Gothic Society and Beliefs

Gothic Society and Beliefs
by Frank Schaefer

According to István Bóna,the Gothic tribe ("thiuda") seemed to have been more about loyalty to political leadership and culture than blood relations "even if initially it also implied a certain consciousness of a common descent." (Bóna, p.1).

Perhaps intermarrying was just a natural part of the Gothic “melting pot” experience as it was what defined their origin back in the Baltic region. Some scholars use the term ethno-genesis to describe this unique feature in this Germanic tribe:

It is probable that a process of ethno-genesis was set in motion, and that most of the "Goths" of the 3rd and 4th century...consisted of a heterogeneous population which was united under the name of "Goths" by virtue of having submitted to the elite formed by the ruling dynasties of the reiks. (Wikipedia, Gothic Paganism)

As they evolved politically, socially and spiritually, the Gothic tribes seemed good at adapting to new environments, customs, and peoples. The fact that most Gothic tribes converted to Christianity further substantiates this theory. Religious conversion was a big deal for any “barbarian” tribe. This Christianization took place sometime between 376 and 390 C.E. The Goths became the first Germanic tribe to be Christianized, more than a century before the baptism of Frankish king Clovis I.

Christianity must have seemed somewhat compatible with deeply held Gothic beliefs, such as the remarkable fact that they did not bury their men with weapons indicating that they believed in a pacifist afterlife. This sets them apart from the Norse religion and other Germanic religions.

Gothic reik Fritigern is generally associated with a mass conversion of Gothic people following the military support by Rome against the Huns. But it is missionary, and later bishop, Ulfilas (Wulfia)who is foremost credited for the Christianization of the Goths, not least because he translated the bible into the Gothic language, devising the Gothic alphabet in the process.

Bishop Ulfilas, in turn was a disciple of church father Arius. The main tenet of Arian teachings was its belief that Christ was not pre-existent, but rather the first-born of creation, thus opposing the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity.

The Visigoths in Spain maintained their Arian form of Christianity until the seventh century C.E. when they converted to Catholicism. Soon after the conversion, Latin replaced the Gothic language in the Asturian churches and a few decades afterwards the Gothic language went extinct. The Gothic culture was comletely hispanicized. The only direct trace of Spain’s Gothic roots are found in the Germanic last names that are still in use in Spain to this very day.

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