Ermanaric d. c.376, king of the Gothic Greuthungi over a vast empire in the Ukraine. He extended his power over other barbarian tribes and thus built up in eastern Europe an empire stretching from the Dneister River north to the Don and east to the headwaters of the Volga. He committed suicide as his empire was being overrun by the Huns.

He was a legendary figure in medieval European literature, where his name appears variously as Ermenrichus and Hermeneric; in old Norse literature he was known as Jörmunrekkr.

Ermanaric is mentioned in two Roman sources; the writings of Ammianus Marcellinus and in Getica by the 6th century historian Jordanes.

According to Ammianus, Ermanaric is "a most warlike king" who eventually commits suicide, facing the aggression of the Huns, who invaded his territories in the 370s. His kingdom was destroyed and his people became subject to the Huns for about 75 years.

According to Jordanes, the realm Ermanaric ruled was called Oium. Jordanes also states that the king put to death a young woman named Sunilda with the use of horses, because of her infidelity. Thereupon her two brothers, Sarus and Ammius, severely wounded Ermanaric leaving him unfit to defend his kingdom from Hunnic incursions. Variations of this legend had a profound effect on medieval Germanic literature, including that of England and Scandinavia (see Jonakr's sons). Jordanes claims that he successfully ruled the Goths until his death at the age of 110.

In many Germanic tales, Ermanaric is ill-advised by Bicke, Bikka or Sifka, who wants revenge for the rape of his wife by Ermanaric. Also in some tales of Dietrich of Bern, Ermanaric is Dietrich's uncle who stole the kingdom. This adviser advised Ermanaric to kill those closest to him.

Ermanaric's names

Ermanaric's name in his native Gothic was probably Aírmanareiks. However, because he is referred to in literature throughout the Germanic world right up until the 13th century his name takes many forms:

Latin names: in Jordanes' Getica he is Ermanaricus.

Germanic names:
in the Old English epic Beowulf he is Eormenric,
in Old Norse he is Jörmunrekkr,
in Middle High German Ermenrich.
He is also called Hermanaric, Erminrich, Emmerich, Ermanrik and many other names.[1]

Since the name Heiðrekr was rather synonymous with Ermanaric, he is possibly identical to Heiðrekr Ulfhamr of the Hervarar saga, who was said to have ruled the Goths for a long time.