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Veleti

The Veleti,[b] also known as Veletians, Wilzi, Wielzians, and Wiltzes, were a group of medieval Lechitic tribes within the territory of Western Pomerania, related to Polabian Slavs. They had formed together the Confederation of the Veleti, also known as the Union of the Veleti,[c] a loose monarchic confederation of the tribes.[1] Said state existed between the 6th and 10th centuries, after which, it was succeeded by the Lutician Federation.[2]

Confederation of the Veleti
8th century–10th century
Map of the important tribes and settlements of Veleti, around year 1000.
StatusIndependent confederation of Polabian Slavic tribes[citation needed]
Capitalnone or unknown
Common languagesPolabian Slavic[citation needed]
Religion
Polabian[a] Slavic paganism, the known major cults:
GovernmentConfederal monarchy (Principality)
Prince 
History 
• Formed
8th century
• Collapse of Veletian central rule
789
• Veleti tribes reorganized to the Lutician federation
10th century
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Today part ofGermany

Name edit

The name Veleti stems from the root vel- ('high, tall'). The Veleti were called by other names, probably given by their neighbours, such as Lutices, Ljutici, or Volki, Volčki. The latter means 'wolf', and the former probably 'fierce creature' based upon the comparison with the belarusian definition lyutyj zvěr.[3] In common with other Slavic groups between the Elbe and Oder Rivers, they were often described by Germanic sources as Wends. In the late 10th century, they were continued by the Lutici. In Einhard's Vita Karoli Magni, the Wilzi are said to refer to themselves as Welatabians.[4]

Veleti tribes edit

The first mention of a tribe named Veltae is found in Ptolemy's second-century Geography, Book III, chapter V: "Back from the Ocean, near the Venedicus Bay [Baltic Sea], the Veltae dwell, above whom are the Ossi." The Bavarian Geographer's anonymous medieval document compiled in Regensburg in 830 contains a list of the tribes in Central Europe east of the Elbe. Among other tribes it also lists the Uuilci (Veleti), featuring 95 civitates.

The Veleti did not remain a unified tribe for long: local tribes developed, the most important being: the Kissini (Kessiner, Chizzinen, Kyzziner) along the lower Warnow and Rostock, named after their capital Kessin; the Circipani (Zirzipanen) along the Trebel and Peene Rivers, with their capital believed to be Teterow and strongholds in Demmin and probably even Güstrow; the Tollenser east and south of the Peene along the Tollense River; and the Redarier south and east of the Tollensesee on the upper Havel. The Hevelli living in the Havel area and, though more unlikely, the Rujanes of Rugia might once have been part of the Veletians. Even the Leitha region of Lower Austria may have been named for a tribe of Veleti, the Leithi.

This political splitting of the Veleti probably occurred due to the size of the inhabited area, with settlements grouped around rivers and forts and separated by large strips of woodlands. Also, the Veletian king Dragowit had been defeated and made a vassal by Charlemagne in the only expedition into Slavic territory led by Charlemagne himself, in 789, causing the central Veletian rule to collapse. The Veleti were invaded by the Franks during their continuous expeditions into Obodrite lands, with the Obodrites being allies of the Franks against the Saxons. Einhard made these claims in "Vita Karoli Magni" (Life of Charles the Great), a biography of Charlemagne, King of the Franks.

After the 10th century, the Veleti disappeared from written records, and were replaced by the Lutici who at least in part continued the Veleti tradition.

Known leaders edit

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Compared to the original old Slavic religion, the pagan religion of Polabian Slavs was "reformed" (improved) by wooden temples and priesthood as a high social class with political influence. Almost every Polabian tribe had its own pagan cult of a deity of military function or some version of the supreme god, whose high priests had sometimes military retinue and were equal to the chiefs or politically stronger. This made a pagan cults more organized and the Polabian Slavs more resistant to Christianization than other Slavic peoples who had less organized paganism and was practiced as a folk religion. It also caused the creation of a local theocracies.
  2. ^ German: Wilzen, Wilsen, Wilciken, Welataben; Polish: Wieleci, Wieletowie, Wilcy
  3. ^ German: Wilzener Bund; Polish: Związek Wielecki

References edit

  1. ^ J. Sochacki, Związek Lucicki – między Polską a cesarstwem..., p. 26–27.
  2. ^ Thietmar of Merseburg, Thietmari merseburgiensis episcopi chronicon, VIII, 5(4).
  3. ^ Sergent, Bernard (1991). "Ethnozoonymes indo-européens". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne. 17 (2): 24. doi:10.3406/dha.1991.1932.
  4. ^ "Internet History Sourcebooks". www.fordham.edu.

Bibliography edit

  • Christiansen, Erik (1997). The Northern Crusades. London: Penguin Books. p. 287. ISBN 0-14-026653-4.
  • Herrmann, Joachim (1970). Die Slawen in Deutschland (in German). Berlin: Akademie-Verlag GmbH.

