hen the @ings of +ast -nglia and Mercia %ere <aptised in the <eginning of the 7th centur&. There are too man& common signs <et%een +ast -nglia and Scandina)ia and the& are too closel& connected %ith legends and the s&m<ols of ro&al po%er to <e caused <& the trade connectionF %hich also eDisted <et%een the countries. The Banish m&ths in +ngland %ere pro<a<l& caused <& famil& connections <et%een the Banes and the so called $uffingas in +ast -nglia 7 also indicated <& 2orse m&ths a<out >oar descri<ing him as eDiled and gro%n up in +ngland %ith an +nglish %ife. -lread& in the #th centur& %e @no% <ig Jutish sLuare headed fi<ulas and <racteates in Kent confirming that a people from the peninsula of Jutland %ere in)ol)ed in the migrations as /ede told. *t is more difficult to o<ser)e migrations <et%een +ngland and Eendel. The Eendel +ra %as later than the migration to +ngland and the @ings of Gppsala ha)e nearl& al%a&s concentrated their actions in S%edenF the /altic -rea and >ussia. -ccordingl& a Hump to a countr& 1"!! @ilometres south'%est of Gppsala sounds unrealistic in the period <efore the Ei@ing ships got sails. *n the <eginning of the 3th centur& there %ere signs of retreat among the in)aders of +nglandF <ut the refugees Hoined the 8rancs 7 none are mentioned going northF and if so the& %ould pro<a<l& ha)e settled in the Jempt&J -ngel1!3. -lso the Eendel d&nast& might theoreticall& come from Southern Jutland ,-ngel.F <ut %e ha)e no archaeological indications of the same culture there ,eDcept ma&<e the 2&dam St&le in 8innestorp.F neither do %e ha)e an& historical indications of a connection to Eendel and in this case %e %ould not <e a<le to eDplain the connections to the South +astern +urope. *f %e focus on a connection due to a migration to +ngland from Benmar@F 8risia and SaDon& %e should ma&<e notice the m&thical HengistF %ho %as <oth the leader of the first group of in)aders arri)ing to Thanet and later the leader of immigrants fighting against the /rittons. Gildas told in #"2 -B ,Gildas **F23. that the Jfierce and impiousJ SaDon mercenaries %ere in)ited <& the /ritton Gurthrigern ,Eortigern. ' pro<a<l& co)ering all the ethnicities of the immigrants. Snorre called much later Hengest a SaDonF %hile he %as called a Bane Hoining the <attle of 8ins<ourg in /eo%ulf1!". The +nglish sources li@e /ede and 2ennius emphasi4ed
1!2 *t

is possi<l& the gra)e of @ing >ead%ald of +ast -nglia. He %as the third generation of $uffingas ,-fter $uffa ,Gffe. and T&tilus ,the Gothic name Totila .. He %a)ered <et%een 9hristianit& and paganism ,/ede **FRE.. The Helmings of /eo%ulf ma& <e a <ranch of these $uffingas %here also a $ilhelm is found as ancestor.

There are man& similarities <et%een %eapons and eLuipment in Gppland and Sutton HooF and the t%o *ranian inspired dancing %arriors %ith horns from the Sutton Hoo helmet are also found at the helmet in Ealsg?rde 7 and as a fragment in the eastern mound of Gppsala. 9oins and <racteates in Sutton Hoo are also found at GotlandF <ut the presence of these artefacts at Gotland might easil& <e caused <& a trade connection. 1!3 The sources for the people returning to the 9ontinent around #3! are 2ennius ,the& %ent for assistance in Germania.F (rocopius ,e)er& &ear man& left +ngland to Hoin the 8rancs. and -dam of /remen ,man& SaDons left +ngland going to the 8rancs to fight against the Thuringians.. /ede mentioned -ngel as an area %hich <ecame empt&F <ut it is more li@el& if he had heard a<out the moors and marches of the %estern region of Schles)ig than the modern peninsula -ngel. 1!" The 8ins<ourg /attle %as mentioned in t%o different poemsF %here it in /eo%ulf %as used as a legend from the Banish past. HengestF %ho in some translations %as called a ;Half Bane=F might <e identical %ith the first @ing in the -nglo SaDon migration ,/ede *FRE.. /ede descri<ed him as the leader of an attac@F %hich appear as identical %ith the Jfierce and impiousJ SaDon mercenaries in)ited <& the /riton Gurthrigern ,Eortigern. ,Gilda ,#"# -B. **F23.. Just li@e in Scandina)ia the +nglish @ings at the time of /ede ,71! -B. %ere originating from an old ancestor $odenF %ho must ha)e <een Adin or $othan. 6ater ,2ennius around 8!! -B. also Geat1Geta %as used as an ancestor to $oden.

9#

The Heruls
that Hengist arri)ed earl&. 8irst later he got help from an increasing group of -nglians and SaDons %hen he defeated the /rittons ruled <& Eortigern and Eortimer. /ede mentioned that the gra)estone of the <rother Horsa still eDisted at his time %ith the name on it ' <ut man& scholars ha)e reHected Hengest and Horsa as phantas& names. Hengist5s nationalit& is descri<ed as confusing as the in)aders of +ngland mentioned in an earlier chapter. /edeF 2ennius and the ro&al genealogies did all place his descendants in KentF %hich should ha)e <een in)aded <& people from Jutland according to the archaeolog& and the +nglish historians. -ccording to 2ennius and the genealogies Hengist descended from the godli@e Geat1Geta ' indicating that the Geates of /eo%ulf %ere the ancestors of the d&nast& of Kent. - fast conclusion could <e that the Geats %ere the JutesF <ut the -nglian genealogies compared %ith 2ennius sho% that Geat %as an ancestor to $oden from %hom all the Germanic @ings descended. -sser emphasi4ed a connection %ith Sedilius5 pagan godF GetaF %hich indicated that the& regarded themsel)es as descendants of the Getae of Jordanes1(rocopius as %ell. -s the $estern Heruls ,/ede5s Huns and (rocopius5 8risians . could <e regarded as Getae and the& possi<l& li)ed in 2orthern 8risia at the peninsula of JutlandF the& could <e the Geates of Hengest and /eo%ulf. Af course these relations cannot <e regarded as histor&. The& are m&thical trac@s. The old 8risian language %as )er& close to the A+'languageF fi<ulas of the Scandina)ian1-nglo'SaDon t&pe %ere found in the coastal region of 8risiaF and (rocopius mentioned 8risians as an important mem<er of the in)asion of +ngland. Bid Geatic $estern Heruls ,some of /ede5s Huns . from 8risia Hoin the -nglo'SaDon migrations to +ngland $ere %estern mem<ers of the Herulian ro&al famil& the first lin@ <et%een Eendel and Sutton Hoo $as this lin@ creating the connection +ast -nglia ' 6eHreF %hich %as later used <& >oar as a refugee The @ing erecting the first hall in 6eHre ,>oar according to the legends. %as pro<a<l& cremated in Gr&dehOH in a ne% st&le 7 close to the st&le of the Gppsala mounds. There ma& also <e a connection <et%een the s&m<olic S@Hold in the prologue of the /eo%ulf'poem and the stories of the legendar& Banish @ingF 8rode 8redegod 7 a @ing %ho eDpelled an un@no%n people from the countr& of the Banes ,descri<ed e)en <& SaDo calling them Huns.. - part of the Jhistorical frameJ in /eo%ulf is the legend a<out the feud of the Sc&ldings descri<ed <& the famil& of >oar 7 or rather the famil& of his +nglish %ife. $hen anal&sing the legends it is o<)ious that the Heatho<eards of /eo%ulf %ere not an independent people <ut the nic@name of the descendants of the legendar& 8rode 8redegod 7 a part of the Banish ro&al d&nast&F the Sc&ldings. The stor& a<out the Sc&lding ,S@HoldF 8rode or >oar. esta<lishing a strong Banish @ingdom ma& <e legendar& fragments of the Banish @ing eDpelling the Heruls according to Jordanes ,Troels /randtF 2!!".. *t is li@el& that some $estern Heruls Hoined their surrounding neigh<oursF the -nglesF SaDonsF 8risians and Jutes in the migration to +ngland 7 and the mem<ership of a single one of the ne% ro&al families in +ngland is sufficient to eDplain the a<o)e mentioned rather confusing trac@s. -s earlier eDplained it is e)en possi<le that the& %ere @no%n as the M&rgings ' the people of $idsith. Gudmund Sch&tte simpl& assumed that /ede had miDed up Jutes and $estern Heruls. *t has to <e stressed that the +nglish 1 $est Herulian lin@ is uncertain and %ithout influence on the H&pothesis of the Heruls.

%.1.# Hervararsa a and the Hreid oths

Her)ararsagaF %hich %as <ased on an older poem from %here onl& fragments are @no%nF appear to <e legends of S%edish originF <ut the teDt possi<l& reflects fragmentar& memories from the Migration -ges. *n the saga a legend is told a<out the Hreidgothic @ing Heidri@ fighting the Huns )ictoriousl&. -n earl& )ersion of that legend ma& <e connected %ith the first riddle of the >0@ Stone. +arlier scholars paid much interest in the names from the saga ' especiall& Atto )on 8riesenF M8riesen 192!NF %ho made the follo%ing o<ser)ations regarding personal and geographical names. 8irst of all it is )er& interesting that Heidri@ %ith his J%ifeJ Sif@a and their sons -ngant&r and Hloed 7 all met in Her)ararsaga 7 are mentioned Hust after Theodric in the A+ $idsith too ,11#.: JSeccan sohte ic ond /eccanF Seafolan ond

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The Heruls
TheodricF Heathoric ond SifecaF *ncgentheo% ond Hlithe.J $idsith also told that the JHraedaJ often %ith their s%ords had to defend their old homes against -ttila in the forests of Eistula ,$istla%udu.F %here $idsith )isited $ulfhere and $&rmhere. -ccording to Her)ararsaga JHunalandJ %as situated east of the Hreidgothic ro&al seat J-rheimarJ at JBanparstadumJ. *t also told that the forest JM&r@)ithJ separated the Huns from the Goths li)ing at the plains of JBunheidiJ. The <attle <et%een the Hreidgoths and the Huns too@ place at JBunheidiJ <elo% the J*assarfiallumJ and the Gothic @ing Heidri@ died at JHarfada 8iallJ. Some of these places are pro<a<l& identified. JBanparstadumJ %ere Jthe <eaches of BnieprJ. J*assarfiallumJ %ere the J+astern 9arpathesJ ,meaning the mountains %ith ash'trees in Sla)ic.. JHarfada 8iallJ %ere the J$estern 9arpathesJ ,The mountains of the 9hor)ates. against M?hrenF %here the %ells of the Eistula and the Ader %ere situated at the northern slopes close to the %ells of ri)er March. JM&r@)ithJ is normall& interpreted as the dar@ Germanic forests ,Herc&nia sil)a. north of the 9arpathes ,-ristoteles: -rcunia ore. and east of the >hineF <ut according to (linius and Julius 9easar these forests co)ered the northern <an@s of the Banu<e from Hel)etia to Bacia 7 including the forests of the 9arpathes and Trans&l)ania too. JBunheidiJ could <e the region %here the J6ougioi BounoiJ of (tolemeus sta&ed ,)on 8riesen.F <ut it could also <e the JMarchfeldJ or other plains at the Banu<e ' or the >ussian plains <et%een the ri)ers Bnepr and Bon. The rest of the names are nearl& all Scandina)ian. *t is toda& agreed <& the archaeologists that a part of the Goths originated from the mouth of Eistula. The Bnepr'region ,Banparstadum %ith -rheimer. pro<a<l& <ecame a centre of the Greuthungi Goths ,9hernia@o% culture. %ith the Huns east of >i)er Bon ,Tanais.F %hen the Gothic @ingdom according to Jordanes reached the /altic Sea at the time of +rmaneric. -t that time the Ter)ingi Goths li)ed in Trans&l)ania surrounded <& the 9arpathes ,Sintana de Mures culture.. +rmaneric %as defeated <& the Huns and a centur& later the Hunnic -ttila and his Gothic follo%ers had their headLuarters in Hungar&F south of the $estern 9arpathes and M&r@%ith. -ttila and his follo%ers %ere defeated <& >omansF 8rancs and Eisigoths in 8rance and t%o &ears later his sons %ere defeated <& the follo%ers ,GepidesF Heruls etc.. ' <ut the Astrogoths li)ing no% %est of Hungar& did not Hoin an& of these )ictors. Atto )on 8riesen claimed that $idsith placed the Hreidgoths at the mouth of the Eistula ,$istla%udu.F <ut the forests of Eistula %ould rather <e the <ig forestF M&r@%ithF at the %ells of the Eistula ' if a poem of that character could <e used for geographical purposes at all. The Huns ma& ha)e fought at the Eistula against a group of JHraedJ headed <& $ulfhere and $&rmhere of $idsith ,Armar in the Her)ararsaga and SaDo .. *f these Goths %ere Ter)ingi Goths from the group around the 9arpathesF Ma4ur'Germanen in the Eiel<ar@ area or another group is historicall& un@no%n. Hermann >eichert has proposed JHreidJ <eing connected %ith the -driatic Sea as >a)enna %as the Gothic capital in the 3th centur&. Ather scholars claim that the JHreidgothsJ %ere the J8amousJ Goths ,A+ JHraedJ 1 A2 JHrgd>J. or the J2estJ Goths ,A2 JHreid>J. li)ing at the Eistula as indicated <& $idsith. Ho%e)er the name %as onl& used in 2orse %riting. *n a 2orse mind of the ninth centur& the @ingdom or the JnestJ of their heroF TheodoricF %as pro<a<l& %hat the& <elie)ed to <e the @ingdom of the legendar& +rmaneric ,if not G0taland.. This continental @ingdom %as surrounded <& the Mediterranean'F /lac@' and /altic Sea ' and all these oceans could <e JHreidmarJ as the geograph& of earlier times %as miDed totall& up in the 9th centur&. -t that time e)en Jutland %as in -lfred5s )ersion of Arosius called JGotlandJ ' a misunderstanding later met in *celandF %here Jutland %as called JHreidgotlandJ ' opposite J+&gotalandJ <eing the Banish islands and the Scandina)ian (eninsula. *t is characteristicall& for the names a<o)e that the& are all connected %ith places %here the +ast Germanic follo%ers of Huns operated ' <ut at different times ' and outside the range of the later Ei@ings eDcept the Bnepr. (ossi<l& Her)ararsaga reflects legends from different stages of the histor& of the +ast Germanic peopleF at a time %hen the Goths %ere more or less Hoined <& the Heruls 7 ma@ing <oth people possi<le sources for the names though the legends are totall& miDed up.

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The Heruls

%.1.% The East 7ermanic le ends

The similarities <et%een the legends in )arious countries %ere o<ser)ed i.o. <& 9urt $ei<ull and 2iels 6u@man. 6atest in 199# 6ars Hemmingsen1!# sho%ed that the <ac@ground for a part of the Banish legends ma& <e found among HerulsF HunsF 6om<ards and Astrogoths in Bacia1(annonia 7 Hust li@e the /attle of Tanais <& Snorri. -lread& 6u@man concluded <& similar reasons that our legends are foreign narrati)es and therefore %ithout an& historical )alue. /ut it is Hust as legitimate 1!3 to conclude that some of these legends %ere <rought to Scandina)ia <& immigrants mo)ing around in +urope %ith name traditions and legends of the earlier people of their famil& as a part of their identit& and histor&. -ctuall& 2iels 6u@man regarded the Heruls of (rocopius as mercenar& officers of the Scandina)ian @ings <ringing these legends to Scandina)ia. 6u@man %as later supported <& the *celandic scholar /ardi GudmundssonF %ho in 19#9 accepted the possi<ilit& that the Heruls %ere a leading d&nast& ' the +arls. He suggested that some of their descendants <rought their s@aldic traditions to *celand from +ast Scandina)ia. The >0@ Stone confirmed that there ma& <e a truth <ehind thatF <ut %e ha)e to remem<er that the Heruls %ere a small minorit& in Scandina)iaF %ho %ere pro<a<l& full& integrated %hen *celand %as colonised "!! &ears after their arri)al. The *celandic )ersions are more a Luestion of a s@aldic tradition than an ethnic and d&nastic Luestion. *t should <e noticed that most of these foreign legends follo% a geographical <elt from HunsF Astrogoths and Heruls o)er Thuringians and SaDons to the Scandina)ian nations and ma&<e +ngland. The Heruls follo%ed that <elt and later <oth the Bacians and Adin %ere in the sagas claimed to follo% the same <elt. The confusion of names along this <elt %as alread& mentioned a<o)e in relation to the Her)ararsagaF <ut the confusion is also found in a group of *celandic +dda'poems a<out Sigurd 8afners<ane and the E0lsungs. *n these poems a<out the fall of the /urgundian @ingdom at the >hine in "37 -B Huns and Goths %ere clearl& miDed up in different %a&s in different )ersions ' e)en %ith the death of -ttila and the much earlier re)ench of the >osomoni on +rmaneric. -s follo%ers of the Huns the Heruls had pro<a<l& <een in)ol)ed here tooF <ut the name of the Heruls %as not mentioned at all ' ma&<e <ecause the& %ere regarded as a part of these groups. *t is here Luite o<)ious that fragments of real histor& ,<eing alread& @no%n from Jordanes and other authors. %ere miDed up in the *celandic poems and the later sagas. 2o of these fragments appear to <e of &ounger origin than the time %hen the Heruls disappeared from Southern +urope. The same happened %ith eDactl& the same stor& around 12!! -B in the German 2i<elungenlied %here the Heruls1Goths as the

1!# 6ars Hemmingsen ;/& %ord of mouth=F unpu<lished (hB dissertation from Gni)ersit& of 9openhagen 199#. 1!3 The %ea@ness in the arguments of 6u@man and $ei<ull can <e illustrated <& regarding >olf Kra@e as an eDample.

