Aoric

{{Short description|King of the Thervingi}}

Aoric (Latinized Aoricus) was a Thervingian Gothic king (reiks and kindins) who lived in the 4th century.{{cite book|author=Carole M. Cusack|title=Rise of Christianity in Northern Europe, 300-1000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yo9a7IFo9UgC&pg=PA42|accessdate=6 January 2013|year=1998|publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-304-70735-5|pages=42–}}{{cite book|author=Thomas S. Burns|title=A History of the Ostro-Goths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dw3FEpOUrRkC&pg=PA33|accessdate=6 January 2013|date=1 February 1991|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-20600-8|pages=33–}}

Aoric was son of Ariaric and father of Athanaric, he was raised in Constantinople, where a statue was erected in his honour.{{cite book|author=Patrick J. Geary|title=The Myth of Nations: The Medieval Origins of Europe|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A26s-v2eEwAC&pg=PA87|accessdate=6 January 2013|year=2003|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-11481-1|pages=87–}} He was recorded by Auxentius of Durostorum leading a persecution of Gothic Christians in 347/348. Herwig Wolfram noted that "alliteration, variation, and rhythm in the line of names Athanaric, Aoric, Ariaric resemble the 'ideal type' of Hadubrand, Hildebrand, Heribrand".

He considered the similarities and comparison suggested that all three kings were members of the Balti dynasty.{{cite book|author1=Herwig Wolfram|author2=Thomas J. Dunlap|title=History of the Goths|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsQxcJvaLjAC&pg=PA32|accessdate=6 January 2013|date=1 March 1990|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06983-1|pages=32–}}