Goths

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Goths (गोथ) (Gothic: Gutans) were an East Germanic tribe who from the 2nd century settled Scythia, Dacia and Pannonia. In the 3rd and 4th centuries, they harried Byzantium and later adopted Arianism.

Scholars have suggested that the Greco-Latin variant of "Goth" is "Getae".

Scholars suggest that Goths (Getae) and Jats are the same. Alexander Cunningham advocated, "Jat is the same word as Getæ, in all probability."

Bhim Singh Dahiya writes that Jats are known as Goths in Gothland in the Baltic sea.

Variants

• Goth (गाथ)
• Gothic
• Gothic peoples
• Gothic people
• Gutans

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Goth (Jat clan) = Gothra, Gothara, Gothda, Gothada (गोठड़ा) = Large number of Jat Villages of this name.
• Goth (Jat clan) = Gôthâlî (गौठाली). Ratanpur Stone Inscription Of Prithvideva II - (Kalachuri) Year 915 (=1163) mentions that Brahmadeva constructed a tank at the village Gôthâlî (गौठाली). (V. 32) At the village named Gôthâlî he made a pleasant tank which is occupied by crowds of fishes as heaven is by gods. (p.510).

Origin of Goths

The Goths possibly originated in Scandinavia (more particularly, Gotland or Götaland; Jordanes' Scandza). They would have become separated from related tribes, the Gutar (Gotlanders) and the Götar (Geats), which are sometimes included in the term Goths in about the 1st century BC (but the Gutasaga leaves open the possibility of prolonged contact). They migrated south-east along the Vistula during the 1st century (Jordanes' Gothiscandza; see Wielbark culture), settling in Scythia, which they called Oium "waterlands", from the 2nd century (see Chernyakhov culture). According to legendary accounts, the capital of this kingdom was Arheim, at the Dnieper.

In the 3rd century, the Goths split into two groups, the Tervingi or Visigoths ("West Goths"), and the Greuthungi or Ostrogoths ("East Goths"). The Visigoths launched one of the first major "barbarian" invasions of the Roman Empire from 263, sacking Byzantium in 267. A year later, they suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Naissus and were driven back across the Danube River by 271. This group then settled north of the Danube and established an independent kingdom centered on the abandoned Roman province of Dacia.

Both the Ostrogoths and Visigoths became heavily Romanized during the 4th century by the influence of trade with the Byzantines, and by their membership in a military covenant centered in Byzantium to assist each other militarily. They converted to Arianism during this time.

Pliny the Elder calls them the Gutones. According to him, they were a major Germanic people, being one of five. He also states that the explorer, Pytheas of Massilia (4th century BC) encountered them in his northern expedition to an "estuary" we know to have been the Baltic from Pliny's reference to amber washed up on the beaches. A date earlier than the 1st century is thus supported. Strabo also mentions that Marbod, after a pleasant sojourn with Augustus, took command of nearly all the tribes in Germania, including the Boutones. which are generally interpreted as an error for Goutones, Latinized to Gutones. For the Scandinavian Goths, we have Ptolemy, who mentions the Goutai as living in the south of the island of Skandia.

There is archaeological and historical evidence of continued contacts between the Goths and the Scandinavians during their migrations.

According to Prof. B.S. Dhillon the Sarmartians In Southern Russia were replaced by the Goths. There is still controversy regarding the origin of the Goths. Some people say they originated in Scandinavia, while others say they came from Central Asia. Professor Wolfram's explanation appears to be somewhat acceptable, "Does this mean, after all, that the Goths originated in Scandinavia ? Reinhard Wenskus has already given an answer, which ought to be slightly changed: not entire peoples but small successful clans, the bearers of prestigious traditions, emigrated and became founders of new Gentes". Even If we accept the origin of the Goths in Scandinavia, as per Col. Tod , the Swedish Chronicles points, the origin of the Swedes in Central Asia. Furthermore, Dr. Kephart wrote, " the origin of the Goths to be Western Turkistan (Central Asia) and not Scandinavian as was once generally supposed”.

Two ancient writers: Isidore of Seville (born around 560 A.D.) and Jordanes (himself a Goth and compiled his works around 551 A.D.) say the Goths were a Scythian people. Isidore of Seville in his book entitled, "History of the Goths, Vandals, and Suevi", wrote, " Goths are a very old nation and the Goths are descended from Magog, the son of Japhet, and are shown to have spring from the same origin as the Scythians, from whom they do not differ greatly in name. Formerly, however, the learned were accustomed to call them Getae (Jats) rather than Gog and Magog".