-lso 6ars Hemmingsen has anal&sed this eDampleF %hich %as rele)ant in note 2.2.9 too. 6u@man maintained the <attle and death of >olf Kra@e to <e an adaptation of the <attle <et%een >odolphus and the 6om<ards. The argumentation %as a comparing of structural elements in the storiesF <ut these elements ha)e a )er& elementar& character ' Hust li@e good stories often ha)e. $e ha)e to notice that our source (aulus Biaconus also told another legend a<out the same >odolphus using eDactl& the same uniLue point as used in a later legend a<out the Banish @ing Gorm and the death of his son Knud. 2o<od& %ill den& that Gorm %as a Bane and that Biaconus %rote t%o centuries <efore Gorm %as <orn. 9onseLuentl& the same chain of reasoning used on >olf Kra@e %ill lead to a %rong conclusion used on Gorm. The use of stolen elements or fair& tales from Southern +urope in the legends of a Banish @ing do not pro)e that he %as not a historical Banish person. The& do onl& indicate a certain influence or a miDture of legends ' the later narrators of the legends of >olf Kra@e and Gorm @ne% the legends of >odolphusF <ut the& %ere not a<le to identif& him and miDed therefore the legends up. 6ars Hemmingsen e)en tried to support theories a<out a late introduction in Benmar@ eDplaining that these legends might ha)e <een <rought to Benmar@ <& the Banish H)ide'famil& in the 13th centur&. He later admitted that this eDplanation made it impossi<le to eDplain ho% the +nglish poems li@e $idsith could mention these @ings as Banes in the 1!th centur& or earlier. *n /eo%ulf >oar and >olf %ere related to <oar crested helmets ,note 3.11.2.. These helmets are no% found <& modern archaeologists in Mercia and as pictures on helmets in Eendel from the 3'7th centur&. This indicates that >oar and >olf %ere Scandina)ian @ings as told in the 2ordic legends although SaDo or earlier authors ma& ha)e used elements of the (annonian >odolphus too.

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The Heruls
original allies of -ttila <ecame Banes1SaDons1!7. *n that connection %e shall notice that the names used in *celand %ere historicall& more correct. +arlier the Ald'+nglish poems /eo%ulf and $idsith also had 7 as mentioned ' the Gothic @ing +rmaneric in an important roleF though operating in the area of the /lac@ Sea centuries <efore. $e ma& %onder %h& this in the long run unsuccessful hero is mentioned so man& times in connection %ith the past of the Scandina)ian @ingsF if the Scandina)ian @ings had no d&nastic connections %ith the Goths and Heruls at the /lac@ Sea. *f such legends %ere changed into 2ordic surroundings the& %ere possi<l& <orro%edF <ut these o<)iousl& distant @ings and locations %ere handled as a natural part of the Scandina)ian histor& indicating that the Scandina)ians @ne% a<out such far connections in the past. 9onseLuentl& it is natural to eDplain some of the foreign legends <& regarding them as a confirmation of the theor& that a part of the histor& of the 2orth +uropean d&nasties has to <e searched for among the +ast Germanic nomads1!8. Ma&<e the descendants of the Heruls regarded their ancestors as Gothic J+arlsJ ser)ing the famous TheodoricF %ho <ecame the hero of 9harlemagne and the Scandina)ian Ei@ings. Af course this does not change the fact that other legends ma& ha)e <een transferred due to a general spread of legendsF <ut the coincidences pointed out <& 6u@manF $ei<ull and Hemmingsen together %ith the coincidences a<o)e do not indicate a general spread <ut a certain pattern 7 an earl& connection %ith the +ast Germanic tri<es causing a Scandina)ian miD of Herulian and local legends. *n spite of the pro<lems %ith the eDact identifications the connections <et%een the names in South +astern +uropeF the sagasF the A2 poems and the archaeolog& ma& confirm 6u@man5s theor& a<out an earl& origin of the legends <ehind the 2orse poems ,though eDtremel& eDaggerated. 7 and Hust opposite the conclusions <& $ei<ull and Hemmingsen.

%.1.! The Dacian Bin s ' Dudo

$hen the 8rench historians Budo and Guillaume de Jumieges mentioned the Banes the& claimed them to <e Goths originating from Bacia at Banu<eF and 88!'12"! -B Bania %as in general often miDed up %ith Bacia 7 e)en in official Banish documents. Budo %rote around 1!!!-B: JThe Bacians no% call themsel)es Banais or Bani and <oast that the& are descended from -nthenorF he %ho once raided the lands around Tro& and escaped the -chaians and later reached the *ll&rian <orders %ith his people. These Bacians %hoF according to traditional taleF had <een eDpelled from their homes ..J. -lthough -nthenor %as a prince of Tro& and the last sentence refer to a later e)entF the eDplanation o<)iousl& contains elements of the Herulian histor& 7 and %e do not e)en need to erase the eternal m&th of Tro&F as the Heruls actuall& had harried the areas around Tro&. 6i@e (rocopius and -dam of /remen also Budo mentioned Bacian sacrifices of human <eings 7 <ut to the god Thur.

1!7 German

scholars regard the Herul >odolphus as identical %ith >&deger )on /echlarnF %here /echlarn is the to%n (0chlarn ,%ith the earlier mentioned Herilungo<urg. at the Banu<e in 2i<elungengau %est of Eienna. >&deger has an important role in 2i<elungenlied %ritten do%n around 12!! ,$e<')ersion.. He %as also mentioned in the 2orse Tiedrich'saga as a count under -ttila %ith the name >odolf of /e@elar. The same role in 2ie<elungenlied has Bietrich of /ernF %ho is supposed to <e identical %ith Theodoric. These t%o @ings %ere together %ith *ring )on Benemar@ and *rnfried )on Thuringia descri<ed as su<'@ings under -ttila. Anl& Bietrich sur)i)ed the final <attle of >agnaro@. *t has to <e noticedF that the allies of -ttila against the /urgundians %ere called Banes and SaDons 7 the original allies <eside the Thuringians %ere the Heruls and the Astrogoths ,the people of >odolphus and Theodoric. and the& %ere not mentioned in this later %ritten )ersion at all. Historicall& -ttila died %hen >odolphus and Theodoric %ere <a<iesF so the legend a<out dragons and hidden treasures seem to <e framed <& historicall& %ell' @no%n persons in )er& unhistorical connections. 1!8 This ma& <e the reason for the man& stories a<out Huns in the legends and in Gesta Banorum ,SaDo.. The ro&al names of the Heruls and their rulers from Southern +urope 7 including the superior Hunnic @ings 7 can therefore <e found all o)er Scandina)ia. Toda& %e %ill often use names of popular persons from other countries for our children. *f similarit& in names <et%een t%o people is totall& missing it is a strong indication of t%o separated peopleF <ut similarit& in names %ill not pro)e the& are the same people.

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The Heruls
*n 8landern 6am<ert in 112# %rote a short Banish histor&1!9 %ith a list of @ings containing Gothic @ings follo%ed <& Adoa@er ,some%here called >eD Herulorum. and Banish12orman earls. The legends a<out this connection are much older as JGesta >egum 8rancorumJ alread& in 72! mentioned people from Tro& <uilding the cit& Sicam<ria near the mouth of Tanais >i)er. Ma&<e the Heruls from Tanais of this reason regarded the people of Tro& as a part of their past. Ho%e)er the author and 8redegar pro<a<l& miDed up a lot of names as Gregor& placed the origin of the Salian 8ran@s in (annoniaF %here Sicam<ria %as a name for /udapest. *t %as usual for the historians of the monasteries in northern +urope to descri<e the origin of their people 7 most of them used pagan godsF <ut some of them com<ined them %ith classical legends. *n 93# -B $idu@ind in this %a& mentioned the former Macedonian arm& of -leDander as the ancestors of the SaDonsF <ut he also mentioned the Goths and Jordanes. /ede mentioned in 71! -B $othen as an ancestor to se)eral of the Germanic @ings in)ading +ngland and later also the name Geat 7 pro<a<l& referring to the Goths ' %as mentioned. The similarities <et%een the names BanaisF Tanais ,Bon.F Banu<isF Bani and Baci are coincidences %ithout an& dou<tF <ut %e do ha)e to notice: $hen the 8rench historians %rote a<out the Banish histor& <efore the first official Banish historiansF it %as from un@no%n sources o<)ious to themF that the BanesF %ho claimed to <e relati)es to the earls of 2ormand&F had a <ac@ground connected %ith the Banu<ian surroundingsF %ith the Goths and %ith Adoa@er 7 Hust li@e the Heruls`` This is rather confusing as the Banes eDpelled the HerulsF <ut according to SaDo the Banish @ing Sigfried %as a descendent of the Inglinga'famil&. Budo is often regarded as an unrelia<le historianF and se)eral Germanic tri<es told a<out >oman or Gree@ ancestors. The legends a<out Tro& are false 7 and actuall& the& %ere also reHected <& Budo himselfF although he is normall& regarded as an idealisation ma@er. Ho%e)er the monasteries of northern +urope form the onl& lin@ <et%een the antiLue histor& and the localF %ritten medie)al histor& of Scandina)iaF and the& are all conseLuentl& mentioning a relation to the countries around the Banu<e and the /lac@ Sea. This %ill ne)er ma@e a proof <ut the general relation is %orth to notice. The& assumed in their )ersion of the histor& a rough parallel to the migration descri<ed <& (rocopiusF <ut none of them mentioned the Heruls ' the& %rote a<out BanesF GothsF Macedonians and the people of Tro&.

%.1.* Saxo and his manipulations

SaDo finished his %or@F ;Gesta Banorum=F around 122!. He had %ithout dou<t the political purpose to support the rule of Ealdemar the Great and his famil&. Some of the sagas might ha)e the purpose to legitimate that the right to <e @ing <elonged to the =di)ine= famil& of Adin. *n this %a& the old Germanic s&stem of elections11! %as o)erruled. This o)erruling %as o<)iousl& continued in 9hristian times in the traditions of the ro&al elections at the 3'# Banish ;landsthing=. The paradoD is that in spite of the Banish @ings until onl& 3!! &ears ago %ere told to <e electedF the& al%a&s came from the same famil& 111. *n the old Banish la% of inheritance the eldest son had no first priorit&. - conseLuence %as that the& had to elect one @ing among se)eral candidates from the ro&al famil&.

1!9 Budo

%rote his histor& of the Bu@es of 2ormand& around 1!!! -BF de Jumieges %rote in 1!3! and 6am<ert %rote a<out the Banes in 112# in 6i<er 8loridus. 6am<ert %as supposed to ha)e a connection to 9arl the Bane of 8landern ,son of the Banish @ing St. Knud. 11! -ccording to the manipulated interpretation of Tacitus the Germanic people elected their chieftains in a ;democratic= %a&F <ut he also mentioned that the Goths at Eistula had a stronger @ingship than the other Germans. This ma& <e due to the old Gaut'religionF %hich might ha)e <een the most important reason for the dominating position of the Goths in the Migration -ges. He also mentioned the SuionesF %ho are normall& interpreted as S)earF <ut as he toldF that their %eapons %ere normall& not a)aila<le for them 7 %hich correspond %ith the Gothic male <urials %ithout %eapons 7 he ma& ha)e miDed up Scandina)ian Gauts and S)ear. 111 The onl& eDception in historical times %as ;Magnus the Good=F <ut as Ing)e %as among his ancestorsF he %ould ha)e <een accepted in pagan ages.

1!!

The Heruls
The negati)e conseLuences %ere freLuent fights <et%een <rothers and cousins 112 and the ris@F %hen 9hristianit& too@ o)erF that other families %ould claim the po%er of @ingship too. *t is pro<a<l& from that point of )ie% %e shall regard some of the manipulations <& SaDoF %hen he com<ined the old legends. -s late as 117!F %hen Ealdemar the Great <& a coup got his son Knud anointed <& the arch<ishopF the dilemma %as the choice <et%een the elected monarch& and the religiousl& <ased hereditar& monarch& 113. Ma&<e a purpose %hen -<salon financed the %or@ of SaDo %as to con)ert the ;di)ine right of Adin= to the Huridical term ;custom from ancient times= in a united Banish @ingdom. *n that %a& the arch<ishop could eDplain %h& the church should ma@e great efforts to secure the po%er of the ro&al famil&. Gnder all circumstances his ro&al genealog& had a main purposeF %hich is no% generall& accepted <& Banish scholars. He %anted to demonstrate a historical Banish independence from the >oman +mpireF %hich %as no% succeeded <& the German +mperor. This %as the reason %h& SaDo 7 ma&<e %ith earlier genealogies as sources 7 mentioned ro&al legends and names in a num<er reaching <ac@ to the time <efore -ugustus 11". (ro<a<l& THodolf of H)iniF the supposed author of InglingesagaF had the same purpose %hen he earlier =in)ented= the first group of @ings in Inglingatal supporting Harald Haarfager as a @ing %ith rights older than the BanesF %ho since the 8th centur& usuall& claimed superiorit& o)er Southern 2or%a& and $estern S%eden. - past of some of the 2ordic ro&al families as Herulian mercenaries ser)ing the emperor %ould <e a catastrophe for the politics of the 2ordic countries in the 12th and the 13th centuries. *t is surprising that Snorri did not follo% that line. Snorri5s Scandina)ian @ings left according to himself Tanais %hen the >oman emperors arri)ed. $ith this stor& in Inglingasaga Snorri simpl& shot do%n the arguments of SaDo ordered <& the Banish church and ro&al famil&. $e do not @no% an& political moti)e <ehind that 7 ma&<e he Hust %rote %hat he @ne% to <e the truth. Gnfortunatel& the co)er stories of the church and ro&al families %ith efficienc& ha)e hidden the manipulations and the real histor& for us all in Scandina)ia. -ctuall& the historian S)en -ggesen indicated that -<salon and SaDo %ere manipulating the histor& as he referred that -<salon had ordered him to lea)e certain periods of the histor& onl& to <e co)ered <& SaDo. He also mentioned that liars had %ritten false ro&al lists. 2either %ere the& nor their predecessorsF ho%e)erF a<le to change the old 8rench traditionF so alread& in line 2 the sl& foD SaDo dissociated himself from Budo <& den&ing a connection %ith the ;Banais= %ithout mentioning at all the Bacian connectionF %hich %as the real pro<lem for the Banish @ings. Ho% much SaDo reall& @ne% %ill pro<a<l& ne)er <e re)ealed.

