Five mysterious Slavic tribes. Slavic tribes as a single people

Vyatichi - a union of East Slavic tribes who lived in the second half of the first millennium AD. e. in the upper and middle reaches of the Oka. The name Vyatichi supposedly came from the name of the ancestor of the tribe, Vyatko. However, some associate the origin of this name with the morpheme “ven” and the Veneds (or Veneti/Venti) (the name “Vyatichi” was pronounced “ventichi”).

In the middle of the 10th century, Svyatoslav annexed the lands of the Vyatichi to Kievan Rus, but until the end of the 11th century these tribes retained a certain political independence; campaigns against the Vyatichi princes of this time are mentioned.

Since the 12th century, the territory of the Vyatichi became part of the Chernigov, Rostov-Suzdal and Ryazan principalities. Until the end of the 13th century, the Vyatichi preserved many pagan rituals and traditions, in particular, they cremated the dead, erecting small mounds over the burial site. After Christianity took root among the Vyatichi, the ritual of cremation gradually fell out of use.

The Vyatichi retained their tribal name longer than other Slavs. They lived without princes, the social structure was characterized by self-government and democracy. The last time the Vyatichi were mentioned in the chronicle under such a tribal name was in 1197.

Buzhans (Volynians) are a tribe of Eastern Slavs who lived in the basin of the upper reaches of the Western Bug (from which they got their name); Since the end of the 11th century, the Buzhans have been called Volynians (from the area of ​​Volyn).

The Volynians are an East Slavic tribe or tribal union mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years and in the Bavarian chronicles. According to the latter, the Volynians owned seventy fortresses at the end of the 10th century. Some historians believe that the Volynians and Buzhans are descendants of the Dulebs. Their main cities were Volyn and Vladimir-Volynsky. Archaeological research indicates that the Volynians developed agriculture and numerous crafts, including forging, casting and pottery.

In 981, the Volynians were subjugated by the Kyiv prince Vladimir I and became part of Kievan Rus. Later, the Galician-Volyn principality was formed on the territory of the Volynians.

The Drevlyans are one of the tribes of the Russian Slavs, they lived in Pripyat, Goryn, Sluch and Teterev.
The name Drevlyans, according to the chronicler's explanation, was given to them because they lived in forests.

From archaeological excavations in the country of the Drevlians, we can conclude that they had a well-known culture. A well-established burial ritual testifies to the existence of certain religious ideas about the afterlife: the absence of weapons in the graves testifies to the peaceful nature of the tribe; finds of sickles, shards and vessels, iron products, remains of fabrics and leather indicate the existence of arable farming, pottery, blacksmithing, weaving and tanning among the Drevlyans; many bones of domestic animals and spurs indicate cattle breeding and horse breeding; many items made of silver, bronze, glass and carnelian, of foreign origin, indicate the existence of trade, and the absence of coins gives reason to conclude that trade was barter.

The political center of the Drevlyans in the era of their independence was the city of Iskorosten; in later times, this center, apparently, moved to the city of Vruchy (Ovruch)

Dregovichi - an East Slavic tribal union that lived between Pripyat and the Western Dvina.

Most likely the name comes from the Old Russian word dregva or dryagva, which means “swamp”.

Under the name of the Druguvites (Greek δρονγονβίται), the Dregovichi were already known to Constantine the Porphyrogenitus as a tribe subordinate to Rus'. Being away from the “Road from the Varangians to the Greeks,” the Dregovichi did not play a prominent role in the history of Ancient Rus'. The chronicle only mentions that the Dregovichi once had their own reign. The capital of the principality was the city of Turov. The subordination of the Dregovichi to the Kyiv princes probably occurred very early. The Principality of Turov was subsequently formed on the territory of the Dregovichi, and the northwestern lands became part of the Principality of Polotsk.

Duleby (not Duleby) - a union of East Slavic tribes on the territory of Western Volyn in the 6th - early 10th centuries. In the 7th century they were subjected to an Avar invasion (obry). In 907 they took part in Oleg’s campaign against Constantinople. They split into tribes of Volynians and Buzhanians and in the middle of the 10th century they finally lost their independence, becoming part of Kievan Rus.

The Krivichi are a large East Slavic tribe (tribal association), which in the 6th-10th centuries occupied the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina, the southern part of the Lake Peipsi basin and part of the Neman basin. Sometimes the Ilmen Slavs are also considered to be Krivichi.

The Krivichi were probably the first Slavic tribe to move from the Carpathian region to the northeast. Limited in their distribution to the northwest and west, where they met stable Lithuanian and Finnish tribes, the Krivichi spread to the northeast, assimilating with the living Tamfinns.

Having settled on the great waterway from Scandinavia to Byzantium (the route from the Varangians to the Greeks), the Krivichi took part in trade with Greece; Konstantin Porphyrogenitus says that the Krivichi make boats on which the Rus go to Constantinople. They took part in Oleg and Igor’s campaigns against the Greeks as a tribe subordinate to the Kyiv prince; Oleg's agreement mentions their city of Polotsk.

Already in the era of the formation of the Russian state, the Krivichi had political centers: Izborsk, Polotsk and Smolensk.

It is believed that the last tribal prince of the Krivichs, Rogvolod, together with his sons, was killed in 980 by the Novgorod prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In the Ipatiev list, the Krivichi were mentioned for the last time in 1128, and the Polotsk princes were called Krivichi in 1140 and 1162. After this, the Krivichi were no longer mentioned in the East Slavic chronicles. However, the tribal name Krivichi was used in foreign sources for quite a long time (until the end of the 17th century). The word krievs entered the Latvian language to designate Russians in general, and the word Krievija to designate Russia.

The southwestern, Polotsk branch of the Krivichi is also called Polotsk. Together with the Dregovichi, Radimichi and some Baltic tribes, this branch of the Krivichi formed the basis of the Belarusian ethnic group.
The northeastern branch of the Krivichi, settled mainly in the territory of modern Tver, Yaroslavl and Kostroma regions, was in close contact with Finno-Ugric tribes.
The border between the settlement territory of the Krivichi and the Novgorod Slovenes is determined archaeologically by the types of burials: long mounds among the Krivichi and hills among the Slovenes.

