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Geat

Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths Goths

The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a ... 

, Gotar, Gtar, Gtar were a North Germanic tribe which were the inhabitants Gtaland  in modern Sweden Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country [i] in Scandinavia [i]. ... 

. The name of the Geats also lives on in the Swedish counties Counties of Sweden

The Counties of Sweden, or ln [i], are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden [i] ... 

 of Vstergtland Västergötland

Vstergtland is one of the historical provinces of Sweden [i], situated in the southwest of Sweden [i]. ... 

 and stergtland Östergötland

is a historical Province [i] in the south of Sweden [i]. ... 

, the Western and Eastern lands of the Geats, as well as in many toponym Toponymy

Toponymy is the taxonomic [i] study of toponyms, their origins and their meanings. ... 

s. The city Gteborg, known in English as Gothenburg Gothenburg

Gothenburg ) is a city [i] and municipality [i] in the p ... 

, was named after the Geats , when it was founded in 1621.

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Encyclopedia

Geats, Geatas, Gautar, Goths Goths

The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a... 

, Gotar, Gøtar, Götar were a North Germanic tribe which were the inhabitants Götaland Götaland

Gtaland, Gothia [i], Gothland, Gothenland, Gotland, Gautland, Geatland is a hist... 

  in modern Sweden Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country [i] in Scandinavia [i]. ... 

. The name of the Geats also lives on in the Swedish counties Counties of Sweden

The Counties of Sweden, or ln [i], are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden [i] ... 

 of Västergötland Västergötland

Vstergtland is one of the historical provinces of Sweden [i], situated in the southwest of Sweden [i].
... 

 and Östergötland Östergötland

is a historical Province [i] in the south of Sweden [i]. ... 

, the Western and Eastern lands of the Geats, as well as in many toponym Toponymy

Toponymy is the taxonomic [i] study of toponyms, their origins and their meanings. ... 

s. The city Göteborg, known in English as Gothenburg Gothenburg

Gothenburg ) is a city [i] and municipality [i] in the p ... 

, was named after the Geats , when it was founded in 1621.

History

The earliest mention of the Geats may appear in Ptolemy Ptolemy

Claudius Ptolemaeus , known in English as Ptolemy, was a Greek-speaking geographer [i], astronomer [i]... 

 , where they are referred to as Goutai. In the 6th century 6th century

The 6th century is the period from 501 [i] - 600 [i] in accordance with the Julian calendar [i] in the Christian Era [i]... 

, they were referred to as Gautigoths and Ostrogoths by Jordanes Jordanes

Jordanes was a 6th century [i] churchman who turned his hand to history [i] later in life. ... 

 and as Gautoi by Procopius. In the Norse Sagas Sagàs

... 

 they are referred to as Gautar, and in Beowulf Beowulf

Beowulf is a heroic epic poem [i]. ... 

and Widsith as Geatas.

Before the consolidation of Sweden Consolidation of Sweden

Unlike Norway [i] and Denmark [i], there is no specific time that is generally agreed on concerning when Swede ... 

, the Geats were politically independent of the Swedes Swedish people

The Swedish people or Swedes are an ethnic group [i] who comprise the native speakers of the Germanic [i] ... 

, whose old name was Svear Suiones

*Swedish semi-legendary kings [i]
... 

. When written sources emerge , the Geatish lands are are described as part of the still very shaky Swedish kingdom, but the manner of their unification with the Swedes is a matter of much debate.

Based on the lack of early medieaval sources, and the fact that the Geats were later part of the kingdom of Sweden, traditional accounts assume a forceful incorporation by the Swedes. The Swedish invasion of Geatish lands has been explained with their involvement in the Gothic wars in southern Europe, which brought a great deal of Roman gold to Götaland, but also naturally depleted their numbers . The Hervarar saga Hervarar saga

Hervarar saga ok Heireks is a fornaldarsaga [i] from the 13th century [i] combining matter from several ... 

is believed to contain such traditions handed down from the 4th century 4th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 4th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

. It relates that when the Hunnish Huns

The Huns were a confederation of Eurasian [i] tribes, most likely of diverse origin with ... 