%.1.5 Snorri Sturlusson

The narrator Snorri Sturlusson %rote his )ersion of the *celandic sagas c. 122!'123! -B <ased on old poems and tales. His description of the old religion11# and Scandina)ian histor& %as %ritten %ith a more neutral
+Damples: The descendants of >oarF the <attle of /raa)allaF the descendants of Godfred and the cousins S)enF Knud and Ealdemar. 113 Ealdemar the Great %as the last @ing to <e elected at a ;landsthing= ,<ecause of the ci)il %ar onl& at the thing of Jutland.. He got his son Knud anointed alread& as a child <& the arch<ishop +s@ilF <ut arch<ishop -<salon later on send Knud at the traditional tour to the ;landsthings=F %here the function no% %as to acclaim and ta@ing oath. >eading SaDo it is tempting to concludeF that SaDo personall& had the opinionF that the Banish @ing should <e elected at the ;landsthings= <& the %hole people. 11" *n his manipulations SaDo al%a&s made the follo%ing @ing son of his predecessor. He also told a<out ;the false god Adin=F <ut in accordance to his purpose he did not com<ine Adin %ith the ro&al famil& as Inglingesaga did. SaDo %as ma&<e a%are of the pro<lems he caused later on as he did not call his <oo@s ;The histor& of Benmar@=. He attached importance to independent episodes 7 Gesta Banorum ' the eDploits of the Banes. His o%n sophisticated composition of the %or@ is descri<ed <& *nge S@o)gaard'(etersen and later on <& Karsten 8riis'JensenF %ho also li@e -Del Alri@ mentioned his purpose letting the ro&al famil& reach <ac@ <efore -ugustusF in order to ma@e the @ingdom historicall& independent of the German,1>oman. emperor. 11# The <eginning of Inglingesaga in Heims@ringla ,123!.. *n the preface of +dda ,122!. he also miDed King (riamos
112

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curiosit& than the manipulated )ersion <& SaDoF <ut still the content %as of course old legends gi)en a touch of 9hristian moral. $e ha)e to notice that he %as a political leader in *celandF that he %as in eDile at the 2or%egian ro&al court <et%een %riting +dda and Heims@ringlaF and that he later on %as @illed <& supporters of the 2or%egian @ing. He %as not an apolitical personF and he %as a 9hristian %riting a<out a pagan religion he should not <e eDpected to defend. Snorri5s <ac@ground does not support that he did not tell the m&ths a<out the religion and the S%edish @ings correctl& as he @ne% them ' it should Hust %arn us to <e careful a<out his eDplanations. *f the m&ths do not gi)e us a coherent impression of the former @ingdom and religion another reason could <e that ro&al and di)ine m&ths %ere miDed up earlier. Scholars often use his description of Adin as a human -sian @ing in order to pro)e that his descriptions are falseF as the church often used that @ind of descriptions to tell a<out pagan religions. +)en if he had such moti)es it can ne)er <e used in re)erse as a proof of his unrelia<ilit&. His @ing Adin could ha)e <een a human <eing. *n Inglingesaga Snorri <ased his genealog& on the old poem InglingatalF %hich he Luoted and @ept to later times in this %a&. His o%n genealog&F ho%e)erF <egan %ith the three godsF AdinF 2Hord and 8re&F <ut in these three cases he did not Luote Inglingatal. The genealog& is treated <elo%.

$.1.7 The confusin# Scandinavian names

$e could suspect that the names1%ords +rilaF +orlF JarlF HunF M?ring and ma&<e e)en Ei@ing did all originall& refer to the peopleF %ho in the 6atinised form %ere called Heruli. Ho% could the& get so man& names (ro<a<l& <ecause the arri)ing Heruls got different nic@names in the different countries. Budo mentioned that the Getaes %ere also @no%n as GothsF -lansF Sarmatians etc. 7 in other %ords also the -s'people ' <ut neither SnorriF SaDoF 6am<ert nor Budo e)er mentioned the name of the Heruls although the& possi<l& used different elements of the Herulian histor&. The +astern Heruls %ere pro<a<l& ne)er called Heruls in Scandina)ia <ecause of the $estern Heruls 7 the +rila>. -round ##! -B the Bani %ere mentioned for the first time among the historians in the South <eing in the neDt centuries a common name for Scandina)ians as pirates together %ith the SaDons. *t is also possi<le to understand the confusion ;Bani= ' ;Heruls= ' ;Baci= 7 ;-ses=F if the Heruls from Banu<e %ere a part of the GeatsF %ho <ecame +arls ,h+ruli1Harler. of the S%edes and some of these %ere later related to the Banish d&nast&. Therefore the +arls from Mora)iaF Bacia >ipensis and Bacia *nferior %ere no% identified %ith the people the& ruledF and the old name san@ into o<li)ion ,ma&<e hidden <ehind their lies a<out @ings from -sia or Tro&. ' or the name <ecame a title. The ancestors of the +arls %ere at the same time raised to di)ine -ses using m&ths inspired from religions earlier met <& or %orshipped <& the Heruls. This simple eDplanation is in harmon& %ith the personal comments or conclusions from BudoF SaDo and SnorriF and %ith the di)ine appointment of the +arls in >igsthula. $e ma& <rush aside their comments as religious propagandaF <ut after all the& are our <est sourcesF %ho tried to eDplain e)entsF loo@ing peculiar also to themsel)es ' and it is important to reali4eF that the& must ha)e @no%n sources no% lost.

of Tro& into the stor&F %hile ;Gpphaf allra frasagna= from the 1"th centur&F %hich is supposed to <e an a<stract from ;S@Holdungesaga=F mentioned Tur@s and people from -sia. -s later mentioned his first )ersions are similar to the m&ths of the 8rench historians using the general Germanic m&th of origin connected to Tro& opposite the later Heims@ringla.

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$.2 The ,orse reli#ions

$.2.1 <ume=il and the ;ndo2European theories
Bume4il has founded a school of the religious histor& descri<ing a general de)elopment <ased on an *ndo' +uropean structure. He used the religion descri<ed <& the *ndian >gEeda and other poemsF %here an earlier fertilit& cult originall& <ased on a JMother +arthJ changed into a religion of functional godsF %here se)eral details and structural elements loo@ed li@e the 2orse religion. *t %as therefore o<)ious to compare the *ndian and the 2orse religions ' especiall& as also the languages %ere related. The earl& societies %ere totall& dependent of the conditions gi)en <& nature and en)ironment and the religion should al%a&s <e eDpected to reflect that. 2earl& all societies ha)e follo%ed a de)elopment from hunters )ia JindependentJ farmers to societies of complicated functions coordinated <& an elite supported <& soldiers. 9hieftains leading soldiers and armies %ere @no%n since the /ron4e -gesF <ut during the first millennium -B the 2ordic )illages %ere changed and also influenced indirectl& <& the >omans. The& <ecame a part of stronger societies ' the so called %arrior societies. This e)identl& had to result in %arli@e conditions and the change of religion indicated <& the archaeolog&. *f Bume4il5s theories are used %ithout <rea@ing this general rule his o<ser)ations ma& <e usefulF <ut his theor& %as that the gods and the m&ths %ere the same in *ndia and in +urope ' a theor& %hich is still accepted <& man& scholars. >gEeda %as %ritten do%n around 12!! -B ,as Snorri5s %or@. <ut the functional gods should eDist %hen the %arrior'li@e -r&ans arri)ed around 17!! /9 in *ndia. Some of the names of their gods %ere confirmed around 13!! /9 <& the Hettites. Bume4il <elie)ed that the religion %as spread together %ith the *ndo'+uropean languages in the /ron4e -gesF <ut toda& it is eagerl& discussed if the *+ languages %ere spread much earlier together %ith agriculture ' long time <efore %arrior societies li@e the -r&ans. Gnder all circumstances the societies compared <& Bume4il in *ndiaF Southern +urope and 2orthern +urope did not follo% each other in their de)elopment of societ& at the same time. Therefore the& should not at the same time follo% each other in the de)elopment of religion either ' ma@ing it rather difficult to learn the con)enient stage from a societ& %hich had left the stage centuries or millenniums ago. *t is not possi<le to cop& such a d&namic process o)er a time space of se)eral centuries %ithout cop&ing the Jen)ironmentJ too. Af course the& used elements from each other ' supported <& the similarit& in languages ' <ut as the religions eDisted at different stages the de)elopment %ould ne)er <e identical due to mutual influence. The religion had primaril& to follo% the stage and de)elopment of the societ& ' and the natural de)elopment ma& as descri<ed a<o)e ha)e ta@en place in identical order. Most of Bume4il5s o<ser)ations are pro<a<l& correct. His three'le)elled m&tholog& %as a result of the functional societ& <eing di)ided into priests1@ingsF %arriors and farmers as descri<ed in >gEeda ' though %e ha)e to add a fourth class of sla)es. The classes %ere differentl& descri<ed in >igsthulaF %here the third class %ere the sla)esF <ut ne)ertheless his <asic %a& to di)ide societ& and religion in the same %a& %as pro<a<l& fitting the situation %ell in <oth places. -lso the counterparts of the nature sun1moonF da&1nightF summer1%interF life1deadF man1%oman and goodness1e)ilness ma& demand these pairs of opposite gods e)er&%here ' %hich he o<ser)ed. The <asic elements of nature are in classical philosoph& %aterF earthF air ,s@&. and fire. The gods representing the s@& he often di)ided into s@&F sun and %eather. These gods he placed at the first le)el as the original masters of the pantheon. 6ater the god of the %arriors at the second le)el too@ o)er as the @ing of the gods ' as the @ing <ecame stronger in a %arrior societ&. The fertilit& gods at the third le)el %ere on their side often a pair of t%ins ' sometimes follo%ed <& one of their parents representing the former fertilit& cult ' originall& connected %ith the a<o)e mentioned three elements. -lso the m&thical %ar <et%een the old and the ne% gods is a descriptionF %hich could al%a&s <e eDpected %here a %arrior elite sei4ed po%er in a societ& of agriculturists. The similarities are often unclearF <ut Bume4il %as an eDpert in finding an eDplanation. 9onseLuentl& some of his parallels are not con)incing. Ho%e)er Bume4il %as pro<a<l& right that some fragments of the m&ths and some gods %ere <orro%ed from the same <asic religion as the *ndian religions ' spreading slo%l& li@e rings in the %ater. He Hust forgot that the names of similar gods did not need to spread together %ith the *+'languagesF <ut could easil& spread <ecause of the alread& eDisting common *+'languages or simpl& <e constructed from the same %ords.

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The first t%o regions %here our ci)ilisation %as de)eloped to a specialised societ& %ere +g&pt and Sumer ,*raL. ' <ut this too@ place long time after agriculture spread from the same region to +urope. The *ndo' +uropean and Semitic cultures and religions pro<a<l& spread from Sumer. *f %e o<ser)e the de)elopment in the 2ear +ast from Sumer to -natolia ,Tur@e&. )ia the Hurries and Hettites to the Grartu and 6u%ian peopleF %e can find the same similarities %ith the 2orse religion as Bume4il descri<ed %ith the >g$eda ' some of the names are e)en more li@el&. *n this line of de)elopment ' parallel %ith the Eedic religion ' %e can find the god of %eather and thunderF Tarchunt 1 Taru 1 Teshe<a and his partnerF the god of sun and lightF Ti%a4 1 Si%ini. The third main god among the Grartu in Tur@e& %as ,9.haldi ' the ruler and god of hea)en. *n the other societies the %eather god %as the ruler. +arlier in this structure the %eather god %as called *sh@ur ,Hettites and Sumer.F %ho %as descri<ed li@e the 2orse Thor. His %ife %as normall& a sun'goddess li@e -rinna and Shala ' similar %ith Thor5s Sif %ith the golden hair. *t is tempting to recognise ThorF Sif and Tir in this pantheon instead of the Eedic pantheon ' and actuall& Snorri told that Thor arri)ed from these regions.

$.2.2 The ,orse reli#ions

Man& poems ha)e descri<ed the old 2orse religion %ith its different %orldsF the old gods and the tree of life. The Scandina)ian religions of the /ron4e -ges ' after the spread of the *ndo'+uropean languages and contemporar& %ith the -r&ans ' appear from their roc@ car)ings to <e a nature religion of a people of agriculturists <ased on the sun and fertilit&. The aDe is the onl& sign of a %arrior cultF <ut these aDes ,al%a&s appearing in pairs in the finds. must ha)e <een used for sacrificing. $e are not in these roc@ car)ings a<le to identif& the %arrior gods of the Migration -gesF and this @ind of car)ings are not @no%n from an& other regions of the *+'people. 6ater in the earl& *ron -ges %ooden idols appeared in the <ogs ' a sign of personified gods as a continuation of the fe% figures %ith male attri<utes and ma&<e the mar@s of hands and footsteps in the roc@ car)ings. *n 99 -B Tacitus told a<out the maingods 2erthus ,+arth.F Tuisto and *ngui %orshipped in different areas around the $estern /altic Sea. The religions in -sia Minor and in *ndia had a father <eing god of the Hea)ens and a mother <eing goddess of the +arth. The& %ere pro<a<l& gods from the old fertilit& cults of the agricultural societ&F %ho should still eDplain the m&steries a<out creation and <irth. Statues of this mother are @no%n else%here 2#.!!! &ears <ac@ in time. These gods ma& represent the earlier stage of the personified gods ' mar@ing the continuit& from the /ron4e -ges to Ing)e'8re&F %ho %as pro<a<l& the last JmergedJ stage of that <ranch <efore 9hristianit&. -lso the >omans spo@e of a great motherF %here the father <ecame Jupiter. The role of Tiustu ,B&ias in >gEeda 1 Ueus in Gree@. in Scandina)ia at that time is uncertain. The stor& of Thor in Snorri5s +dda and his role as a 2orse Jupiter ma& indicate that he %as TuistuF <ut normall& T&r1Tir is regarded to <e Tuistu. -ccording to Tacitus the *nga)iones %ere the descendants of Tuistu in 2orthern +urope. There is no dou<t that *ngui and Ing)e is the same name. *ngui %as also @no%n as an ancestor of the -nglian @ings in +ngland and in Historia 2or%egie113 Ing)e as an ancestor of the @ings of S)ealand 7 later Snorri called him Ing)e'8reH. He e)en had a rune and according to the A+ rune poem he first appeared among the +ast Banes. *n /eo%ulf the Sc&ldings %ere called *ng%ina. -ccording to man& scholars there is also an o<)ious connection <et%een Tacitus5 2erthus and 2Hord 7 the father of Ing)e'8reH according to Snorri. That means that the medie)al genealogies of <oth the -nglianF BanishF S%edish and 2or%igean @ings can <e traced <ac@ to the t%o gods Tacitus claimed to <e %orshipped in the 2ordic countries in the first centur& -B. /oth gods %ere fertilit& gods ' at least at the late stage. $e do not @no% if a part of this is a result of later %riter @no%ing Tacitus.

113

Historia 2or%egie is %ritten <& a 2or%egian mon@ in the 12th centur& ,<efore Snorri. and pro<a<l& <ased on -ri5s *sl?ndinga<o@.