The Polochans are an East Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands in the middle reaches of the Western Dvina in today's Belarus in the 9th century.

Polotsk residents are mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, which explains their name as living near the Polota River, one of the tributaries of the Western Dvina. In addition, the chronicle claims that the Krivichi were descendants of the Polotsk people. The lands of the Polotsk people extended from Svisloch along the Berezina to the lands of the Dregovichi. The Polotsk people were one of the tribes from which the Principality of Polotsk was later formed. They are one of the founders of the modern Belarusian people.

Polyane (Poly) is the name of a Slavic tribe, during the era of the settlement of the Eastern Slavs, who settled along the middle reaches of the Dnieper, on its right bank.

Judging by the chronicles and the latest archaeological research, the territory of the land of the glades before the Christian era was limited by the flow of the Dnieper, Ros and Irpen; in the north-east it was adjacent to the village land, in the west - to the southern settlements of the Dregovichi, in the south-west - to the Tivertsy, in the south - to the streets.

Calling the Slavs who settled here the Polans, the chronicler adds: “Sedyahu was in the field.” The Polyans differed sharply from the neighboring Slavic tribes both in moral properties and in the forms of social life: “The Polans, for their father’s customs, are quiet and meek, and are ashamed of their daughters-in-law and to sisters and to their mothers... I have marriage customs.”

History finds the Polans already at a rather late stage of political development: the social system is composed of two elements - communal and princely-retinue, and the first is greatly suppressed by the latter. With the usual and most ancient occupations of the Slavs - hunting, fishing and beekeeping - cattle breeding, farming, "timbering" and trade were more common among the Polyans than other Slavs. The latter was quite extensive not only with its Slavic neighbors, but also with foreigners in the West and East: from the coin hoards it is clear that trade with the East began in the 8th century, but ceased during the strife of the appanage princes.

At first, around the middle of the 8th century, the glades who paid tribute to the Khazars, thanks to their cultural and economic superiority, soon moved from a defensive position in relation to their neighbors to an offensive one; The Drevlyans, Dregovichs, northerners and others by the end of the 9th century were already subject to the glades. Christianity was established among them earlier than others. The center of the Polish (“Polish”) land was Kyiv; its other settlements are Vyshgorod, Belgorod on the Irpen River (now the village of Belogorodka), Zvenigorod, Trepol (now the village of Tripolye), Vasilyev (now Vasilkov) and others.

Zemlyapolyan with the city of Kiev became the center of the Rurikovich possessions in 882. The name of the polyans was mentioned for the last time in the chronicle in 944, on the occasion of Igor’s campaign against the Greeks, and was replaced, probably already at the end of the 10th century, by the name Rus (Ros) and Kiyane. The chronicler also calls the Slavic tribe on the Vistula, mentioned for the last time in the Ipatiev Chronicle in 1208, Polyana.

Radimichi is the name of the population that was part of the union of East Slavic tribes that lived in the area between the upper reaches of the Dnieper and Desna.
Around 885 the Radimichi became part of the Old Russian state, and in the 12th century they mastered most of the Chernigov and southern part of the Smolensk lands. The name comes from the name of the ancestor of the tribe, Radim.

The Northerners (more correctly, the North) are a tribe or tribal union of Eastern Slavs who inhabited the territories east of the middle reaches of the Dnieper, along the Desna and Seimi Sula rivers.

The origin of the name of the north is not fully understood. Most authors associate it with the name of the Savir tribe, which was part of the Hunnic association. According to another version, the name goes back to an obsolete ancient Slavic word meaning “relative”. The explanation from the Slavic siver, north, despite the similarity of sound, is considered extremely controversial, since the north has never been the most northern of the Slavic tribes.

Slovenes (Ilmen Slavs) are an East Slavic tribe that lived in the second half of the first millennium in the basin of Lake Ilmen and the upper reaches of Mologa and made up the bulk of the population of Novgorod land.

Tivertsi are an East Slavic tribe that lived between the Dniester and Danube near the Black Sea coast. They were first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years along with other East Slavic tribes of the 9th century. The main occupation of the Tiverts was agriculture. The Tiverts took part in the campaigns of Oleg against Constantinople in 907 and Igor in 944. In the middle of the 10th century, the lands of the Tiverts became part of Kievan Rus.
The descendants of the Tiverts became part of the Ukrainian people, and their western part underwent Romanization.

Ulichi is an East Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and the Black Sea coast during the 8th-10th centuries.
The capital of the streets was the city of Peresechen. In the first half of the 10th century, the Ulichi fought for independence from Kievan Rus, but were nevertheless forced to recognize its supremacy and become part of it. Later, the Ulichi and neighboring Tivertsy were pushed north by the arriving Pecheneg nomads, where they merged with the Volynians. The last mention of the streets dates back to the chronicle of the 970s.

Croats are an East Slavic tribe that lived in the vicinity of the city of Przemysl on the San River. They called themselves White Croats, in contrast to the tribe of the same name who lived in the Balkans. The name of the tribe is derived from the ancient Iranian word “shepherd, guardian of livestock,” which may indicate its main occupation - cattle breeding.

Bodrichi (Obodrity, Rarogi) - Polabian Slavs (lower Elbe) in the 8th-12th centuries. - union of Vagrs, Polabs, Glinyaks, Smolyans. Rarog (from the Danes Rerik) is the main city of the Bodrichis. Mecklenburg State in East Germany.
According to one version, Rurik is a Slav from the Bodrichi tribe, the grandson of Gostomysl, the son of his daughter Umila and the Bodrichi prince Godoslav (Godlav).

The Vistula are a Western Slavic tribe that lived at least since the 7th century in Lesser Poland. In the 9th century, the Vistula formed a tribal state with centers in Krakow, Sandomierz and Stradow. At the end of the century they were conquered by the king of Great Moravia Svyatopolk I and were forced to accept baptism. In the 10th century, the lands of the Vistula were conquered by the Polans and included in Poland.