 Horde invaded the land of the Goths and the Gothic king Angantyr Angantyr

Angantyr was the name of three characters from the same line in Norse mythology [i], and who appear in Hervarar saga [i] ... 

 desperately tried to marshal the defenses, it was the Geatish king King of the Geats

Geatish kings existed since the provinces of Gtaland [i]/Gautland/Geatland are considered to have been m ... 

 Gizur Gizur

Gizur, Gizurr or Gissur was a wise King of the Geats [i].... 

 who answered his call.

In modern times, some scholars have taken stance against such an invasion, because, except for the prophecy in the ending of Beowulf, there is little textual or archaeological evidence. It should also be noted that the Geatish lands, especially Västergötland Västergötland

Vstergtland is one of the historical provinces of Sweden [i], situated in the southwest of Sweden [i].
... 

, exhibit considerable Danish influence in the 10th century.

Beowulf and the Norse sagas name several Geatish kings King of the Geats

Geatish kings existed since the provinces of Gtaland [i]/Gautland/Geatland are considered to have been m ... 

, but only Hygelac finds confirmation in Liber Monstrorum where he is referred to as Rex Getarum and in a copy of Historiae Francorum where he is called Rege Gotorum. These sources concern a Viking raid into Frisia Frisia

Frisia is a coastal region along the southeastern corner of the North Sea [i]. ... 

, ca 516, which is also described in Beowulf. Some decades after the events related in this epic, Jordanes described the Geats as a nation which was bold and quick to engage in war.

In the Heimskringla Heimskringla

Heimskringla is the Old Norse [i] name of a collection of kings' sagas [i] recorded i ... 

, Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson was an Iceland [i]ic historian, poet and politician. ... 

 writes about several battles between Norwegians Norwegian people

... 

 and Geats. He wrote that in the 9th century 9th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i] the 9th century was that century [i] that lasted from 801 [i] ... 

, there were battles between the Geats and the Norwegian king Harald Fairhair Harald I of Norway

Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair , was the founder and first king over Norway [i].
... 

, a battle the Geats had to fight without assistance of the Swedish king Erik Emundsson. He also wrote about Haakon I of Norway Haakon I of Norway

Haakon I , , surnamed the Good, was the third king of Norway [i] and the youngest son of Harald Fairhair [i] ... 

's expedition into Götaland and Harold I of Denmark Harald I of Denmark

Harald Bluetooth Gormson , was born around 935, the son of King Gorm the Old [i], king of Jutland [i] a ... 

's battle against Jarl Ottar of Östergötland Östergötland

is a historical Province [i] in the south of Sweden [i]. ... 

, and about Olaf the Holy Olaf II of Norway

Olaf II Haraldsson, king from 1015 [i]–1028 [i],, was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvason [i] ... 

's battles with the Geats during his war with Olof Skötkonung.

In the 11th century 11th century

As a means of recording the passage of time [i], the 11th century was that century [i] which lasted from ... 

, the Swedish House of Munsö was extinct with Emund the Old. Stenkil, a Geat, was elected king of Sweden, and the Geats would be influential in the shaping of Sweden as a Christian kingdom. However, this election also ushered in a long period of civil unrest between Christians and pagans and between Geats and Swedes.

The Geats were not treated as equals with the Swedes. In the Westrogothic law Västgötalagen

... 

, Brynolf Algotsson , the bishop of Skara, reminded the Geats that they had to accept the election of the Swedes at the Stone of Mora Stones of Mora

Stones of Mora was the place where the Swedish king [i]s were elected. The origin of the tradition is un ... 

, by adding the following line on the top of the first page: Sveær egho konung at taka ok sva vrækæ meaning It is the Swedes who have the right of choosing and deposing the king.

One of these Swedish kings was Ragnvald Knaphövde, who in 1125 was riding with his retinue in order to be accepted as king by the Geats of Westrogothia Västergötland

Vstergtland is one of the historical provinces of Sweden [i], situated in the southwest of Sweden [i].
... 

. As he despised the Geats, he decided not to demand hostages from their prominent clans. He was slain near Falköping.

