[gothic-l] The Eruli after Defeat by Lombards

[Bertil Haggman]

Esteemed listmembers,

An interesting question is what happened to the 
Eruli after they had been defeated by the Lombards.
I hesitate somewhat to discuss this matter but as
it has some connection to Theoderic I decided
to take the risk.

Lombard sources claim that the Eruli had no kings
after the defeat. This is doubtfull and the Eruli
probably had kings until around 550 AD. A group
of Eruli refugees were accepted by Theoderic
in Italy. The rest first settled in the former territory
of thé Rugi, then with the Gepidi until they found
an area south of the Danube and were allowed
to settle there by the Byzantian emperor Anastasius.
One group, as has been discussed widely on this
list returned to Scandinavia and as has been
concluded they settled beside (nara) the Gauti/Goetar.

The Thule of Procopius according to Hoops second
ed. was South Scandinavia, although there is no
more detailed information if that includes the southern
part of Norway. South Scandinavia could of course
also include Denmark if the by Scandinavia is not meant
the southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Most
likely the Eruli settled in Blekinge in southeastern
present Sweden as Blekinge is beside Goetaland.
Hoops mentions the possible connection between
the Erulian nobleman Datius and *Danus.

The Eruli remaining in the south served in the Byzantian
army often in their own Erulian units. Procopius' Suartuas/
Svartvas is mentioned as commander in Byzantian
service as late as 551 AD. The last Erulian commander
mentioned by name is Sindval, who was elected 
rex Brentorum in the Tridentian border area.

What was then the original home of the Eruli? This discussion
can probably not be regarded as completed but the majority
of scholars believe that the Eruli had a Scandinavian home.

Some arguments for the Scandinavian could be the affinity of the
Erulian names. The closeness of the Goths and the Eruli in 
South East Europe which could point to a similar original
home and of course the mutual excellent navigational and 
sailing skills demonstrated on the Black Sea. Also the seemingly
detailed knowledge of Scandinavia of Jordanes and Procopius
could be other indications. The population growth in the beginning
of the 6th century AD in the southern home of the Eruli could
indicate an emigration from the Scandinavian home.

Gothically and Erulically

Bertil



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