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T&r has a )er& resigned role in the 2orse M&ths. -ctuall& he is primaril& @no%n for his %ee@da& and for his loss of a hand to the 8enris $olf ' the latter alread& @no%n from a <racteat around #!! -B. This ma& indicate that he %as pushed aside <& Thor and Adin and left as a disa<led god of Hustice <efore or during the general change of religion around #!! -B. Tacitus %rote that Tuistu %as earth<orn and %e shall remem<er that Thor at the late stage %as son of the 2orse goddess Jord ,+arth.F %ho %as pro<a<l& identical %ith 2erthus. *t is uncertain %hen a god li@e Thor arri)ed to Scandina)iaF <ut he pro<a<l& spread among the 9eltsF %here %e @no% a similar god under the name Taranis ' the later Germanic Bonar. -s mentioned he had parallels in -sia Minor too. -lso /alder %as @illed at the <racteates around #!! -B ' <ut he did not need to <e a son of Adin at that time. Some scholars suspect him to <e /aal. *n Southern +urope Mercur& and Hercules %ere mentioned <& Tacitus as the gods of the %arli@e GermanicsF %hen the migrations in +astern +urope <egan and the %ars %ere starting at the >oman <orders. -t that time the %arrior'societ& in *ndia must ha)e <een 18!! &ears old ' ma@ing it impossi<le to cop& a d&namic de)elopment. *n these more complicated societies the speciali4ed functional gods <ecame a necessit&. *n the )agrant or fighting groups the leader got a central importance so strong that the religion had to <e com<ined %ith his po%er and functions. *n an uncomplicated agricultural societ& the @ing could <e a descendent of a fertilit& god or a reincarnation of the SunF %hich for them represented the fundamental di)ine po%er. 8or %arriors and nomads li@e the GothsF ho%e)erF the most important ideal to <e %orshipped %as strong @ings and heroes <eing succesful in <attles. This %as confirmed <& Jordanes5 tal@ a<out the Gothic ancestor godsF J-nsisJ ' the 2orse J-nsuUJ or J-sirJ. 8or these people ,or their leaders. an ancestor cult %ith a di)ine ancestor as the %ar god and a religious re%ard to the %arriors fallen at the <attlefield must ha)e <een the most important element of the religion. -lread& %hen reading place names it is o<)ious that the gods %ere not %orshipped in the same %a& in different regions of Scandina)iaF Hust as the religion changed o)er time. The Scandina)ians pro<a<l& @ne% se)eral gods and chose some of them as their personal and tri<al protectors. *n that %a& e)en 9hrist could <e a god to them as <eing descri<ed <& $idu@ind M$idu@ind ***F6REN The 2orse religion of the %arrior societ& %as descri<ed as a %hole <& Snorri in Heims@ringla and especiall& in the (rose +dda. 8ragments ho%e)er can <e read in the earlier poemsF %hich pro<a<l& %ere a part of his sources too. This should <e a picture of the religion as it %asF %hen 9hristianit& too@ o)erF and Snorri %as pro<a<l& one of the <est to tell ' if he %anted to tell the truth. The hierarch& of these godsF as he descri<ed itF %as %ithout dou<t a reconstruction influenced <& @no%ledge of the classical religions. -s alread& mentioned the odd construction of the 2orthern m&tholog& split up <et%een -ses and Eanes must <e a miDed religion of a %arrior societ& and a people of agriculturists. /oth the old fertilit& gods and the cult around the %arrior god $othan1Adin could <e found in the reconstructed pantheons ' and Snorri e)en told a<out the reconciliation of the old Eanes and the -sir coming from the /lac@ Sea. -dam of /remen told that 8re& and Adin around 1!!! -B %ere standing in Gppsala %ith Thor as Jupiter in the middle ' e)en if the temple did not eDist at the time of -dam himself this %as the official picture.

$.2.$ The #od 0din

The confusion among the 9hristian authors in the 11'13th centuries ma& ha)e <een caused <& a d&namic process %hich could still <e traced in the m&ths %hen 9hristianit& too@ o)er. - pro<lem %as that Adin5s final role as father of the gods and leader %as not reflected in all the m&ths. -lso Thor appeared as the highest of all gods and 2Hord and his son 8re& as the ancestors of the @ings of Gppsala. Tacitus told ' as mentioned ' that Mercurius %as the most important god in Germania. He also mentioned Hercules. This %as pro<a<l& <ased on the closest tri<es east and north of 6imes. Mercurius %as primaril& the god of merchants and tra)ellersF <ut also of death. *n Scandina)ia Adin %as later the god of <attle and deathF

1!#

The Heruls
<ut one of his shapes %as the old %andering god %ith the <road <rimmed hat and the <lac@ clothes ' a shape deri)ing from an old 9eltic god. He %as not descri<ed as a traditional %ar god 7 Thor %as the %arrior fighting against the Giants. 6ater Snorri told us that Adin %as a<le to change his shape <eing a manF an animal and a god. He %as descri<ed as a superior @ingF a shaman'li@e ;gode= ,priest.F the god of ;s@Halds@a<= and runes and the god of the dead %arriors 117 *n +ngland and German& he %as called $othen or $othan. There is no dou<t that he <ecame the 2orse Adin ,@no%n first time in Scandina)ia as $odin at the Str?ngn?s Stone.F though this Adin ma& ha)e recei)ed elements from other @inds of deities too. 6inguisticall& the names are identical ' e)en according to Snorri. *n 99 -B Tacitus regarded the people of 2orthern +urope as %orshippers of 2erthus and the ancestor god *ngui 7 a parallel to the earlier mentioned Gaut. This %as the time %hen the %arrior elite too@ o)er in the continental Jutland 7 registred <oth in the structure of the )illages and in the %ar <ooties. The HHortespring <oat and the 9im<rian migration caused <& flood and <ad agricultural conditions %as pro<a<l& some of the first indications. /& that reason a %argod must ha)e eDisted in Jutland in the first half of the millenniumF <ut he could <e T&rF ThorF TuistoF Gll or another god. The de)elopment spread successi)el& to the rest of Scandina)iaF <ut first in the #th and 3th centuries the general change to a ne% religion too@ place as earlier told. The introduction of $othan in Scandina)ia %as according to se)eral archaeologists represented <& the riding head at the 9'<racteates in the #th centur& MJOrgen JensenF 2!!"N -lso the s&m<olic animals must ha)e <een a part of the pagan religion from that timeF and it has to <e considered that such s&m<ols %ere often com<ined %ith shamanism ' Hust as Adin %as himself in the m&ths. Jordanes mentioned Mars and Gapt1Gaut ,Geat1Geta 7 se 9hapter 3.1.1.1. as Gothic gods 7 Gaut in a fe% later sources also a G0tic god. The contemporar& (rocopius mentioned -resF the %ar godF as the greatest god in Scandina)ia around ##! -BF <ut that does not need to co)er all Scandina)ia. Ma&<e he Hust referred to the Heruls there and their main god does not need to <e Adin 7 at least not in the role of a father. *n runes Adin %as first attested at the Str?ngn?s Stone ,$odin>.F %hich is not dated ,old 8uthar@.F and in the 7th centur& at the South German 2ordendorpher fi<ula ,$oden. and at a Banish scull in >i<e. *n 782 -B a poem of (aulus Biaconis mentioned J$atenJ and JThurJ protecting @ing Siegfried of Benmar@. *n the 8th centur& $othen %as attested <& /ede in +nglish genealogies tooF and Arigo Gentis 6ongo<ardorum and (aulus mentioned a <attle %here Guoden and 8rea in the past %ere gods of the 6om<ardsF %ho <ac@ in the time of Tacitus %orshipped 2erthus. Some scholars claim that the one'e&ed god %as found much earlier as a fe% %ooden statues and ceramics in Jutland. *f these ;<lind= e&es are not Hust Luestions of <ad Lualit& this feature ma& ha)e <elonged to a local god <efore it %as used %hen the 2orse Adin %as shaped. *t can neither <e eDcluded that these idols represented the predecessor of AdinF Gaut. *t is rather o<)ious that Adin in some of the 2orse societies %as ad)ancing and passing Thor and *ngui'8reH in importance. This %as not an unusual process regarding the gods of %arli@e @ings as the Ei@ing @ings ' especiall& if the& regarded the god as their ancestor. -ctuall& Bume4il MBume4il 1932N told a<out the %ar god *ndra ad)ancing among Eedic gods in nearl& the same %a&F %hen the %arriors too@ o)er ' though he <elie)ed Thor %as *ndra`` -t the time of Snorri Adin %as @no%n as the superior god of ancient times and in some stories also as the ancestor to the @ingsF <ut apparentl& he had onl& <een the most important god to the @ingsF earls and %arriors. The place names sho% that the farmers %orshipped 8reHF %ho %as called one of the Eanes from the old fertilit& cultF and Snorre e)en told that 8reH %as identical %ith Ing)eF %ho %as ancestor to the Inglings.
117

Adin is difficult to identif& as a god. He %as the god of <attleF <ut also of death and poetr&. He %as descri<ed as the cle)er %andererF <ut also the @ing of the %arriors from Ealhalla. Adin lied in periods dormant ,%as he secretl& a<road .F and scholars calls him shaman'li@e. He %as handsome to his friends <ut the sight of him scared his enemies. The shaman'li@e Adin is i.e. descri<ed <& 6otte Hedeager in JS@&gger fra en anden )ir@elighedJ. -ccording to $olfram the name Adin %as first met after ##!. Adin is <ecause of the linguistic similarit& normall& regarded as a 2ordic )ersion of the continental $othan ,+nglish: $othen.. Gaut is told to <e much older 7 ma&<e from the first migrations of Goths 7 <ut he is onl& @no%n from a fe% 2ordic fragments and ma&<e as Gapt of Jordanes.

1!3

The Heruls
(opular among the people %as also Thor118F %ho at the late stage %as mentioned as one of the -sir and a son of Adin. The name Adin is found in remar@a<l& fe% place names. The (oetic +dda and G&lfaginnung told that Adin at their time %as the ruler and father of the (antheon. +arlier Budo and -dam of /remen told that Thur %as the main god. S@Holdungesaga and the introduction to G&lfaginnung told that Thor %as the father of Adin. SaDo and -elfried %ondered %h& the names of the %ee@da&s indicated that Thor %as JupiterF %ho %as the father of Mercur& <eing regarded as Adin. Bid the son of Thor ,Jupiter.F Adin ,Mercurius.F originall& marr& the daughter of 2HordF 8re&a This %ould ma@e sense as Adin5s %ife 8rigga is onl& connected %ith a couple of storiesF and as 8re&a5s hus<and in the late m&ths %as called Ad 7 a hus<and %ho had disappeared. 8rea is often regarded as the <ac@ground of JfrauJF %hich %as the role of 8riggaF and in the old Arigo Gentis 6ongo<ardorum from the 7 th centur& 8rea %as the %ife of $odan. The >0@ Stone indicated around 81# -B a stage %here Adin %as a late son of Thor and SifF %hich %ould <e the most natural %a& to let a ;ne%= god Hoin the di)ine genealog&. He ma& ha)e <een introduced <& using a m&th <orro%ed from the 9hristians ' the m&th of -<rahamF Sara and *saac. He ma& ha)e ta@en o)er roles from T&r and Gll ' e)en pushing Gll out to <e an illegitimate son of Sif. -s a part of the follo%ing process the old introduction m&th as a son of Thor and Sif had to <e left. -lso the ta<oo around his nameF AdinF and the use of man& other names ,including Gaut and S@ilfing according to Grimnismal. ma& ha)e <een a co)er of that process. Ma&<e the m&ths a<out the arri)al of the gods can tell a<out that pro<lem too. *t is important to notice that Snorri told t%o different stories a<out the origin of the gods separated <& around 1! &ears. *n the first )ersionF +dda ,122!.F the god Thor left Tro& in T&r@land ,Tur@e&. in accordance %ith the traditional stories of the origin of the Germanic people and %ent to Thra@ia 119. -s Budo laughed of that stor& 2!! &ears earlierF Snorri cannot <e <lamed for the stor&. He pro<a<l& referred it correctl&F <ut %e ha)e to <e a%are that Tro& %as <elie)ed to ha)e a position at the mouth of >i)er Bon ,Tanais. at that time. 2either %as the real Tro& placed in the T&r@land of Snorri as the Tur@s had not reached the $estern Tur@e& at that time. *n the last )ersion in Heims@ringla ,123!. he told a<out the ;-ses= ,Men from -sia.F %ho came from -sia and at the ri)er Tanais ,Bon. and met the old ;Eanes=. -ccording to Jordanes the Heruls li)ed there near the

118

-dam of /remen regarded Thor as a Jupiter from his attri<utes and his position in the temple of Gppsala <et%een Adin and Ing)e'8re&. So did SaDo later <& comparing %ith the names of the %ee@da&s. This is further discussed in chapter 9.1. The last stan4a of the >0@ Stone could <e interpreted as JThorF hus<and of Sif ,Si<i at the stone.F protector of the templesF %as <orn a child <& a ninet& &ear oldJ 7 an e)ent identical %ith that of -<raham and Sara gi)ing <irth to *sac ' the first ancestor of the Je%s. Ma&<e a 9hristian m&th %as used %hen introducing $othan in the Scandina)ian pantheon. 6ater he %as regarded as the first ancestor of the @ings.

There is a general agreement a<out the runes and the %ords of the stoneF <ut there is no official interpretation of the teDt. * found the missing statements indicated <& the stan4a'num<ers and a s&stem eDplaining the stan4as eDcept the last one mentioned a<o)e. *n the end of 2!!3 * %rote an article %ith m& personal eDplanation of nearl& all the teDt of the stoneF its purpose and the historical <ac@ground. Betails %ere discussed %ith some of the specialists stud&ing these topics and the article %as after%ards circulated among a fe% scholars and editors. The article %as presented in JBanernes SagnhistorieJ in 2!!" and at a separate %e<site in 2!!#. 119 6ud%ig Schmidt <elie)ed the *ll&rian Heruls li)ed in Bacia >ipenses ,a part of the old Thra@ia. <efore Justinian ga)e them SingidunumF and Batius li)ed at the Gepides in Bacia after his escape from Singidunum. Some of the Heruls could <e regarded as Bacians. Thor himself ma& <e identified in the 9eltic Taranthus and in the Hurrian Taru <eing identical %ith the Hettittian *sh@ur ' ma@ing him much older than the 2orse Adin and the -ses. *t is difficult to see if an& of these elements %ere @no%n or used <& later %riters.

1!7

The Heruls
old Gree@ colon& Tanais at the mouth of ri)er Bon12! <et%een the Goths and the *ranian -lans121F and here the& %ere later su<Hugated <& the Huns. Snorri told that -ses and Eanes fought and reconciled 122. 6ater on Adin as their leader led them from Tanais ,Bon. through Gardari@e ,>ussia. to JSaDlandJ 7 according to Snorri in order to a)oid the >omans. -ll the 12 chieftain'priests follo%ed AdinF %hile his t%o <rothers sta&ed <ehind %ith a part of the people. - common feature in his t%o old legends is that Adin %ent from the countries around the /lac@ Sea to SaDon&F %here 3 of his chieftains settled. (assing north he settled for a %hile at Adinse& ,<& Snorre regarded as Adense. <efore the Hourne& ended in Ald Sigtuna in Gppland ' the region of 6a@e M?lar. The @ing of SuithiodF G&lfiF reconciled %ith Adin and offered him a part of his @ingdom around Gppsala 123F %here the central JtempleJ of Adin %as esta<lished 12". The sons or chieftains of Adin %ere placed as su<' @ings in the 2ordic countries12# 7 e.g. S@Hold123 in 6eHre at SealandF Ing)e in Gppsala and S?ming in 2or%a&. $hile Adin sta&ed in Adinse& S@Hold <ecame the first @ing of 6eHreF as his %ife Gefion ploughed Sealand out of the soil of S)ealand after a deal %ith G&lfi lea)ing a <ig hole 7 the 6a@e M?lar. *n his reconstruction Snorri used a stor& a<out Adin and his -ses at a place in the genealogiesF %hich according to earlier m&ths li@e Historia 2orth%egie <elonged to *ngui1Ing)e. -ri e)en mentioned an JIng)e of Tro&J. The stor& is un@no%n else%here though the di)ine Tro&'connection %as a part of the late tradition. The stor& a<out the @ing Adin is a separate stor& %hich ma& <e a fragment of a legend a<out a human @ing as Snorri claimed himself. -n odd character of a god is connected %ith Adin. Adin %as characteri4ed <& periods of a<sence. This is also the case %ith the ;later= @ing -un1-udun in InglingatalF %hen other rulers too@ o)er. +arlier also SaDo 127 %rote a<out a ;false god Adin= still often tra)elling <et%een Gppsala and /&4ansF %here Adin according to Snorri had su<stantial possessions. 6ater the @ing S)egder in Inglingasaga left for Great S)itHod1T&r@land to find AdinF <ut he returned after # &ears. -ll this sounds more li@e a human @ing %ith se)eral points of interest than a god. *n general the historical sagas and chronologies %ere reconstructions <& the 9hristian authors %ho had onl& fragmentar& information in poems and tales at their disposal. The& %ere not a%are that the religion changed
12! Snorri

descri<es the <order <et%een +urope and -sia as TanaL)isl ,Bon. 7 the ri)er at the Gree@ colon& Tanais %ere the Heruls according to Jordanes settled in the s%amps. 2ote 2.1.1!. 121 Ma&<e the Heruls first <ecame %orshippers of $othan or Gaut at the /lac@ SeaF <ut here the& also met the *ranian influenced -lan1-s'people ,9hapter 2.1.. Theoreticall& there ma& ha)e <een fights and a follo%ing religious influence <et%een Heruls and -lans. *ranian influence is traced <oth in the 2orse religion and in the militar& eLuipment in EendelF <ut there might <e other reasons. The name of the -si could easil& e)o@e associations to the -ses ' and the tri<e could ha)e inspired to the -sesF <ut the name -ses pro<a<l& deri)e from ;ansu= ,ancestral god.. -lso the Huns ma& ha)e had such an influence on the Heruls. The recent theor& de)eloped <& Thor He&erdahl ,Jagten paa AdinF 2!!1. could ha)e the same <ac@ground. Thor He&erdahl had in eDca)ations at -so) and the surroundings found traces of a connection <et%een the people li)ing there in the 2nd centur& /9 and the Scandina)ian Ei@ings. He assumed -so) to <e -sgaardF the old castle of Adin. He also assumed this %as a direct connection <efore 9hristF <ut this is contradicted <& the strong archaeological indications of a change of religion coming to Scandina)ia from south in the 3th centur& -B 7 unless the -so)' connection %as carried through later <& the -lans and Heruls. He&erdal %as primaril& attac@ed <& scholars <ecause of the long span of &ears ma@ing archaeolog& uselessF and <ecause he had used the names too far. Gro Steinsland has pro<a<l& correctl& argued that -ses deri)e from the %ord -nsu ,God1-ncestral god. eDisting much later than the time %hen Adin should ha)e left %ith the -si according to He&erdahl. 122 The <eginning of Heims@ringla. 123 G&lfi is mentioned in +dda. 12" -dam of /remen. Snorri also mentioned SigtunaF %hich %as the <ig cit& of his time near Gppsala. 12# The <eginning of Heims@ringla. 123 He is mentioned as a son 7 not onl& a chieftain 7 in +dda. -lso in the late 9hristian )ersion of /eo%ulf the arri)al of S@Hold has a supernatural character. 127 The chapter of HaddingF Adin and Midodin in /oo@ 1.