External links edit

  • (in German)

veleti, also, known, wilzi, wielzians, wiltzes, were, group, medieval, lechitic, tribes, within, territory, western, pomerania, related, polabian, slavs, they, formed, together, confederation, also, known, union, loose, monarchic, confederation, tribes, said, . The Veleti b also known as Veletians Wilzi Wielzians and Wiltzes were a group of medieval Lechitic tribes within the territory of Western Pomerania related to Polabian Slavs They had formed together the Confederation of the Veleti also known as the Union of the Veleti c a loose monarchic confederation of the tribes 1 Said state existed between the 6th and 10th centuries after which it was succeeded by the Lutician Federation 2 Confederation of the Veleti8th century 10th centuryMap of the important tribes and settlements of Veleti around year 1000 StatusIndependent confederation of Polabian Slavic tribes citation needed Capitalnone or unknownCommon languagesPolabian Slavic citation needed ReligionPolabian a Slavic paganism the known major cults Svarozhich Radegast in Rethra Radgosc Triglav in Brennabor Gerovit in Havelberg Rugiewit with Porenut and Porewit in Charenza Rugen Svetovit in Arkona Rugen Chernoglav in Jasmund Rugen folk polytheism of minor cults unnamed twins gods near Tollensesee etc Chernobog according to HelmoldGovernmentConfederal monarchy Principality Prince History Formed8th century Collapse of Veletian central rule789 Veleti tribes reorganized to the Lutician federation10th centuryPreceded by Succeeded by Polabian Slavs Lutician federationToday part ofGermany Contents 1 Name 2 Veleti tribes 3 Known leaders 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksName editThe name Veleti stems from the root vel high tall The Veleti were called by other names probably given by their neighbours such as Lutices Ljutici or Volki Volcki The latter means wolf and the former probably fierce creature based upon the comparison with the belarusian definition lyutyj zver 3 In common with other Slavic groups between the Elbe and Oder Rivers they were often described by Germanic sources as Wends In the late 10th century they were continued by the Lutici In Einhard s Vita Karoli Magni the Wilzi are said to refer to themselves as Welatabians 4 Veleti tribes edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Geographus Bavarus The first mention of a tribe named Veltae is found in Ptolemy s second century Geography Book III chapter V Back from the Ocean near the Venedicus Bay Baltic Sea the Veltae dwell above whom are the Ossi The Bavarian Geographer s anonymous medieval document compiled in Regensburg in 830 contains a list of the tribes in Central Europe east of the Elbe Among other tribes it also lists the Uuilci Veleti featuring 95 civitates The Veleti did not remain a unified tribe for long local tribes developed the most important being the Kissini Kessiner Chizzinen Kyzziner along the lower Warnow and Rostock named after their capital Kessin the Circipani Zirzipanen along the Trebel and Peene Rivers with their capital believed to be Teterow and strongholds in Demmin and probably even Gustrow the Tollenser east and south of the Peene along the Tollense River and the Redarier south and east of the Tollensesee on the upper Havel The Hevelli living in the Havel area and though more unlikely the Rujanes of Rugia might once have been part of the Veletians Even the Leitha region of Lower Austria may have been named for a tribe of Veleti the Leithi This political splitting of the Veleti probably occurred due to the size of the inhabited area with settlements grouped around rivers and forts and separated by large strips of woodlands Also the Veletian king Dragowit had been defeated and made a vassal by Charlemagne in the only expedition into Slavic territory led by Charlemagne himself in 789 causing the central Veletian rule to collapse The Veleti were invaded by the Franks during their continuous expeditions into Obodrite lands with the Obodrites being allies of the Franks against the Saxons Einhard made these claims in Vita Karoli Magni Life of Charles the Great a biography of Charlemagne King of the Franks After the 10th century the Veleti disappeared from written records and were replaced by the Lutici who at least in part continued the Veleti tradition Known leaders editDragovit c 740 810 Liub 810 823 Milegast 823 823 Cealadragus 823 See also editPomerania during the Early Middle Ages List of Medieval Slavic tribesNotes edit Compared to the original old Slavic religion the pagan religion of Polabian Slavs was reformed improved by wooden temples and priesthood as a high social class with political influence Almost every Polabian tribe had its own pagan cult of a deity of military function or some version of the supreme god whose high priests had sometimes military retinue and were equal to the chiefs or politically stronger This made a pagan cults more organized and the Polabian Slavs more resistant to Christianization than other Slavic peoples who had less organized paganism and was practiced as a folk religion It also caused the creation of a local theocracies German Wilzen Wilsen Wilciken Welataben Polish Wieleci Wieletowie Wilcy German Wilzener Bund Polish Zwiazek WieleckiReferences edit J Sochacki Zwiazek Lucicki miedzy Polska a cesarstwem p 26 27 Thietmar of Merseburg Thietmari merseburgiensis episcopi chronicon VIII 5 4 Sergent Bernard 1991 Ethnozoonymes indo europeens Dialogues d histoire ancienne 17 2 24 doi 10 3406 dha 1991 1932 Internet History Sourcebooks www fordham edu Bibliography editChristiansen Erik 1997 The Northern Crusades London Penguin Books p 287 ISBN 0 14 026653 4 Herrmann Joachim 1970 Die Slawen in Deutschland in German Berlin Akademie Verlag GmbH External links editDragowit Furst der Wilzen in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Veleti amp oldid 1166165660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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