The Zlicans (Czech Zličane, Polish Zliczanie) are one of the ancient Czech tribes. They inhabited the territory adjacent to the modern city of Kourzhim (Czech Republic). They served as the center of the formation of the Zlican Principality, which covered the beginning of the 10th century. Eastern and Southern Bohemia and the region of the Duleb tribe. The main city of the principality was Libice. The Libice princes Slavniki competed with Prague in the struggle for the unification of the Czech Republic. In 995, Zlicany was subordinated to the Přemyslids.

Lusatians, Lusatian Serbs, Sorbs (German Sorben), Vends are the indigenous Slavic population living in the territory of Lower and Upper Lusatia - regions that are part of modern Germany. The first settlements of Lusatian Serbs in these places were recorded in the 6th century AD. e.

The Lusatian language is divided into Upper Lusatian and Lower Lusatian.

The Brockhaus and Euphron Dictionary gives the definition: “Sorbs are the name of the Wends and the Polabian Slavs in general.” Slavic people inhabiting a number of regions in Germany, in the federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony.

The Lusatian Serbs are one of Germany's four officially recognized national minorities (along with the Gypsies, Frisians and Danes). It is believed that about 60 thousand German citizens now have Serbian roots, of which 20,000 live in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg) and 40 thousand in Upper Lusatia (Saxony).

Lyutichs (Wilts, Velets) are a union of Western Slavic tribes who lived in the early Middle Ages in the territory of what is now eastern Germany. The center of the Lutich union was the “Radogost” sanctuary, in which the god Svarozhich was revered. All decisions were made at a large tribal meeting, and there was no central authority.

The Lutici led the Slavic uprising of 983 against German colonization of the lands east of the Elbe, as a result of which colonization was suspended for almost two hundred years. Even before this, they were ardent opponents of the German king Otto I. It is known about his heir, Henry II, that he did not try to enslave them, but rather lured them with money and gifts to his side in the fight against Boleslaw the Brave Poland.

Military and political successes strengthened the Lutichi's commitment to paganism and pagan customs, which also applied to the related Bodrichi. However, in the 1050s, an internecine war broke out among the Lutichs and changed their position. The union quickly lost power and influence, and after the central sanctuary was destroyed by the Saxon Duke Lothair in 1125, the union finally disintegrated. Over the next decades, the Saxon dukes gradually expanded their possessions to the east and conquered the lands of the Luticians.

Pomeranians, Pomeranians - Western Slavic tribes who lived from the 6th century in the lower reaches of the Odryna coast of the Baltic Sea. It remains unclear whether there was a residual Germanic population before their arrival, which they assimilated. In 900, the border of the Pomeranian range ran along the Odra in the west, the Vistula in the east and Notech in the south. They gave the name to the historical area of ​​Pomerania.

In the 10th century, the Polish prince Mieszko I included the Pomeranian lands into the Polish state. In the 11th century, the Pomeranians rebelled and regained independence from Poland. During this period, their territory expanded west from the Odra into the lands of the Lutich. On the initiative of Prince Wartislaw I, the Pomeranians adopted Christianity.

From the 1180s, German influence began to increase and German settlers began to arrive on the Pomeranian lands. Due to the devastating wars with the Danes, the Pomeranian feudal lords welcomed the settlement of the devastated lands by the Germans. Over time, the process of Germanization of the Pomeranian population began.

The remnant of the ancient Pomeranians who escaped assimilation today are the Kashubians, numbering 300 thousand people.

History does not have accurate data about where the first Slavs appeared. All information about their appearance and settlement throughout the territory of modern Europe and Russia was obtained indirectly:

• analysis of Slavic languages;
• archaeological finds;
• written mentions in chronicles.

Based on these data, we can conclude that the original habitat of the Slavs was the northern slopes of the Carpathians; it was from these places that the Slavic tribes migrated to the south, west and east, forming three branches of the Slavs - Balkan, Western and Russian (Eastern).
The settlement of East Slavic tribes along the banks of the Dnieper began in the 7th century. Another part of the Slavs settled along the banks of the Danube and received the name Western. The South Slavs settled on the territory of the Byzantine Empire.

Settlement of Slavic tribes

The ancestors of the Eastern Slavs were the Veneti - a union of tribes of ancient Europeans who lived in Central Europe in the 1st millennium. Later, the Veneti settled along the coast of the Vistula River and the Baltic Sea to the North of the Carpathian Mountains. The culture, life and pagan rituals of the Veneti were closely connected with the Pomeranian culture. Some of the Veneti who lived in more western areas were influenced by Germanic culture.

Slavic tribes and their settlement, table 1

In the III-IV centuries. The East European Slavs were united under the rule of the Goths as part of the Power of Germanaric, located in the Northern Black Sea region. At the same time, the Slavs were part of the tribes of the Khazars and Avars, but were in the minority there.

In the 5th century, the settlement of East Slavic tribes began from the territories of the Carpathian region, the mouth of the Dniester and the banks of the Dnieper. The Slavs actively migrated in various directions. In the East, the Slavs stopped along the Volga and Oka rivers. The Slavs who migrated and settled in the East began to be called Ants. The Antes' neighbors were the Byzantines, who endured Slavic raids and described them as "tall, strong people with beautiful faces." At the same time, the southern Slavs, who were called Sklavins, gradually assimilated with the Byzantines and adopted their culture.

Western Slavs in the 5th century. were settled along the coast of the Odra and Elbe rivers, and constantly launched raids into more western territories. A little later, these tribes split into many separate groups: Poles, Czechs, Moravians, Serbs, Luticians. The Slavs of the Baltic group also separated

Slavic tribes and their settlement on the map

Designation:
green - Eastern Slavs
light green - Western Slavs
dark green - southern Slavs

The main East Slavic tribes and their places of settlement

in the VII-VIII centuries. Stable East Slavic tribes were formed, whose settlement occurred as follows: Polyans - lived along the Dnieper River. To the north, along the Desna River lived the northerners, and in the northwestern territories lived the Drevlyans. The Dregovichi settled between the Pripyat and Dvina rivers. Polotsk residents lived along the Polota River. Along the Volga, Dnieper and Dvina rivers there are Krivichi.

