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The Germanic Tribes

18 July, 2008 By

The Germanic tribes were Indo-European peoples who inhabited west of the Rhine river from the Scandinavian peninsula to the Black Sea coasts at the time of the Roman Empire. Each of the Germanic tribes divided into several branches. So, when we speak of a Germanic tribe, like the Saxons, for example, we mean a people, or a nation, made up of several tribes who spoke the same dialect and were led by a warrior king. The basic Germanic political structure of these Germanic nations was the tribe, headed by a chief who was elected for his ability as a war leader. The Germanic religion was polytheistic, their society was a warrior aristocracy, and finally their societal structure was a mobile one.

The major Germanic nations who invaded western Europe at the time of the fall of the Roman Empire were the Visigoths, the Vandals, Alans, Franks, Burgundians, Suebians, Saxons, Angles, Jutes, etc. Although all these peoples were considered barbarians by the Romans, because they did not speak Latin, they were intelligent, practical, highly individualistic and loved freedom. And the word barbarian derives from Latin barbarus, and this from barbarbar, which was the onomatopoeic derision of those foreign peoples who spoke unintelligible languages.

The Visigoths

At the beginning the Visigoths along with the Ostrogoths were one people known as the Goths, who lived on the Baltic coasts on what is today northern Germany and Poland. In the 3rd century AD they migrated down south, to a region near the Black Sea coasts, breaking up into two groups separated by the Dniester river; the Visigoths, or West Goths, and the Ostrogoths, or East Goths. The Goths were receptive to Roman ways of life, adopted the Arian form of Christianity, and many were recruited into the Roman army.

In 410 the Visigoths under King Alaric invaded and sacked Rome. Alaric’s successors led their people out of Italy and settled in southern Gaul, France. Years later, when the Huns pushed westwards as they tried to invade the western Roman Empire, the Visigoths’ king Theodoric made an alliance with Rome, fighting alongside the Roman legions againts Attila at the Battle of Chalons under the command of Aetius in 451. Eventhough Theodoric was killed in the battle, the Visigoths defeated the Hunnic hordes, forcing Attila to seek refuge in his own camp.

By the end of the 5th century when the Romans lost control of their empire, the Visigoths set up a powerful kingdom which comprised southern Gaul and Spain. In 507 AD, when the Franks under Clovis I defeated the Visigoths in Gaul, the center of Visigothic rule shifted first to Barcelona, then inland and south to Toledo, Spain.

The Vandals

The Vandals entered the late Roman Empire in 406 Ad, pouring over Rhine as they invaded Gaul. In 409 the Vandals crossed the Pyrenees and invaded Spain. In 429 an army of 80,000 Vandals crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and invaded North Africa. Ten years later they conquered Carthage. Another 16 years later, in 455, they crossed the Mediterranean and attacked Rome from the sea. They sacked Rome in an orgy of violence that lasted two weeks and earned their reputation as “vandals.” By 462 the Vandals ruled North Africa, the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. In 468 they defeated a Byzantine (Eastern Roman) fleet, but from 477 onwards their power began to wane.
Franks

The Franks lived between the North Sea coast and the upper Rhine. They were divided into two main groups, the Salians and Ripuarians. In the second half of the 5th century most of France was in the hands of the Visigoths and the Burgundians. Under their powerful king, Clovis (reigned 481-511), they defeated both the Visigoths and the Burgundians, and established control over most of modern France.
 
A crucial event occurred under the Salian king Clovis I during one of his many battles. Apparently influenced by his wife, who was Catholic, Clovis promised to give up his paganism and to become Christian if he were victorious. He kept his promise, and took three thousand of his warriors with him to be baptized in the local shrine. By his con- version to Catholicism, Clovis accepted the ecclesiastical structure of Gaul based upon the original Roman administration, won the alliance of the Catholic clergy, and took for the Frankish armies the task of crusader against non-Catholic barbarians.
Saxons, Angles, and Jutes

Originally the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes inhabited in what is today northern Germany and Denmark. In the late 5th century, these peoples crossed the English channel and invaded Britannia, driving most of the original Celtic inhabitants to Cornwall , Wales , and Scotland in the far western regions of the British Isles. They disliked the land already being farmed, which was mostly light chalky soil on the hilltops, and preferred the clay lands of the river valleys. They paid no attention to Roman law, but introduced a wholly Germanic tribal system of government. They arrived as pagans, and were converted only at the end of the sixth century by St. Augustine ‘s mission sent directly from Rome.
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Comentarios

  1. chandrakant Dijo:
    16 March, 2011 at 17:00

    I think that some celtic and Iscovones (sunline) tribes have roots in ancient India. During my research I found that sicambri, raheiti, Halasatt, Boii tribes dwelt at the bank of river Istre and rhyne. I think that sicakbri tribe have its root in Sikar or salt lake Sambhar (Rajasthan , India). There is temple of Goddess shakanbari who gifetd sambhr lake to the people after drought, . This event occured exactly before 2500 years. Germanic tribes reached Danube in 500 B.c.. I think it is historical fact carried into legend of India.

  2. chandrakant Dijo:
    16 March, 2011 at 17:09

    There is temple of Devayani at sambhar. Devayani was queen to king yayati. The mighty king of chandravansh (moon line. In europe you call them ilirians ( sons of Ila , daugher of Manu.) Yayati temple and sikambri tribe in germany are clue to each other. There is sikar ciry near sambhar. marvad and sambhar is slin area. migration during druoght is evident.I think that halasatt and Boii germanic celtic tribe also migrated from ancient Bharatvarsha. Halasatt tribe founded Avinticum(Avanches) in switzerland and Bindoban (viena) in Ausria. There is Avanti and vridavan in India. It suggests that halasatt tribe migrated from Bharatvarsh.

  3. chandrakant Dijo:
    16 March, 2011 at 17:17

    sa far as Boii trbe. I believe that this (P?emysl) ribe founded Prague or Praha as wellas “Vyšehrad” at the bank of rever “Vltava”. I read Rarmar in the word premysl, vidisha in the word Vysehard and vetravati or Betva river (of m.p. India) in the word “Vltava” king Brovij reminds me of king Bhoja of India. ther should be migration from Betva river to Germany during time of accute drought.

    If you feel it logical and truthful then reply me.
    I am in search of all them.
    thanks
    chandrakant.

Trackbacks

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    17 February, 2009 at 15:37

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