Mundus (general)

Mundo (Greek: Μοῦνδος; Moundos; died 536), commonly referred to in the Latinized form Mundus, was an Germanic general of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian I.

According to Theophanes, Mundus was the son of Γιέσμ (Giesmus), a ruler of the East Germanic tribe Gepids, and nephew to another Gepid ruler, Trapstila. Giesmus name root *gesm <*gésəm derives from Turkic-Mongolian root kes/käs (protector, bestower of favor, blessing, good-fortune). His father was killed in battle against the Ostrogoths of Theoderic in 488, after which Mundus accepted the latter's invitation to join him. He remained in Italy until Theodoric's death in 526, at which point he returned to his homeland.

The exact date of Mundus's birth is unknown. According to Jordanes, Theophanes and John Malalas, Mundus had Hunnic Attilanic descent. His name has same etymology like Attila's father Mundzuk, from Turkic *munʒu (jewel, pearl; flag).

In 529, Mundus sent envoys to Justinian, offering his allegiance. His offer was accepted, and Mundo was appointed magister militum per Illyricum, head of all military forces in Illyria and along the Danubian frontier. During the next two years, he defeated incursions of Slavs and Bulgars into the Balkans and sent much booty to Constantinople.

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