Numerous Buzhans or Dulebs were settled on the banks of the Southern and Western Bug, some of whom migrated towards the west and assimilated with the Western Slavs.

The places of settlement of the Slavic tribes influenced their customs, language, laws and methods of farming. The main occupations were growing wheat, millet, barley, some tribes grew oats and rye. They raised cattle and small poultry.

The settlement map of the ancient Slavs displays the boundaries and areas characteristic of each tribe.

East Slavic tribes on the map

The map shows that the East Slavic tribes are concentrated in Eastern Europe and in the territory of modern Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. During the same period, a group of Slavic tribes began to move towards the Caucasus, therefore in the 7th century. Some of the tribes find themselves on the lands of the Khazar Kaganate.

More than 120 East Slavic tribes lived on the lands from the Bug to Novgorod. The largest of them:

1. The Vyatichi are an East Slavic tribe that lived at the mouths of the Oka and Moscow rivers. The Vyatichi migrated to these areas from the Dnieper coast. This tribe lived separately for a long time and retained pagan beliefs, actively resisting joining the Kyiv princes. The Vyatichi tribes were subject to raids by the Khazar Khaganate and paid them tribute. Later, the Vyatichi were still annexed to Kievan Rus, but did not lose their identity.
2. The Krivichi are the northern neighbors of the Vyatichi, living on the territory of modern Belarus and the Western regions of Russia. The tribe was formed as a result of the merger of the Balts and Finno-Ugric tribes that came from the north. Most elements of Krivichi culture contain Baltic motifs.
3. Radimichi are tribes that lived in the territory of modern Gomel and Mogidev regions. Radimichi are the ancestors of modern Belarusians. Their culture and customs were influenced by Polish tribes and eastern neighbors.

These three Slavic groups subsequently united and formed the Great Russians. It must be understood that the ancient Russian tribes and the places of their settlement did not have clear boundaries, because Wars were fought between the tribes for lands and alliances were concluded, as a result the tribes migrated and changed, adopting each other’s culture.

In the 8th century the eastern tribes of the Slavs from the Danube to the Baltic already had a single culture and language. Thanks to this, it became possible to create a trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” and became the root cause of the formation of the Russian state.

The main East Slavic tribes and their places of settlement, table 2

Western Slavic tribes

West Slavic tribes lived in the territory of modern Central Europe. They are usually divided into four groups:

• Polish tribes (Poland, Western Belarus);
• Czech tribes (part of the territory of modern Czech Republic);
• Polabian tribes (lands from the Elbe River to the Odra and from the Ore Mountains to the Baltic). The “Polabian union of tribes” included: Bodrichi, Ruyans, Drevyans, Lusatian Serbs and more than 10 other tribes. In the VI century. most of the tribes were captured and enslaved by the young Germanic feudal states.
• Pomeranians who lived in Pomerania. Beginning in the 1190s, the Pomeranians were attacked by the Germans and Danes and almost completely lost their culture and assimilated with the invaders.

Southern Slavic tribes

The South Slavic ethnic group included: Bulgarian, Dalmatian and Greek Macedonian tribes settled in the northern part of Byzantium. They were captured by the Byzantines and adopted their customs, beliefs and culture.

Neighbors of the ancient Slavs

In the west, the neighbors of the ancient Slavs were tribes of Celts and Germans. In the east are the Balts and Finno-Ugric tribes, as well as the ancestors of modern Iranians - the Scythians and Sarmatians. Gradually they were supplanted by the Bulgar and Khazars tribes. In the south, Slavic tribes lived side by side with the Romans and Greeks, as well as the ancient Macedonians and Illyrians.

The Slavic tribes became a real disaster for the Byzantine Empire and for the Germanic peoples, carrying out constant raids and seizing fertile lands.

In the VI century. Hordes of Turks appeared in the territory inhabited by the Eastern Slavs, who entered into a fight with the Slavs for lands in the Dniester and Danube region. Many Slavic tribes went over to the side of the Turks, whose goal was to seize the Byzantine Empire.
During the war, the Western Slavs were completely enslaved by the Byzantines, the southern Slavs, the Sklavins, defended their independence, and the East Slavic tribes were captured by the Turkic horde.

East Slavic tribes and their neighbors (map)

In the middle of the 1st millennium AD. e. From Lake Ilmen to the Black Sea steppes and from the Eastern Carpathians to the Volga, tribes of the Eastern Slavs began to live. There are about a dozen of them known. Each tribe is a collection of clans occupying a certain, fairly small area. The Tale of Bygone Years describes the places where the tribes lived:

“In the same way, these Slavs came and sat along the Dnieper and were called Polyans, and others - Drevlyans, because they sat in the forests, and others sat between Pripyat and Dvina and were called Dregovichs, others sat along the Dvina and were called Polochans, after a river flowing into Dvina, called Polota, from which the Polotsk people took their name. The same Slavs who settled near Lake Ilmen were called by their own name - Slavs, and built a city and called it Novgorod. And others sat along the Desna, and the Seim, and the Sula, and called themselves northerners. And so the Slavic people dispersed, and after his name the letter was called Slavic.

... and the Drevlyans had their own reign, and the Dregovichi had theirs, and the Slavs had theirs in Novgorod, and another on the Polota River, where the Polotsk people were. From these latter came the Krivichi, sitting in the upper reaches of the Volga, and in the upper reaches of the Dvina, and in the upper reaches of the Dnieper, their city is Smolensk; This is where the Krivichi sit. The northerners also come from them.

...only those who speak Slavic in Rus': Polyans, Drevlyans, Novgorodians, Polochans, Dregovichi, Northerners, Buzhanians, so called because they sat along the Bug, and then became known as Volynians.

