Reiks

Reiks (Gothic: 𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃; pronunciation /ri:ks/; Latinized as rix) is a Gothic title for a tribal ruler, often translated as "king".

In the Gothic Bible, it translates to the Greek árchōn (ἄρχων).^[1] It is presumably translated as basiliskos (βασιλίσκος "petty king") in the Passio of Sabbas the Goth.^[2]

The Gothic Thervingi were divided into subdivisions of territory and people called kunja (singular kuni, cognate with English kin), led by a reiks.^[3] In times of a common threat, one of the reiks would be selected as a kindins, or head of the empire (translated as "judge", Latin iudex, Greek δικαστής).^[4]

Herwig Wolfram suggested the position was different from the Roman definition of a rex ("king") and is better described as that of a tribal chief (see Germanic king).^[5]

A reiks had a lower order of optimates or megistanes (μεγιστάνες, presumably translating mahteigs^[6]) beneath him on whom he could call on for support.^[7]

It also figures prominently as second element in Gothic names, Latinized and often anglicized as -ric, such as in Theoderic (Þiuda-reiks).

The use of the suffix extended into the Merovingian dynasty, with kings given names such as Childeric,^[8] and it survives in modern German and Scandinavian names such as Ulrich, Erik, Dietrich, Heinrich, Richard, Friedrich.

See also

• Germanic king
• Reich
• King of the Visigoths
• King of the Ostrogoths