Resumen de Die ‚Erzählung des Helden‘ in narrativen Passagen der Historia Langobardorumdes Paulus Diaconus
Paul the Deacon integrated oral traditions, myths and legends of his people and of his family into his ‘Story of the Langobards’ (written in the late 8th century) in very different ways. This article deals with three particular stories of heroes. The first example represents a myth, the second foundation myth of the Langobards which tells the story of Lamissio, the son of a whore, thrown into a clayey pond by his mother, but saved by the king of the Langobards. The newborn child apprehended the royal lance, whereby he qualified himself as the future king. Gaining passage over a river in a fight against “female warriors” (amazonae) and leading his people to a new land, he succeeds to become the royal leader of his people. The second example represents a heroic saga (certainly containing a historical core of truth) telling the revenge of Rosemunda, daughter of the Gepidic king. Alboin, king of the Langobards and target of the reprisal, had beaten her father to death, then taken her as his wife and dishonored her drunken in public, during a banquet. The third story represents a family legend, reporting the abduction of Paul’s proavus Lopichis by the Avares and the lucky homecoming of the hero to Friaul, guided by divine providence and signs. All these stories are steered by the scholar Paulus’ intention to give a historical and rational imbedding to their mythical, heroic and legendary contents.