Jordanes wrote In his book entitled, "Getica", "Then Cyrus, King of the Persians waged an unsuccessful war against Tomyris, queen of the Getae (Jats) the Getae and their queen defeated, conquered and overwhelmed the Parthian (probably mean Persians) and took rich plunder from them. Therefore; for the first time the race of the Goths saw silken tents". It is Interesting to note that Jordanes has the word Getae for Goths and vice-versa. Furthermore, according to Herodotus , Cyrus, the Persian King was defeated by Massagetae ("great" Jats), a Scythian people. It means, as per Jordanes' statements, Goths were a Scythian people.

On the Issue of the word "Goth" Professor Waddell of the University of London remarked, " the First Dynasty of Egypt repeatedly call themselves in their official documents and seals "Gut" And early Sumerian Dynasties in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) called themselves Guti or Goti; and "Goti" was the regular title of the Goths in Europe the aspirated form Goth having coined by the Romans and never used by Goths themselves”.

Connection of Jats and Goths

Hewitt notes the connection between Jats and Goths: "The Jats ... trace their descent to the land of Ghazni and Kandahar, watered by the mother-river of the Kushika race, the sacred Haetuman or Helmand. Their name connects them with the Getae of Thrace, and thence with the Gattons, said by Pytheas to live on the southern shores of the Baltic, the Gaettones placed by Ptolemy and Tacitus on the Vistula in the country of the Lithuanians, and the Goths of Gothland = Sweden. This Scandinavian descent is confirmed by their system of land-tenure, for the chief tenure of the Muttra district is that called Bhagadura, in which the members of the village brotherhood each hold as their family property a separate and defined area among the village lands, according to the customs of the Bratovos of the Balkan peninsula and the Hof-bauers of North-West Germany .. The Getae of the Balkans are said by Herod to be the bravest and most just of the Thracians."

Dalip Singh Ahlawat writes that Danes, Vikings, Normans and Goths were descendants of Scythian Jats.

Gathchal (गथचाल) and Ganthawara (गन्थवारा) gotra of Jats originated from Goths, who came from Rome and west Italy to India.

The highly reputed historian, Arnold Joseph Toynbee has also advocated:

"It may not be fantastic to conjecture that the Tuetonic-speaking Goths and Gauts of Scandinavia may have been descended from a fragment of the same Indo-European-speaking tribe as the homonymous Getae and Thyssagetae and Massagetae of the Eurasian Steppe who are represented today by the Jats of the Panjab."

James Francis Katherinus Hewitt also notes the connection between Jats and Goths:

"The Jats ... trace their descent to the land of Ghazni and Kandahar, watered by the mother-river of the Kushika race, the sacred Haetuman or Helmand. Their name connects them with the Getae of Thrace, and thence with the Gattons, said by Pytheas to live on the southern shores of the Baltic, the Gaettones placed by Ptolemy and Tacitus on the Vistula in the country of the Lithuanians, and the Goths of Gothland = Sweden. This Scandinavian descent is confirmed by their system of land-tenure, for the chief tenure of the Muttra district is that called Bhagadura, in which the members of the village brotherhood each hold as their family property a separate and defined area among the village lands, according to the customs of the Bratovos of the Balkan Peninsula and the Hof-bauers of North-West Germany .. The Getae of the Balkans are said by Herodotus to be the bravest and most just of the Thracians."

H. G. Keene, writes that, "There is also a thriving little principality — that of Dholpur — between Agra and Gwalior, under a descendant of the Jat Rana of Gohad, so often met with in the history of the times we are now reviewing (v. inf. p. 128.) It is interesting to note further, that some ethnologists have regarded this fine people (Jats) as of kin to the ancient Get, and to the Goths of Europe, by whom not only Jutland, but parts of the south-east of England and Spain were overrun, and to some extent peopled. It is, therefore, possible that the yeomen of Kent and Hampshire have blood relations in the natives of Bharatpur and the Panjab."

According to Jat historians Bhim Singh Dahiya and Thakur Deshraj, the Goths are none other than the Jats.