The distinction between Swedes and Geats lasted during the Middle Ages, but the Geats became increasingly important for Swedish national claims of greatness due to Geats' old connection with the Goths. They argued that since the Goths and the Geats were the same nation, and the Geats were part of the kingdom of Sweden, this meant that the Swedes had defeated the Roman empire. The earliest attestation of this claim comes from the Council of Basel, 1434, during which the Swedish delegation argued with the Spanish about who among them were the true Goths. The Spaniards argued that it was better to be descended from the heroic Visigoths Visigoth

The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths [i], an East Germanic tribe [i] . ... 

 than from stay-at-homers. This cultural movement, which was not restricted to Sweden went by the name Gothicismus or in Swedish Göticism, i.e. Geaticism, as Geat and Goth were considered synonymous back then.

Until 1974, the Swedish kings formally called themselves svears och götars konung .

On Geats and Goths

Main article: Goths Goths

The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a... 





Geatas was originally Proto-Germanic Proto-Germanic language

Proto-Germanic is the common ancestor of all Germanic languages [i]. ... 

 *Gautoz and Goths and Gutar were *Gutaniz. *Gautoz and *Gutaniz are two ablaut grades of a Proto-Germanic word *geutan with the meaning "to pour" designating the tribes as "pourers of semen" or "men". They were consequently two derivations from the same proto-Germanic ethnonym, cf. Serbs Serbs

Serbs are a South Slavic [i] people who live mainly in Serbia [i], Montenegro [i], Bosnia-Herzegovina [i]... 

 and Sorbs Sorbs

The Sorbs are a Slavic [i] minority indigenous to the region known as Lusatia [i] in the... 

, Polans and Poles Poles

The Poles are a western Slavic [i] people [i] inhabiting the country of Poland [i] and a numb ... 

, Slovenes Slovenians

Slovenians or Slovenes are a South Slavic people [i] primarily associated with Slovenia [i] ... 

 and Slovaks Slovaks

The Slovaks are a western Slavic [i] ethnic group [i] that primarily inhabits Slovakia [i] an ... 

 in Slavic language Slavic languages

The Slavic languages , a group of closely related language [i]s of the Slavic peoples [i] and a subgroup ... 

s.

It is a long-standing controversy whether the Goths Goths

The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a... 

 were Geats. Jordanes Jordanes

Jordanes was a 6th century [i] churchman who turned his hand to history [i] later in life. ... 

 claimed that the Goths Goths

The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a... 

 came from the island of Scandza Scandza

Scandza was the name given to Scandinavia [i] by Jordanes [i], in his work Getica [i]. ... 

. He also claimed that on this island there were three tribes called the Gautigoths , the Ostrogoths and Vagoths .

Scandinavian burial customs, such as the stone circles Stone circle

A stone circle is a circular space, delimited by an uneven number of purposely erected standing stones [i] ... 

 , which are most common in Götaland and Gotland, and stelae Menhir

A menhir is a large, single upright standing stone [i], of prehistoric Europe [i]an origin. ... 

  appeared in northern Poland in the 1st century 1st century

The 1st century was that century [i] which lasted from 1 [i] to 100 [i] according the Gregorian calenda ... 

 AD, suggesting an influx of Scandinavians during the formation of the Gothic Wielbark culture Wielbark Culture

Wielbark Culture was an archaeological culture identified with the Goths [i] which appeared during the f ... 

 . Moreover, in Ostrogothia Östergötland

is a historical Province [i] in the south of Sweden [i]. ... 

, in Sweden, there is a sudden disappearance of villages during this period.

On Gautar and Geatas

The generally accepted identification between the Götar and Gautar as the Geatas of Beowulf is mainly based on the observation that the Ö monophthong of modern Swedish and the AU diphthong of Old Norse Old Norse

Old Norse is the Germanic language [i] spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia [i] a ... 

 correspond to the EA diphthong of Old English Old English language

Old English is an early form of the English language [i] that was spoken in parts of what is now England [i] ... 

. Likewise, the Raumar are called Reamas in Beowulf.

