Polish tribes
Lechite tribes that lived within the territory of Poland
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"Polish tribes" is a term used sometimes to describe the tribes that lived from around the mid-6th century in the territories that became Polish with the creation of the Polish state by the Piast dynasty. The territory on which they lived became a part of the first Polish state created by duke Mieszko I and expanded at the end of the 10th century, enlarged further by conquests of king Bolesław I at the beginning of the 11th century.
In about 850 AD a list of peoples was written down by the Bavarian Geographer. Absent on the list are Polans, Pomeranians and Masovians, who became known later and were written about by Nestor the Chronicler in his Primary Chronicle (11th/12th century).
The most important tribes who were conquered by Polans were the Masovians, Vistulans, Silesians and Pomeranians.[1] These five tribes "shared fundamentally common culture and language and were considerably more closely related to one another than were the Germanic tribes."[2]
Tribes
Listed by the Bavarian Geographer (c. 845)
The following tribes today identified as Polish are listed by the anonymous Bavarian Geographer, who wrote in the mid-9th century:[3]
| Latin name | Polish name | English name (if separate) | Amount of civitates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glopeani | Goplanie | Goplans | 400 |
| Lendizi | Lędzianie | Lendians | 98 |
| Prissani | Pyrzyczanie | 70 | |
| Velunzani | Wolinianie | Wolinians | 70 |
| Sleenzane | Ślężanie | Silesians | 15 |
| Dadosesani | Dziadoszanie or Dziadoszyce | 20 | |
| Besunzane | Bieżuńczanie | 2 | |
| Lupiglaa | Głubczyce (uncertain) | 30 | |
| Opolini | Opolanie | Opolans | 20 |
| Golensizi | Gołęszycy | 5 |
Listed in the Prague document (1086)
The Prague document lists the following tribes, located in Silesia:[4]
Other sources and tribes
Other sources include Thietmar's Chronicle, which mentions the Diedesisi or Diedesi (identified with the Dadosesani or Dziadoszanie), and the Cilensi or Silensi (identified with the Silesians).[5] Widukind of Corvey mentions a tribe called Licikaviki in his work, The Deeds of the Saxons, thought to be the Lubuszans, or possibly the Lendians or Pomeranians.[6] Furthermore, the following tribes have been identified through other sources or inference:
- Polans – mentioned in the Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum[7] and Chronica Slavorum[8]
- Masovians – mentioned in the Primary Chronicle[9]
- Pomeranians – mentioned in the Primary Chronicle[9]