Laudaricus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
File:Battle of the Catalaunian plains.jpg
Battle of the Catalaunian Plains from a 13th-century miniature

Laudaricus (died 451) was a prominent Hunnic chieftain and general active in the first half of the 5th century.

Biography

[edit | edit source]

The Chronica Gallica of 511 under the year 451 noted him as Attila's blood relative (Latin: Cognatus Attilae), who died at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451 AD.[1][2] He was the Huns' highest ranking casualty at this battle.[3] The outcome of the battle is uncertain, but Kim, pointing out that the death of a commanding general in battle often meant defeat at the time.[4]

The only relic found at the site of the battle (Châlons) was a Hunnish cauldron.[4] Kim suggests this was likely used for the burial of Laudaricus, the Huns' most prestigious casualty.[4]

Etymology

[edit | edit source]

M. Schönfeld considered the name to be of Germanic origin, *Lauda reiks (possibly "famous king"; compare Ludwig).[1][2] Omeljan Pritsak proposed possible Gothicization and correction of the name by the chronicler from Turkic *Valda > Velda (< *Belda > Bleda).[2] Otto J. Maenchen-Helfen thought the name was Germanic, *Laudareiks.[5]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ a b Maenchen-Helfen 1973, p. 388.
  2. ^ a b c Pritsak 1982, p. 445.
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Sources

[edit | edit source]
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).