1!8

The Heruls
<oth geographicall& and successi)el& o)er the &ears ' and sometimes their Ho< %as to manipulate the past. $e ha)e to regard the tales as consisting of fragments a<out gods or @ings put together in different %a&s 7 <ased on the old religion %ith its different %orlds and the tree of life. Snorri %as a serious politician. $hen he %rote Heims@ringla ordered <& the 2or%egian @ings he had alread& descri<ed the general Tro&'stor& 1! &ears <eforeF %hich pro<a<l& %as a %ell'@no%n final stage of the religion at his time 7 alread& told <& Budo. He did not %ant to use that origin of a li)ing ro&al d&nast& and chose instead a human legend. He could not Hust in)ent a ne% stor& <ut had to use another legend %hich he could defend 7 Hust li@e SaDo com<ined eDisting legends suiting his purpose in the old genealogies. The stor& of King Adin eDisted as indicated in S@Holdungesaga as an alternati)e stor& of origin %ith strong parallels to the classical stor& of the 9hristian cler@s. (ro<a<l& the stor& in Heims@ringla %as an older )ersion 7 ma&<e consisting of fragments from a real ro&al legend of the past. $e %ill ne)er @no% ho% much %as reconstructed <& Snorri and his predecessors.

%.% Edin and the Bin of the Heruls

$.$.1 The men of )sia and the Heruls
The similarities <et%een the migrations of the Heruls ,descri<ed in the earlier scenario. and the stor& of King Adin and his men are rather o<)ious. The area of Tanais ,Bon. in Inglingesaga is close to the S%amps of Hele at the Sea of -so) into %hich the Bon is flo%ing. 8rom there the Heruls Hoined the raid of the Huns 7 the men of -sia. The route is not the sameF %hich %ill <e eDamined in the neDt chapterF <ut the& are met again in 2orthern German& %here the EarniF %hom the Heruls )isitedF %ere a part of the SaDonsF %hen Snorri %rote. King Adin and his 12 chieftain'priests left <ac@ t%o of his <rothers %ith a part of the people 7 a parallel to the separation of the Heruls in #!9. (ro<a<l& the Heruls sailed directl& from the Earni to /le@inge1E?rend and sta&ed in the surroundings of the local AdinsH0 7 %hile Snorri %rote Adinse& ,Adense. at 8&en. 8rom Adinse& Adin sent his daughter Gefion til G&lfe in Gppsala. *n her negotiations her father got at part of the @ingdom of G&lfe and she herself <ecame Lueen of Benmar@ 7 inspiring to the eDplanation a<out a deal i la Hengist in the scenario in 9hapter 2.2.2. Adin settled in Sigtuna and got his temple in GppsalaF %here the mounds %ith the +ast +uropean traces are found. Snorri told that the -ses and the Eanes fought at the Tanais and %ere reconciled %here the Heruls fought the Goths and the Huns <efore Hoining themF %hile the reconciliation <et%een the %ar' and fertilit&'gods found its more prosaic place and reason in Gppsala. Snorri told that Adin changed the <urial customs of <oth people to cremation <& la%. 6ater 8reHF the ancestor of the InglingsF %as <uried %ithout cremation to honour his di)ine character 7 and he %as placed in a mound. *t is correct that the <urial customs changed to cremation in generalF %hen the Heruls arri)ed 7 this is descri<ed <& archaeolog& and e)en indirectl& <& (rocopius regarding the Heruls. The first @ings in the mounds %ere cremated tooF <ut then most of the earls in the <oat gra)es %ere <uried after%ards. Snorri failed regarding the moundsF <ut ho% did he get the idea a<out the complicated change <et%een <urial and cremation The in)ading Herulian @ing ma& in the sagas <e identical %ith -udun1-un 128 7 a name %hich according to
128 ;King -uns

9alendar=F %hich according to G0ran Henri@sson ,TA> 27. is connected to the sight lines at the mounds of GppsalaF seems to <egin in the &ear "73 -B ,the &ear %here the Heruls assisted Adoa@er to put an end to

1!9

The Heruls
Snorri %as identical %ith the $othan'li@e name Adin. The same -un from Inglingesaga connects the Adin cult in Gppsala %ith a calendar related to >ome and the &ear "73 -B %hen Adoa@er too@ o)er. *n the theor& -udun could <e the name of the @ing as similar names are found among the Germanic people in the South. -n -udoin %ith a mother from Thuringia and an un@no%n father <ecame @ing of the 6om<ards in #"#F %hen he as former guardian follo%ed the &oung $altari ,A2 Ealdar. at the throne. $altari %as d&ing &oung as a son of Silinga ,$acho5s third %ife. <eing the daughter of a Herulian @ing 7 pro<a<l& Hrodolphus 129. Moreo)er an Astrogothic no<le Adoin %as eDecuted in the &ear #!! -B. Such a coincidence could eDplain %h& the m&th of the @ing %as miDed up %ith the religious m&ths ' or ma&<e misused in the past. $e shall pro<a<l& disregard an original connection <et%een the @ing and the god ma@ing other names possi<le. The first Herulian @ing mentioned around 3#! -B %as called -laricF and Jordanes told a<out another @ing -laric in "38 -BF %ho could ha)e <een the father or grandfather of the Herulian @ing >odolphus. Ane of >odolphusT sons or <rothers %as pro<a<l& leading the migration to Scandina)ia around #12 -B. $e do not @no% the name of this @ingF <ut if %e read Inglingatal a horse'riding @ing -lri@ %ithout an& histor& %as father to @ing Ing)e 7 also the name of the founder of the ne% d&nast& in S)ealand. *f %e assume that the in)ading @ing used the usual ro&al name of the HerulsF -laric ,Q-lri@ meaning @ing of all.F the ne% god Adin ,Qa 2orse )ersion of $othan. pro<a<l& later a<sor<ed his ;histor&= and %as put in front of Inglingatal. Snorri told in +dda that Adin and his men on their %a& from -sia to Gppsala %ere cele<rated as godsF <ut his eDplanation in the <eginning of Inglingesaga %as that Adin5s di)ine dignit& %as caused <& the %arriorsF %ho <egan to call upon the famous %arrior @ing <efore a <attle. That eDplanation is pro<a<l& more li@el& 7 <ut that could happen to him as an ;ansis= long time after his death. SaDo ma&<e e)en indirectl& eDplained to us ho% ;the men of Adin= could <ecome superior in Scandina)iaF %hen he descri<ed the <attle formation ;S)inef&l@ingen= as a di)ine idea of Adin. The >omans and their mercenaries li@e the Heruls used that <attle formation called ;(orcinum 9apet= or the ;S%ine Head= to split a primiti)e ro% formation13!. -t least it is an eDample ho% eDperienced soldiers li@e the Heruls could %in though <eing a minorit&. *t could of course <e <rought to Scandina)ia <& other reasons ' <ut if soF %h& %as it com<ined %ith Adin Snorri told in Inglingesaga that Adin @ne% %ere to go and settle %hen the& felt threatened. Snorri %rote a<out a >oman threatF <ut a similar claim in =9hronicon 6ethrenses= a<out -ugustus %ill pro<a<l& sho% up to <e later e)ents caused <& the 8ran@ish Kings around 7!! -BF %hen comparing %ith archaeolog& MTroels /randtF 2!!": Banernes SagnhistorieN. The threat against Adin could as %ell <e Huns or 9hristian 6om<ards or +ast >omans as Snorri did not mention an& details. Therefore there is no reason to place the departure of Adin in the >oman period. *f %e continue %ith the eDample a<o)e mentioning the names -lri@ and the shaman'li@e -unF -lri@ ma& <e the man at the di)ine throne in shape of a Germanic $othan figure using the 2orse )ersion of the name Adin1-udun1-un 7 four )ersions of the same name. -lternati)el& the ro&al priests of Gppsala later placed
the >oman +mpire. %ith a c&cle of 3!" &ears. The calendar might <e esta<lished in Southern +urope as its structure is >oman1JulianF and -un ma& ha)e <rought it to Scandina)ia. The calendar %as connected to the ne% 8 ,9. &ears c&cle at the Bisething in Gppsala 7 @no%n from -dam of /remen and local reports from the 18th centur& ,read also a<out -un in note 8.3.13.. The *celandic scholar +inar (alsson presented more complicated theories a<out the use of geometric figures and num<ers in the landscapeF <ut this shall not <e used as an argument here. +inar /irgisson has in his ne% <oo@ J+g&ptian influence and sacred geometr& in ancient and medie)al Scandina)iaJ M6in@N sho%n ho% these theories can <e used around Gppsala using some interesting eDamples. 129 Arigo Gentis 6ongo<ardorum and (aulus Biaconus. 13! SaDo ,E**F1!. made a detailed description of this triple %edge formationF %hich ;an old man called Adin= learned the Banish heroF @ing Harald Hildetand. SaDo did not gi)e it a nameF <ut the sagas mentioned the name ;S)inef&l@ingen= ,S%ine group. for a formation more simple than the complicated SaDo'formation. The >omans had a similar %edge ,9upeus. ' <& the soldiers called S%ine $edge ,(orcinum 9apet. ,(add& Griffith: ;The Ei@ing art of %ar=.. The first soldiers of the formation ma& <e eDpected to <e regular <erser@s.

11!

The Heruls
the former %arrior @ings -lri@ ,-un.F Ing)e and ma&<e Jorund131 under the godli@e names Adin1$othanF 8reH and 2Hord in the ne% %orld of gods miDed <& -ses and EanesF %here the shapes changed and too@ ne% positions during the &ears ' Hust li@e Grimnismal told. $e %ill pro<a<l& ne)er <e a<le to tell %hat happenedF <ut under all circumstances some historical m&ths of Scandina)ia <ecame the m&th of the di)ine famil& of Adin and the -ses 7 the InglingsF S@Holdungs etc. The descendants %ere therefore a<le to use the relation to -ses to legitimate a famil&'right to the throne 7 a right met in man& societiesF including as mentioned the Heruls. The remains of this process from man to god does not eDist onl& in Jordanes5 and >im<erts %or@sF <ut also in the 2orse legends. SaDo mentioned <oth an Adin and a Midodin 7 the last Hust li@e SnorriTs Adin <eing a man calling himself a god. -s mentioned also Inglingesaga descri<ed these stages <et%een man and god ' i.e. -un. The 2orth Germanics @ept their pagan <elief "!! &ears longer than their southern @insmen. Ma&<e the ancestor'cult preser)ed the po%er of the ro&al d&nasties and )ice )ersa until the pressure from 9hristianit& undermined its functions ' <ut pro<a<l& this %a& of sta<ilising the political regimes in Scandina)ia %as a<le to function all the neDt millennium. - part of the religion %as in that %a& a result of politics 7 manipulated as the ro&al genealogies. That does not mean that the general rules of Bume4il shall <e totall& neglected %hen anal&sing the 2orse religions. The eDplanation %ill not <e perfect according to religious philosoph& and in relation to the normal *ndo'+uropean structures as descri<ed <& Bume4ilF <ut neither is the merged 2orse pantheon ' mar@ed as it is <& a compromise %ith a <ac@ground in political po%er. -ctuall& this %as precisel& %hat Snorri descri<ed in 123! ' onl& he did not lin@ them to an& historicall& @no%n people ' he did not mention the Heruls of (rocopius or the Bacians of Budo.

$.$.2 The route of 0din

An a superficial )ie% the three parts of migration histor& mentioned in the chapters a<o)e loo@ )er& separated from each other. Snorri had e)en t%o )ersions of the route to SaDon& ' one along the Banu<e and
131 These

names %ere <ased on the poem Inglingatal from the ninth and tenth centur&F %hich %as used <& Historia 2orth%egiae and later <& Snorri. The dating of Inglingatal %as pro)o@ingl& critici4ed <& 9laus Krag in 1991 as descri<ed at page 11"F <ut he has later <een opposed. The @ings -gne ,*n Banish pronounced -une. 7 -lri@ ,A)erlord1King of all. 7 *ngHald ,Ing)e'8re&1Angentheo%. 7 Jorund ,2Hord . 7 -un ,-udun1Adin. are placed in different order in Historia 2orth%egia and InglingatalF and the& ma& <e regarded as a miDture of dou<les in different stages of the process from @ing to godF %hen the famil& of Adin %as put into the seLuence of the old *nglinge'd&nast&. Adin <ecame a god in front of the list as the ne% ancestor together %ith 2Hord and his son Ing)e'8re& ,Heims@ringla. 7 ma&<e instead of *ng and his reincarnations. *n this part of the list %e also find -laric ' a name of Herulian and Gothic @ings. The 2ordic form -lri@ is 7 Hust li@e his <rother +ri@ 7 the name of a Eisigothic @ing at the same time. The name might <e the title ;A)erlord=QAdin. *n Inglingatal he and his <rother seem li@e empt& shells. 6i@e -ttila -gne died in the <ed at his %edding night. (ro<a<l& some of the @ings %ere a result of ;foreign legends=. The author has in JBanernes SagnhistorieJ proposed the line of @ings -lri@1-un ' Ing)e1Angentheo% ' Attar ' Anela1Hunding ' -dils. The names from Inglingatal ' -dilsF -lri@ and +ri@ ' %ere found at the rune stone from 7#!'8#! in Sparl0sa near the later centre of the church in Eesterg0tlandF S@ara ,Hust as some of the names %ere mentioned in /eo%ulf and $idsith.. $e ma& eDpect this similarit& in ro&al names to <e a coincidence due to the difference in time. Ho%e)er the stone is interesting due to the mentioning of magic runes and GppsalaF %here -iuls is mentioned as @ing %hile his son -lri@ pro<a<l& %as @ing in G0taland. The pictures sho% a hallF a ship %ith sails and a mounted %arrior %ith s%ord and a <oar, .crested helmet ' pro<a<l& the s&m<ols of po%er in the Eendel B&nast&. $as this a demonstration of the po%er of Gppsala in G0taland

