The Problem of Reference to Lithuania in 451

Abstract

Finding Paulinus Minoritus’s world history, which mentions Lithuania, in the Vatican Apostolic Library necessitates a contextualisation of this reference, which claims that Attila sent scouts to Lithuania. The description is given before Attila’s campaign in Italy and is also based on Andrea Danduli’s chronicle dated 451. Variants of this description are also known from the Hungarian chronicle tradition. Looking at the sources as a whole, it is most likely that this information could have come from the beginning of John the Deacon’s Venice chronicle that has not survived, or from some other source, the origin of which should be sought in a period earlier than the twelfth century.
It should be noted that the context of this information, wherein the Venetians linked the founding of their city with the destruction of Aquileia, the legend of the Venetians’ origin in Troy, Attila’s conquests, and the expanded narrative about Attila, shows that all of this contextual information was already in use in the eighth century. The available sources do not clarify whether the story of Attila sending his scouts to Lithuania was also in circulation at that time.
However, when talking about the contacts between Lithuania and the Huns, it is important to note that they are also attested by archaeological evidence. The three-leaf arrowheads found in Lithuania indicate that the forces of the Huns or the tribes subordinate to them may have reached Lithuania. Most archaeologists agree that this was an invasion, and some speak of Attila’s contingents. Thus, the historical source (Paulinus’s history) can be supported by archaeological data.
This leads to the conclusion that the name of Lithuania may have been mentioned as early as the fifth century, but comprehensive research is needed to confirm this.