Hello,
I must revive this thread because about few pages before I saw some talk about Gothic theory, and most did seem to agree that spread of I2a2 Dinaric fits perfectly in Gothic migrations, but were highly sceptical because they didn't have enough of evidence that ex-Yugoslavians are of Gothic origin- but read this post closely and you will find that Gothic theory of I2a Din is more than plausible.
I will start with first literary work among Yugoslavians, it is called "Chronicles of Priests of Duklja". From beginning it tells about two Gothic brothers, Totila and Ostroyllus. Totila conquers Italy, while Ostroyllus rules over Roman provinces Dalmatia (Bosnia and Croatia) and his capital is in Prevalis (Montenegro). He sent his son with most of army to conquer remaining of Panonia while he remained in Prevalis. Army of Byzantines came and pillaged his lands. When Senudial, son of Ostroyllus heard that he returns from Panonia to avenge father's death but he finds no Byzantines in Prevalis. From then on it talks about Gothic rulers and how they are ancestors of medieval Croat and Montenegrin rulers and people.
Don't forget that before that there were more migrations of Goths to this area: first one was in 370's when Goths fled from Huns to Balkans.
Dr. Rus in Ljubljana in 1914 even mentions migration of slavicized Goths from Vistula in 7th century to Balkans.
It is worth saying that in interwar period German historians Ludwig Glumpowitz and L. Hauptmann regarder Gothic origin of us as correct.
Not only Priest of Duklja but also Thomas the Archdeacon of Split in his "Historia Salonitana" in 13th century also writes about our Gothic origin, and about same Gothic migrations.
Venetian doge Andrea Dandolo writes about one mission of Neretvians in Venetia in 830. : "...Quia a Gothis originem traxerunt", which means "...which are descended from Goths".
Montenegrin town of Niksic was founded by Goths in 6th century. Our original name of that town in Onogosht, which is derived from Germanic name Anegast. At Skadar Gothic coins and buckles were found. Some linguists think that nearby clan of Hoti has some connection to Goths.
In Budva, too, Gothic material remnants were found, and also in early Christian basillica near Bijelo Polje where Gothic buckles and traces of destruction were found. Material remnants of Goths are also found all over Croatia and Bosnia.
Early christian basillica in Breza, Bosnia, is particularly interesting because there was found stone pillar with Gothic runic inscription.
And now about Gothic toponyms. Here are some from Bosnia and Montenegro, from book of Croatian historian Ivan Mužić: Onogošt, Ostrog, Gacko (also clan Gačani), Vareš, Hrgud, Brotnjo, Hardomilje, Argud, Otilovci, Konogovo, Gudelji... there are more of them which I don't remember.
Now let's look at Gothic remains in our languages. Our language, except for Scandinavian ones and Estonian, is only in Europe with pitch accent, and since Goths originate in Scandinavia it is very possible they brought it. There are also many Gothic words in our language, sadly many of them were removed during Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Here are some:
stijena-stains (Gothic): rock, brijeg-bjarg (Old Norse): hill, saian-sijati (Gothic): to sow, plaisan-plesati (Gothic): to dance, volja-vilja (Gothic): will, smokva-smakka (Gothic): fig, svrbjeti-swairban (Gothic): to itch, vrijedan-wairthan (Gothic): worthy, vještica-weihitha (Gothic): witch, stvoriti-stiurjan (Gothic): to create, trnje-thaurna (Gothic): thorns, wopjan-vapiti (Gothic): to cry out for help, svekrva/svekar-swaihra (Gothic): mother/father in-law, nećak-nithjus (Gothici): nephew, hrpa-haupaz (proto-Germanic): pile; bunch, ljekar-lekeis (Gothic): healer;doctor, frizura/češljanje-frisiaz (Gothic): hairstyle, bljesak-blason (proto-Germanic): blaze etc etc... There are over 1000 Gothic words in Chakavian dialect gathered by Croatian historian Mihovil Lovrić.
Now one interesting thing is connection between official religion of Bogomilism in medieval Bosnia and Arian heresy of the Goths. Gregor Cremosnik in 1937 is first historian to claim connection between Bogomilism and Arian heresy, because Bogomilism only appears there where Goths settled. It is interesting that popes often called Bosnians "arian heretics".
Stanko Guldescu:
"Both Tvrtko and Stjepan Tomašević (King Stephen of Bosnia) placed curiously ornate Gothic letters beneath the Bosnian crown and coat of arms. On many shileds found in Bosnia, and which antedate Muslim conquest, the typical device represented is that of moon and star, the design which appears on shield of Theodoric and other Ostrogothic kings, as well as on the mossaics that date from period of Ostrogothic rule at Ravenna. Also there is to be found on many of the oldest Bosnian gravestones (stećci) shields with this same device which was so popular among Ostrogoths. The German consul in Sarajevo in the last century was inspired by the noted historian, Theodor Mommsen, to undertake a study of Bosnian antiquities. He deduced a definite connection between strange-appearing Bosnian tombstones (stećci) and the Ostrogoths who ruled the area..."
I can also say that Slavs are most likely to have settled in parts of country fertile for agriculture, that is, in northern parts of Yugoslavia, while southern parts, in which I2a Din is more frequent was settled with Goths. Agriculture is EVERYTHING for Slavs. But in Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro it is contrary. French general Viala de Somier, when he visited Montenegro in 1820 observed that population has very limited use of farming, that men leave hardest agricultural works to women while their only duty is war, raiding and herding cattle.
I will also mention anthropological research. According to Priest of Duklja, core of Goths resided in Prevalis (Montenegro).
In 1939 book "The Races of Europe" Carleton Coon lists Montenegrins as tallest and heaviest men in Europe, and finds out that most of them belong to Borreby subrace, which is most numerous in northern Germany and western Norway.
I hope that I shed some light on this interesting subject. I had a LOT of links and pictures to share with you but unfortunately I can't since I don't have 10 posts yet.