Alexander Cunningham considers Jats of India, Goths of Europe and Yuezhi of China as the same people.

Arnold Joseph Toynbee has also advocated that Jats of India, and Goths of Europe are the same people.

Sir Richard Francis Burton has also identified the Jats, the Massagetaeans, and the Goths as the same people.

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Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) tells us that The descendents of the Nordics are confined not only to the North west India and Pakistan, but are also found in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands and the Great Britain. The eastern Nordics i.e. the Jats are much higher in B than in A whereas the West-European Nordics are much higher in A than B (See -The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations/Appendices/Appendix No.3) As we have already pointed out, the most convincing illustration of such, a separation of certain groups from the common 'ancestral stock is that of the ancient Anglo-Saxons, Teutonic Goths, Jutes, Danes, Vilkas (Virkas) etc. in very remote prehistoric times. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that, on account of resemblance of facial features, to a European the Jats look European and unmistakably Vice versa.

Jats, Goths, Gots or Jutes?

Bhim Singh Dahiya writes....Some people doubt this identification on the ground that the Jats/Getae/Goths are different from each other and that they cannot be the one and the same. They say that similarity of sounds is no evidence of identity. The change of letter 'J' into 'G' is one of the causes for these views, but as mentioned earlier, this change of letter 'J' into 'G' is quite simple and is based on Grimm's Law of Variation. It is under this law that the Sanskrit 'S' is changed into 'H' in the Persian, and the Indian Hans becomes Gans in German language-both words meaning 'Goose'. It is under this law that the words 'L' & 'R', 'L' & 'N'; 'J' & 'G' are interchangeable. On the same principle of Grimm's Law of Variation, the Sanskrit Jiva (living being) becomes Jhiv in the Russian and Guva (s) in the Lithuanian language.¹⁵⁸ Similarly, the European word George and Georgia are pronounced with a'J' and not 'G'. On this very basis the word Jat becomes Getae in Central Asia and Got/Goth in Europe but in Denmark it is written with an initial latter 'J' in Jutes and Jutland.

According to J.J. Modi: "The Goths are an off-shoot of the early Huna stock." ¹⁵⁹ Hewitt's views of their identity, in The Ruling Races of the pre-Historic Times have already been quoted.

Sir Henry Elliot has clearly stated that the Jats migrated to India from north-west Europe. About this migration from northwest Europe, we do not agree. On the identity of the Indian Jats with the people in north-west Europe, there is no doubt, Col. Tod's view is also the same. Many other views can be

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155. Chicago, 1914, p. 218.

156. Oxford, 1922, p. 204.

157. The Scythians, pp. 193-196.

158.See MAKI, Vol. II, p. 566.

159. JBBRAS, 1914, p. 562.

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[p.56]: quoted but it will be unnecessary because only a few people doubt this identification. The fact that so many surnames are common to them, further supports this view. Some of them are given below:

Surnames common in Indian Jats & European Jats

Indian Jats	European Jats
Dhall	Dill
Kher	Keir
Riar	Read
Legha	Legge
Minhas	Minns
Dhillon	Dillon
Bhuller	Buhler (A well known historian)
Mangat	Mangait (A well known Russian historian)
Bains/Vans	Vans/Vance/Baynce
Kahlon/Kallan	Klein
Chavan	Chvannes (The well-known historian)
Hans	Hans/Hanz
Mann/Man	Mann (The well-known English writer of history)
Her	Her
Meir/Mer	Meir/Meyer
Gill	Gill (also Gilman & Gilmore-Nobel prize winner)
Hala	Hall
More	More
Rathi (Rastric?)	Raster?
Bhinder	Bender
Chatha	Schatten?
Chiller	Schiller
Rose	Rose
Bais	Weiss

Their Cities: Their identification is further proved by the names of the cities also. I am giving only three examples:

Asirgarh - One is Asirgarh in Malwa founded by one Beeka Jat. Its corresponding town is called Asigord in Scandinavia.¹⁶⁰ It is also

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160. Annals of Rajasthan, Vol.I,p.54

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[p.57]: stated there that the successor of Odin (Bodin-Buddha) in Scandinavia was Gotama-another name of Lord Buddha. This is because the Jats in central Asia came under the Buddhist influence at a vary early period. This is not possible without accepting that these people went from central Asia to northern Europe.

