In Widsith

Widsith

Widsith is an Old English poem of 144 lines that appears to date from the 9th century, drawing on earlier oral traditions of Anglo-Saxon tale singing. The only text of the fragment is copied in the Exeter Book, a manuscript of Old English poetry compiled in the late 10th century containing...

, there is a long recital of people, clans and tribes who were known in the Germanic world of the 6th century. Here follow many excerpts from this poem with a translation and links to the tribes and people which have articles in Wikipedia, for easy reference.

Widsið maðolade, wordhord onleac, se þe monna mæst mægþa ofer eorþan, folca geondferde; oft he on flette geþah mynelicne maþþum. Him from Myrgingum

Widsith spake, he unlocked his treasure of words. He who among men had travelled most in the world, through peoples and nations; he had often in the hall earned valuable treasures. He was one of the Myrging Myrging The Myrgings were a clan and peoples of Saxon origin who, together with their king Eadgils, are only mentioned in the Old English poem Widsith. They are mentioned as the people of the scop Widsith. They appear to have been the neighbours of the Angles and Offa of Angel, who was involved in a war... s

5.

æþele onwocon. He mid Ealhhilde, fælre freoþuwebban, forman siþe Hreðcyninges ham gesohte eastan of Ongle, Eormanrices, wraþes wærlogan. Ongon þa worn sprecan:

of noble blood. He together with Ealhhilde, the friendly weaver of peace went for the home of the king of the Goths Goths The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....  (Hreiðgoths) he was searching east of the Angles Angles The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany... , Ermanaric Ermanaric Ermanaric was a Greuthungian Gothic King who before the Hunnic invasion evidently ruled an enormous area north of the Black Sea. Contemporary historian Ammianus Marcellinus recounts him as a "most warlike man" who "ruled over extensively wide and fertile regions"... , wrathful against traitors. He began to speak:

...

15

ond Alexandreas ealra ricost monna cynnes, ond he mæst geþah þara þe ic ofer foldan gefrægen hæbbe. ætla weold Hunum, Eormanric Gotum, Becca Baningum, Burgendum Gifica.

and Alexander's whole kingdom together with the men of his clan Norse clans The Scandinavian clan or ætt was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing.-History:... and he prospered most of which I all over the world have heard the reports. Attila ruled the Huns Huns The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,... , Ermanaric Ermanaric Ermanaric was a Greuthungian Gothic King who before the Hunnic invasion evidently ruled an enormous area north of the Black Sea. Contemporary historian Ammianus Marcellinus recounts him as a "most warlike man" who "ruled over extensively wide and fertile regions"...  ruled the Goths Goths The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe.... , Becca Becca Becca is a proper name. It is generally a short form for the given name Rebecca.-People with the given name Becca:*In Whitestone, the county queen ceremoniously declares 'I AM BECCA', before proceeding to laugh, in memory of those who have died in the nearby insanitorium...  the Banings, Gebicca the Burgundians Burgundians The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe... ,

20

Casere weold Creacum ond Cælic Finnum, Hagena Holmrygum ond Heoden Glommum. Witta weold Swæfum, Wada Hælsingum, Meaca Myrgingum, Mearchealf Hundingum. þeodric weold Froncum, þyle Rondingum,

Caesar ruled the Greeks Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State... and Caelic the Finns, Hagena the Rugians Rugians "Rugi" redirects here. For the Romanian villages by this name, see Păltiniş, Caraş-Severin and Turcineşti.The Rugii, also Rugians, Rygir, Ulmerugi, or Holmrygir were an East Germanic tribe migrated from southwest Norway to Pomerania around 100 AD, and from there to the Danube River valley... and Heoden the Gloms Lemovii The Lemovii were a Germanic tribe, only once named by Tacitus in the late 1st century. He noted that they lived near the Rugii and Goths and that they had short swords and round shields.The Oxhöft culture is associated with parts of the Rugii and Lemovii... . Witta ruled the Suebi Suebi The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c... , Wada Wada -Wada , a Japanese family name:* Wada Yoshimori , a samurai of the Kamakura Period* Akiko Wada, a Japanese singer* Juhn Atsushi Wada, a Japanese-Canadian neurologist* Kazuhiro Wada, a Japanese baseball player...  the Hälsings Hälsingland ' is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. It borders to Gästrikland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Medelpad and to the Gulf of Bothnia... , Meaca the Myrgings, Mearchealf the Hundings Hundings The Hundings are a legendary tribe or clan in early Germanic sources, mostly mentioned due to their feud with the Wulfings . In the Poetic Edda, Hunding is a king of the Saxons, slain by Helgi Hundingsbane. The Gesta Danorum mentions a Danish king Helgo who slew Hundingus, king of Saxony, in... . Theuderic ruled the Franks Franks The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a... , Thyle Thyle A Thyle, was a position of the court associated with Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon royalty and chieftains in the Early Middle Ages with the duty of determining truth of public statements.. Most literary references are found in Icelandic and Anglo-Saxon literature like the Hávamál, where Odin...  the Rondings Reudigni The Reudigni were one of the Nerthus-worshipping Germanic tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. Schütte suggests that the name should be read Rendingi or Randingi and then the name would be the same as the Rondings of Widsith. They have otherwise been lost to history, but they may have lived in... ,

