[gothic-l] Re: Accepting Elias Wessens Conclusion

[faltin2001]

--- In gothic-l at y..., "Bertil Haggman" <mvk575b at t...> wrote:
> If I remember correctly the term "thug" comes from the
> Indian "thugee", throatcutters who were among
> the early revolters against British colonialism.
> So the term is 19th century and hardly appropriate
> in connection with early European history. Are you
> inferring that the Goths used throatcutting in their
> "extortionist behaviour"?



The term has a meaning as 'violent-bully', which is commonly 
understood as such, at least in the English-speaking world. I would 
also say that the Goths had a 'political hierachy' although this term 
was not around in the 4th century. Also, 'throat-cutting' was 
problably in the repertoir of Gothic warriors of that time.

Dirk







> 
> Bertil Haggman
> 
> I used this term to emphasise the qualitative difference to the 
> name 'regnum Ostrogotorum' which you used and which I think is not 
> historically correct. Also I put the term in apostrophs to mark its 
> unofficial nature. I agree, 'warrior' sounds better, but what it 
> often came down to is the extortionist behaviour by thugs.
> 
> The title seems to be "Gudaträd och västgötska skottkungar - 
Sveriges 
> bysantinska arv"


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