Walþari

Walþari is a figure mentioned in Old English poetry. He appears in the epic poem "Waldere," a fragmentary work that survives in two manuscript fragments. The poem tells a story of warfare and heroism, and Walþari is presented as a warrior. The precise nature of his role and relationship to other characters, such as Waldere himself, is not fully clear due to the fragmentary state of the surviving text.

The name Walþari is Germanic in origin and likely means "powerful ruler" or "army ruler." This suggests a person of some standing or importance within the context of the narrative. The surviving portions of "Waldere" focus on a battle and a subsequent exchange of swords. Walþari is associated with these events.

The poem "Waldere" is often compared to other Germanic heroic lays, such as those found in the "Poetic Edda." While Walþari's character is not deeply developed in the fragments, his presence contributes to the heroic atmosphere and the portrayal of martial valor that characterizes this genre of literature. The limited textual evidence means that much of Walþari's story and significance remains open to scholarly interpretation. The fragments are housed in the British Library.