The Polyans, who lived on their own, as we have already said, were from a Slavic family and only later were called Polyans, and the Drevlyans descended from the same Slavs and were also not immediately called Drevlyans; The Radimichi and Vyatichi are from the Poles.

And the Polyans, Drevlyans, Northerners, Radimichi, Vyatichi and Croats lived in peace among themselves. The Dulebs lived along the Bug, where the Volynians are now, and the Ulichi and Tivertsy sat along the Dniester and near the Danube.”

That is, if you look at the map, in the 8th–9th centuries the Slavic tribes were located like this: the Slovenes (Ilmen Slavs) lived on the shores of Lake Ilmen and Volkhov; Krivichi with Polotsk residents - in the upper reaches of the Western Dvina, Volga and Dnieper; Dregovichi - between Pripyat and Berezina; Vyatichi - on the Oka and Moscow Rivers; Radimichi - on the Sozh and Desna; northerners - on the Desna, Seim, Sula and Seversky Donets; Drevlyans - in Pripyat and in the Middle Dnieper region; glade - along the middle reaches of the Dnieper; Buzhans, Volynians, Dulebs - in Volyn, along the Bug; Tivertsy, Ulich - in the very south, near the Black Sea and the Danube.

“All these tribes had their own customs, and the laws of their fathers, and legends, and each had their own character. The Polyans have the custom of their fathers being meek and quiet, being bashful before their daughters-in-law and sisters, mothers and parents; They have great modesty before their mothers-in-law and brothers-in-law; They also have a marriage custom: the son-in-law does not go for the bride, but brings her the day before, and the next day they bring for her - whatever they give. And the Drevlyans lived according to bestial customs, they lived like bestials: they killed each other, ate everything unclean, and they did not have marriages, but they kidnapped girls near the water. And the Radimichi, Vyatichi and northerners had a common custom: they lived in the forest, like all animals, ate everything unclean and dishonored themselves in front of their fathers and daughters-in-law, and they did not have marriages, but they organized games between the villages, and gathered at these games, at dances and all sorts of demonic songs, and here they kidnapped their wives in agreement with them; they had two and three wives. And if someone died, they held a funeral feast for him, and then they made a large log, and laid the dead man on this log, and burned him, and after collecting the bones, they put them in a small vessel and placed them on poles along the roads, as they still do now. Vyatichi The same custom was followed by the Krivichi and other pagans who do not know the law of God, but set the law for themselves.”

The text shows that Nestor favors the glades, and the other tribes are not so good for him, but the chronicle was written in the land of the glades.

The peoples inhabiting large areas of Central and Eastern Europe, Siberia, and Central Asia speak languages ​​that have similarities in sound composition and grammatical structure. It is this similarity that is an important manifestation of their relationship.

All these peoples are considered Slavic. Depending on the language class, it is customary to distinguish 3 groups: East Slavic, West Slavic and South Slavic.

The East Slavic category usually includes Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian languages.

To West Slavic - Macedonian, Bulgarian, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian.

To the West Slavic - Slovak, Czech, Polish, Upper and Lower Sorbian.

All Slavic tribes had linguistic similarities, so we can judge that in ancient times there was a single tribe or several large groups, which gave rise to the Slavic people.

The first mentions of a single settlement belong to ancient writers (first century AD). However, they allow us to talk about a more ancient people. According to fossils, it can be judged that Slavic tribes occupied the territory of Eastern Europe for many millennia BC. However, for some reason, the united people had to look for new lands to live.

The resettlement of the Slavic tribes occurred during the era of the “Great Migration of Peoples.” This was mainly due to changes in socio-economic living conditions.

During this period, a new tool for cultivating the land arose, so it became possible to cultivate the land by an individual family, and not by an entire community. In addition, the constant growth of the population required the expansion of land for food production. Frequent wars pushed the Slavic tribes to seize new, cultivated and fertile lands. Therefore, during military victories, some part of the united people remained in the occupied territory.

Tribes are the largest group of Slavs.

These include:

Vyatichi. They settled along the upper and middle reaches of the Oka. It was this tribe that retained its identity longer than others. For a long time they did not have princes, the social order was characterized by democracy and self-government;

Dregovichi. They settled between and Pripyat. The name comes from the word "dregva", which means "swampy area". On the territory of this tribe, the Turovo-Pinsk principality was formed;

Krivichi. They settled along the banks of the Dnieper, Volga, and Western Dvina. The name comes from the word “kryva”, i.e. "relatives by blood" The center of this tribe was the city of Polotsk. The last leader of the Krivichi was Rogvolod, who, together with his sons, was killed by the Novgorod prince Vladimir. After this incident, Vladimir married Rogvolod’s daughter, thereby uniting Novgorod and Polotsk;

Radimichi - a tribe that lived between the Desna and Dnieper rivers;

Tivertsy. They lived on the Black Sea coast between the Danube and the Dnieper. Their main occupation was agriculture;

Croats. They lived on the shore. They were called white Croats. They were engaged in cattle breeding;

Vistula. They occupied the territory of modern Krakow. After the conquest, the Polans were incorporated into Poland;

Lusatians. They lived in the territory of Lower and Upper Lusatia, in the territory of modern Germany. Today, the Lusatian Serbs (descendants of the Lusatians) are among the national minorities of the Federal Republic;

Slovenia. We lived in the basin and the currents of the Mologa. Slovenes made up a significant part of the Novgorod population;

Ulichi. They lived along the Southern Bug and the lower reaches of the Dnieper. This tribe fought for its independence with Kievan Rus for a long time, but was forced to become part of it.

Thus, the Slavic tribes are an important ethnic group that play a significant role in the history of Europe and the formation of modern states.

So far this short list only includesofficially recognized tribes.

