Some scholars state that gypsies left India as a single, nomadic tribe (McDowell, 1970), while others refer to gypsies as Romani travelers (Acton, 1974). Acton also states that the word "gypsy" is a contraction of the word Egyptian, which gypsies were thought at first to be since the first recorded gypsies told people they came from Egypt.  

The first recorded transfer of Romani slaves took place in 1385 (Kenrick, 1998). By the end of the 14th century, gypsies were being treated as slaves in Romania, with fewer rights than the serfs in that families could be split up and the members sold or given away as gifts. Fifteenth century gypsy immigrants told the authorities they had come from the Turkish-controlled Middle East. It is rumored that the first gypsies came to England around 1480 (Kenrick, 1998). The first written record, however, dates from 1514 and refers to a fortuneteller while further references occur between 1513 and 1530. 

Not only is the national origin of the gypsy a controversy, but also the language itself has origin arguments. Investigations into the Romani language showed that it originated in India and had been brought to Europe by the gypsies (Kenrick, 1998). Still, a small number of writers deny the Indian origin and claim that the gypsies are Europeans who acquired the language through contact with Indian merchants. 

There are more than 250 Greek words in the European Romani dialects, which is second only to the number of the Indian vocabulary in the Romani language. During the Byzantine Empire the gypsies firmed the language believed today to be that of the gypsy (Hancock, 2002). 

During the 17th century, Philip IV declared that gypsies did not even exist (Hancock, 2002), and he made it illegal to speak the Romani language or call themselves Romanies.

Christina E. Wells
Copyright © 2003 by University of North Texas. All rights reserved.
Revised: 13 Nov 2003 16:22:01 -0600

Gypsy Caravan

1888

portrait by Vincent van Gogh

Gypsy Slaves

being led to the Giessen mass torture

1727

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