Correspondences:
Swedish Swedish language

Swedish is a North Germanic language [i] spoken predominantly in Sweden [i] a ... 

Old Norse Old Norse

Old Norse is the Germanic language [i] spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia [i] a ... 

Old English Old English language

Old English is an early form of the English language [i] that was spoken in parts of what is now England [i] ... 


bröd

löv

öst

dröm

död

röd

nöt

köp

öga

hög

söm

töm

öd

brauð

lauf

austr

draumr

dauðr

rauðr

naut

kaup

auga

haugr

saumr

taum

auð

bread

leaf

east

dream

dead

read

neat

ceap

eage

heah

seam

team

ead


etc.

Thus, Geatas is the Old English Old English language

Old English is an early form of the English language [i] that was spoken in parts of what is now England [i] ... 

 form of Old Norse Old Norse

Old Norse is the Germanic language [i] spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia [i] a ... 

 Gautar and modern Swedish Götar.

This correspondence seems to tip the balance for most scholars. It is also based on the fact that in Beowulf Beowulf

Beowulf is a heroic epic poem [i]. ... 

, the Geatas live east of the Dene and in close contact with the Sweon, which fits the historical position of the Gautar between the Daner and the Svear.

Moreover, the story of Beowulf, who leaves Geatland and arrives at the Danish court after a naval voyage, where he kills a beast, finds a parallel in Hrólf Kraki Hrólf Kraki

Hrlf Kraki, Rolf Kraki or Rolf Krake was a legendary king [i] at Lejre [i] on the i ... 

's saga. In this saga, Bödvar Bjarki leaves Gautland and arrives at the Danish court after a naval voyage and kills a beast that has been terrorizing the Danes for two years .

Since the 19th century, several other nations have been suggested to correspond to the Geats, such as the Danes , the Jutes Jutes

The Jutes were a Germanic people who are believed to have originated from Jutland [i] in modern Denmark [i] ... 

 , the Goths and the Gotlanders Gotland

Gotland is a county and province of Sweden [i] and the largest island [i] in the Baltic Sea [i]. ... 

, with the Jutes referred to in the Venerable Bede Bede

Bede , also Saint Bede, the Venerable Bede, or Beda , , was a [[monasticism|monk]... 

's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. '

These hypotheses have been suggested even though, in both Beowulf and Widsith, the Geats are clearly distinguished from both Jutes Eótenas and Danes. Thus any identification between the Geatas and these two nations is refuted by the two source texts themselves.

In addition, the reconstructed root for both Geat and Gaut is *Gaut-, whereas the reconstructed root of Goth and Got is *Gut-. The root of Jute is usually regarded as unknown.

Even if the identification made in this article is generally accepted, the matter is not dead and it will continue to raise harsh feelings even in the future—especially in Sweden Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is a Nordic country [i] in Scandinavia [i]. ... 

, where the debate about Sweden's history prior to the 11th century is affected.

Notes


See also

  • Consolidation of Sweden Consolidation of Sweden

    Unlike Norway [i] and Denmark [i], there is no specific time that is generally agreed on concerning when Swede ... 

  • Götavirke Götavirke

    ... 

  • Viking Viking

    The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen [i] who ... 

    , Varangian Varangians

    The Varangians or Varyags were Scandinavians [i] who travelled eastwards and southwards, mainly fr ... 

  • Hygelac
  • Geatish Society
  • Trial by combat Trial by combat

    Trial by combat, trial by battle, or judicial duel were names of a form of ancient [i] ... 

  • Trial by ordeal
  • Göta
  • Goths Goths

    The Goths were an East Germanic tribe [i] who from the 2nd century [i] settled Scythia [i], Dacia [i] a... 

  • Gotlanders
  • Geatish kings King of the Geats

    Geatish kings existed since the provinces of Gtaland [i]/Gautland/Geatland are considered to have been m ... 

  • Jats Jat

    The Jats/Jatts of Northern India [i] and Pakistan [i], are descendants of Indo-Aryan [i] tribes. ... 

  • Blenda Blenda

    Blenda is also the name of a Norwegian laundry soap, manufactured by Lilleborg [i]

...