111

The Heruls
one along the >ussian >i)ers and across the /altic Sea. 8irst %e ha)e to loo@ at these discrepancies. The first unclear description from the +dda of Snorri %as )er& similar to BudoTs description of an origin from Tro& and a later route from ;T&r@land= against north %estF <ut at the time of Snorri T&r@land %as not the Tur@e& %e @no% toda&F and the lost Tro& %as in a contemporar& description placed near Tanais. -ctuall& Snorri5s purpose to present the old m&ths correctl& is confirmed <& this use of a stor& %hich %as presented 2!! &ears earlier <& Budo ' Snorri did not in)ent or manipulate that stor& as claimed. He Hust referred Budo. Therefore there should <e a reason %h& Snorri ten &ears later reHected the Tro&'legend choosing instead the more distinct description %ith a ficti)e ;-sgaard= <ehind Bon1Tanais. Toda& %e still @no% the cit& of -so) at that position. This change ma& <e caused <& @no%ledge un@no%n to us 7 i.e. <& lost 2ordic legends 7 as he reHected the old clerical historians and the general glamorous Tro&'m&th preferring instead the <ar<arian neigh<ourhood of an un@no%n easterl& colon& of Greece. Snorri ma& ha)e found a ne% sourceF <ut unfortunatel& the eDplanation appears to <e reconstructed <& Snorri or his source ' ma&<e <ecause the& onl& @ne% fragments. -ngrimur Jonsson indicated that parts of the stor& alread& eDisted in the later disappeared S@HoldungesagaF %hich %as %ritten <efore Snorri. *n the ne% )ersion of Inglingesaga Adin %ent from Tanais against %est to Gardarige ,>ussia.F %hich appear a little too similar to the much later route of the Ei@ings <et%een the +astern /altic Sea and /&4ans 7 eDcept for the contradiction <et%een the direction ;%est= and the place ;Gardarige= against north. 8rom there he %ent to SaDon&F 8&en and Gppsala. *t seemsF ho%e)erF illogical to follo% a route from the /lac@ Sea )ia no%ada&s >ussia and 6at)ia to SaDon& <efore going <ac@ to Gppsala 7 the detour is a<surd. Snorri %as caught up in the same trap as his contemporaries %hen he tried to ma@e up the pu44le 7 he %as not a<le to ma@e the legends fit as his picture of the %orld %as %rong132. $e shall notice that Adin in <oth legends settled in SaDon& 7 Adinse& 7 Ald Sigtuna ,close to Gppsala.. *f %e lea)e out the contra dictionar& GardarigeF %hich %as an area the& Hust past li@e the Ei@ings coming from the /lac@ SeaF the ;Men from -sia= tra)elled against %est and arri)ed to SaDon& from South +ast. This is the same route as the old m&th a<out Tro&F and e)en the Bacian @ings of Budo follo%ed that route. The com<ined result %ill loo@ li@e this: 8rom Tanais the ancestors of the 2ordic @ings had follo%ed the Banu<e1+l<e'route o)er Bacia and SaDon& ,in north east earlier called Earni. to the BanesF Gautoi and S)ear. That is eDactl& the route of the Huns and HerulsF and as earlier mentioned Snorri e)en told a<out a split of the ro&al famil& and old properties in /&4ans. -n o<Hection should <e that the Heruls pro<a<l& ne)er li)ed at TanaisF <ut that does not change an&thing as the& <elie)ed soF %hen -<lasius and Jordanes %rote. (ro<a<l& the& later miDed up Tanais ,Bon. %ith Bnepr ,A2 Banpr.F %hich in the 3rd centur& %as the <order <et%een the Germanic tri<es and the Sarmatian -lans
132 Snorri

told in his second )ersion of the legend in Heims@ringla that Adin after going %est%ard from Tanais to Gardari@e ,>ussia. %ent south to the SaDons. The conseLuence of that eDplanation is that he %ent north along >i)er Bon and against %est to the /altic Sea turning south %est against SaDon&. 8rom there he %ent <ac@ north east again. Gardari@e is onl& mentioned as an area he passed from BonF <ut in <oth )ersions Adin su<dued SaDland. *n +dda the& originate from Tro&F <ut the geographer al'*drisi placed at a map in 11#" Tro& at >i)er Bon ' a map Snorri ma& ha)e @no%n as al'*drisi ser)ed a 2ormannic du@e >oger of Sicil&. *n +dda he %ent north from T&r@land to SaDlandF and out of 12 sonsF %ho follo%ed AdinF 3 ,EegdegF /eldeg ,/alder. and Seggi. alread& settled in German& ,-ustr' SaDlandiF Eestfal ,%here the gra)e in /ec@um %as found. and 8ra@land.. *f Snorri had not in)ol)ed Gardarige and the trip against south ,Great S)itHod or Bacia1(annonia %ould ha)e fit.F the initial %estern direction can <e regarded as a connection to all the other descriptions follo%ing the Banu<e1+l<e'route. The possi<le com<inations are Ader1$eischel ,ne)er mentioned in this connection.F %est 7 north %est ,Banu<e ' +l<e. or north ' %est 7 south %est ,/altic Sea.. 2one of the descriptions told in northern +urope sounds relia<le eDcept for the last part from SaDon& to Scandina)ia 7 Hust opposite (rocopiusF %ho %as not a<le to descri<e the last part in a %a& to <e trusted. The lac@ing a<ilit& to reflect the round shape of the +arth in the maps and the 9hristian churchTs un%illingness to accept it caused a confusing impression of the %orld ' unless (&theas and scientists li@e (&thagoras )er& earl& had recognised the round shape. *f a man as an eDample %ent 1"!! @m east%ards from Eestfold in 2or%a& and then 1"!! @m south%ards ,along the >ussian ri)ers. he reached TanaisF <ut if he %ent from Eestfold 1"!! @m south%ards and then 1"!! @m east%ards ,along the Banu<e. he reached Bacia. Therefore 9hristian %ritersF %ho regarded the +arth to <e a disc as descri<ed <& SnorriF had serious pro<lems %ith directions and location of the countries at a flat map or the c&lindrical map used <& some scientists.

112

The Heruls
,-ses.. *f the -lans %ere integrated the& ma& e)en ha)e <rought legends from Tanais and -so) %ith them into the Herulian group. This )er& natural com<ination of the migrating @ings of Snorri and BudoF %ho <oth %rote in 2orth $estern +uropeF %ill <e identical %ith a com<ination of the South'+uropean (rocopius and Jordanes descri<ing the route and li)ing places of the Heruls. - com<ination seen from this point of )ie% %ill indicate that the m&ths of origin of Adin and the legends of some of the ro&al d&nasties in Scandina)ia could <e the missing 2ordic histor& of the Heruls. Gnfortunatel& e)ents from the 3!! &ears of migration are totall& miDed up 7 <ut this should <e eDpected as Budo %rote #!! &ears later and Snorri %rote 7!! &ears later. Ma@ing a @ind of summar& %e can as@ the Luestion: Ho% did Snorri get that idea $e ha)e 3 possi<ilities: 1. He in)ented a route himself ' and hit <& a coincidence tra)el of the Heruls. 2. He found fragments of one or more 2ordic legends or poems descri<ing a route of some nameless Heruls. 3. He @ne% the route of (rocopius. >eading these possi<le ans%ers the last ans%er appears at the first glance to <e most realistic %hile the first is nearl& impossi<le. Ho%e)erF if he @ne% (rocopius there %as no reason to follo% the Ei@ing route through >ussia letting them go from 6at)ia to SaDon& and <ac@ to Gppsala. This is also an argument against the first possi<ilit&. 8urthermore it is as earlier mentioned difficult to eDplain %h& he did not refer to (rocopius if he @ne% him ' in order to support the 9hristian argument that Adin %as a human <eing. This leads us <ac@ to one or more 2orse m&ths containing fragments of the Herulian histor& as the <ac@ground for his final reconstruction. -s %e do not eDpect to find (rocopius'readers in the earl& pagan Scandina)iaF the Heruls themsel)es appear to <e the most pro<a<le source for such 2orse m&ths. Ho%e)er this alone can ne)er constitute a con)incing proof.

%.%.% The later Bin s of Kn lin esa a

/oth in Heims@ringla and Historia 2or%egie the description of the gods %as instantl& follo%ed <& the genealog& of the @ings descending from Ing)e'8re& ' @no%n from the much earlier poem Inglingetal. The& are normall& di)ided into four groups. The @ings in the first group co)ering Bag and his ;ancestors= ha)e o<)iousl& no connection %ith the rest. The& appear to <e fantas& figures or ma&<e m&thical @ings from the earlier @ingdom. (ro<a<l& the purpose %as to prolong the list of @ings and connect them %ith the gods. The neDt group from -gne to the shaman'li@e -un133 %ere mentioned in different order in the t%o )ersions of Inglingatal and seem to contain dou<les. Some of them appear %ith elements of gods or of Hunnic and Eisigothic @ings. Ma&<e the& %ere used as a fill up to ma@e the famil& older than the Banish @ings 7 <eing elements of other @ings or gods. *t cannot <e eDcluded that the stor& of -un and the human Adin %ere constructed <& elements of the same legendar& @ing. The @ings of third group are @no%n as the JS@ilfingsJ from /eo%ulf too ' the name ma& <e deri)ed from s@Half ,Highseat.. S@ilfing %as in Grimnismaal told to <e an earlier name of Adin 7 Hust li@e Geat. These
133 -ccording

to Inglingesaga -un1-udun ruled o)er se)eral periods through 2!! &ears indicating a superior @ing <et%een gods and human <eings 7 an Adin'shape. The superior @ing possi<l& corresponds %ith Jarl from the poem >igsthula eDplaining the <ac@ground for the classes of the societ& 7 sla)esF free farmers and earls. The god Heimdal here points out the descendants to Jarl 7 son of Heimdal and Mother 7 to <ecome @ings and ;Godes= %ith the title ;>ig= ,Q@ing.. He taught him the magic language of the runes. Jarl %as follo%ed <& his son Kon ,@onungQ@ing.. The last part of the %or@ is missingF <ut Kon %as toldF that Ban and Banp %ere <etter Ei@ings. Banp is else%here presented as a <rother to Ing)e ,S@Hold .. ,Banp %as also the 2orse name of BneprF %here the Heruls earlier li)ed.. The Ei@ing'rumour indicates that the sur)i)ed )ersion is connected to the ta@e'o)er <& the later Banish @ing Ban ,as in the 6ethre ,6eHre. 9hronicle. e)en though it eDplains the earlier formation of the supreme @ingdom.

113

The Heruls
@ings are normall& regarded as more relia<le figures 7 if %e can tal@ a<out relia<le in that connection. The fourth and last group <ecame 2or%egian @ings as the famil& had to escapeF %hen *)ar Eidfadme of Scania %as told to conLuer most of S%eden around 7!! -B. The similar saga of the @ings from the Banish 6eHre 7 S@Holdungesaga 7 is unfortunatel& onl& @no%n from small fragments. Ma&<e *)ar Eidfadme %as identical %ith the s&m<olic figure Ban @no%n from the 9ronical of 6eHre and from SaDo. Snorri @ne% and used S@HoldungesagaF %hen he %rote Inglingesaga. The names of the @ings in Inglingasaga %ere <ased on the poem Inglingatal from the ninth or tenth centur&F %hich %as used <& Snorri and pro<a<l& also earlier <& Historia 2orth%egiae. The dating of Inglingatal %as pro)o@ingl& critici4ed <& 9laus Krag in 1991F <ut though he has later <een opposed in a con)incing %a& in doctoral thesis <& Gro SteinslandF S)ante 2orr and especiall& Alof SundL)ist man& scholars prefer to refer to his critical comments supporting their general )ie%. *n note 13" is descri<ed that his conclusions do not follo% simple logics as he has ruled out the most li@el& eDplanations. 9ounting generations from the death of Harald /laatand <ac@ to Harald Hildetand and )ia his grandfather *)ar Eidfadme to the mem<ers of Inglingatal -un should <e eDpected to die in #1! -B using the a)erage length of generations from the historical part of the Banish ro&al famil& through 1!!! &ears. 2earl& the same result is reached <& using the S%edish list from +ri@ SeHers?l. The uncertaint& around the length of generations ,a)erage from <irth to <irth. and the lists of @ings %ill ma@e this dating uselessF <ut at least the follo%ing theories are not destro&ed <& such a calculation. Adin <ecame one of their -nsis ' an -nsu4 ' and so the name of the -sir %as formed. *n G0taland $othan as Adin possi<l& replaced their )ersion of Gaut as the oldest ancestor of the ro&al famil&F %hile the Inglings in Gppland %ere com<ined %ith the S@ilfings ,Herulian1S%edish d&nast& %ith Adin as an ancestor. <& the @ings in Inglingatal5s group 2 ' and therefore Grimnismal told that Gaut and S@ilfing %ere earlier names of Adin. $e shallF ho%e)erF notice that ,opposite in the +dda. Adin %as not an ancestor of the Inglings in Inglingesaga. The ancestor to Ing)e ,8reH. and -un %as the Eane 2Hord. Bid Snorri @no% that the ;men of -sia= <ecame earls %ithout conLuering the throne or %as it due to another m&th letting the original ro&al line of the S)ear continue in order to legali4e the d&nast& Snorri %rote a<out -sesF EanesF +arlsF BanesF S%edes and people from Tro& and TanaisF <ut he ne)er mentioned the Heruls.
13" 9laus

Krag stated that the information in the genealog& of -re and Historia 2orth%egia %as one )ersion of the past and Inglingatal and Snorri5s Inglingesaga another )ersion due to different spelling of personal namesF chronological order and the @ingdoms ruled <& the 2or%egian @ings. -s Inglingasaga %as the &oungest he concluded that Inglingatal %as &ounger than Historia 2orth%egiae`` He forgot the most li@el& possi<ilit& that Inglingatal as Snorri told %as the oldest )ersion eDisting together %ith one or more other lost poems or sagas %ith a different content ' Hust as H2 and Inglingasaga %ere different. -ccordingl& the authors had to pic@ up %hat the& personall& <elie)edF %hich could cause the discrepancies he o<ser)ed. He emphasi4ed that <oth Inglingatal and Snorri had -gne ' -lri@ in the opposite order than Historia 2orth%egiaF %hich made him conclude that -re and the author of Historia 2orth%egiae did not @no% Inglingatal. /ut he forgot that the onl& )ersion of Inglingatal is @no%n from InglingasagaF %here Snorri ma& ha)e changed the order of these @ings due to other sources. 8urthermore he claimed that the author of Inglingatal @ne% the Jfour elementsJ. That ma& <e correctF <ut that %ill not pro)e that the author %as a 9hristian as the pagan philosoph& %as influenced <& 9hristian thin@ing as mentioned <& 9laus Kragh himself in another connection. *n that case he referred to 8ornHot>F <ut he ignored that 8ornHot>5s three sons did onl& co)er three elements. His <est argument could <e that the 2or%egian Inglinga @ings in Historia 2orth%egia %ere @ings of JApplandeneJ %hile the& in Inglingatal and Inglingasaga %ere @ings of Eestfold too. Historia 2orth%egia does not tell that the& did not rule Eestfold tooF and the onl& remar@ a<out Eestfold in Inglingatal %as that Harald H)it<eine %as <uried in Sciringssal. His argument a<out euhemerism %as the usual that euhemerism %as used <& the 9hristians as an argument and accordingl& gods %ith a human past must ha)e <een in)ented <& the 9hristians ' a common mista@e among scholars forgetting that religion <ased on ancestors %as common in the past 7 e)en descri<ed <& the pagan >omans. The argument simpl& does not %or@ <oth %a&s.

