Wandes

Wandes, also known as Vends or Vandals, were a Germanic people who inhabited the Baltic Sea region. Their origins are believed to be in what is now southern Sweden, and they migrated southward around the 1st century CE, eventually settling in the area of modern-day Poland and eastern Germany. The term "Wandes" was often used by Roman and later medieval writers to refer to various Slavic tribes as well as the historical Vandals, leading to some confusion in historical records.

The Wandes were known for their seafaring and trading activities. They are mentioned in historical accounts as participating in raids and migrations across Europe. During the Migration Period, a significant portion of the Vandals, including the Hasdingi and Silingi tribes, moved south into the Roman Empire. Some groups eventually crossed into North Africa, where they established a kingdom in the 5th century CE. This Vandal kingdom famously sacked Rome in 455 CE.

The name "Wandes" or "Vends" was also applied to West Slavic peoples who lived in the areas of the Baltic coast, particularly in the region known as Wendland. These Slavic groups maintained their distinct cultures and languages for centuries, interacting with their Germanic neighbors through trade, conflict, and eventual assimilation in many areas. The historical legacy of the Wandes is complex, intertwined with both Germanic and Slavic ethnogenesis and the broader migrations and political shifts of ancient and medieval Europe.