Vyatichi- a union of East Slavic tribes that lived in the second half of the first millennium AD. e. in the upper and middle reaches of the Oka. The name Vyatichi supposedly comes from the name of the ancestor of the tribe, Vyatko. However, some associate the origin of this name with the morpheme “ven” and the Veneds (or Venets/Vents) (the name “Vyatichi” was pronounced “Ventici”).
In the middle of the 10th century, Svyatoslav annexed the lands of the Vyatichi to Kievan Rus, but until the end of the 11th century these tribes retained a certain political independence; campaigns against the Vyatichi princes of this time are mentioned. Since the 12th century, the territory of the Vyatichi became part of the Chernigov, Rostov-Suzdal and Ryazan principalities. Until the end of the 13th century, the Vyatichi preserved many pagan rituals and traditions, in particular, they cremated the dead, erecting small mounds over the burial site. After Christianity took root among the Vyatichi, the ritual of cremation gradually fell out of use.
The Vyatichi retained their tribal name longer than other Slavs. They lived without princes, the social structure was characterized by self-government and democracy. The last time the Vyatichi were mentioned in the chronicle under such a tribal name was in 1197.

Buzhans(Volynians) - a tribe of Eastern Slavs who lived in the basin of the upper reaches of the Western Bug (from which they got their name); Since the end of the 11th century, the Buzhans have been called Volynians (from the area of ​​Volyn).

Volynians- an East Slavic tribe or tribal union, mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years and in the Bavarian chronicles. According to the latter, the Volynians owned seventy fortresses at the end of the 10th century. Some historians believe that the Volynians and Buzhans are descendants of the Dulebs. Their main cities were Volyn and Vladimir-Volynsky. Archaeological research indicates that the Volynians developed agriculture and numerous crafts, including forging, casting and pottery.
In 981, the Volynians were subjugated by the Kyiv prince Vladimir I and became part of Kievan Rus. Later, the Galician-Volyn principality was formed on the territory of the Volynians.

Drevlyans- one of the tribes of Russian Slavs, lived in Pripyat, Goryn, Sluch and Teterev.
The name Drevlyans, according to the chronicler's explanation, was given to them because they lived in forests. Describing the morals of the Drevlyans, the chronicler exposes them, in contrast to their fellow tribesmen - the Polans, as an extremely rude people (“they live bestially, kill each other, eat everything is unclean, and they have never had a marriage, but they snatch a maiden from the water”).
Neither archaeological excavations nor the data contained in the chronicle itself confirm such a characterization. From archaeological excavations in the country of the Drevlyans, we can conclude that they had a well-known culture. A well-established burial ritual indicates the existence of certain religious ideas about the afterlife: the absence of weapons in the graves indicates the peaceful nature of the tribe; finds of sickles, shards and vessels, iron products, remains of fabrics and leather indicate the existence of arable farming, pottery, blacksmithing, weaving and tanning among the Drevlyans; many bones of domestic animals and spurs indicate cattle and horse breeding; many items made of silver, bronze, glass and carnelian, of foreign origin, indicate the existence of trade, and the absence of coins gives reason to conclude that trade was barter.
The political center of the Drevlyans in the era of their independence was the city of Iskorosten; in later times this center apparently moved to the city of Vruchiy (Ovruch)

Dregovichi- an East Slavic tribal union that lived between Pripyat and the Western Dvina.
Most likely the name comes from the Old Russian word dregva or dryagva, which means “swamp”.
Under the name of the Druguvites (Greek δρονγονβίται), the Dregovichi were already known to Constantine the Porphyrogenitus as a tribe subordinate to Rus'. Being aloof from the “Road from the Varangians to the Greeks,” the Dregovichi did not play a prominent role in the history of Ancient Rus'. The chronicle only mentions that the Dregovichi once had their own reign. The capital of the principality was the city of Turov. The subordination of the Dregovichi to the Kyiv princes probably occurred very early. The Principality of Turov was subsequently formed on the territory of the Dregovichi, and the northwestern lands became part of the Principality of Polotsk.

Duleby(not Duleby) - a union of East Slavic tribes on the territory of Western Volyn in the 6th - early 10th centuries. In the 7th century they were subjected to an Avar invasion (obry). In 907 they took part in Oleg’s campaign against Constantinople. They split into tribes of Volynians and Buzhanians and in the middle of the 10th century they finally lost their independence, becoming part of Kievan Rus.

Krivichi- a large East Slavic tribe (tribal association), which in the 6th-10th centuries occupied the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina, the southern part of the Lake Peipsi basin and part of the Neman basin. Sometimes the Ilmen Slavs are also considered to be Krivichi.
The Krivichi were probably the first Slavic tribe to move from the Carpathian region to the northeast. Limited in their expansion to the northwest and west, where they met stable Lithuanian and Finnish tribes, the Krivichi spread to the northeast, assimilating with the Finns who lived there.
Having settled on the great waterway from Scandinavia to Byzantium (the route from the Varangians to the Greeks), the Krivichi took part in trade with Greece; Konstantin Porphyrogenitus says that the Krivichi make boats on which the Rus go to Constantinople. They took part in Oleg and Igor’s campaigns against the Greeks as a tribe subordinate to the Kyiv prince; Oleg's agreement mentions their city of Polotsk.
Already in the era of the formation of the Russian state, the Krivichi had political centers: Izborsk, Polotsk and Smolensk.
It is believed that the last tribal prince of the Krivichs, Rogvolod, together with his sons, was killed in 980 by the Novgorod prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In the Ipatiev list, the Krivichi were mentioned for the last time in 1128, and the Polotsk princes were called Krivichi in 1140 and 1162. After this, the Krivichi were no longer mentioned in East Slavic chronicles. However, the tribal name Krivichi was used in foreign sources for quite a long time (until the end of the 17th century). The word krievs entered the Latvian language to designate Russians in general, and the word Krievija to designate Russia.
The southwestern, Polotsk branch of the Krivichi is also called Polotsk. Together with the Dregovichi, Radimichi and some Baltic tribes, this branch of the Krivichi formed the basis of the Belarusian ethnic group.
The northeastern branch of the Krivichi, settled mainly in the territory of modern Tver, Yaroslavl and Kostroma regions, was in close contact with the Finno-Ugric tribes.
The border between the settlement territory of the Krivichi and the Novgorod Slovenes is determined archaeologically by the types of burials: long mounds among the Krivichi and hills among the Slovenes.

