FWIW, the question is mildly confused by the fact that the southeast Balkans were referred to by the Turks as “Rom.” This of course is derived in turn from the tendency of the Byzantines to refer to themselves as Romans, slightly misnomeristically. (<-- There’s a word you don’t see everyday!)
When the Indo-Iranian people speaking what was later named Romany moved into Europe through and began setting up their own economic niche as traveling traders (perhaps with a little larceny on the side in some cases), they first showed up in Rom.
All Eastern Orthodox peoples connect themselves to Byzantium. It was the “[Moscow is the] Third Rome” theory that led the princes of Muscovy to assume the title “Tsar” (= “Caesar” = “Emperor”). (And, on the other hand, Croat – Roman Catholic – propagandists use “Byzantine” as a dyslogistic designation for Serbs to this day.)
John W. Kennedy
“Compact is becoming contract; man only earns and pays.”
– Charles Williams
[[Wendell Wagner’s comments on Irish Gypies/Travelers is correct. The Travelers that are famed scam artists in the Southeast U.S. are an offshoot of that group.]]
Who can tell me more about the “Travelers” in the SE U.S.? Email me any references if you would. JillGat@aol.com