Stelle Cum iam procul a castra essit, Avar...; (Chronicarum libri IV (Fredegarius scholasticus) et Continuationes (613 - 770), Lib. II, c. 57. MGH SS rer. Merov. p. 80 - 81) [5095]

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ID 5095
Text Chronicarum libri IV (Fredegarius scholasticus) et Continuationes (613 - 770) Fredegar
Quotation Cum iam procul a castra essit, Avar nomen Xerxer utelissimus cunctorum singulus ad praevidendum Theudericum ex secretum eum obvians. Quod cum a longe repertus fuisset, missi ad Theudericum tres viri bellatores, ut eum aut vivum caperint aut interficerint. Quos Avar, fugam fingens, singellatim interfecit. Dinuo Theudericus alios tres viros ad ipsum capiendum direxit, qui itemque ab Avare interfecti sunt. Postea Theudericus singulare certamen cum Avari bell um inivit. Quem, contho in brachio percusso", diutissime in invicem cum aequis girantis, a Theuderico Avar superatus est. Quem vinctum Theudericus secum ducit ad castra. Quem cum cognovisset fortissimum esse in bellum, verbis blandiciis eum suadebat, ut suo sacramento fidem Theuderico promitterit, et eum postea multis muneribus Theudericus ditarit. Quod Avar Xerser nomen vehementer rennuens, fidem promittere noluit, nisi terram suam cupiens remeare. Postea minis et diversis adflictionibus a Theuderico coactus est; sed tarnen eius imperio denegans, fidem paenitus promittere noluit. Cumque vehementer rennuerit, permisit eum Theudericus patriae remeare. Natans cum aequum fluvium Stria, respiciens ex alia parte, ad Theudericum / dixit: 'Liberatus sum a dominatione tua, liberum me arbitrium esse cognusco, nihil super me modo est tua potestas, revertam ad te eroque tibi fidelissimus citeris'. Quem Theudericus multis opibus ditans, cunctis delectissimum habuit; et cum pluris prilia Wandalis et Suaevis ceterisque gentis agebat, eum semper proximum et fortissime priliantem suae custudiae in agmenibus cognuscebat. Ideoque vehementer a Theuderico delictus est.
Translation When he was far from the camp, an Aware named Xerxer, an excellent warrior, met him alone from a hiding place to fend him off. Since he had been spotted from afar, Theodoric sent three warriors to catch him alive or to kill him. The Aware killed these one by one by pretending to flee. Thereupon Theodoric sent three other men to seize him, but these were also killed by the Avar. Thereupon Theodoric threw himself into a duel with the Avar. They circled each other on their horses for a long time, and only after he had wounded his arm with a javelin was Theodoric able to overpower the Avar. Theodoric tied him up and dragged him with him to his camp. Since Theodoric had recognized his extraordinary bravery in battle, he tried, with flattery and the promise to give him rich presents later, to get him to pledge allegiance to him on oath. The Aware Xerxer passionately rejected all of this and did not want to promise loyalty under any conditions, but only wanted to return to his homeland. He was thereupon pressed by Theodoric with threats and various tortures , but nevertheless he did not want to submit to him and under no circumstances pledge allegiance to him. Since he resisted so violently, Theodoric allowed him to return home. He swam across the Danube with his horse; on the other shore, however, he turned around and called to Theodoric: 'Now that I am freed from your power, where I can freely decide again and you no longer have power over me, now I will return to you and serve you more faithfully than all others ". Theodoric gave him very rich presents and took him more into his heart than anyone else; and during the battles with the Vandals, Suebi and other peoples he always saw him close to himself, braver than all the other men of his bodyguard fighting in the army. For this reason Theodoric became very fond of him.
Summary A story about an Avar warrior, Xerxer, and king Theodoric: Theodoric personally captivated Xerxes, but under no circumstances the Avar would pledge allegiance to him. Theodoric decided to let him return to his homeland. The Avar crossed the Danube and on the other side he said "Now that I am free I am willing to return and serve you." Xerxer became Theodorics best and most faithful warrior and bodyguard.
Quotation source Lib. II, c. 57. MGH SS rer. Merov. p. 80 - 81
Temporal Coverage 593 - 526
Associated use case(s)
Comment A legendary story about king Theodoric and a Xexer, an Avar and his bodyguard.