Alwar - The second name is Alvar. This city is well-known as the capital of a former princely state in north Rajasthan-Haryana boundary. The word Alvar is of Gothic origin, ¹⁶¹ (i.e., Jat origin) and it is this word which appears as a personal name also, for example, the Spanish Alvaro.

Jaisalmer - The third example is of Jaisalmer. This is also the name of a place in Holland-Denmark border, styled 'Ijesselmeer'. These words are such that they cannot be independent of each other. The chronicles of the Bhattis of Indian Jaisalmer definitely speak that they came from areas in Jabulistan and beyond, although they later on claimed to be descendants from the Yadu Vansha. Incidentally, practically all the clan names of the Jats are found in the Rajputs also. For example, Dahiya, Bhatti, Chauhan, Minhas, Solanki, Pawar, Dhankhad, etc. etc. More of this topic in a later chapter. Here we are on the question of identity of the Indian and European Jats. It has already been mentioned that the old religious book of the Scandinavian people, Edda, speaks of them as descendants of the original inhabitants named "Jittas" who called themselves Aryans. The same book also states that they were also called Asi who come from Central Asian region of the river Oxus. It is the same region from which the Indian Jats have come and as per MAKI, Asi is the name of one of the Saka clans. At the end of the seventh century, two tribes of the white Hunas stock, are said to have invaded the Holy Roman Empire after the death of Attila and they continued fighting for 72 years from 485 to 557 A.D.¹⁶² The names of these two clans are given as Kulur-guri and Utar-guri. It is these people who later on combined and were called Bulgari, after whom the modern Bulgaria is named. Now both these names Kulur & Utar are the names of the Indian clans of the Jats and these are now written as Kullar and Udar. The Indian name of yet another Jat clan, is now written as Chhiller

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161. JRAS, 1954, p. 138, note III.

162. See J.J. Modi in JBBRAS. 1914, p. 548.

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[p.58]: which is practically the same as the German name Schiller. Similarly the German tribal name Klein may be identified with the Indian clans name Kahlon or Kallan. I have given hereafter a consolidated list of names of the Indian clans of the Jats. Anybody who is interested in this subject one way or the other, has merely to consult the list. If researched properly, it will be found that practically all the clan names are common, except those which come into being after their arrival in India and Europe, as the case may be. It is not without significance that many art objects, coins (especial1y of the Kushanas period, a statue of Buddha, etc., have been found in France, Germany and the Scandinavian area of Europe. In the excavations carried out in the mid-1950s, on a small Island ,called Lillion ( the same as Lalli ?), or Helgo about 20 miles west of Stockholm, among many other objects, an exquisite bronze statue of Buddha seated on a lotus throne with crossed legs, was found .. According to Wilhelm-Holmqvist, who conducted the archaeological investigation, the Buddha is of Indian or Central Asian origin.¹⁶³ ,It is well known to historians that the statues of the Buddha were prepared for the first time under the Kusanas represented by the famous Art Schools of Gandhara and Mathura. Thus this Buddha's statue must be of the Kusanas who were one of the tribes of the Jats and it must have reached north-western Europe either with the people who migrated to that place or with the people who traded between the two areas. It should also be borne in mind that, as per recent excavations in USSR, the Kusana Empire spread up to the Crimea and the Danube. From there to Scandinavia it is but a small distance.

There is an interesting article on' Alvara of Cordova' (tenth century A.D.), who is cal1ed 'Last of the Goths'. He was the grandson of the last Jat king of Spain. In that article, Alvaro is stated as explicitly claiming to originate from a nation of classical antiquity, viz., the Getae.¹⁶⁴ Let us here Alvaro about the race to which he belonged:

But that you may know who I am, hear Virgil:

"The Getae scorn at death and praise the wounds",

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163. Cited in SIH&C, p. 268.

164. JRAS, 1954, p. 138.

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[p.59]: and again:

"The horse the Getan rides;"

and the words of the poet;

"On this side the Dacian, and on that presses the Getan".

I am, I tell you, of the race whom Alexander declared should be avoided, whom Pyrrhus feared, and Caesar trembled at; of us too, our own Jerome said;

"He has a horn in front, so keep away."

(Episola XX, Nigne, Vol. 121, Col. 514).