Polotsk residents- an East Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands in the middle reaches of the Western Dvina in today's Belarus in the 9th century.
Polotsk residents are mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, which explains their name as living near the Polota River, one of the tributaries of the Western Dvina. In addition, the chronicle claims that the Krivichi were descendants of the Polotsk people. The lands of the Polotsk people extended from Svisloch along the Berezina to the lands of the Dregovichi. The Polotsk people were one of the tribes from which the Principality of Polotsk was later formed. They are one of the founders of the modern Belarusian people.

Glade(poly) is the name of a Slavic tribe that, during the era of the settlement of the Eastern Slavs, settled along the middle reaches of the Dnieper, on its right bank.
Judging by the chronicles and the latest archaeological research, the territory of the land of the glades before the Christian era was limited by the flow of the Dnieper, Ros and Irpen; in the northeast it was adjacent to the village land, in the west - to the southern settlements of the Dregovichi, in the southwest - to the Tivertsy, in the south - to the streets.
Calling the Slavs who settled here the Polans, the chronicler adds: “Sedyahu lay in the field.” The Polyans differed sharply from the neighboring Slavic tribes both in their moral qualities and in the forms of social life: “The Polyanas, for their father’s customs, are quiet and meek, and are ashamed of their daughters-in-law and their sisters and their mothers…. I have marriage customs.”
History finds the Polans already at a rather late stage of political development: the social system is composed of two elements - communal and princely-retinue, and the first is greatly suppressed by the latter. With the usual and most ancient occupations of the Slavs - hunting, fishing and beekeeping - cattle breeding, farming, "timbering" and trade were more common among the Polyans than among other Slavs. The latter was quite extensive not only with its Slavic neighbors, but also with foreigners in the West and East: from the coin hoards it is clear that trade with the East began in the 8th century, but ceased during the strife of the appanage princes.
At first, around the middle of the 8th century, the glades, who paid tribute to the Khazars due to cultural and economic superiority, soon moved from a defensive position in relation to their neighbors to an offensive one; By the end of the 9th century, the Drevlyans, Dregovichs, northerners and others were already subject to the glades. Christianity was established among them earlier than others. The center of the Polyanskaya (“Polish”) land was Kyiv; its other settlements are Vyshgorod, Belgorod on the Irpen River (now the village of Belogorodka), Zvenigorod, Trepol (now the village of Tripolye), Vasilyev (now Vasilkov) and others.
The land of Polyan with the city of Kiev became the center of the Rurikovich possessions in 882. The last time the name of Polyan was mentioned in the chronicle was in 944, on the occasion of Igor’s campaign against the Greeks, and was replaced, probably already at the end of the 10th century, by the name Rus (Ros) and Kiyane. The chronicler also calls the Slavic tribe on the Vistula, mentioned for the last time in the Ipatiev Chronicle in 1208, Polyana.

Radimichi- the name of the population that was part of the union of East Slavic tribes that lived in the interfluve of the upper reaches of the Dnieper and Desna.
Around 885 the Radimichi became part of the Old Russian state, and in the 12th century they mastered most of the Chernigov and southern part of the Smolensk lands. The name comes from the name of the ancestor of the tribe, Radim.

Northerners(more correctly - North) - a tribe or tribal union of Eastern Slavs who inhabited the territories east of the middle reaches of the Dnieper, along the Desna, Seim and Sula rivers.
The origin of the name of the north is not completely clear. Most authors associate it with the name of the Savir tribe, which was part of the Hunnic association. According to another version, the name goes back to an obsolete ancient Slavic word meaning “relative”. The explanation from the Slavic siver, north, despite the similarity of sound, is considered extremely controversial, since the north has never been the most northern of the Slavic tribes.

Slovenia(Ilmen Slavs) - an East Slavic tribe that lived in the second half of the first millennium in the basin of Lake Ilmen and the upper reaches of the Mologa and made up the bulk of the population of the Novgorod land.

Tivertsy- an East Slavic tribe that lived between the Dniester and Danube near the Black Sea coast. They were first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years along with other East Slavic tribes of the 9th century. The main occupation of the Tiverts was agriculture. The Tiverts took part in the campaigns of Oleg against Constantinople in 907 and Igor in 944. In the middle of the 10th century, the lands of the Tiverts became part of Kievan Rus.
The descendants of the Tiverts became part of the Ukrainian people, and their western part underwent Romanization.

Ulichi- an East Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands along the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Southern Bug and the Black Sea coast during the 8th-10th centuries.
The capital of the streets was the city of Peresechen. In the first half of the 10th century, the Ulichi fought for independence from Kievan Rus, but were nevertheless forced to recognize its supremacy and become part of it. Later, the Ulichi and neighboring Tivertsy were pushed north by the arriving Pecheneg nomads, where they merged with the Volynians. The last mention of the streets dates back to the chronicle of the 970s.

Croats- an East Slavic tribe that lived in the vicinity of the city of Przemysl on the San River. They called themselves White Croats, in contrast to the tribe of the same name who lived in the Balkans. The name of the tribe is derived from the ancient Iranian word “shepherd, guardian of livestock,” which may indicate its main occupation - cattle breeding.

Bodrichi(Obodrity, Rarogi) - Polabian Slavs (lower Elbe) in the 8th-12th centuries. - union of Vagrs, Polabs, Glinyaks, Smolyans. Rarog (from the Danes Rerik) is the main city of the Bodrichis. Mecklenburg State in East Germany.
According to one version, Rurik is a Slav from the Bodrichi tribe, the grandson of Gostomysl, the son of his daughter Umila and the Bodrichi prince Godoslav (Godlav).

