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Silesians (tribe)

January 08, 2023

See also: Silingi

The Silesians (Polish: Ślężanie) were a tribe of West Slavs, specifically of the Lechitic/Polish group, inhabiting territories of Lower Silesia, near Ślęża mountain and Ślęza river,[1] on both banks of the Oder,[2] up to the area of modern city of Wrocław.[3] They were the first permanent inhabitants of the site of Wrocław where they build a fort on Ostrów Tumski in the 9th century or earlier, which at the time was an island on the Oder.[3][4]

Their tribal name was derived from the name of the mountain and the river, which most likely came from the old Polish word Ślagwa, meaning "humid", which refers to the climate of the area.[5] The name of the region in turn, Silesia, comes from their language and tribal name.[1] Along with the Opolans, the Ślężanie comprised one of the two major tribes in Silesia. They bordered the Dziadoszanie to their north.[6] The Biezunczanie's territory lay to the west. Other, more minor, Silesian tribes of the time included the Golensizi, Trzebowianie (who might have actually been part of the Ślężanie), Bobrzanie (who were probably subjects of the Dziadoszanie) and the Głubczyce, further to the south.[1]

A map showing the geography of early Polish tribes. The Ślężanie, and some of the sub tribes are shown in the south west.[7]

The Bavarian Geographer, which refers to them as the Sleenzane, states that they had 15 settlements, or gords (civitates), and lists them as one of several tribes located in Silesia.[1] The Prague charter (description of borders of the Prague bishopric) from 1086 refers to them with the alternative name of Zlasane. Thietmar's Chronicle, from the second decade of the 11th century, calls them the Silensi.[6] Their tribal name was known to the Franks and the Byzantines.[6]

The Ślężanie achieved a high degree of social organization and built fortified towns by the 8th century AD, if not earlier. Archeological finds of fortifications built by various Silesian tribes date back to as early as 4th century and evidence of continuous settlement in the area can be traced back to 1st century AD.[1]

A long fortified wall, strengthened by numerous moats, stretched from the present day town of Jelenia Góra to Krosno Odrzańskie, and along both sides of the Bobr river. The existence of these sophisticated defenses suggests that the various Silesian tribes had to cooperate in their construction. Hence, it is possible that in the period between the 7th and 9th centuries, the Ślężanie were united in a loose confederation of Silesian tribes. However, the wall most likely served a solely defensive purpose, most likely as a bulwark against raiding parties of the neighboring Polabian Slavs as none of the Polish tribes yet shared direct borders with Germanic states at the time.[5]

From 990 AD on, after a series of short wars between Mieszko I of the Piast dynasty, first ruler of Poland, and Boleslaus II, Duke of Bohemia of the Přemyslid dynasty (who was Mieszko's brother in law), Silesia, and the Ślężanie, became part of the Polish state.[8] Over time, the Ślężanie, along with the other Silesian tribes, as well as the Vistulans, Pomeranians, Lendians, Masovians and the Polans mixed and became part of the Polish state.[9]

The mountain Ślęża, and the neighboring peak of Sępia Góra ("Vulture Peak"), served as a sacred place where important religious ceremonies were held by the tribe. In fact, the religious importance of the location dates back to the sun-worshipping people of the Lusatian culture, as early as 1300 B.C. It was used as a place of worship by various people who inhabited the area before the Ślężanie, for example, the Silingi (most likely a Vandal tribe).[5] The mountain Ślęża was also a place of pilgrimage for other Slavic tribes of that era. According to legend, the peak was created as a result of a battle between angels and demons, when after a struggle, the angels used the mountain to bury the entrance to hell.[10]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Jasienica, pg. 32
  2. ^ Wieczorek and Hinz, pg. 155
  3. ^ a b Wroclaw-life.com, Cathedral Isle
  4. ^ Krzysztof Dydyński, Poland: a travel survival kit, Lonely Planet Publications, 1993
  5. ^ a b c Jasienica, pg. 35
  6. ^ a b c Buko, pgs. 83-84
  7. ^ Koemer and Szwedek, pg. 133
  8. ^ Lerski, Wróbel and Kozicki, pg. 354
  9. ^ Falk, pg. 546
  10. ^ Krzysztof Kucharski, "Menu dawnych Ślężan" (Menu of the old Ślężanie), Gazeta Wroclawska, 13 August 2009, last accessed July 8, 2010, [1]

References

  • Andrzej Buko (2008). The Archaeology of Early Medieval Poland: Discoveries, Hypotheses, Interpretations. BRILL. pp. 83–. ISBN 90-04-16230-5.
  • Avner Falk (1996). A Psychoanalytic History of the Jews. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. pp. 547–. ISBN 978-0-8386-3660-2.
  • E. F. K. Koerner; A. J. Szwedek (2001). Towards a History of Linguistics in Poland: From the Early Beginnings to the End of the Twentieth Century. John Benjamins Publishing. pp. 171–. ISBN 90-272-4591-6.
  • Jerzy Jan Lerski (1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966-1945. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-313-26007-0.
  • Alfried Wieczorek; Hans-Martin Hinz (2000). Europe's centre around AD 1000. Stuttgart: Theiss. ISBN 978-3-8062-1549-6.

