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The 'Silings' or 'Silingi' (Latin: ''Silingae'', Greek ''Σιλίγγαι'' - ''Silingai'') were an East Germanic tribe probably part of the larger Vandal group. According to most scholars, the Silingi lived in Lower Silesia , the term "Silesia" itself perhaps being derived from "Silingi" - from Silingi tribe the near river was named Silingula.The rivers name was borrowed by Slavs after their invasion in V-VI a.d. as ''Sьlęža'' or ''Sьlędza''>''Sьlęza'' (from ''Silingja'' or ''Silinga'' ) - today Ślęza. The Slavic tribe that lived near the Sьlędza (or Sьlęža) river was named ''Sьlędz-jane'' which later evolved into ''Sьlęžane'', then the Modern Polish ''Ślężanie''. The land of Sьlęžane was named ''Sьlęžьsko'', which evolved into Old Polish ''Ślążsko'', now Modern Polish ''Śląsk'', Czech Slezsko, Latin Silesia, West-Germanic-Proto-Old High German ''Slesia'', Modern High German ''Schlesien''.
Claudius Ptolemaeus wrote that they had lived south of the Suebi-Semnone tribe.
The Silingi were part of the migratory movements of the Vandals, into the Iberian peninsula and later on to North Africa.

Contents

Ancient sources

See also

Ancient sources

Claudius Ptolemaeus, 'Geography' wrote:
''Back below the Semnones the Silingae have their seat ... and below the Silingae the Calucones and the Camavi up to Mt. Melibocus, from whom to the east near the Albis river and above them, below Mt. Asciburgius, the Corconti''

See also

★ Migrations period

★ Hasdingi

★ The western Alans and Vandals

★ Timeline of Portuguese history - Germanic Kingdoms (5th to 8th Century)