11"

The Heruls

%.%.! Independent sourcesC

The similarities a<o)e %ill immediatel& <ring up the Luestion: Bid Snorri and Budo use the %or@s of Jordanes and (rocopius (rocopius %as mentioned in connection %ith the -postle of German&F /onifatius around 7!! -BF <ut (rocopius is not traced in the later sources from northern +urope. JordanesF ho%e)erF %as mentioned <& $idu@ind 7 confirming that he %as @no%n in the northern monasteries around 1!!! -B. Budo seems to ha)e read JordanesF <ut he did not mention the part of the Herulian histor& reminding us a<out the histor& told <& Snorri. The use of (riamos of Tro& is sho%ing that Snorri @ne% the Banish tradition of a <ac@ground in antiLue histor& alread& mentioned <& Budo 2!! &ears earlierF %hen the first people from *celand %ere stud&ing in (aris. *t is o<)ious that Snorri ma& ha)e @no%n the same source as >oger /aconF %ho in 12#! -B mentioned the -s'people in the area of -so)F and this could ha)e <een Snorri5s inspiration to -sgaard 7 especiall& as Tro& appears to ha)e <een placed in this area at a map from 11#" -B. Ho%e)er the onl& connection <et%een the people around -so) and Scandina)ia %ere the HerulsF <ut Snorri ne)er mentioned the Heruls. 9lose to the -4es in -4er<adHan Thor He&erdahl also claimed to find a Ean'people at the other side of -rarat in +astern Tur@e&. The eDistence of this people %as confirmed <& local scholarsF and %e can find the to%n and the 6a@e Ean at modern maps. He also found an Gdin'people ,pronounced Adin. in -4er<adHan. The method <& comparing names used <& He&erdahl ma& lead to totall& %rong conclusions <ecause of coincidensesF <ut there are se)eral other possi<ilities. Snorri ma& ha)e <een inspired <& legends from 9aucasusF or he ma& ha)e reconstructed certain elements <ecause of similarities in names he @ne%. Some of He&erdahl5s o<ser)ations ma& <e rightF <ut the Gdin'connection is contradicted <& the connection <et%een the 2orse Adin and the earlier German $othen e)en mentioned <& Snorri. -lso the more li@el& -s' connection is contradicted <& the generall& accepted linguistic de)elopment from J-nsiJ and =-nsu= to =-ses=. -s =-nsu= meant =God= or =-ncestral god= this chain of de)elopment seems )er& logicalF <ut this ma& <e a coincidence as %ell or the de)elopment ma& ha)e happened the opposite %a&. This is not %ritten to defend He&erdahlTs theoriesF <ut Snorri ma& ha)e made some of the same mista@esF including the com<ination of the name -ses and Men from -sia. Ho%e)er such a mista@e does not mean that the <asical theor&F %hich Snorri <elie)ed his -sia'mista@e %ould strengthenF is %rong. That @ind of arguments is often misused. Snorri5s Tanais'legend using a route through Gardarige could ne)er <e a result of Snorri reading (rocopiusF and Snorri also used other names ' he mentioned Tanais and SaDon& <ut not (rocopius5 *ster ,Banu<e. and the Earni. $ithout a com<ination %ith (rocopius or %ithout 2ordic legends a<out the Heruls the fe% remar@s of Jordanes co)ering the Heruls should ne)er <ring associations to a reader leading to the migration of Adin. Budo pro<a<l& used elements of JordanesF <ut Snorri used remar@a<l& fe% elements of BudoF Jordanes and (rocopius in his stories ' if an&. (ro<a<l& Snorri reconstructed a part of the geographical description using routes from the /lac@ Sea and place names he @ne% from the Ei@ingsF <ut if he %as deli<eratel& manipulating the %hole geographical stor& <ased on (rocopiusF this %as eDtremel& cle)er done and his moti)es are not e)en o<)ious. *f Snorri @ne% (rocopius and in an& %a& connected his histor& %ith JThe men from -siaJF %e should eDpect the 9hristian historian to unco)er and use a connection <et%een the pagan gods and the Heruls in his %arning against paganism in S@alds@apermal ' unless he %as forced to suppress the connection <et%een Heruls and gods. /ut this suppression should onl& <e eDpected to ta@e placeF if the H&pothesis of the Heruls %ere true. -lternati)el& he did not com<ine Adin and the Heruls or he did not @no% (rocopius. *n the first case he had no reason to use the stor&F <ut if he ne)ertheless %as inspired <& (rocopius he had no reason to reconstruct a ,%rong. route and he had no moti)e to in)ent a <rand ne% m&th a<out 2ordic gods <ehind Tanais centuries after Adin %as gi)en up as a god ' as he did not use it for an& purpose. 9onseLuentl& his stor& a<out the JMen from -siaJ appears in <oth cases independent of (rocopius.

11#

The Heruls
8inall& the <asic m&ths of the religion are supposed to <e de)eloped in a much older pagan en)ironmentF %here no one %ould <e eDpected to read antiLue historians and com<ine them in that %a&. The picture'stones at Gotland indicate that antiLue legends %ere @no%n earl&F <ut not necessaril& from <oo@s. Budo confirmed onl& "! &ears after Benmar@ %as officiall& <aptised that the Banes <oasted of Gree@ ancestorsF so alread& at that time the Bacian tradition %as %ell esta<lished %ithout an& connection %ith (rocopius and his Heruls. Thus Snorri did not in)ent the south eastern connection. An the contrar& his eDplanations and different )ersions sho% dou<t in his mind a<out the Tro&'legendF <ut not a<out men from the region of Tanais <ecoming @ings of Scandina)ia. *f the JMen from -siaJ had not alread& used the Gree@ Tro&'legend as Snorri maintainedF the Banish <oasting %as pro<a<l& caused <& the first 9hristians con)erting a pagan Tanais'legend of the ro&al famil& to Jci)ilisedJ antiLue Jhistor&J. The outstanding similarities regarding Tanais and the routes ' loo@ing at a modern map ' indicate in spite of the uncertaint& that the 2orse m&ths are independent descriptions of the same e)entsF %hich %ere ne)er com<ined later <ecause of different namesF dating and approach. -s one )ersion is a migration histor& sur)i)ing in separate parts from a /&4antine and a Gothic historianF %hile the other )ersion sur)i)ed as a central 2ordic religious m&th and as some parallel legends of @ings in an antiLue shapeF this %ill onl& strengthen the assumption of totall& different sources 7 <ut it %ill ne)er constitute a proof of an& historical e)ent.

%.%.* . possi)le source

Ma&<e (rocopius description of the migration is in this %a& confirmed <& one or t%o apparentl& independent descriptionsF <ut unfortunatel& the& are not @no%n as contemporar& descriptions. The three stories do not onl& contain similarities ma@ing it possi<le to com<ine themF <ut after the com<ination the& %ill suppl& each other in a %a& eDplaining man& historicalF archaeological and religious matters in the *ron and Ei@ing -ges. $e ma& %onder %h& Snorri told t%o )ersions of the south eastern connection. 6oo@ing at %or@s li@e the Her)arar'saga primaril& operating in the areas around Banu<e and the /lac@ SeaF it does not seem unli@el& that Snorri in his in)estigation loo@ing for an eDplanation <ehind the Tro&'legend found a legend pointing at the Gree@ Tanais. Ane possi<ilit& is that he found an old legend of a %ar <et%een -s' and Ean'people in 9aucasus ,mentioned <& He&erdahl. inspiring to the namesF as %e @no% >oger /acon some &ears later @ne% the -s'peopleF <ut such a past of the Ean'people is un@no%n toda&. The et&molog& <ehind the J-sesJ might <e a reconstruction <& Snorri reading the a<o)e mentioned source a<out the -s'people and ma&<e the to%n -so). Ho%e)er these He&erdahl'theories do not appear to <e li@el&. - more li@el& possi<ilit& ma& <e that the source of Snorri %as a 2ordic legend a<out a <attle at Banpr 7 namel& the <attle he descri<ed as the <attle <et%een -ses and Eanes though this ;di)ine %ar= too@ place later in Scandina)ia. $e ma& suspect this to <e an -ttila'legendF <ut -ttila first <ecame leader %hen the& reached Bacia1(annonia and a stor& a<out the Huns should ha)e lead Snorri to the Banu<e'route. -pparentl& Snorri ne)er reali4ed that his distant <attle pro<a<l& %as a <attle <et%een the Heruls and +rmaneric or the Huns 7 <oth parties often mentioned in 2ordic legends. The defeat forced the Heruls to follo% the )ictorious leaders 7 -ttila %as the last of them 7 to%ards %est to Mora)iaF from %here the head of their o%n ro&al famil& <rought some of them to S%eden. Snorri ne)er reali4ed that the narrators ma& ha)e repressed a complicated and humiliating histor& of 1#! &ears. Ma&<e Snorri %hen he found these Tanais'legends in good faith miDed them up and chose the <est route he and his contemporaries @ne% 7 the Ei@ing route from Bon to Scandina)ia and not the Gothic route from Bnepr. Ma&<e the Tanais'legend %as later con)erted into a Tro&' legend. Snorri did under no circumstances in)ent the stor& himself as the headlines %ere mentioned in the earlier S@Holdungesaga ,8ragmenta rerum Banicarum.. The long tra)els of Adin and his possessions in /&4ansF mentioned <& Snorri and SaDoF ma& <e due to a religious d&nastic superiorit& of the Scandina)ian d&nast& o)er the other Herulian @ings ' including o)er

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The Heruls
some of the Heruls in *ll&riaF although the& %ere a part of the /&4antine rule. -s Batius %as sent from S%eden he must ha)e <een a pagan 7 as the group as@ing him to come. 6ater on Batius had to escape %ith the men lo&al to the ro&al famil& to a ne% @ingdom in Bacia under protection of the Gothic Gepides. Snorri1SaDo in com<ination %ith (rocopius indicates a continuous connection <et%een Scandina)ia and these HerulsF %ho ma& e)en ha)e returned from Bacia to Scandina)ia after the defeats of the Gepides. This eDplains %h& the& had to send for Batius in Scandina)iaF %h& Justinian opposed these pagan @ings <& using SuartuasF %h& (rocopius critici4ed the character of the HerulsF %h& the ro&al part& of the Heruls let this conflict <e the end of the ad)antageous colla<oration %ith JustinianF and %h& the Banes could regard some of the mem<ers of these earls as Gothic Bacians as Budo told.

%.! The e1pulsion of the Heruls 2 ,orse parallels to 3ordanes

Snorri is not the onl& 2orse or 2orthern +uropean sources %here traces of the arri)ing Heruls can <e found. /oth $idsithF /eo%ulf and Gesta Banorum of SaDo contain such elementsF <ut the earlier mentioned confusion of names has made i impossi<le to identif& %ith certaint&.

%.!.1 $idsithH $icin a and GiBin s

*n $idsith %e can read that the Banish @ingsF >oar and >olfF dro)e off the tri<e of the $icinga c&nn ,c&nn %as a tri<e or a famil&.F %hich is usuall& translated in this %a&: Hroth%ulf and HrothgarF nephe% and uncleF held peace together for man& &ears after the& had dri)en off the ;wicinga c#nn= and <eaten do%n *ngeld5s line of <attleF cut do%n at Heorote the ;HeaAobeardna= forces. The +nglish linguistF 9hristine 8ellF has suggested that the )er< ;%ician= meant to sta& temporaril& opposite to sta& permanentl& ,;<uan=.13# 7 <ased on Attars Hourne& in -lfred the Greats Arosius'translation. There Attar %as sailing in the da& and ;%ician= at <eaches or in inlets at night. The translator of /eo%ulf at %%%.heorot.d@F /enHamin SladeF has confirmed that difference <et%een the t%o %ords 7 mentioning too <& referring to the %ord ;%ic= in the ADford +nglish Bictionar& that <oth %ords pro<a<l& had the same *+'root found in the 6atin ;)icus= ,;)illage=.. The name ;$icinga= ma& ha)e descri<ed a tri<e of nomads or half nomads as the Heruls. 6ater the %ord ma& ha)e <een used to descri<e the Scandina)ian pirates attac@ing the +nglish coasts 7 often %ith camps and colonies at +nglish ground 7 the Ei@ings. *n that %a& the %ord Ei@ing ma& ha)e ended up in A2 as a loan %ord from A+. -nother loan %ord ma& <e ;)i@= ,inlet. %here the Ei@ing ships %ere ;%ician= ' <ut that has no influence on the discussion of the Heruls. - 8risian1-nglo'SaDon parallel <ased on ;)icus= is the s&lla<le for camp1to%n ;%ic1%ich1%ic@=F %hich ma& also ha)e <een used on some of the camps of the Ei@ings. The name $icinga in $idsith is often com<ined %ith the Heatho<eards later in the sentenceF <ut the t%o parts of the sentence appear to descri<e different e)ents. 2ormall& the third line in the $idsith Luote a<o)e is translated Jafter the& had dri)en off the Heatho<ard tri<eJF <ut in the original A+ teDt the name %as J%icinga c&nnJ as here. This line and the t%o neDt lines a<out the Heatho<eards are descri<ing t%o different e)ents. This first mentioning of the $icingas ma& correspond %ith the eDpulsion of the Heruls mentioned <& Jordanes. The neDt line a<out the Heatho<eards shall pro<a<l& <e regarded in relation to the e)ents in /eo%ulf <et%een >oar and the Heatho<eardsF 8rode and *ngeld ' the latter <eing defeated at Heorot ,the Hall of 6eHre. in $idsith. The Heruls %ere hardl& the Heatho<ards as that name did not co)er a people <ut a <ranch of the legendar& Banish d&nast& ' the Sc&ldings. The +nglish sources mentioning @ing >oar and an +nglish Lueen %ere %ritten <efore the Banish legends %ere manipulated <& SaDo and the other clerical
13# 9hristine

8ell in 6und 1983.

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The Heruls
authors. The Banish legends apparentl& preferred the line of 8rode 133 <eing placed as the ancestors to the later S@Holdunger ,Sc&ldings. after the confusion caused <& the @illing of >olf Kra@e 137. Though S@Hold in some %or@s is called a son of Adin there is no reason to regard the Banish d&nast& as a part of the HerulsF <ut the& ma& ha)e <een influenced <& marriage and mercenar& officers ,earls.. $e do not @no% an& tri<e called $icinga and the %ord Ei@ing is not @no%n so earl& from an& other sources so long time <efore the Ei@ing -ges. -fter the 3th centur& a com<ination J+orla c&nnJ %ould not ma@e an& sense to an editor or reader of $idsith in this line of names. Ma&<e J$icingaJ and ;6id%icinga= %ere used <& $idsith instead as a general %ord for a nomadic tri<e settling temporaril& and looting their surroundings. $idsith also used the Herul'li@e JHerelingasJ 7 pro<a<l& co)ering a personal name at that position in $idsith and therefore unchanged <& the authors of $idsith. The personal name is normall& regarded to co)er the Harlungen T%insF %ho ma& ha)e <een Heruls too ,$olfram 1988.. *f the ;$icinga c&nn= meant the Heruls in this case $idsith used eDactl& the same %ording as Jordanes 7 the Heruls %ere eDpelled <& the Banes. The& %ere not necessaril& <eaten <& the Banes.

%.!.# /eo&ulf and Eorl

The interpretation of $idsith a<o)e ma& <e confirmed <& line 3 in /eo%ulf %here JSc&ld ... egsode eorlJ ma&<e should <e interpreted as JSc&ld ,or rather the Sc&ldings. ... terrified the HeruliJF %hich %as suggested <& $renn though later denied <& 9ham<ersF as 9ham<ers and Klae<er <elie)ed in the old dating of Jordanes5 eDpulsion and regarded this sentence earl& in the (relude too general to mention a single people. Ho%e)er no scholars appear to ha)e considered the parallel in $idsith mentioned a<o)e. -s Sc&ld had sei4ed man& mead'<enches ,Q halls Q @ingdoms. there %as no reason to add a sentence a<out earlsF <ut as Jordanes told a<out the eDpulsion of the Heruls <& the Banes as one of the onl& e)ents %orth mentioning in Scandina)iaF it appears li@el& that /eo%ulf mentioned this e)ent %hen presenting the Banes. Therefore $renn is pro<a<l& rightF and his )ie% is toda& regarded as plausi<le in the (hB thesis of 9arl +dlund -nderson ,note 33. and the /eo%ulf translation <& /enHamin Slade.

%.!.% Saxo and Huns

-mong the man& legends of SaDo %e also find some informationF %hich could reflect the arri)al of the Heruls. *n his chapter a<out 8rode 8redegod SaDo has 3 descriptions of the HunsF %ho %ere pro<a<l& ne)er in contact %ith the Banes as a maHor group. The Scandina)ians ma& ha)e miDed up the Huns %ith their follo%ersF the HerulsF %hich is confirmed <& the Bietrich'saga %here the ancestor of the famil& in >0@F the Herulian @ing HrodolphusF is called >odolf of /e@elar as an earl of the Hunnic -ttila. The JHunsJ arri)ed in the neigh<ourhood together %ith a >ussian fleet lead <& AlimarF <ut the >ussians did not eDist at that time. The fleet ma& ha)e <elonged to the Earini as suggested earlier <ased on (rocopius. -ccording to SaDo 8rode married a Hunnic princessF <ut after 3 &ears the& %ere separated. -t last a <attle too@ place <et%een 8rode and the Huns and the Huns disappeared from the stories of SaDo. *t is o<)ious that this stor& of SaDo ma& <e the com<ined stor& %e ha)e heard from (rocopiusF JordanesF /eo%ulf and $idsith. 8rode %as the Sc&lding %ho in the Banish legends tried to get a peaceful relationship %ith the arri)ing HerulsF <ut had to eDpel them after%ards ' %hich made him the strong and famous @ing of the Banes ,Troels /randtF 2!!".. The method used <& the ;Huns= %as in this %a& an occupation %ith initial plunderingsF fightings or thread follo%ed <& integration. -s demonstrated a<o)e <oth $idsithF /eo%ulf and SaDo mentioned e)ents li@e Jordanes5 eDpulsion of the HerulsF <ut $idsith and SaDo used more general names %hich could refer to the Heruls. /ut %e still ha)e to
133 The

@ings of the Heatho<eards %ere in /eo%ulf called 8rode and *ngHald. The manipulation of the legends is not the topic of this %e<site and is eDplained in JBanernes SagnhistorieJ <& Troels /randtF 2!!". 137 The ;foreigner= 8redleHf <eing in other sources called a son of a 8rode %as in ;6ethre 9hronicle= a Banish @ing married %ith a daughter of Hrod%ulf ,>olf Kra@e..