Here the Dacian stands for the Hungarians, who were named after the Hunas, 'Hungari'. But the interesting point is that the metaphor of 'horn in front' is heard in India too. Further Getan or Jatan, is the plural form of the word Jat in India also. In 1192 A.D. Prithviraj had been defeated, and the Jats of Haryana raised their "standard of tribal revolt" under a leader named simply as Jatwan. In that "obstinate conflict" at Hansi, (Hissar dist.), "the armies attacked each other," says the author of Taj-ul-Maasir', "like two hills of steel, and the field of battle became tulip dyed with the blood of warriors. Jatwan had his standards of God-plurality and ensigns of perdition, lowered by the hand of power, Allah.¹⁶⁵

Jat clans related with Goths

Gathchal (गथचाल) and Ganthawara (गन्थवारा) gotra of Jats originated from Goths, who came from Rome and west Italy to India.

Delu Jat clan: The people in Rome who settled around Denube river were called Delu.

Thedkar Jat clan: Thedkar originated from Theoderik of Estonia (थियोडेरिक), the Jat chieftain in Rome country.

Malan Jat clan: Malan gotra originated after city Milan of Roman Empire.

Malen Jat clan: Malen gotra is said to be originated after city Milan of Roman Empire.

Utar Jat clan: B S Dahiya writes: Utar are mentioned by Herodotus as Utians, along with the Sarangians (Saramgha) and the Pactyans . In the Puranas they are mentioned as Uttara. Mahabharata mentions them along with the Lohans, Rishikas and Kambojas. In the Sixth century A.D. they were fighting the Holy Roman Empire, along with the Bals and the Kulars. There they are named as Utargari, meaning the caravan of the Utar. The word Gari has given the Indian name Gari (wagon) According to Cambridge Ancient History, Sargon , king of Agade (2371-2316 B.C.), hears some complaints from the merchants of the city of Purushkhand, near Kayesri in Cappadocia and goes to battle against “ the land of Uta-rapashtum.” Cambridge Ancient History is not sure of this name, because of the wrong bifurcation. The correct bifurcation should be Utara-Pashtum, i.e. the land of the Utaras and the Pashtuns.

Ghalyan (घाल्याण) Gahlan (गहलान) Ghalan (घालान) Gallan (गाल्लान) Galan (गाल्लान) Gala (गाला) gotra of Jats found in Distt Panipat in Haryana are mentioned in the Markandeya Purana as Galava (गालव). The original name is Gall and the suffix ‘an’ or ‘va’ is added to it. The Gauls of Europe are their brothers. The Gauls, the old name of the French is the same as the Gallan of India, the suffix 'an', added to clan name under Panini's rule. Galava Roman Fort, which stands at Borrans Head, Waterhead, Ambleside, was was built around 79 A.D., as one of a series of fortified structures constructed to defend Roman trade routes across Cumbria. The fort stands on land owned by the National Trust and is maintained by English Heritage.

Achra Jat clan - Achra are said to have got this name from Anglo people of Roma who came to India from Europe.

Antil (अंतिल) - from Attila ?

Lamboria/Lamba - Lombards

Migration of Jats from Sapta Sindhu

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) writes... Just see the remarkable parallels between the functioning of the Germans and the Indian Jat tribal "Khaap" and "Sarvakhaap" panchayats. This further reminds us of the Vedic republican communities (the Panchajatah or Panchajna), who are, as we shall have occasion to show in the next chapter, considered by us as the common ancestors of the Indian Jats and the German Goths or Gots.

Before concluding, we may go into the question of identity of the Teutons and the Swedes. The Teutons were Aryans including High and low Germans and Scandanavians, and to be more specific Goths (Gots, Getae, Jats, Juts), Lombards (Lampaka or Lamba), Normans, Franks (Vrkas, Saxons (Sacae Getae) and Angles The Suevis (Sivis) including the Vilka (Virkas), the Manns (Mans) the Schillers (Chhilller) (Within brackets I gave the Indian names of the tribes.) etc. who, as we shall note (infra), migrated from the Sapta Sindhu to the Scandanavian countries in ancient times, were known as

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The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations: End of p.159

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Svi Thjoth or Sui or (Suiones) Joth, (Sivi or Sibi Jat), in archaic Norse, and ultimately as the Swedes. Mr. B.S.Dahiya has assiduously pin-pointed nearly 250 European communities whose names are identified by him with the surnames (gotras) of the Indian Jats. The Sivis were probably earliest migrants as leaders of these tribes. It is these tribes whose anthropological details are given above. In the light of the aforesaid evidence we can reasonably assert that the physical characteristics of the Sivisa (Suevis) and their descendents (the victims of Dasarajna wars, who managed, by hook or by crook, to remain in the Harappan region, cannot be different from those of ones who perforce left the country for good or were deported to their new home in the Scandanavian countries.

