Ardaric (Latin: Ardaricus; fl. c. 450 AD) was the king of the Gepids, a Germanic tribe closely related to the Goths. He was "famed for his loyalty and wisdom," one of the most trusted adherents of Attila the Hun, who "prized him above all the other chieftains."
Ardaric is first mentioned by Jordanes as Attila's most prized vassal at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains (451):
"The renowned king of the Gepidae, Ardaric, was there also with a countless host, and because of his great loyalty to Attila, he shared his plans. For Attila, comparing them in his wisdom, prized him and Valamir, king of the Ostrogoths, above all the other chieftains." (Jordanes, Getica, trans. C. C. Mierow, 1915)
After Attila's death in 453, Ardaric led the rebellion against Attila's sons and routed them in the Battle of Nedao, thus ending the Huns' dominance in Eastern Europe.
Since Attila's death, his eldest son Ellak had risen to power. Supported by Attila's chief lieutenant, Onegesius, he wanted to assert the absolute control with which Attila had ruled, while Attila's other two sons, Dengizik and Ernak, claimed kingship over smaller subject tribes.
In 454, Ardaric led his Gepid and Ostrogothic forces against Attila's son Ellak and his Hunnish army. The Battle of Nedao was a bloody but decisive victory for Ardaric, in which Ellak was killed.[1]
Ardaric's most immediate achievement was the establishment of his people in Dacia. His defeat of the Huns at the River Nedao
reduced the threat of invasion posed to the Eastern Roman Empire.
While the Western Roman Empire lay in ruins after AD 476, the Eastern Roman Empire survived for almost another thousand years.
The name Ardaricus is assumed to represent Germanic *Hardu-reiks; Schütte (1933) tentatively identified the Heiðrekr of Germanic legend with the historical Gepid king.[2]
Ardaric's year of death is unknown. The Gepid king Mundo (Mundonus), who ruled in the early 6th century, was probably his grandson.[3]
^Nic Fields, The Hun: Scourge of God AD 375-565, (Osprey, 2006), 16.
^Gudmund Schütte, Our Forefathers the Gothonic Nations vol. 2 (trans. 1933), p. 22.
^
Mundo was called both a Gepid and a Hun, and was probably a descendant of both Attila and Ardaric; Mundo was the son of Giesmos, a son of Attila who had married a daughter of Ardaric's. (Kim 2013:p. 94).
Ardaric (Latin: Ardaricus; fl. c. 450 AD) was the king of the Gepids, a Germanic tribe closely related to the Goths. He was "famed for his loyalty and...
important part. After the death of Attila, the Gepids under their leader Ardaric, led an alliance of other peoples who had been in the empire, and defeated...
the Hun, allied forces of the subject peoples under the leadership of Ardaric, king of the Gepids, defeated the Hunnic forces of Ellac, the son of Attila...
Heruli, Ostrogoths, Rugii, Sciri and Suebi), under the leadership of King Ardaric, defeat the Huns under Ellac, eldest son of Attila the Hun, in Pannonia...
novelization The Druid King. History portal Ambiorix Alaric I Asterix Ardaric Arminius Autaritus Battle of Baduhenna Wood Bato (Daesitiate chieftain)...
peoples within this empire were the Gepids and the Goths. The Gepid king Ardaric came to power around 440 and participated in various Hunnic campaigns....
against the Romans but died in 453. After Attila's death, his close adviser, Ardaric of the Gepids, led a Germanic revolt against Hunnic rule, after which the...
Hunnic empire, led by Ardaric, against the eastern half, led by Ellac as leader of the Akatziri Huns. He further argues that Ardaric, in common with the...
people might be distributed by lot". A coalition of Germanic tribes, led by Ardaric, king of the Gepids, revolted against such slavery treatment, and "so they...
by the Archkyrie Einar before his death. Ancient Rome portal Alaric I Ardaric Ariovistus Athanaric Battle of Baduhenna Wood Belgios Boduognatus Boiorix...
powerful. It is almost certain that the Gepid king Ardaric came to an agreement with Marcian. Ardaric had formed a coalition of the Rugians, Sciri, Heruli...
date) October 20 – Aelia Eudocia, Roman empress and wife of Theodosius II Ardaric, king of the Gepids (approximate date) Juqu Anzhou, prince of the Chinese...
empire disintegrated and the Gepids conquered the region in 455, under King Ardaric. For two centuries, the Gepids controlled Transylvania. The Ostrogoths...
who kept it until the death of Attila in 453. The Gepid tribe, ruled by Ardaric, used it as their base, until in 566 it was destroyed by Lombards. Lombards...
Jordanes' list for Attila's allies includes the Gepids under their king Ardaric, as well as an army of various Gothic groups led by the brothers Valamir...
favored son and ruler of the Akatziri, the Huns engaged the Gepid king Ardaric at the Battle of Nedao, who led a Germanic coalition to overthrow Hunnic...
reason that he is regarded as a holy person. Abbi (Saxon) Ambiorix Alaric I Ardaric Arminius Athanaric Boudica Fritigern Gaius Julius Civilis Totila Tribigild...
by Jordanes as dux and as rex - of group of Suebi. Hunimund fought with Ardaric against the Huns at the Battle of Nedao in 454. Afterwards Hunimund founded...
who kept it until the death of Attila in 453. The Gepid tribe, ruled by Ardaric, used it as their base, until in 566 it was destroyed by Lombards. Lombards...
the 6th century. He may have been the son of Gunderit, himself son of Ardaric ascended by overthrowing a rival Ardariking branch. Based on archaeological...
marriages. Alboin Alfred the Great Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius Ardaric Charlemagne Clovis I Ermanaric Gaiseric Hermeric Liutprand, King of the...
Great, is even depicted as Attila's most highly valued leader along with Ardaric of the Gepids. Modern historians such as Peter Heather believe this is...
"Resistance". Jefferson Hall played Viriathus. History portal Ambiorix Alaric I Ardaric Arminius Autaritus Battle of Baduhenna Wood Bato (Daesitiate chieftain)...
After the death of Attila, the Sciri, Heruli, Rugii and others joined Ardaric of the Gepids in a revolt against the Huns, winning a major victory at...
420s, but the latter remained united under the rule of their king named Ardaric. Although he was one of the favorites of Attila, king of the Huns, he initiated...
Empire for supremacy. After the death of Attila, one of his subject rulers, Ardaric, waged a successful civil war against the heirs of Attila, helping several...
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