Eormanric

Gibbon mentions Eormanric in his chapter XXV. of the Decline and Fall, and, in spite of chronological discrepancies, this Eormanric is probably identical with the one mentioned in Beowulf (Chapter XVIII.), in Jornandes (Chapter XXIV.), and in the Edda.

Gibbon mentions Eormanric in Chapter XXV of his Decline and Fall. Despite discrepancies in the dates, this Eormanric is probably the same person mentioned in Beowulf (Chapter XVIII.), in Jornandes (Chapter XXIV.), and in the Edda.

In Jornandes the story is as follows.

In Jornandes, the story goes like this.

Characters

Characters

1. Ermanaric. 2. A Chief of the Roxolani tribe who was a traitor. 3. Sanielh (= Swanhild) wife of the chief. 4. Sarus, brother of Sanielh. 5. Ammius, brother of Sanielh.

1. Ermanaric. 2. A chief of the Roxolani tribe who was a traitor. 3. Sanielh (also called Swanhild), the chief's wife. 4. Sarus, Sanielh's brother. 5. Ammius, Sanielh's brother.

Ermanaric puts Sanielh to death by causing her to be torn to pieces by wild horses, because of the treachery of her husband, the chief of the Roxolani. Her brothers, Ammius and Sarus, avenge her death by attacking Ermanaric, but they only succeed in wounding him and disabling him for the rest of his life.

Ermanaric has Sanielh torn to pieces by wild horses because of her husband's treachery. Her husband is the chief of the Roxolani. Her brothers, Ammius and Sarus, attack Ermanaric to avenge her death. But they only manage to wound him, leaving him disabled for the rest of his life.

In the Edda the story is as follows.

In the Edda, the story goes like this.

Characters

Characters

1. Gudrun, widow of Sigurd and Atli. 2. Swanhild, daughter of Gudrun by Sigurd. 3. Jonakur, Gudrun’s third husband. 4. Sörli, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 5. Hamthir, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 6. Erp, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 7. Jormunrek (Eormanric). 8. Randver, son of Jormunrek.

1. Gudrun, widow of Sigurd and Atli. 2. Swanhild, daughter of Gudrun and Sigurd. 3. Jonakur, Gudrun’s third husband. 4. Sörli, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 5. Hamthir, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 6. Erp, son of Gudrun and Jonakur. 7. Jormunrek (Eormanric). 8. Randver, son of Jormunrek.

Jormunrek hears of the beauty of Swanhild and sends his son Randver to seek her out for him in marriage. Gudrun consents; on the way Randver is incited by the traitor Bicci to betray Swanhild, and is then accused by him to the king. For this treachery Jormunrek hangs Randver and causes Swanhild to be trampled to death by wild horses. Then the three sons of Gudrun set out to avenge their sister. On the way his two brothers kill Erp, and are consequently unable to kill Jormunrek. They only succeed in maiming him.

Jormunrek hears of Swanhild’s beauty and sends his son Randver to ask her to marry Jormunrek. Gudrun agrees. On the journey, the traitor Bicci urges Randver to betray Swanhild, then accuses Randver before the king. For this betrayal, Jormunrek hangs Randver and has Swanhild trampled to death by wild horses. Then Gudrun’s three sons set out to avenge their sister. On the way, Erp’s two brothers kill him, leaving them unable to kill Jormunrek. They only manage to maim him.

Saxo Grammaticus, to whom we also owe the story of Hamlet, tells a similar story.

Saxo Grammaticus also gave us the story of Hamlet. He tells a similar story.

Characters

Characters

1. Jarmeric, a Danish King. 2. Swawilda (= Swanhild), wife of Jarmeric. 3. Hellespontine brothers, brothers of Swawilda. 4. Bicco, a servant of Jarmeric.

1. Jarmeric, a Danish king. 2. Swawilda (also called Swanhild), Jarmeric's wife. 3. Hellespontine brothers, Swawilda's brothers. 4. Bicco, Jarmeric's servant.

Bicco accuses Swawilda to Jarmeric of unfaithfulness. He causes her to be torn to pieces by wild horses. Then her brothers kill Jarmeric with the help of a witch, Gudrun, hewing off his hands and feet.

Bicco tells Jarmeric that Swawilda has been unfaithful. He has her torn to pieces by wild horses. Then Swawilda’s brothers kill Jarmeric with the help of a witch, Gudrun. They cut off Jarmeric’s hands and feet.

These three stories are evidently based on one common original.

These three stories are clearly based on the same original story.