Skanda of Mahabharata

Skanda (स्कन्द) is mentioned in Mahabharata (IX.44.23),(IX.44.51), (XII.122.32). Skanda is believed to give name to Scandza or Scandinavia.

Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 44 describes the Kings and clans who joined the ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status of generalissimo. Kartikeya (कार्तिकेय) is also known as Skanda (स्कन्द). Skanda (स्कन्द) is mentioned in Mahabharata (IX.44.23). ..... The lord Sthanu, O monarch, gave unto Skanda a companion possessed of great impetuosity, capable of producing a hundred illusions, and endued with might and energy that he could enhance at will. And he was the great destroyer of Asuras. In the great battle between the gods and the Asuras, this companion that Sthanu gave, filled with wrath, slew, with his hands alone, fourteen millions of Daityas of fierce deeds. The gods then made over to Skanda the celestial host, invincible, abounding with celestial troops, capable of destroying the enemies of the gods, and of forms like that of Vishnu.

Skanda (स्कन्द) is mentioned in Mahabharata (IX.44.51)....Listen now to the names of those other combatants armed with diverse weapons and clad in diverse kinds of robes and ornaments, that Skanda procured. Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 44 gives a long list of combatants which includes not only Jat god in Mahabharata (IX.44.54) but also large number of combatants of various Jat clans in shlokas Mahabharata (IX.44.51-71).

It is to be noted that Kartikeya (कार्तिकेय), also known as Skanda (स्कन्द), was son of Sthanu (Shiva) and the brother of Ganesha.

Shanti Parva Mahabharata Book XII Chapter 122 tells story of appointment a few among the gods as the lords or rulers. Skanda (स्कन्द) is mentioned in Mahabharata (XII.122.32)......Vasishtha was made the lord of the Brahmanas, and Jatavedas was made the chief of the Vasus. Surya was made the lord of all luminous bodies, and Chandramas was made the king of Stars and constellations. Anshumant was made the lord of all herbs, and the puissant and foremost of deities, viz., Kumara or Skanda, of twelve arms, was made the chief of all the spirits and ghostly beings (that wait upon Mahadeva). Kartikeya is also known as Skanda.

Historical facts

Prof. B.S. Dhillon writes ....6.6 Goths : The Sarmatians in Southern Russia were replaced by the Goths. There is still controversy regarding the origin of the Goths. Some people say they originated in Scandinavia, while others say they came from Central Asia. Professor Wolfram's explanation appears to be somewhat acceptable, "Does this mean, after all, that the Goths originated in Scandinavia Reinhard Wenskus has already given an answer, which ought to be slightly changed: not entire peoples but small successful clans, the bearers of prestigious traditions, emigrated and became founders of new Gentes". Even if we accept the origin of the Goths in Scandinavia, as per Col. Tod, the Swedish Chronicles points, the origin of the Swedes in Central Asia. Furthermore, Dr. Kephart wrote, " the origin of the Goths to be Western Turkistan (Central Asia) and not Scandinavian as was once generally supposed”.

Two ancient writers: Isidore of Seville (born around 560 A.D.) and Jordanes (himself a Goth and compiled his works around 551 A.D.) say the Goths were a Scythian people. Isidore of Seville in his book entitled, "History of the Goths, Vandals, and Suevi", wrote, " Goths are a very old nation and the Goths are descended from Magog, the son of Japhet, and are shown to have spring from the same origin as the Scythians, from whom they do not differ greatly in name. Formerly, however, the learned were accustomed to call them Getae (Jats) rather than Gog and Magog".

Jordanes wrote in his book entitled, "Getica", "Then Cyrus, King of the Persians waged an unsuccessful war against Tomyris, queen of the Getae (Jats) the Getae and their queen defeated, conquered and overwhelmed the Parthian (probably mean Persians) and took rich plunder from them. Therefore; for the first time the race of the Goths saw silken tents". It is interesting to note that Jordanes has the word Getae for Goths and vice-versa. Furthermore, according to Herodotus , Cyrus, the Persian King was defeated by Massagetae ("great" Jats), a Scythian people. It means, as per Jordanes' statements, Goths were a Scythian people.