January 08, 2023
silesians, tribe, also, silingi, silesians, polish, Ślężanie, were, tribe, west, slavs, specifically, lechitic, polish, group, inhabiting, territories, lower, silesia, near, Ślęża, mountain, Ślęza, river, both, banks, oder, area, modern, city, wrocław, they, w. See also Silingi The Silesians Polish Slezanie were a tribe of West Slavs specifically of the Lechitic Polish group inhabiting territories of Lower Silesia near Sleza mountain and Sleza river 1 on both banks of the Oder 2 up to the area of modern city of Wroclaw 3 They were the first permanent inhabitants of the site of Wroclaw where they build a fort on Ostrow Tumski in the 9th century or earlier which at the time was an island on the Oder 3 4 Their tribal name was derived from the name of the mountain and the river which most likely came from the old Polish word Slagwa meaning humid which refers to the climate of the area 5 The name of the region in turn Silesia comes from their language and tribal name 1 Along with the Opolans the Slezanie comprised one of the two major tribes in Silesia They bordered the Dziadoszanie to their north 6 The Biezunczanie s territory lay to the west Other more minor Silesian tribes of the time included the Golensizi Trzebowianie who might have actually been part of the Slezanie Bobrzanie who were probably subjects of the Dziadoszanie and the Glubczyce further to the south 1 A map showing the geography of early Polish tribes The Slezanie and some of the sub tribes are shown in the south west 7 The Bavarian Geographer which refers to them as the Sleenzane states that they had 15 settlements or gords civitates and lists them as one of several tribes located in Silesia 1 The Prague charter description of borders of the Prague bishopric from 1086 refers to them with the alternative name of Zlasane Thietmar s Chronicle from the second decade of the 11th century calls them the Silensi 6 Their tribal name was known to the Franks and the Byzantines 6 The Slezanie achieved a high degree of social organization and built fortified towns by the 8th century AD if not earlier Archeological finds of fortifications built by various Silesian tribes date back to as early as 4th century and evidence of continuous settlement in the area can be traced back to 1st century AD 1 A long fortified wall strengthened by numerous moats stretched from the present day town of Jelenia Gora to Krosno Odrzanskie and along both sides of the Bobr river The existence of these sophisticated defenses suggests that the various Silesian tribes had to cooperate in their construction Hence it is possible that in the period between the 7th and 9th centuries the Slezanie were united in a loose confederation of Silesian tribes However the wall most likely served a solely defensive purpose most likely as a bulwark against raiding parties of the neighboring Polabian Slavs as none of the Polish tribes yet shared direct borders with Germanic states at the time 5 From 990 AD on after a series of short wars between Mieszko I of the Piast dynasty first ruler of Poland and Boleslaus II Duke of Bohemia of the Premyslid dynasty who was Mieszko s brother in law Silesia and the Slezanie became part of the Polish state 8 Over time the Slezanie along with the other Silesian tribes as well as the Vistulans Pomeranians Lendians Masovians and the Polans mixed and became part of the Polish state 9 The mountain Sleza and the neighboring peak of Sepia Gora Vulture Peak served as a sacred place where important religious ceremonies were held by the tribe In fact the religious importance of the location dates back to the sun worshipping people of the Lusatian culture as early as 1300 B C It was used as a place of worship by various people who inhabited the area before the Slezanie for example the Silingi most likely a Vandal tribe 5 The mountain Sleza was also a place of pilgrimage for other Slavic tribes of that era According to legend the peak was created as a result of a battle between angels and demons when after a struggle the angels used the mountain to bury the entrance to hell 10 See also EditList of Medieval Slavic tribesNotes Edit a b c d e Jasienica pg 32 Wieczorek and Hinz pg 155 a b Wroclaw life com Cathedral Isle Krzysztof Dydynski Poland a travel survival kit Lonely Planet Publications 1993 a b c Jasienica pg 35 a b c Buko pgs 83 84 Koemer and Szwedek pg 133 Lerski Wrobel and Kozicki pg 354 Falk pg 546 Krzysztof Kucharski Menu dawnych Slezan Menu of the old Slezanie Gazeta Wroclawska 13 August 2009 last accessed July 8 2010 1 References EditAndrzej Buko 2008 The Archaeology of Early Medieval Poland Discoveries Hypotheses Interpretations BRILL pp 83 ISBN 90 04 16230 5 Avner Falk 1996 A Psychoanalytic History of the Jews Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press pp 547 ISBN 978 0 8386 3660 2 E F K Koerner A J Szwedek 2001 Towards a History of Linguistics in Poland From the Early Beginnings to the End of the Twentieth Century John Benjamins Publishing pp 171 ISBN 90 272 4591 6 Jerzy Jan Lerski 1996 Historical Dictionary of Poland 966 1945 Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 978 0 313 26007 0 Alfried Wieczorek Hans Martin Hinz 2000 Europe s centre around AD 1000 Stuttgart Theiss ISBN 978 3 8062 1549 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silesians tribe amp oldid 1123992126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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