About the Date of the Crimean Gothia Creation

Abstract

Introduction. Historians date the creation of the Crimean Gothia by 325 or the beginning of the 5th century, or the beginning of the 8th century. Methods. For justification of a date of creation of the Crimean Gothia it is necessary to analyse all references to the toponym in written sources. Analysis. The toponym Gothia (Γοτθία) is for the first time mentioned in the signature of the bishop Gothia Theophilus in the Act of the First Oecumenical Counsil of Nicaea in 325. P. I. Koeppen, F. K. Bruun, W. Tomaschek and others believe Gothia to have been an eparchy lying within the territory of the Crimea. D. N. Belikov, V. G. Vasilievsky, A. A. Vasilyev and others placed the Gothia on the lower Danube. According to E. A. Thompson and O. J. Maenchen-Helfen, John Chrysostom also sent missionaries to the basin of Danube to Goths who were “talking the same language as those” (ὁμόγλωττοι κείνοις). In the beginning of the 8th century the Khazars captured the Klimata of Cherson using their military dominance in the region. Probably, the khagan united the Klimata (archontiai) of the Mountainous Crimea in the new “province” of Gothia with the capital in Doros to facilitate the collection of tribute. Obviously, the khagan appointed the archon of Doros to be the ruler of Gothia and instructed him to collect tribute for the Khaganate. Results. In written sources of the 4th – 6th centuries, toponym Gothia was used to name the principality and the diocese located on the Lower Danube. In written sources of the 8th – 9th centuries, the South-Western Crimea inhabited by Alans and Goths was called Dory in the 6th – 7th centuries, and since the 8th century it was called Gothia.