On the issue of the word "Goth" Professor Waddell of the University of London remarked, " the First Dynasty of Egypt repeatedly call themselves in their official documents and seals "Gut" And early Sumerian Dynasties in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) called themselves Guti or Goti; and "Goti" was the regular title of the Goths in Europe the aspirated form Goth having coined by the Romans and never used by Goths themselves”.

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According to Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria), It may not be out of place to mention here, as confirmed by N.S. Chaudhary on the authority of Shiva-Stotra, one of the generals of Kartikeya (Skanda) carried name "Jata (जट)". It is well known fact that in the Deva-Asura war Kartikeya (Skanda) commanded the forces of the former, and it is quite plausible to believe that the warriors (later known to Panini as Ayuddhajivi ganas), led by general called Jata, became famous as Jat in history. We have also reason to believe that Panini, when used the phrase 'Jata jhata sanghate' (denoting union or federation or confederation or binding together, etc.), took his clue from the Jata general's role in fomenting unity in the warriors against Asuras. Jata general is also believed to give name Jutland.

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Thakur Deshraj writes in his book on History of Jats “Jat Itihas” (Hindi) that the country Assyria gets its name from Asiagh gotra Jats. The origin of word Asiagh is from Sanskrit word ‘Asi’ meaning sword. According to Kautilya the people who depended on ‘Asi’ (sword) for their living were known as Asiagh. The Asiaghs moved from Asirgarh in Malwa to Europe. Those who settled in Jangladesh were called Asiagh and those who moved to Scandinavia were known as Asi. Jats entered Scandinavia around 500 BCE and their leader was Odin. James Tod considers Odin to be derived from Buddha or Bodan. The Asi Jats founded Jutland as their homeland in Scandinavia. The religious book of Scandinavia ‘Edda’ mentions that the ancient inhabitants of Scandinavia were Jats or Jits who were Aryans known as Asi people and came to this land from Asirgarh. Asirgarh is a site of an ancient fort situated in Burhanpur district of Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh, India. Thakur Deshraj further quotes Scandinavian writer Mr Count Johnsturn who says that Scandinavians came from India. According to James Tod Scandinavia is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Skandhnabh’. Chaudhary Dhanraj published an article in 'Maharathi' (January 1926) that son of Banasur, Skandh, was defeated by Krishna who moved to Skandnabh.

It is interesting to note, in Icelandic Saga, ancient Teutons separated Asia from Europe by the river Tanakvisl (or Vanakvisl), which flows into the Black Sea. Eastward across the River (in Asia), so legend tells, was a land known as Asaheim or Asaland, where dwelt Odin, chief god, in his citadel named Asgard. However, Aesir and all its forms are related to Sanskrit Asura and Avestan Ahura. This confirms the theory of Thakur Deshraj that the country Assyria gets its name from Asiagh gotra Jats who came from Asirgarh.

Linguistic connections

According to at least one theory, there are closer linguistic connections between Gothic and Old Norse than between Gothic and the West Germanic languages (see East Germanic languages and Gothic). Moreover, there were two tribes that probably are closely related to the Goths and remained in Scandinavia, the Gotlanders and the Geats, and these tribes were considered to be Goths by Jordanes (see Scandza).

The names Geats, Goths and Gutar (Gotlanders) are three versions of the same tribal name. Geat was originally Proto-Germanic *Gautoz (plural *Gautaz) and Goths and Gutar were *Gutaniz. *Gautoz and *Gutaniz are two ablaut grades of a Proto-Germanic word (*geutan) with the meaning "to pour" (modern Swedish gjuta, modern German giessen, Gothic giutan) designating the tribes as "pourers of semen", i.e. "men, people".[18] Gapt, the earliest Gothic hero, recorded by Jordanes, is generally regarded as a corruption of Gaut.

