Ermenrich
/ˈɜːrmənrɪk/noun
Ermenrich is the legendary Gothic king who appears in Germanic heroic traditions, including the Nibelungen legends.
Did you know?Ermenrich is identified with the Gothic king Ermanaric, whose alleged suicide after betrayal helped transform him from historical ruler into a tragic legendary archetype.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
Germanic
*ermunaz + *rīkijaz
“The first element meant broad, immense, or universal; the second meant powerful, ruling, or kingly.”
4th Century
Gothic/Latin record
Ermanaricus
“The name of the Gothic ruler Ermanaric, recorded in Latinized form by the historian Ammianus Marcellinus.”
6th Century
Latin
Ermanaricus
“A Gothic king remembered by Jordanes as a powerful ruler whose realm was later surrounded by hostile peoples.”
Old High German
Old High German
Ermenrīh
“A legendary king’s name; the second element, rīh, meant powerful, rich, or ruling.”
Old Norse
Old Norse
Jǫrmunrekr
“The corresponding legendary figure in Scandinavian heroic tradition, often portrayed as a harsh or doomed king.”
Modern English
English
Ermenrich
“An English form of the Germanic legendary name, chiefly encountered in historical and medieval-literary contexts.”