25

Breoca Brondingum, Billing Wernum. Oswine weold Eowum ond Ytum Gefwulf, Fin Folcwalding Fresna cynne. Sigehere lengest Sædenum weold, Hnæf Hocingum, Helm Wulfingum,

Breoc the Brondings, Billing Birring Birring, is a clan of Jatts in Punjab, India. Birring is also spelled as Billing, Benning, Wirring, Baring, Berring, Warring, Binning, Bening or Birringh amongst the generations of this clan. Warring people are traditionally thought to be descendants of Raja Jagdeo...  the Varni Varni The Varni , Varini , Varinnae , Wærne/Werne and Warnii probably refer to a little known Germanic tribe. The name would have meant the "defenders". They lived in northern Germany... . Oswin ruled the Aviones and Getwulf the Jutes Jutes The Jutes, Iuti, or Iutæ were a Germanic people who, according to Bede, were one of the three most powerful Germanic peoples of their time, the other two being the Saxons and the Angles... , Finn Folcwalding Finn (Frisian) Finn, son of Folcwald, was a legendary Frisian lord. He is mentioned in Widsith, in Beowulf, and in the Finnsburg Fragment. There is also a Finn mentioned in Historia Brittonum.... the Frisian Frisians The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...  clan. Sigar Sigar The name Sigar can refer to three people in Scandinavian mythology, surrounding the legends of Sigurd the dragon slayer. One of them only appears as the friend of Helgi Hjörvarðsson in the eddic lay Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar...  longest ruled the sea-Daner Daner The Danes were a North Germanic tribe residing in modern day Denmark. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours.... , Hnæf Hnæf Hnæf son of Hoc is a prince mentioned in the Old English poems Beowulf and the Finnsburg Fragment.According to the listing of tribes in the poem Widsith , Hnæf ruled the Hocings...  the Hocings, Helm the Wulfings,

30

Wald Woingum, Wod þyringum, Sæferð Sycgum, Sweom Ongendþeow, Sceafthere Ymbrum, Sceafa Longbeardum, Hun Hætwerum ond Holen Wrosnum. Hringweald wæs haten Herefarena cyning.

Wald Wald - Surname :* Kenneth Wald Sales Consultant U.S. Born* Abraham Wald , Hungarian mathematician of German descent* Carol Wald , American artist.* Charles F...  the Woings Vangiones The Vangiones appear first in history as an ancient Germanic tribe of unknown provenience. They threw in their lot with Ariovistus in his bid of 58 BC to invade Gaul through the Doubs river valley and lost to Julius Caesar in a battle probably near Belfort... , Wod the Thuringians, Saeferth the Sycgs, Ongenþeow Ongenþeow Ongentheow was the name of a semi-legendary Swedish king of the house of Scylfings, who appears in Old English sources...  the Swedes Suiones The Swedes e, "one's own [tribesmen/kinsmen]"; Old English: Sweonas; , Suehans or Sueones) were an ancient North Germanic tribe in Scandinavia... , Sceafthere the Ymbers Ambrones The Ambrones were a tribe that appeared briefly in the Roman sources relating to the 2nd century BC. They formed part of a coalition of peoples with the Cimbri of Jutland and the Teutones who were forced south by the flooding of their homeland.-History:... , Sceafa the Lombards Lombards The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy... , Hun the Chattuarii Chattuarii The Chattuarii or Attoarii were a Germanic tribe of the Franks. They lived originally east of the northern Rhine and west of the Chatti. Their land was south of the Bructeri. Some of them settled in the pagus attuariorum south of Langres in the 3rd century... and Holen the Wrosns. Hringweald was called the king of the war-chiefs.

35

Offa weold Ongle, Alewih Denum; se wæs þara manna modgast ealra, no hwæþre he ofer Offan eorlscype fremede, ac Offa geslog ærest monna, cnihtwesende, cynerica mæst.