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The Heruls
<e a%areF that neither $idsithF /eo%ulf nor SaDo can <e regarded as historical sources regarding the 3 th centur&.

%.* /urial customs : SnorriH (rocopius and archaeolo y

(rocopius description of the death of an old sic@ Herul %as mentioned earlier 7 @illed <& a dagger and <urned at a pile of %ood as he should not <e a <urden to his famil&. His %ife should hang herself. Snorri told in Inglingesaga that an old @ing should not die sic@ in his <edF and he told that the @ing Adin %as %ounded <& a spear and <urned at a pile of %oodF %hen he %anted to die 7 in another stor& he hanged himself. These ma& <e t%o )ersions of the same theme confirming that (rocopius had this stor& from the pagan Scandina)ian HerulsF <ut Snorri eDplained much further. He descri<ed the reconciliation <et%een the religion of the S)ear of G&lfi and the religion of the migrating =-sian= %arriors of Adin. He told a<out the =9remation -ges= and the =Mound -ges=F and in Inglingesaga he toldF that Adin and 2Hord %ere <urnedF %hile Ing)e %as the first to <e <uried in a <ig mound in Gppsala. He told that all dead men should <e <urned %ith their <elongingsF and their ashes should <e <uried or cast into the sea. The higher the smo@e arose the higher he %as raised in the neDt life ,%hich affords a high temperature of the fire as o<ser)ed in Gppsala and 6eHre.. 8or men of conseLuence a mound should <e raised in his memor&. *n this %a& there is nearl& total correspondence <et%een the stories of Snorri and (rocopius and the de)elopment told <& the archaeologists in the Gppsala'district 7 especiall& the content of the three Gppsala moundsF %hich he had no chance to interpret from an archaeological point of )ie% in 123! -B. Ho%e)erF as mentioned the cremations and especiall& the three Gppsala'mounds constitute a pro<lem if the leaders in Gppsala %ere Heruls. -lso SnorriTs descriptions are incorrect if he Hust descri<ed the S)ear. Here the reconciliation <et%een religions or people mentioned <& Snorri is an important eDplanation ' especiall& as Adin according to Snorri also made a ne% la% demanding his o%n people to <e cremated as mentioned a<o)e. $e shall not forget that the la%s pro<a<l& %ere remem<ered <etter than other teDts and that la% %as Snorri5s official Ho<. 2either shall %e forget that some people in the Scandina)ian societies %ere a<le to %rite and that the runes %ere made for car)ing in %ood ' %hich pro<a<l& caused the S%edish Huridical term J<al@J. +)en if Snorri @ne% the content of the ro&al S%edish moundsF %hich he hardl& didF he or his sources could not ha)e constructed this %ell'fitting old la% eDplaining e)er&thing. The real archaeological com<inations found in the S%edish and Mora)ian gra)es are simpl& too complicated. - maHorit& of the people in S%eden and nearl& all along 8&risZen eDcept for the ruling families in cham<er gra)es %ere alread& cremated. *t made onl& sense to ma@e such rules if the purpose %as to change the customs of an integrated people %ho %ere not cremated until no% 7 namel& the Heruls. The in)ading Herulian @ing must according to +uropean archaeolog& com<ined %ith (rocopius ha)e forced his o%n people to follo% the customs of their ne% people. That %as %hat Snorri eDplained as a part of the a<o)e mentioned reconciliationF %here Adin e)en ordered them to cremate himself. 6aterF %hen the @ings and earls consolidated their position %ith a demonstration of po%er @no%n as the Eendel 9ultureF the Heruls used their o%n and the local leaders former traditions in order to ma@e the @ing immortal and the famil& di)ine 7 ma&<e also inspired <& eDperiences from the societ& in H0gom. Snorri5s stor& a<out AdinF %ho conseLuentl& follo%ed his o%n ne% rules for the peopleF is logicall& connected %ith the short period of ro&al cremation customs in Gppland as demonstrated <& the archaeolog& 7 Hust <efore the Eendel -gesF %hen the di)ine ro&al famil& got their o%n <urial customs separating them from the ordinar& people. *n this connection %e shall not forget that Snorri did not ma@e Adin an ancestor of Ing)e'8re&F %ho %as the son of EaneF 2Hord. *f %e shall <elie)e the content of the m&th as told <& Snorri the Inglinge'famil& %ere S)ear in their male lineage 7 not Heruls. Snorri told eDactl& %hat %ould happen if a @ing called Adin reall& had arri)ed from Mora)ia. Snorri could tell %hat %as hidden in the earth of S%eden and Mora)ia 7!! &ears <efore he %rote 7 and eDca)ated 7!! &ears after his death. Af course the modern scholars shall focus on the long span of &ears. The& do also focus on the medie)al %riters5 general use of classical elementsF %hich does not pro)e an&thing. The& forget that the Scandin)ian @ings had a language %ritten in %ood and a tradition of la%F %hich ma@e Snorri5s and

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(rocopius5 stor& a<out the <urial practice more li@el&.

%.5 <onclusions ' 3orse literature

Bue to the uncertaint& of the legends most scholars prefer to a)oid these as historical sources ' calling them literature. Though the& <asicall& are so and though man& of them %ere e)en manipulatedF the& ma& pro)ide us %ith a )alua<le picture of societ&F @ingship and religion filling up some of the holes in the historical pattern. *n his (hB'dissertation at the Gni)ersit& of Gppsala S)ante 2orr descri<ed indications of the esta<lishing of a superior le)el of @ingship in Scandina)ia ' <ased primaril& on 2orse legends and +nglish poems and chroniclesF %hich he had to defend to a certain degree. He descri<ed the @ingship as appearing similar %ith the structures of po%er and @ingship among the -nglo'SaDon and +ast Germanic people ' especiall& the Goths ' in %hich structures the Heruls earlier tried to reach a higher le)el. The man& eDamples leading to a general similarit& <et%een the headlines of the 2ordic legendsF the histor& of the Heruls and archaeolog& are stri@ing and cannot <e a coincidence. Man& of the elements in the histor& of (rocopius can <e recognised as fragments in the sagasF and furthermore the legends simpl& fill out holes and eDplain the <ac@ground <ehind the H&pothesis of the Heruls as it %as descri<ed in chapter 2. That does not impl& that the stor& a<out AdinTs men from -sia in Inglingesaga %as the accepted m&th of that time as Snorri in that case %ould ha)e mentioned it earlier. The stor& as it %as told in Inglingesaga must ha)e <een a late reconstruction <& Snorri <ased on fragments in old 2orse poems and sagas and ma&<e e)en fragments of ancient classical @no%ledge. -lread& in the missing S@Holdungesaga a part of that stor& %as @no%n according to -rngrimur Jonsson. $e shall ne)er eDpect to find sur)i)ing sources telling a<out a ruling 2orse d&nast& %ith a past as mercenaries ser)ing the >omans. That %ould <e totall& against the politics of the 2ordic @ings and <ishops of the timeF %hen these tales and poems %ere %ritten do%n. The onl& author mo)ing against those limits %as Snorri ' and he %as in fact murderedF though that could <e a coincidence as he did not cross the limits. -pparentl& independent of (rocopius and archaeolog& these legends ha)e located the centre of this @ingship and the religion to the Gppsala area ' %hich %as later historicall& confirmed <& -dam of /remenF %hen he tried to descri<e the religious centre ,e)en though his description of the temple itself pro<a<l& %as <ased on an old rumour.. To a certain eDtend this %as also confirmed <& -nsgar1>im<ert in /ir@a mentioning another courtF %here people listening to the gods %ere heard. -s earlier mentioned these legends point at @ings from the countries in the South +ast as founders of a superior @ingship in Gppsala. *n that %a& the legends pro)ide us %ith the missing lin@ in the accumulating historical e)idence in chapter 2 a<o)e ' %ithout <eing scholarl& accepta<le <ecause of the general unrelia<ilit& of the sources. *t is important to notice that no legends tell a<out people settling among the G0tes. The location in Gppland and the descri<ed <urial practices corresponds %ith the archaeological conclusionsF %hich %ith a fe% decades uncertaint& date the esta<lishing of the later eDpanding centre to the arri)al of the Heruls. The legends indicate this ne% religion or culture of Gppsala to arri)e from south co)ering most of Scandina)ia ' Hust li@e the archaeolog& and the histor&. The most important conclusion in this chapter is that there is no lac@ of traces of the Heruls in the 2orse m&ths and legends though the missing name has <een mentioned as an argument against Heruls in Scandina)ia. Vuite opposite the pro<a<ilit& of the H&pothesis of the Heruls is strengthened <& the clear connections <et%een histor&F archaeolog& and m&ths 7 in spite of the unrelia<ilit& of these legends %hich eDclude them as historical e)idence.

12!

The Heruls

Scandinavian perspectives

Gnder all circumstances the Heruls arri)ed to Scandina)ia %here the& ' com<ined %ith the earlier impact of the Huns in 2orthern +urope ' must ha)e <een an important catal&st in the de)elopment process leading to the greater @ingdoms of the Eendel 9ulture and the much later Ei@ing 9ulture. The& are most li@el& the eDplanation of the earls of GpplandF <ut %e shall not regard them as the onl& reason for the Ei@ing 9ulture as the lootingF %hich made them famousF %as a general <ac@side of the culture around the %arrior elite in the *ron and Ei@ing -ges until a ne% com<ination of @ingship and church changed this %a& of life in the Medie)al -ges. These h&potheses co)er an area %here it is normall& impossi<le to pro)e an&thing according to usual scholarl& criteria ' eDcept if ne% techniLues as B2-'anal&ses can help us. Gnfortunatel& the historians ha)e not ,li@e other scholarl& areas. found a method of reporting uncertaint& ' though all historical reports and anal&ses contain uncertaint&. The Scandina)ian historians therefore a)oid the *ron -ges. Some historians also a)oid the Heruls as the& are afraid to support right %ing philosophiesF <ut there is no such support in a people from South +astern +urope <eing succesfull& integrated in Scandina)ia. The purpose of this article <& an outsider is to com<ine the fragmentar& historical and archaeological information in a more pro<a<le and coherent %a& ' in the hope one da& to inspire a scholar to find a con)incing %a& out of the dead ends.

Half nomades and mercenaries li@e the Herulian earls ma& <e a part of the eDplanationF %h& the <asis of @ingship in Scandina)ia %as the distri<ution of loot and tri<ute characteristic for the @ings of %arriors and migration people ,$idsith called this JeorlscipeJ in the 8th centur&.. Bistri<ution of precious rings as salar& and re%ard %as according to the +nglish poems essential for the reputation of the @ing ' and in this %a& also for the %arrior5s incenti)e and respect for his leader. -s the <asic farming'F trading' and taD'income of a superior %arrior @ing in Scandina)ia %as normall& limitedF most of the distri<uted treasures had to come from plunderingF tri<uteF protectionF customF mar@et fee and offerings. The need of eDtra)agant re%ard to housecarls and na)& ma& ha)e tempted chieftains and @ings to carr& out the large Ei@ing raids ' an occupation for the Heruls since the 3rd centur&. /ut the& %ere not the onl& reason. The %ar offerings in Jutland tell us that the *ron -ges %ere no peaceful time <efore the Heruls arri)edF <ut a part of the culture around the Adin 9ult must ha)e <een initiated <& a nomadic culture or migration people ' it is not li@el& to <e initiated <& agriculturists. The eDpansion of the 8ran@s and a trading route from 8risia1+ngland crossing Southern Jutland to the /altic Sea ,later follo%ing the ri)ers of >ussia to /&4ans. mo)ed around 7!! -B the militar& po%er center of Scandina)ia to%ards the ;<order region of the Banes= ,QBenmar@ in Germanic language.. That %as the time of the @ing %ith the s&m<olic name Ban esta<lishing a ro&al superiorit& in an areaF %hich <ecame the Banish JlandeJ. Therefore the traditions from the past are most o<)ious in earl& histor& of Benmar@F from %here also a part of the scaldic tradition of *celand came according to the *celandic scholar /ardi Gudmundsson. $hen 9hristianit& pre)ented the Banes from plundering their neigh<ours ' a plunder %hich at last could not <e co)ered <ehind crusades and Jdefensi)eJ raids against the Sla)ic ro<<ers ' this <ecame an important reason for the change in po%er structure and for the total economic collapse of the Banish @ings in the later Medie)al -ges. -s mentioned this %or@ %as started &ears ago <& the search for the origin of the Banish Kingdom and the election procedure. The a<o)e mentioned thread from the pagan and )agrant %arrior @ing to the 9hristian medie)al @ing could <e said to form together %ith the earlier mentioned election and 121

The Heruls inheritance traditions manipulated <& SaDo the siDth main trac@ of indices supporting the H&pothesis of the Heruls. *t corresponds %ith the other fi)e: (rocopius1JordanesF SnorriF BudoF the +ast Germanic legends and the archaeolog&. -s the ro%s of indices are mostl& independentF the H&pothesis of the Heruls %ill not fallF if one or more of the indices are false. *n this connection it has to <e noticedF that the most important of all the indices is the com<ination of archaeolog& and (rocopius5 description of a ro&al Herulian settlement in Scandina)ia ' a settlement %hich has ne)er <een seriousl& contradicted <& historians although their num<er and the place of settlement has <een discussed. There is no reason to eDpect to find historical sources from the Scandina)ian *ron -ges meeting the historical assessment criteria of our timeF <ut this h&pothesis ma& gi)e us an eDplanation of the m&ster& of the HerulsF %hich is far more pro<a<le than a trac@less disappearance. The h&pothesis is %orth a considerationF as it ma& gi)e an eDplanation of the archaeolog&F the Ei@ing culture and the structure and e)olution of Scandina)ian @ingship.

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The Heruls
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/urenholtF G0ran 9ameronF -)eril 9ham<ersF >.$. 9ham<ersF >.$. 9hristensenF -.+. 9hristensenF -. Soe<& 9hristensenF Tom 9rossle&'HollandF K 9urtaF 8lorin Ba)idsonF H.+. BaltonF A Buc4@oF $lad&s. Budo ,6iefshit4. Bume4ilF Georges +llegaardF -l)ar +ugippius ,2oll. +)ansF -ngela 9are 8a<echF 9harlotte 8agerlieF Joan 8aul@esF -. 8ettF (er 8riesenF Atto )on 8riesenF Atto )on 8riesingerF $. 1 Baim 8riis'JensenF9 1 -. 6und GaimsterF Marit Gal<raithF E.H. GannholmF Tore GeltingF Michael Gert4F M.9. GHellerupF Karl GoffartF $alther Gregor af Tour

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GuCmundssonF /arCi G0tis@a Minnen HaarderF -ndreas HaggmannF /ertil HaldF Kristian HansenF Glla 6und HaseloffF G&nther HedeagerF 6otte et.al. HedeagerF 6otte HedeagerF 6otte HedeagerF 6otte HedeagerF 6otte HelgasonF Jon HemmingsenF 6ars Henri@ssonF G0ran HermodsonF 6ars HerschendF 8rands HerschendF 8rands HerschendF 8rands He&erdahl16illiestroem HallF 9larc@ HinesF John Hodg@in HornF $in@el HoutsF +.M.9 H&enstrandF -a@e *l@HYrF JOrgen Jahn@uhnF H. JensenF JOrgen JeschF Judith JOrgensenF -. 2Orgaard JOrgensenF -. 2Orgaard JOrgensenF -. 2Orgaard JOrgensenF 6ars m.fl.

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127