HERULI, a Teutonic tribe belonging either to the northern or the southern portion of the Jutish peninsula. In the reign of Gallienus (A.D. 260-68), they were with the Goths ravaging the coasts of the Black Sea and the Aegean. Soon afterwards, in A.D. 289, they appeared in the region about the mouth of the Rhine. During the 4th century they frequently served together with the Batavi in the Roman armies. In the 5th century the Heruli made piratical incursions in the western seas. At the same time they had a kingdom in central Europe, in or around the basin of the Elbe.
About the beginning of the 6th century they were completely overthrown in war by the Langobardi. Part of them migrated to Sweden, while others crossed the Danube and entered the Roman service, where they were frequently recorded later in connexion with the Gothic wars. In English, Frankish and Scandinavian works they are never mentioned, and there can be little doubt that they were known among the western Teutonic peoples by some other name. Probably they were identical either with the North Suabi or with the Iuti. The name Heruli itself is identified by many with the A.S. Eorlas (nobles).
The Heruli remained heathen until the overthrow of their king dom, and retained many striking primitive customs. When threat ened with death by disease or old age, they were required to call in an executioner, who stabbed them on the pyre. Suttee was also customary. Entirely devoted to warfare, they served not only in the Roman armies, but also in those of all the surrounding nations. They disdained the use of helmets and coats of mail, and pro tected themselves only with shields.
See Georgius Syncellus ; Mamertinus, Paneg. Maximi; Ammianus Marcellinus ; Zosimus i. 39 ; Idatius, Chronica; Jordanes, De origine Getarum; Procopius, esp. Bellum Goticum, ii. 14 et seq.; Bellum Persicum, ii. 25 ; Paulus Diaconus, Hist. Langobardorum, i. 20.