Jormunrek

King of the Goths. In the Icelandic legend, Jormunrek was the aged king who fell love with the beauty of Svanhild (Svanhild), daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun. Gudrun reluctantly agreed to the marriage. Before the wedding, Randver, Jormunrek's son, also fell in love with Svanhild. Jormunrek's treacherous adviser Bikki encouraged Randver to make his feelings known to Svanhild. Svanhild seemed to return the affection.

Bikki falsely brought an accusation that Randver and Svanhild were lovers, advising Jormunrek to kill the pair.

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Jormunrek was identified with the historical figure Ermanaric, king of the Goths (Ostrogoths) in the Ukraine, who was killed in AD 375.

When a subject tribe, Rosomoni, deserted him in the war against the Huns, Ermanaric captured the wife of the Rosomoni chieftain, named Sunilda (Svanhild), and had her torn to pieces by tying her to two wild horses.

Sunilda's brothers tried to avenge her death, but only managed to severely wound the king. The Huns later destroyed his kingdom. Then Ermanaric committed suicide.

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In the German legend and the Norwegian Thiðrekssaga, it was completely different from the Icelandic legend and the historical figure. Jormunrek was called either Ermanaric or Erminrek (Thiðrekssaga), and was he was responsible for banishing the hero Dietrich (or Thiðrek) from his kingdom of Bern. According to the Thiðrekssaga, Erminrek (Jormunrek) was the uncle of Thidrek. See Ermanaric in the German Heroes.