Offa Offa of Angel Offa was the 4th-great-grandfather of Creoda of Mercia, and was reputed to be a great-grandson of Woden, English god of war and poetry and creator of Middle-Earth, the realm of man. Offa was the son of Wermund, and the father of Angeltheow...  ruled the Angles Angles The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany... , Alewih the Daner Daner The Danes were a North Germanic tribe residing in modern day Denmark. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours.... ; he was among all men; the bravest, but was not braver than Offa, because the noble Offa conquered, before he was a man, in battle most of his kingdom

40

Nænig efeneald him eorlscipe maran on orette. Ane sweorde merce gemærde wið Myrgingum bi Fifeldore; heoldon forð siþþan Engle ond Swæfe, swa hit Offa geslog.

None of his age showed earlship more. With single sword he spread his borders. Against the Myrgings marked the bound by Fivel Fivel The Fivel was a historical river in the province of Groningen in The Netherlands. It received its water from peat bogs around Kolham and Slochteren, flowed past Woltersum, Wittewierum and Ten Post, and meandered north of Winneweer. The Fivel debouched inte a wide estuary of the Wadden Sea... dor Eider River The Eider is the longest river of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The river starts near Bordesholm and reaches the southwestern outskirts of Kiel on the shores of the Baltic Sea, but flows to the west, ending in the North Sea... . Henceforth 'twas held by Sueve and Angle as Offa won it.

45

Hroþwulf ond Hroðgar heoldon lengest sibbe ætsomne suhtorfædran, siþþan hy forwræcon wicinga cynn ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan, forheowan æt Heorote Heaðobeardna þrym.

Hrolf Kraki Hrólf Kraki Hrólfr Kraki, Hroðulf, Rolfo, Roluo, Rolf Krage was a legendary Danish king who appears in both Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian tradition. His name would in his own language have been *Hrōþiwulfaz .Both traditions describe him as a Danish Scylding, the nephew of Hroðgar and the grandson of Healfdene...  and Hrothgar held longest the peace, uncle and nephew, after having repulsed the Viking Viking The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to... s and Ingeld Ingeld Ingeld or Ingjald was a legendary warrior who appears in early English and Norse legends. Ingeld was so well-known that, in 797, Alcuin wrote a letter to Bishop Higbald of Lindisfarne questioning the monks' interest in heroic legends with: 'Quid enim Hinieldus cum Christo?' - What has Ingeld to... bowed down at spear-point, he was cut to pieces at Heorot Heorot Heorot is a mead hall described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf as "the foremost of halls under heaven." It served as a palace for King Hroðgar, a legendary Danish king of the sixth century. Heorot means "Hall of the Hart"... with the army of the Heathobards.

...

55

mænan fore mengo in meoduhealle hu me cynegode cystum dohten. Ic wæs mid Hunum ond mid Hreðgotum, mid Sweom ond mid Geatum ond mid Suþdenum. Mid Wenlum ic wæs ond mid Wærnum ond mid wicingum.

to this noble company in the mead hall, how my worthy patrons rewarded me. I was with Huns Huns The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,... and with Goths Goths The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe.... , and with Swedes Suiones The Swedes e, "one's own [tribesmen/kinsmen]"; Old English: Sweonas; , Suehans or Sueones) were an ancient North Germanic tribe in Scandinavia...  and with Geats and with south-Daner Daner The Danes were a North Germanic tribe residing in modern day Denmark. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours.... . With Vandals Vandals The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe that entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. The Vandals under king Genseric entered Africa in 429 and by 439 established a kingdom which included the Roman Africa province, besides the islands of Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics....  I was and with Varni Varni The Varni , Varini , Varinnae , Wærne/Werne and Warnii probably refer to a little known Germanic tribe. The name would have meant the "defenders". They lived in northern Germany... and with Vikings.

60

Mid Gefþum ic wæs ond mid Winedum ond mid Gefflegum. Mid Englum ic wæs ond mid Swæfum ond mid ænenum. Mid Seaxum ic wæs ond Sycgum ond mid Sweordwerum. Mid Hronum ic wæs ond mid Deanum ond mid Heaþoreamum. Mid þyringum ic wæs ond mid þrowendum,

