Widewuto

Widowuto ( Waidewut ) was after Simon Grunau, the first king of the Prussians, who lacks any historical basis and an invention of the humanist historian of the 16th century speculation about the " tradition " ( origo gentis ) of various peoples comes from. In addition, the legend is based on no indigenous tradition.

History

As the inventor of Widowuto applies Erasmus Stella (1460-1521), who is known for his numerous eponyms, which he devised from Latin and pseudo- Latin name, and which he sought to prove in part by forgery.

Erasmus Stella wrote in his De Borussiae antiquitatibus that Borussii ( = Old Prussians ) from the Rhipäischen Mountains to Zambia ( the Sambia ) immigrated. At the time of Emperor Valentinian they had been attacked by the Alans. Finally, the Alane Vidvutus had been elected by the Borussiern their king, who had given the hitherto uncivilized folk law and religion.

The name Vidvutus devised Stella probably from the name of the said by Jordanes Germanic people of the Vidivarii who lived at the mouth of the Vistula.

The story took on an anonymous author who wrote a lost work of history in the early 16th century, which is called in the literature pseudo - Christian, Oliva Chronicle or Elbląg monk Chronicle and in various works of history is palpable, including Simon Grunau.

In this pseudo - Christian of Alane Vidvutus to a gothic - Cimbric leaders from Scandinavia ( Scandia ) was made, who came to the Vistula, together with his brother Bruteno anno 550, and was elected king and the uncivilized people were laws. His brother Bruteno gave them, however, a religion and became the Kirwaiden ( high priest ) selected. According to him, the people would have taken the name Bruteni ( = Old Prussians ). The invention of the eponymous hero Bruteno was a widespread approach of the then learned humanist historiography.

Simon Grunau used uncritically these older works and decorated it also imaginatively from. After Grunau were the Goths, sold by Narses in Italy, moved to Germany and had founded the city of Göttingen. Then they moved against the Danish king, who gave them the island Cimbria, which has since Gotland would mean. Widowuto and his brother Bruteno were drawn with Cimbric Goths to the Vistula and had the local uncivilized inhabitants, where law and religion. In the year 521 the Bruteni would have chosen the Widowuto to the king and Bruteno to Crywo Cyrwaito. Bruteno have then established the Oak Shrine Rickoyto. In the year 573, Widowuto Bruteno that time was 115, 132 years old, seie the land among the twelve sons Widowutos been divided, and their names were on the country name. Then the two brothers had sacrificed on the fire burst itself, whereupon both were deified. Bruteno seie as God Wurschayto (possibly " elder ", too. Apr. Urs "old" ) and his brother Widowuto (" his brother " apr. swais breads ) has been revered as Szwaybrotto.

The whole historical work of Simon Grunau is referred to by modern research as a fantastic pseudo- historical novel that has little value for research:

" Grunau, whose formation was not very large, for historical research of very doubtful value; particularly in the representation of the past, he takes it with the truth is not exactly unreliable and careless. "

Special

In the opera, The Heath King (1933 ) by Siegfried Wagner a king Waidewut occurs.