Gepids

The Gepids were a Germanic people who played a significant role in the Migration Period of Europe. Emerging from Scandinavia, they eventually settled in the region of Dacia, roughly corresponding to modern-day Romania, in the 3rd century AD. They were known for their warrior culture and often engaged in conflicts with neighboring tribes and the Roman Empire.

Their history is intertwined with that of the Huns. Initially, the Gepids were likely vassals of the Hunnic Empire. Following the collapse of Hunnic power in the mid-5th century, the Gepids established their own kingdom. This kingdom became a formidable force in the Carpathian Basin. Their most prominent rival was the Ostrogoths, who eventually defeated them in the late 6th century.

The Gepids were eventually absorbed by other Germanic groups and the expanding Avar Khaganate. Archaeological evidence, including burial sites, provides insights into their material culture, weaponry, and social structure. While their kingdom was relatively short-lived, their presence left a mark on the complex ethnopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe during the late antique and early medieval periods.