With the Gepids I was and with Wends Wends Wends is a historic name for West Slavs living near Germanic settlement areas. It does not refer to a homogeneous people, but to various peoples, tribes or groups depending on where and when it is used... and with Gevlegs Gävle Gävle is a city in Sweden, the seat of Gävle Municipality and the capital of Gävleborg County. It had 71,033 inhabitants in 12/31 2010. It is the oldest city in the historical Norrland , having received its charter in 1446 from Christopher of Bavaria.-History:It is believed that the name Gävle... . With the Angles Angles The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...  I was and with Suebi Suebi The Suebi or Suevi were a group of Germanic peoples who were first mentioned by Julius Caesar in connection with Ariovistus' campaign, c... and with Aenenes. With the Saxons Saxons The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...  I was and with Sycgs and with swordsmen (Suarines Suarines The Suarines were one of the Nerthus-worshipping Germanic tribes mentioned by Tacitus in Germania. They have otherwise been lost to history, but Schütte suggests that their name lives on in the name of the town Schwerin.... ?). With the Hrons I was and with Deans Deans -People:* Craig Deans, soccer player* Diane Deans, politician* Ian Deans, politician* John "Dixie" Deans, soccer player* Kathryn Deans, author* Mickey Deans, fifth and last husband of Judy Garland* Robbie Deans, rugby coach and former player... and with Heatho-Reams. With the Thuringians I was and with the Throwens,

65

ond mid Burgendum, þær ic beag geþah; me þær Guðhere forgeaf glædlicne maþþum songes to leane. Næs þæt sæne cyning! Mid Froncum ic wæs ond mid Frysum ond mid Frumtingum. Mid Rugum ic wæs ond mid Glommum ond mid Rumwalum.

and with Burgundians Burgundians The Burgundians were an East Germanic tribe which may have emigrated from mainland Scandinavia to the island of Bornholm, whose old form in Old Norse still was Burgundarholmr , and from there to mainland Europe... , there they gave me a ring: there Guthere gave me a shining treasure, as a reward for my songs. He was not a bad king! With the Franks Franks The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...  I was and with Frisians Frisians The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia... and with Frumtings. With the Rugians Rugians "Rugi" redirects here. For the Romanian villages by this name, see Păltiniş, Caraş-Severin and Turcineşti.The Rugii, also Rugians, Rygir, Ulmerugi, or Holmrygir were an East Germanic tribe migrated from southwest Norway to Pomerania around 100 AD, and from there to the Danube River valley...  I was and with Gloms and with Romans Ancient Rome Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world.... .

...

75

Mid Sercingum ic wæs ond mid Seringum; mid Creacum ic wæs ond mid Finnum ond mid Casere, se þe winburga geweald ahte, wiolena ond wilna, ond Wala rices. Mid Scottum ic wæs ond mid Peohtum ond mid Scridefinnum;

With the Saracens Saracen Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...  I was and with Serings. With the Greeks Greeks The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....  I was and with the Finns and with Caesar Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.... , he who a grand city possessed, treasures and female slaves, and the Roman Empire Roman Empire The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean.... . With the Scots Scottish people The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...  I was and with Picts Picts The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest... and with Saami Sami people The Sami people, also spelled Sámi, or Saami, are the arctic indigenous people inhabiting Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Kola Peninsula of Russia, and the border area between south and middle Sweden and Norway. The Sámi are Europe’s northernmost... s.

80

mid Lidwicingum ic wæs ond mid Leonum ond mid Longbeardum, mid hæðnum ond mid hæleþum ond mid Hundingum. Mid Israhelum ic wæs ond mid Exsyringum, mid Ebreum ond mid Indeum ond mid Egyptum. Mid Moidum ic wæs ond mid Persum ond mid Myrgingum,

With the Lidvikings I was and with Leons and with Lombards Lombards The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy... , with heathens and with hero Hero A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion... es and with Hundings Hundings The Hundings are a legendary tribe or clan in early Germanic sources, mostly mentioned due to their feud with the Wulfings . In the Poetic Edda, Hunding is a king of the Saxons, slain by Helgi Hundingsbane. The Gesta Danorum mentions a Danish king Helgo who slew Hundingus, king of Saxony, in... . With the Israelites I was and with Assyrians Assyrian people The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia... , with Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews is an ethnonym used in the Hebrew Bible...  and with India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... ns and with Egyptians Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh... . With the Medes Medes The MedesThe Medes...  I was and with Persians and with Myrgings

85

ond Mofdingum ond ongend Myrgingum, ond mid Amothingum. Mid Eastþyringum ic wæs ond mid Eolum ond mid Istum ond Idumingum. Ond ic wæs mid Eormanrice ealle þrage, þær me Gotena cyning gode dohte;

and with Mofdings against the Myrgings, and with Amothings. With the East-Thuringians I was and with Eols and with Ists and Idumings. And I was with Ermanaric Ermanaric Ermanaric was a Greuthungian Gothic King who before the Hunnic invasion evidently ruled an enormous area north of the Black Sea. Contemporary historian Ammianus Marcellinus recounts him as a "most warlike man" who "ruled over extensively wide and fertile regions"... during some time, there the Goth Goths The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe.... king to me did his best to do good;

...