Vistula- a West Slavic tribe that lived at least since the 7th century in Lesser Poland. In the 9th century, the Vistula people formed a tribal state with centers in Krakow, Sandomierz and Stradow. At the end of the century they were conquered by the king of Great Moravia Svyatopolk I and were forced to accept baptism. In the 10th century, the lands of the Vistula were conquered by the Polans and included in Poland.

Zlićane(Czech Zličane, Polish Zliczanie) - one of the ancient Bohemian tribes. Inhabited the territory adjacent to the modern city of Kourzhim (Czech Republic). It served as the center of formation of the Zlichansky principality, which covered at the beginning of the 10th century. Eastern and Southern Bohemia and the region of the Duleb tribe. The main city of the principality was Libice. The Libice princes Slavniki competed with Prague in the struggle for the unification of the Czech Republic. In 995, Zlicany was subordinated to the Přemyslids.

Lusatians, Lusatian Serbs, Sorbs (German: Sorben), Vends - the indigenous Slavic population living in the territory of Lower and Upper Lusatia - regions that are part of modern Germany. The first settlements of Lusatian Serbs in these places were recorded in the 6th century AD. e.
The Lusatian language is divided into Upper Lusatian and Lower Lusatian.
The Brockhaus and Euphron Dictionary gives the definition: “Sorbs are the name of the Wends and the Polabian Slavs in general.” Slavic people inhabiting a number of regions in Germany, in the federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony.
The Lusatian Serbs are one of Germany's four officially recognized national minorities (along with the Gypsies, Frisians and Danes). It is believed that about 60 thousand German citizens now have Serbian roots, of which 20,000 live in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg) and 40 thousand in Upper Lusatia (Saxony).

Lyutici(Wilts, Velets) - a union of West Slavic tribes that lived in the early Middle Ages in the territory of what is now eastern Germany. The center of the Lutich union was the “Radogost” sanctuary, in which the god Svarozhich was revered. All decisions were made at a large tribal meeting, and there was no central authority.
The Lutici led the Slavic uprising of 983 against German colonization of the lands east of the Elbe, as a result of which colonization was suspended for almost two hundred years. Even before this, they were ardent opponents of the German king Otto I. It is known about his heir, Henry II, that he did not try to enslave them, but rather lured them with money and gifts to his side in the fight against Boleslaw the Brave Poland.
Military and political successes strengthened the Lutichi's commitment to paganism and pagan customs, which also applied to the related Bodrichi. However, in the 1050s, an internecine war broke out among the Lutichs and changed their position. The union quickly lost power and influence, and after the central sanctuary was destroyed by the Saxon Duke Lothair in 1125, the union finally disintegrated. Over the next decades, the Saxon dukes gradually expanded their possessions to the east and conquered the lands of the Luticians.

Pomeranians, Pomeranians are West Slavic tribes who lived from the 6th century in the lower reaches of the Odra on the Baltic Sea coast. It remains unclear whether there was a residual Germanic population before their arrival, which they assimilated. In 900, the border of the Pomeranian range ran along the Odra in the west, the Vistula in the east and Notech in the south. They gave the name to the historical area of ​​Pomerania.
In the 10th century, the Polish prince Mieszko I included the Pomeranian lands into the Polish state. In the 11th century, the Pomeranians rebelled and regained independence from Poland. During this period, their territory expanded west from the Odra into the lands of the Lutich. On the initiative of Prince Wartislaw I, the Pomeranians adopted Christianity.
From the 1180s, German influence began to increase and German settlers began to arrive on the Pomeranian lands. Due to the devastating wars with the Danes, the Pomeranian feudal lords welcomed the settlement of the devastated lands by the Germans. Over time, the process of Germanization of the Pomeranian population began. The remnant of the ancient Pomeranians who escaped assimilation today are the Kashubians, numbering 300 thousand people.

Ruyan(rans) - a West Slavic tribe that inhabited the island of Rügen.
In the 6th century, the Slavs settled the lands of what is now eastern Germany, including Rügen. The Ruyan tribe was ruled by princes who lived in fortresses. The religious center of Ruyan was the sanctuary of Yaromar, in which the god Svyatovit was revered.
The main occupation of the Ruyans was cattle breeding, farming and fishing. There is information according to which the Ruyans had extensive trade ties with Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
The Ruyans lost their independence in 1168 when they were conquered by the Danes, who converted them to Christianity. The Rujan king Jaromir became a vassal of the Danish king, and the island became part of the bishopric of Roskilde. Later, the Germans came to the island, in which the Ruyans disappeared. In 1325, the last Ruyan prince, Wislav, died.

Ukrany- a West Slavic tribe that settled in the 6th century in the east of the modern German federal state of Brandenburg. The lands that once belonged to the Ukrainians are today called Uckermark.

Smolyan(Bulgarian Smolyani) - a medieval South Slavic tribe that settled in the 7th century in the Rhodope Mountains and the valley of the Mesta River. In 837 the tribe rebelled against Byzantine supremacy, concluding an alliance with the Bulgar Khan Presian. Later, the Smolensk people became one of the constituent parts of the Bulgarian people. The city of Smolyan in southern Bulgaria is named after this tribe.

Strumyane- a South Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands along the Struma River in the Middle Ages.

Timochany- a medieval Slavic tribe that lived in the territory of modern eastern Serbia, west of the Timok River, as well as in the regions of Banat and Sirmia. The Timochans joined the first Bulgarian kingdom after the Bulgarian Khan Krum reconquered their lands from the Avar Khaganate in 805. In 818, during the reign of Omurtag (814-836), they rebelled along with other border tribes because they refused to accept a reform that limited their local self management. In search of an ally, they turned to the Holy Roman Emperor, Louis I the Pious. In 824-826 Omurtag tried to resolve the conflict diplomatically, but his letters to Louis remained unanswered. After this, he decided to suppress the uprising by force and sent soldiers along the Drava River to the lands of the Timochans, who again returned them to Bulgarian rule.
Timochans dissolved into the Serbian and Bulgarian peoples in the late Middle Ages.

For this interesting material we are grateful to the Rusich team:

http://slavyan.ucoz.ru/index/0-46