[gothic-l] Rackus

[Sunny]

Hi Guys, 

Alexander M. Rackus wrote the book Guthones, Kinsmen of the 
Lithuanian People back in 1929, in which he argues that the Goths 
were not a Teutonic people, but rather belonged to the Aestian 
(Lithuanian, Latvian and Old Prussian) origin. 

He tends to cite Dr. R.G. Latham who seems to also agree with the 
view that Goths were of the Lithuanic origin, the following are a 
list of quotations from his book:

Citing Latham, Rackus writes, "Guttones, otherwise named Guddae, 
Goths, Gottheudi, Getae, Getvi, Gytae – belonged to the Aestian race 
(Rackus 17)."

"[Many] are skeptical concerning the `Teutonic' origin of the Goths.  
And why should there be no doubts, if nobody called Germans `Gothi", 
and even lately nobody calls them so?  The Poles, the Russians, the 
Czechs and all other Slavonic people call Germans `niemcy'; the 
Lithuanian call Germans `vakeiciai'; the Frenchmen call 
them `l'Allemands' the English people call them `Germans,' even the 
Germans call themselves `Deutsche' (Rackus 20)."

"That the Gothic nation was the nearest kindred of the Lithuanian 
nation is proven by the following facts:  1. The Geographic Proof.  
The original geographic area of the Gothic people coincides with the 
present Lithuanian territory
2. Amber Land, was the common father 
land of the Goths as well as the Aestians
.3. The ancestors of the 
Danes, Swedes, and Norwegians, called the Prusso-Lithuanian 
territory `Rei-gota-land'
4. In the Anglo-Saxon MS. From VII-X 
century, known as `Codex-Exoniensis' in Widsid's poem, the Prussian 
chieftain is called `Hre-cyninges'; and the Prusso-Goths are 
called `Hre-Gotum'
5. Slavonic People used to call the Lithuanian and 
Prussiasn `Guci', `Goci' etc., which means `the Goths'.  In old 
chronicles, the synonym for Lithuanians and Prussians was `Gethos'
.  
6.  Not very long ago the people about Koenigsberg, when they wanted 
to express their contempt towards Prussian, Samogitians and 
Lithuanians used to call them `Guddae'
7. Up to date the Lithuanians 
of Prussia when inclined to reproach a Samogitian, call him `Gudas' 
(=Goths); the Samogitians apply the name `Gudai' to the Lithuanians

If Guttones (the Goths) would have been a Germanic peole, then why do 
the Lituanians not call the Germans `Gudai'?   Why is it that neither 
the Slavs, nor French, nor any other people adjoining Germany do not 
call the Germans `Guddae'?  It is obvious that the Guttones, in other 
word Goths, did not belong to a Germanic, but to a Lithuano-Prussic 
race!
8. The term `guda', `goda' (=`honor') by itself is purely 
Lithuanian.  The verb `gudoti' means `to honor'; `pa-godoti' 
means `to exalt' Gudonai (Guttones), then, means `noble, honorable 
people'
9. In old documents the Samogitian territory is called `Samo-
getia'.  On ancient Lithuanian coins we note `Samogitia'
Now the 
word `Samo-getia' means `Low Getia' or the `Lower Gothia'
10. In 
Lithuania over 40 percent of the inhabitants have Gothic surnames [he 
then lists several hundred surnames]
11. In Greece there are very 
many inhabitants whose surnames are Lithuanian
we find that such 
names sprung up from the ancient Goths.  History tells us that in the 
Third Century, about 30,000 Gothic warriors occupied Moesia, Thracia, 
Illryia, and other Greek provinces and settled their with their 
families.  In Spain also we note many inhabitants with Lithuanian 
names.  Indeed they have some Gothic blood in them, because the 
Balthagudae (Visigoths) ruled over Spain for many centuries until 
they lost their native identity; but their surname still survive
From 
the study of the Gothic names we learn, that the Goths were the 
nearest kinsmen to the Lithuanian people.  12.  On ancient Gothic 
coins, the names of the Gothic kings are Lithuanian.  (Rackus 20-36)"

In Chp 2, he shows how the "Germanic" names of the kings of the 
Ostrogoth, are actually Lithuanian. The Ostrogoths he calls the 
Austraguta or Ausrogodai.  

Chp 3 deals with Visigoths or Visigotai or Balthagoths/Balta-Gudai.

Chp 4 deals with the Heruli or according to Rackus the forefathers of 
the Samogitians.

Chp 5 is a comparison between Gothic and Lithuanic words in which he 
compares over 1,000 words, most of which are identical.

Finally, an interesting point mentioned by Rackus, "Tacitus asserts 
that the Goths were not Germans.  He writes, `Gothinos Gallica, Osos 
Pannonica lingua coarguit non esse Germanos.' (Rackus 407)."

Rackus, A.  Guthones, Kinsmen of the Lithuanian People.  Chicago.  
Draugas Publishing: 1929.  

Regards,



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