[gothic-l] Re: Goths, Bavarians and Heruls

[keth at ONLINE.NO]

Hi Dirk,
You wrote:

>What do you estimate how many Heruls moved to Scandinavia? Members of 
>the royal familiy with a couple of hundred retainers? Or a people of 
>several thousands or even tens of thousands? My view is that the 
>Heruls in Pannonia consisted in fact only of a warrior elite, without 
>any large ethnical Herulic people. Thus, 'their people' would have 
>been mainly local Danube Suevi, romanised Celts etc, who are known to 
>have formed a large part of the population in these areas.

I believe it was somewhat different. (but of course they also did use locals)
The young people in Norway often left home and travelled South.
Maybe to do mercenary service. They also learned about peoples and
trade routes that way. And they gained honour when they participated in
battles. Thus they could come home later with so to speak a "university
diploma" comparing with today, when young people are still sent abroad,
because that is considered valuable asset for the young.
Norway has a continual tradition of young men going on long journeys.
Just think that the Norwegian merchant fleet used to be the worlds
third. Only after USA and Britain. But pro capita it was the worlds
largest. It was alays the ocean, the ocean. Since time immemorial.

The Heruls were known for their "velocitas" and their "light armament"
That is typical of a people coming from a mountainous country.
They never lived right by the sea's shore. Old houses are always found
somewhat uphill from the place where they had their boats.
And the boats was the "automobile" of those days.
It was still that way in W. Norway around 1950 or 60:
Far more people had a boat than a car. And they used the boat
for everything: fishing, shopping, going to church etc..
So they had very strong arms (all the rowing)
Also running home for the supper was maybe 10 minutes uphill.
So they had very stong legs. Those were the good soldiers.

Just go to Switzerland or Austria, and you still find young
people in fantastic physical shape. It is the mountains
that make them so fit. (just like the Columbian cyclists
or the Ethiopian runners)


>> > Roduulf King of the Heruls, son-in-arms of Theoderic
Yes, this is the man who was king of several peoples in W.Norway.
See the Getica (in the beginning)
   
>> > son:
>> > Fara, Herulic Prince, and Bavarian duke, died 535AD
In Old Norse there is the corresponding name "Farþegn".
It means something like "SeaServant", hence has a meaning that 
indicates a marine environment.



I have also been reading Eugippius, and there also found
many names on F. "Ferderuch" for example.
Also: "Feletheus", "Onoulf", "Flaccitheus", "Feva", "Giso".
Any ideas what they might nmean? Analogies etc?
    
>> > first son of Fara:
>> > 1. Sinduald, Herulic Prince, died 565 AD
>> > son of Sinduald: TASSILO I, Duke of Bavaria

With best regards
Keth



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