Tribes of Widsith

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In Widsith, there is a long recital of people, clans and tribes who were known in the Germanic world of the 6th century. Here follow many excerpts from this poem with a translation and links to the tribes and people which have articles in Wikipedia, for easy reference.

Widsið maðolade, wordhord onleac, se þe monna mæst mægþa ofer eorþan, folca geondferde; oft he on flette geþah mynelicne maþþum. Him from Myrgingum

Widsith spake, he unlocked his treasure of words. He who among men had travelled most in the world, through peoples and nations; he had often in the hall earned valuable treasures. He was one of the Myrgings

5.

æþele onwocon. He mid Ealhhilde, fælre freoþuwebban, forman siþe Hreðcyninges ham gesohte eastan of Ongle, Eormanrices, wraþes wærlogan. Ongon þa worn sprecan:

of noble blood. He together with Ealhhilde, the friendly weaver of peace went for the home of the king of the Goths (Hreiðgoths) he was searching east of the Angles, Ermanaric, wrathful against traitors. He began to speak:

...

15

ond Alexandreas ealra ricost monna cynnes, ond he mæst geþah þara þe ic ofer foldan gefrægen hæbbe. ætla weold Hunum, Eormanric Gotum, Becca Baningum, Burgendum Gifica.

and Alexander the Great's whole kingdom together with the men of his clan and he prospered most of which I all over the world have heard the reports. Attila ruled the Huns, Ermanaric ruled the Goths, Becca the Banings, Gebicca the Burgundians,

20

Casere weold Creacum ond Cælic Finnum, Hagena Holmrygum ond Heoden Glommum. Witta weold Swæfum, Wada Hælsingum, Meaca Myrgingum, Mearchealf Hundingum. þeodric weold Froncum, þyle Rondingum,

The Byzantine Emperor ruled the Byzantine Empire and Caelic the Finns, Hagena the Rugians and Heoden the Gloms. Witta ruled the Suebi, Wada the Hälsings, Meaca the Myrgings, Mearchealf the Hundings. Theuderic ruled the Franks, Thyle the Rondings,

25

Breoca Brondingum, Billing Wernum. Oswine weold Eowum ond Ytum Gefwulf, Fin Folcwalding Fresna cynne. Sigehere lengest Sædenum weold, Hnæf Hocingum, Helm Wulfingum,

Breoc the Brondings, Billing the Varni. Oswin ruled the Aviones and Getwulf the Jutes, Finn Folcwalding The Frisian clan. Sigar longest ruled the sea-Daner, Hnæf the Hocings, Helm the Wulfings,

30

Wald Woingum, Wod þyringum, Sæferð Sycgum, Sweom Ongendþeow, Sceafthere Ymbrum, Sceafa Longbeardum, Hun Hætwerum ond Holen Wrosnum. Hringweald wæs haten Herefarena cyning.

Wald the Woings, Wod the Thuringians, Saeferth the Sycgs, the Swedes by Ongenþeow, Sceafthere the Ymbers, Sceafa the Langobards, Hun the Chattuarii and Holen the Wrosns. Hringweald was called the king of the war-chiefs.

35

Offa weold Ongle, Alewih Denum; se wæs þara manna modgast ealra, no hwæþre he ofer Offan eorlscype fremede, ac Offa geslog ærest monna, cnihtwesende, cynerica mæst.

Offa ruled the Angles, Alewih the Daner; he was among all men; the bravest, but was not braver than Offa, because the noble Offa conquered, before he was a man, in battle most of his kingdom

...

45

Hroþwulf ond Hroðgar heoldon lengest sibbe ætsomne suhtorfædran, siþþan hy forwræcon wicinga cynn ond Ingeldes ord forbigdan, forheowan æt Heorote Heaðobeardna þrym.

Hrolf Kraki and Hrothgar held longest the peace, uncle and nephew, after having repulsed the Vikings and Ingeld bowed down at spear-point, he was cut to pieces at Heorot with the army of the Heathobards.

...

55

mænan fore mengo in meoduhealle hu me cynegode cystum dohten. Ic wæs mid Hunum ond mid Hreðgotum, mid Sweom ond mid Geatum ond mid Suþdenum. Mid Wenlum ic wæs ond mid Wærnum ond mid wicingum.

to this noble company in the mead hall, how my worthy patrons rewarded me. I was with Huns and with Goths, and with Swedes and with Geats and with south-Daner. With Vandals I was and with Varni and with Vikings.

60

Mid Gefþum ic wæs ond mid Winedum ond mid Gefflegum. Mid Englum ic wæs ond mid Swæfum ond mid ænenum. Mid Seaxum ic wæs ond Sycgum ond mid Sweordwerum. Mid Hronum ic wæs ond mid Deanum ond mid Heaþoreamum. Mid þyringum ic wæs ond mid þrowendum,

With the Gepids I was and with Wends and with Gefflegs. With the Angles I was and with Suebi and with Aenenes. With the Saxons I was and with Sycgs and with swordsmen (Suarines?). With the Hrons I was and with Deans and with Heatho-Reams. With the Thuringians I was and with the Throwens,

65

ond mid Burgendum, þær ic beag geþah; me þær Guðhere forgeaf glædlicne maþþum songes to leane. Næs þæt sæne cyning! Mid Froncum ic wæs ond mid Frysum ond mid Frumtingum. Mid Rugum ic wæs ond mid Glommum ond mid Rumwalum.

and with Burgundians, there they gave me a ring: there Guthere gave me a shining treasure, as a reward for my songs. He was not a bad king! With the Franks I was and with Frisians and with Frumtings. With the Rugians I was and with Gloms and with Romans.

...

75

Mid Sercingum ic wæs ond mid Seringum; mid Creacum ic wæs ond mid Finnum ond mid Casere, se þe winburga geweald ahte, wiolena ond wilna, ond Wala rices. Mid Scottum ic wæs ond mid Peohtum ond mid Scridefinnum;

With the Saracens I was and with Serings. With the Greeks I was and with the Finns and with Caesar, he who a grand city possessed, treasures and female slaves, and the Roman Empire. With the Scots I was and with Picts and with Saamis.

80

mid Lidwicingum ic wæs ond mid Leonum ond mid Longbeardum, mid hæðnum ond mid hæleþum ond mid Hundingum. Mid Israhelum ic wæs ond mid Exsyringum, mid Ebreum ond mid Indeum ond mid Egyptum. Mid Moidum ic wæs ond mid Persum ond mid Myrgingum,

With the Lidvikings I was and with Leons and with Langobards, with heathens and with heroes and with Hundings. With the Israelites I was and with Exsyringians, with Hebrews and with Indians and with Egyptians. With the Medes I was and with Persians and with Myrgings

85

ond Mofdingum ond ongend Myrgingum, ond mid Amothingum. Mid Eastþyringum ic wæs ond mid Eolum ond mid Istum ond Idumingum. Ond ic wæs mid Eormanrice ealle þrage, þær me Gotena cyning gode dohte;

and with Mofdings against the Myrgings, and with Amothings. With the East-Thuringians I was and with Eols and with Ists and Idumings. And I was with Ermanaric during some time, there the Goth king to me did his best to do good;

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