In scientific literature on Gypsies (Roma) many opinions but often contradictions are given on when Gypsies came to Europe. A long time frame was considered from the Carlo the Great till the Turks invaders of Balkans. These differences are sometimes based on linguistic reconstructions and dates from questionable dated chronicles and acts.
For now, however, one can be said for certain that the Gypsies were known in Byzantium in the middle of 11 th centuries when they started moving into Constantinople. The presence of Armenian words in all dialects of the European Gypsies according to theses of F. Miklosic brings to conclusion that the Gypsies had to come to Byzantium from Armenia where they lived for long time and where according to data given by historians they came from Persia.
In the sources it was not established when the Gypsies came from Armenia to Byzantium, but it is presumed that this happened in the first haft of 11 th century when Seldjuk attacked Armenia and caused the known movement of people from Armenia towards Byzantium Antolia. From the sources it is also not possible to verify when crossing of Gypsies to Thrace happened. Concrete mentioning of presence of gypsies in today’s Greece is found in practicum of monastery Xiropotamos on Athos from 1325-1330 where it is written that Anna daughter of Limocherval had husband “Egyptian”. According to data it seams that the Gypsies at the end of 13 th and beginning of 14 th centuries lived on Corfu which at the time belonged to Angevins, and there is possibility that at that time they lived in other areas of Byzantium that at the time belonged to Venice as part of Venetia Romania. In any case in the second half of 14 th century the Gypsies were present in the southern parts of Balkan Peninsula. This fact is being brought in connection with advancing of Osmanli in Asia Minor and than with their coming into Europe and battle near Gallipoli in 1354. The Turks progressed towards north which caused movement of Gypsies who took shelter on Venetian properties on land and islands. Some groups also spread over non-invaded parts of Balkans.
Years in which Roma are mentioned in chronicles of other countries and towns: Bulgaria 1366, Moldova 1370, Romania 1385, Ljubljana 1387, Hildeshaim 1407, Basel 1414, Augsburg, Lunenburg, Hamburg, Libek, Vajmar, Magdeburg, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Zurich, Bern, Brussels 1417-1420, Netherlands 1420, Belgium 1421, Bologna 1422, Spain 1425 (Barcelona 1447), Paris 1427, Constance 1430, Portugal 1447, Sweden 1512, United Kingdom 1514, Norway 1544 and Finland 1597.
