The settlement and probable origin of the most celebrated Lithuanian people, so far not explained by any Latin historians

Ptolemy the Geographer, who was most curious about the entire world, recounts that there were in antiquity colonies of peoples in those regions now inhabited by the Lithuanians (and which are known under their rule as [Ruthenian] Rus’, Podolia, Volhynia, Podlachia, and Samogitia). No trace at all today remains of the Galindi, Bodini, Genini, Sudini, Cariones, Amaxobi, Strabani, Sturni, Nasci, Asubi, Wibiones, Ombrones, and Sargati between Lublin and Brest. The same Ptolemy asserts that all these took their origin from the Cimbri, Goths, and Sarmatians. But since the origin of the Sarmatians, described by us, lies more widely open, it seems that in what follows I ought to explain the name of the Cimbri.

It is the opinion of all historians, therefore, that the Cimbri descend from Gomer, the grandson of Noah and son of his eldest son Japheth, agreeing that the name was changed little by little over so many centuries. This posterity of Japheth would occupy the greater part of the world in Europe and Asia Minor, because the origin of the name signifies “expansion.” Then the happy pronouncement of father Noah portended that the line born of Gomer should have its seat beyond the sources of the River Tanais, near the marshes of the Cimmerian Bosphorus of Maeotis (which is called from this Cimmerius), where it rises in the Duchy of Ryazan (subject to the Prince of Muscovy). Afterwards, by the passage of time they advanced through the neighbouring regions (which was not difficult for them): Russia, Lithuania, and Borussia (now called Prussia), and Cimbrian Chersonesus where the Swedes, Danes, and Gotlanders had advanced. Spreading out widely here and there along that shore they dominated it, and having cut their name a little short, and by the insertion of a letter, they were called the Cimbri.

When and for what reason this migration came about is unknown, since no monuments of that people survive from that time, by which we might understand this. Of all the others, the Cimbri were always warlike and vigorous, prompt to violence—something which their very brave and daring deeds testify. Having left thirty thousand colonists in northern regions, they first penetrated into the regions of the Germans in Switzerland and Gaul.