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- -- Wikiwand: Ereleuva
Ereleuva was the mother of the Ostrogothic king Theoderic the Great. She often is referred to as the concubine of Theoderic's father, Theodemir, although historian Thomas Hodgkin notes "this word of reproach hardly does justice to her position. In many of the Teutonic nations, as among the Norsemen of a later century, there seems to have been a certain laxity as to the marriage rite..." That Gelasius refers to her as "regina" ("queen") suggests that she had a prominent social position despite the informality of her union with Theodemir.
Ereleuva was Catholic, and was baptized with the name "Eusebia." She had probably converted from Arianism as an adult, but the details are unclear in the historical record. Ereleuva is regarded as having taken to Catholicism quite seriously, as indicated by her correspondence with Pope Gelasius and mention of her in Ennodius's "Panegyric of Theoderic."
Her name was spelled variously by historians in antiquity as "Ereriliva" (by the fragmentary chronicle of Anonymus Valesianus, c. 527) and "Erelieva' (by Jordanes), and now largely is known to modern historians as "Ereleuva," as she was addressed most frequently by Pope Gelasius I. Related to the Erilaz from which the Heruli were tied with the Ostrogoths even after they returned to Scandinavia.
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Foundation for Medieval Genealogy-
Concubine: ERELEUVA [Erelieva]. She was baptised a Catholic as EUSEBIA[235]. Iordanes names "Erelieva concubina" as mother of Theodoric[236]. She went with her son to Italy.
Theodemir had three illegitimate children by his concubine:
461 AD; She accompanied her son when he was taken hostage to Constantinople in about 461
2. THEODORIC ([451][260]-30 Aug 526). Iordanes names "Theodericum" as son of Theodemir, in a later passage naming his mother "Erelieva concubina"[261]. He was proclaimed THEODORIC "the Great" King of Italy in Mar 493 after defeating King Odovacar.
- see below.
3. THEODIMUND. The primary source which names him has not yet been identified. He marched westwards to Durazzo with his brother in 479, leading one of the three marching columns[262].
4. daughter (-[479]). The primary source which records her existence has not yet been identified. She died about the time her half-brother marched westwards to Durazzo[263].
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