: : I am so intrigued by the glimpses of the history of the germanic tribes that we get through our different sources.
: : Lotte Hedeager has written some very interesting works on the subject. I think some have been translated.
: : ;-) Neithan

: The old Teutonic tribes seem to have been quite fluid institutions. Some at least having Celtic names, such as the Usipetes ("Good horsemen"). To the chagrin of Hitler, had he looked closely enough, they showed little racial chauvanism - the Vandals merged with a portion of the Iranian Alans - the Franks and Burgudians with the Gallo-Romans, the Marcomanni with the Celtic Boii to form the Bavarians (Baiuvars - dwellers in the Boii land) and of course the Anglo-Saxons with the Romano-British.

I know what you mean Martin, but please call them "Germanic" as the Teutons were a specific tribe who participated in the first migration of Germanic tribes the Romans encountered and who slaughtered every roman army sent against them save the last, led by Gaius Marius. Just a Idunnowhat, I am a descendant of them so I like things right and proper;-).
:-) Neithan