Goths & Gutians

The author Samar Abbas of the article The glorious Gutians says that so self-evident are the connections between the Goths and Gutians that the very person who discovered the existence of the Gutian Dynasty, Prof. Scheil, noted this remarkable fact:

"This national or tribal name of Guti, the name of "The Guti Troops (who) carried off the royalty" of the Mesopotamian empire by their conquest of Erech the imperial capital about 2495 BC, was recognized as obviously suggesting 'Goths' by Prof. Scheil, when he announced in 1911 his discovery of the Guti Dynasty in Mesopotamia, and at the same time remarked that "nothing yet proves that they were the ancestors of the Goths. (Academie des Inscript. et Belles Lettres, Comptes Rendus, Paris, , 1911, p.327)" (Waddell 1929, p.358)

The learned Prof. Oppert has also identified the Gutians with the Goths:

"While Prof. Hilprecht has classed them with the Semites, Oppert has suggested, not without some show of reason, that the name "Guti' has an Aryan sound, like Gothi, the Goths, and therefore that the tribe itself may have been of this blood. * [ * ftn. Revue Archaeologique, 1893, p.363] (Brinton 1895, p.94)

Prof. Waddell agrees, and furthermore, identifies the Gutians as members of the dolichocephalic Nordic race:

"The 'Sumerian' ruling people were of the same racial physical type, with the same culture, traditions, religion, writing and language as the Early Aryans, who were of the Aryan, Gothic or Nordic race, and they were identical with the leading stock of the latter. And (p.468) the Early Sumerian kings sometimes called themselves in their monuments in Mesopotamia and in their Indus Colony Gut or Got; whilst one of the leading Sumerian dynasties in Mesopotamia called themselves Guti, Goti or "Goths"." (Waddell 1929, p.467-468)

When one considers that the Iranians are often classed together with Nordics into the "Nordic-Iranian" racial grouping, it becomes clear that the Gutians were of Nordic-Iranian affinities.

Gothic rulers

• Attila
• Valamir

एलरिक

ठाकुर देशराज ने लिखा है....5. एलऋषि - इन्हें यूनानी लेखकों ने एलरिक लिखा है। उन्होंने ईस्वी सन 400 के आसपास ज्ञात (गाथ) लोगों के एक बड़े समूह के साथ कुस्तुनतुनिया पर चढ़ाई की थी किंतु परकोटे की सुदृढ़ दीवारों से इनका वश नहीं चला। अतः मिलन पर चढ़ाई की किंतु यहां वंडाल लोग रोम के बादशाह की मदद पर खड़े हो गए। इसलिए इस युद्ध में एलरिक की हार हुई किंतु एलरिक हताश होने वाले योद्धाओं में न था। उसने 408 ई. में [पृ.164]: दुबारा चढ़ाई की। बादशाह ने कुछ वायदे उससे ऐसे किए जिससे एलरिक ने घेरा उठा लिया। किंतु तीसरी बार एलरिक को बादशाह की बेईमानी के कारण इटली पर चढ़ाई की। दुर्भाग्य से बीमारी के फैलने के कारण एलरिक का देहांत हो गया। तब अतुलपाश जिससे कि यूनानियों ने अटाल्फ़स लिखा है ने ज्ञात (गाथ) लोगों की कमान संभाली। बहादुर जाट इस वीरता से अबकी बार लड़े कि बादशाह को उनसे संधि करनी पड़ी। इस संधि के अनुसार रोम के बादशाह अतुलपास को अपनी लड़की व्याह दी।

See also

• Origin of Goths
• Russia
• Siberia
• Ukraine
• Scythians
• Indo-Scythians
• Getae
• Massagetaeans
• Thyssagetae
• Goths
• Gutian
• Jutes
• Yuechi

Further reading

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goths
• Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992.
• Dr Natthan Singh: Jat - Itihas (Hindi), Jat Samaj Kalyan Parishad Gwalior, 2004
• Bhim Singh Dahiya : Jats the Ancient Rulers, Dahinam Publishers, Sonepat, Haryana
• E.g. Microsoft Encarta (on Swedish history), translations from Old Norse, Anglo-Saxon or Latin and the Primary Chronicle and modern scholarly works on Germanic tribes
• Hermannus Contractus, quoting Eusebius, has "263: Macedonia, Graecia, Pontus, Asia et aliae provinciae depopulantur per Gothos".
• Natural History, Book 4, Chapter 28
• Op. Cit. Book 37, Chapter 11
• Geography, Book 7, Chapter 1, Section 3
• attested as Boutonas in the accusative case, and Latinized to Butones
• Andersson (1996).

References

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