Wermund
Encyclopedia
Wermund or Garmund is an ancestor of the Mercian royal family, a son of Wihtlaeg and father of Offa
. Mythology claims him to be a grandson of Woden
, but the Danish histories written by Saxo Grammaticus disagree with this concept.
He appears to have reigned in Angel, and his story is preserved by certain Danish historians, especially Saxo Grammaticus. According to these traditions, his reign was long and happy, though its prosperity was eventually marred by the raids of a warlike king named Athislus
, who slew Frowinus, the governor of Schleswig
, in battle. Frowinus's death was avenged by his two sons, Keto and Wigo
, but their conduct in fighting together against a single man was thought to constitute a national disgrace, which was only reconciled by the subsequent single combat of Offa.
It has been suggested that Athislus, though called king of the Swedes by Saxo, was really identical with the Eadgils
, king of the Myrgings, mentioned in Widsith
. Though due to Saxo writing his work centuries later it could be fictitious, Frowinus and Wigo are doubtless to be identified with the Freawine
and Wig who figure among the ancestors of the kings of Wessex
.
He is mentioned in lines 1958-1963 of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf
as Garmund the father of Offa of Angel
and grandfather of Eomer
.
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...
. Mythology claims him to be a grandson of Woden
Woden
Woden or Wodan is a major deity of Anglo-Saxon and Continental Germanic polytheism. Together with his Norse counterpart Odin, Woden represents a development of the Proto-Germanic god *Wōdanaz....
, but the Danish histories written by Saxo Grammaticus disagree with this concept.
He appears to have reigned in Angel, and his story is preserved by certain Danish historians, especially Saxo Grammaticus. According to these traditions, his reign was long and happy, though its prosperity was eventually marred by the raids of a warlike king named Athislus
Eadgils of the Myrgings
Eadgils of the Myrgings is a king of the Myrgings a clan of Saxon origin who is mentioned on lines 93-96 in the Anglo-Saxon poem Widsith. He would have lived in the 5th century and is mentioned as the lord of the scop himself in the poem....
, who slew Frowinus, the governor of Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
, in battle. Frowinus's death was avenged by his two sons, Keto and Wigo
Ket and Wig
Ket and Wig appear in the Gesta Danorum as the sons of Frowin, the governor of Schleswig. Wig also appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as the son of Freawine and father of Gewis, eponymous ancestor of the kingdom of Wessex and their kings, but this is thought to be a late manipulation, inserting...
, but their conduct in fighting together against a single man was thought to constitute a national disgrace, which was only reconciled by the subsequent single combat of Offa.
It has been suggested that Athislus, though called king of the Swedes by Saxo, was really identical with the Eadgils
Eadgils of the Myrgings
Eadgils of the Myrgings is a king of the Myrgings a clan of Saxon origin who is mentioned on lines 93-96 in the Anglo-Saxon poem Widsith. He would have lived in the 5th century and is mentioned as the lord of the scop himself in the poem....
, king of the Myrgings, mentioned 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...
. Though due to Saxo writing his work centuries later it could be fictitious, Frowinus and Wigo are doubtless to be identified with the Freawine
Freawine
Freawine, Frowin or Frowinus figures as a governor of Schleswig in Gesta Danorum and in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as an ancestor of the kings of Wessex, but the latter source only tells that he was the son of Frithugar and the father of Wig....
and Wig who figure among the ancestors of the kings of Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
.
He is mentioned in lines 1958-1963 of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
as Garmund the father of Offa of Angel
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...
and grandfather of Eomer
Eomer
Eomer , also spelt Eomær, was the great-great-grandfather of Creoda, the first King of Mercia. He is considered the ancestor to the Kings of Mercia. Eomer himself was the son of Angeltheow...
.
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External links
- Transcript of Saxo's Danish History. - See Chapter 4 for description of Wermund.