Page "Bavarii" Paragraph 2

In the Middle Ages the Bavarians were considered the descendants of the Celtic Boii tribe.

Later, the Marcomanni were believed to be the " men of Bohemia ", after whom the Bavarians were named.

They have also been identified with an East Germanic group, whose remains have mostly been found in the North of modern day Bavaria.

In the Bavarian region the origins are very mixed.

Over the last half of the 20th century, historical and archaeological research has increasingly supported the theory that the remnants of the Celtic Boii were absorbed into the Roman Empire and later intermingled with other Germanic peoples who chose to stay ( or were stationed by the Romans ) in the area.

By the 6th century AD there is evidence of the foundation of a Bavarian stem duchy whose leadership was related to the ruling Frankish ( and possibly Alemannic / Swabian ) houses.

However, there is no longer any real evidence that the rulers of Bavaria belonged to a people called the Bavarii.

It is in fact likely that, after the region took on the name of its early inhabitants, later settlers were also known by the accepted geographical name.