Severians

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses of "Severian", see Severian (disambiguation).
European territory inhabited by East Slavic tribes in 8th and 9th century.

The Severians, also Severyans, Siverians, or Siverianians

Dnieper River and southeast of the Danube River. They are mentioned by the Bavarian Geographer (9th century), Emperor Constantine VII (956–959), the Khazar ruler Joseph (c. 955), and in the Primary Chronicle
(1113).

Ethnonym

The

Proto-Germanic swartaz).[4] Based on the writings of the Bavarian Geographer, some scholars connect the ethnonym to the Zuierani,[5] Zeriuani,[6] or Sebbirozi (most probably the Sabirs[5][6]).[7]

History

The Severians are believed to have continued the East Slavic tribal union along the middle Dnieper valley, after the political disappearance of the

Slavicized formerly Turkic speaking Huns.[9]

Some Severians settled in the territory of present-day northeastern

Scythia Minor).[10] According to Theophanes the Confessor, the Bulgars subjugated the so-called Seven Slavic tribes. One of these tribes, the Severeis, were resettled in the east "from the klisuras before Veregava" (ἀπό τῆς ἔμπροσθεν κλεισȣ́ρας Βερεγάβων), most likely the Rish Pass of the Balkan Mountains; while the other six tribes were resettled in the southern and western regions, as far the boundary with the Pannonian Avars.[11] In 767, the Byzantines kidnapped the Severian prince Slavun, who had made trouble in Thrace, indicating they retained a tributary relationship with the Bulgars.[10]

The other Severians had as neighbors the

Oleg of Novgorod annexed their territory to the Kievan Rus'.[8][13][14] The Severians had to pay a "light tribute." According to Oleg, he had acted not against the Severians but against the Khazars. It is possible that the Severians accepted Oleg's rule because he imposed lower taxes on them.[2]

Together with other East Slavic tribes, Severians participated in the

Grand Principality of Chernigov, and the last reference to them is from 1024, when they are mentioned as part of the troops recruited by Mstislav of Chernigov for his druzhina.[2] They had a significant impact on the victory at the Battle of Listven (1024), especially against the Varangians.[16]

Scholars disagree about the abovementioned dates. Some place Oleg's conquest in the 920–930s; the Khazar ruler Joseph (c. 955) mentioned that his empire ruled over the "Sever, Slaviun, and Ventit"; while Constantine VII wrote that the Severians paid tribute to the Rus and not the Khazars c. 950.[4]

The Severians eventually came to be known as the Chernihovians[17] and gave their name to the region of Severia.[18]

Culture

slaves.[14] According to Constantine VII, they provided not only tribute but also transport via boats dug out from single hollowed trees.[19]

The Severians were a

Saltovo-Mayaki forts were situated on Severian land.[4]

In the Primary Chronicle, it is recorded that the Drevlians, Radimichs, Vyatichi, and Severians all lived violent lifestyles, and they did not enter monogamous marriages but practiced polygamy, specifically polygyny, instead.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Slavs". Encyclopedia of Ukraine. 1993. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ^
    ISBN 9781317872238
    .
  3. ^ a b "The Ukrainian Quarterly". The Ukrainian Quarterly. 56. Ukrainian Congress Committee of America: 184. 2000.
  4. ^
    ISBN 9781442203020
    .
  5. ^
    doi:10.17651/POLON.37.9
    . Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Krzysztof Tomasz Witczak (2013). "Poselstwo ruskie w państwie niemieckim w roku 839: Kulisy śledztwa w świetle danych Geografa Bawarskiego". Slavia Orientalis (in Polish and English). 62 (1): 25–43.
  7. ^ Henryk Łowmiański (1986). Studia nad dziejami Słowiańszczyzny, Polski i Rusi w wiekach średnich. Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewica w Poznaniu. pp. 161–169.
  8. ^
    ISBN 9781442610217
    .
  9. ISBN 9781563240331
    .
  10. ^
    ISBN 9780472081493
    .
  11. ISBN 9789004163898
    .
  12. ISBN 9780415281195
    .
  13. ^
    ISBN 9781317892229
    .
  14. ^
    ISBN 9781442697287
    .
  15. ISBN 9781892941251
    .
  16. ISBN 9780752474441
    .
  17. ISBN 9781139458924
    .
  18. ISBN 9780875690643
    .
  19. ISBN 9780521087094
    .
  20. ISBN 9780801483042
    .

See also

  • List of Medieval Slavic tribes
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