Editing Thuringia (section)

== Etymology and symbols ==
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[[File:Vollwappen Wettiner Landgraf Albrecht 1265.png|thumb|left|upright|[[Coat of arms of Thuringia#Landgraves of Thuringia|Coat of arms of the landgraves of Thuringia]] (1265)]]

The name ''Thuringia'' or ''Thüringen'' derives from the Germanic tribe [[Thuringii]], who emerged during the [[Migration Period]]. Their origin is largely unknown. An older theory claims that they were successors of the [[Hermunduri]], but later research rejected the idea. Other historians argue that the Thuringians were allies of the [[Huns]], came to central Europe together with them, and lived before in what is [[Galicia (Eastern Europe)|Galicia]] today. [[Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus]] first mentioned the Thuringii around 400; during that period, the Thuringii were famous for their excellent horses.

The Thuringian Realm existed until after 531.  The [[Duchy of Thuringia|Landgraviate of Thuringia]] was the largest state in the region, persisting between 1131 and 1247. Afterwards the state known as Thuringia ceased to exist; nevertheless the term commonly described the region between the [[Harz]] mountains in the north, the [[White Elster]] river in the east, the [[Franconian Forest]] in the south and the [[Werra]] river in the west. After the [[Treaty of Leipzig]], Thuringia had its own dynasty again, the Ernestine [[House of Wettin|Wettins]]. Their various lands formed the Free State of Thuringia, founded in 1920, together with some other small principalities. The [[Prussia]]n territories around [[Erfurt]], [[Mühlhausen]] and [[Nordhausen, Thuringia|Nordhausen]] joined Thuringia in 1945.

The [[coat of arms of Thuringia]] shows the lion of the Ludowingian Landgraves of 12th-century origin. The eight stars around it represent the eight former states which formed Thuringia. The [[flag of Thuringia]] is a white-red bicolor, derived from the white and red stripes of the Ludowingian lion. The [[Coat of arms of Hesse|coat of arms]] and [[flag of Hesse]] are quite similar to the Thuringian ones, since they are also derived from the Ludowingian symbols.

Symbols of Thuringia in popular culture are the ''[[Thuringian sausage|Bratwurst]]'' and the [[Thuringian Forest|Forest]], because a large amount of the territory is forested.