Michael J Smith wrote:
> Where is Durostorum?
> -Michael
>
> On Mon, 17 Mar 2003 21:07:27 +0100 "alex_lycos" <altamix@...>
> writes:
>> Does anyone knows more about the toponym in the neighbourhood of
>> Durostorum ( or is an another name for durostorum?) which is called
>> by
>> Procopius "Mauroballe"?
>>
>> Alex
In Dacian space. In fact on Danube, actualy Silistra in Romania.
The problem here is that the Walachei ( German name for The Romanian
part called Tara Româneasca) was long time called "Maurovalahia". Even
in the time of Ottomans, they translated the name of Maurovalahia in
their language, calling it "Kara Iflack". Kara in Turkish should mean
"black" and "Iflack " should mean country or land, I am not so sure.
Mauro=? I cannot show if there could be a link between Dacian "Maronia"
but who knows in fact exactly?
This name, in the time as the salvs have been coming will put more
questions for the assumed etymology of "valah /vlah".
And this is very interesting since the slavs called the Romanians North
of Danube " the black valahs" and the romanians living south of Danube
"the white vallahs". I seems they took the ancient ( what should mean
ancient here?) name if there is a connection of Maurovalle with
Maurovalahia. And it must be. A such coincidence by a such word is hard
to happen, tough, not absolutely excluded.
Piotr maybe will be so kind to tell us if the second part of the word
"Mauroballe/Maurovalle", aka "balle/valle" could give in slavic valaX
and vlaX.
Alex