From which Slavs did the Russian people originate? Peoples of ancient Rus'

It is believed that the Slavic peoples belong to the ancient Indo-European unity, which includes such peoples as the Germanic, Baltic, Romance, Greek, Iranian, Indian or Aryan peoples who occupied the entire territory from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic and from the Arctic Ocean to mediterranean sea. The center of this massif was the territory of present-day Asia Minor. Approximately 4000 - 3500 years ago there was a separation of the Proto-Slavic tribes from their kindred Indo-Europeans, and their resettlement to the north. The Slavs occupied large territories north of the Black Sea. From west to east, their territory stretched as a strip from the Oder to the lower reaches of the Don. The ancient Slavs lived in small villages. "Economy was conducted on the basis of four branches: agriculture, cattle breeding, fishing and hunting" (2.23). Despite the discovery of bronze, only ornaments were made from it, and tools (axes, knives, sickles) were still made of stone. Sometimes bronze was also used to make chisels needed in construction. It is not difficult to explain this by the fact that there were no open deposits of the necessary raw materials for the production of bronze, or there were, but in small quantities.

The ancient Slavs believed in the transmigration of souls, therefore, like many other peoples, they gave the deceased the shape of an embryo during the funeral, preparing him for the next birth.

The dawn of Slavic culture (X century BC - III century AD) and the subsequent settlement of the Slavs

A great impetus to the development of Slavic culture was the discovery at the turn of the 1st millennium BC. plow agriculture. This allowed the ancient Slavs to move on to the systematic export of bread across the Black Sea to Greece. Also an important role in this process was played by the discovery of iron, the deposits of which abounded in the Proto-Slavic homeland. There is evidence that ancient Slavic merchants traveled to the southeast, across the Caspian Sea as far as Baghdad. Also, our ancestors are mentioned in his works by the father of history Herodotus (V - century BC), who, according to Rybakov, himself traveled along the Dnieper.

Legends about those distant times have been preserved in our folklore, these are legends about a hero - a blacksmith who defeats the Serpent, or harnesses him to a plow and plows huge furrows on it. It obviously refers to the struggle of the ancient Slavs with the raids of the Cimmerians (I millennium BC), and the subsequent use of captured captives to build fortifications in the south of the Slavic ancestral home (these fortifications have survived to this day).

In the III century BC. the Slavs were already close to creating own state, but the onslaught of the Sarmatian tribes forced them to settle further to the northeast and threw them back in development several centuries ago. The Slavic tribes approached the border of statehood for the second time already by the 4th century AD. but the invasion of the Huns (about 375) again threw them back and caused their subsequent settlement.

Historical moments of the development of Rus' VI – X V.

So, in the 5th - 6th centuries, the grandiose settlement of the Slavs begins from their Proto-Slavic homeland to the south, beyond the Danube, to the Balkan Peninsula, in the territories conquered from Byzantine Empire. The second important event that led to the foundation of the Russian state was the construction of the city of Kyiv on the Dnieper. Kyiv, according to legend, was built by the three brothers Kiy, Shchek, and Horivem in honor of the older brother Kyi. It should be noted that, due to geographical location(Kyiv was on the way of trade caravans going along the Dnieper to Byzantium, and was difficult to reach for enemy raids) this ancient Russian city became the center of consolidation of the Slavic tribes. Thus, "The builder of the fortress on the Dnieper became one of the leaders of the pan-Slavic movement to the Balkans" (2.36). It is not surprising that such campaigns to the south, as well as the continuous struggle with the steppe nomads, led to the creation of an alliance of Slavic tribes called Rus.

The first data about Rus' and the Rosses appeared in the 6th-7th centuries AD. although some of the then sources mention "husbands - Ross" and much earlier (Jordan 370). In those distant times, Rus' occupied the following territory: Kyiv, Chernigov, the river Ros and Porosye, Pereslavl Russian, Severnaya Zemlya, Kursk (where the principalities were located: Kiev, Pereyaslav, Chernigov, Seversk). But let's take a closer look at the process of its formation. To do this, we need to go back several centuries again and follow the life and activities of tribal unions, which later formed Russian state.

The 5th century among the Slavic tribes that formed the Russian state proceeded as a period of military democracy. Large industrial and tribal collectives were replaced by territorial or neighboring communities (combining small individual families). The laws at that time were harsh, for example, the mother had the right to kill a newborn daughter if the family became too large, or children had the right to kill their elderly parents if they were old and did not benefit the family. But, despite this, the Slav, leaving the house, left food on the table and the door open so that the wanderer could eat and rest. At the same time, such interesting formations as squads appear and become stronger - an association of free warriors of professionals who swore allegiance to the prince on the battlefield. This process is stimulated by numerous raids of the steppes and nomads. Gradually, the prince - the head of such a squad - relying on it, concentrates power in his hands and begins to ignore some laws and customs. The princes also entered into various alliances among themselves, or chose the main prince - the commander over the rest. This was one of the prerequisites for the creation of a unified state. Also during this period, the formation of cities. At first, the so-called settlements were built - shelters, where during enemy raids the surrounding inhabitants flocked, Peaceful time such cities were usually empty. Soon princes with retinues began to settle in these towns, and they needed clothes, weapons, food and much more. So, settlements gradually began to form near the cities, places where various merchants and artisans lived. It also served as an impetus for the emergence of a single state. But in general, the Russians lived very poorly. Their clothes consisted of skins or coarse linen, there were few tools, and the Slavs lived mainly in countrymen and burrows. And therefore, the formation of a single state, and, accordingly, the strengthening of trade was very useful for them.

But let's get back to the appearance of Rus'. The first Russian prince, according to legend, was the Varangian Rurik. He, along with his brothers Sineus and Truvor, were invited to reign in Rus'. At first, Rurik built the city of Novgorod and settled in it, but then moved to capital Kyiv. Thus, the formation of the Russian state was completely completed. From that moment on, Rus' began to develop rapidly, Russian merchants increasingly visited other countries. Therefore, the appearance in Russian of such primordially non-Russian words as an ax (an ax in Russian) or a dog (dog in Russian) is connected with this time. Also Russian princes deploy active company on defense against nomads and the conquest of the lands of Byzantium. Such life in Rus' continued for a long time, until Prince Vladimir came to power at the end of the 10th century.

Historical and cultural image of Rus' at the turn of the first millennium

Let's sum up, with what baggage ancient Rus' approached the second stage of its development - Kievan Rus. So, the Russian state, formed in the VI-VII centuries from the Slavic tribes (Polyan, Krivichi and others) living in the territory from the Black Sea and the Dnieper, to Baltic Sea and the upper reaches of the Volga, began to grow and develop rapidly. The number of cities, as well as the population in them, increased rapidly. As a result of these processes, the population increased, and trade flourished. Russian merchants actively visited cultural countries, and as a result, elements of foreign culture began to penetrate Rus' (not only clothes or jewelry, but also words, writing, and later Christianity). The processes of stratification of society intensified, merchants, government officials, and the army stood out more and more. This elite received some special benefits of its own. Meanwhile, integration processes were going on at the very bottom. Small tribes (as well as tribes that joined Rus') were assimilated by the rest, while the formation of a single Russian people and culture took place. So, by the 10th century, almost everything was ready for the formation of a single, full-fledged state of Kievan Rus from the “union of tribes”.

This short list includes onlyofficially recognized tribes.

Vyatichi- the 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 this name by origin with the morpheme "veins" and Venedi (or Veneti / Venti) (the name "Vyatichi" was pronounced as "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 XII 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 retained many pagan rituals and traditions, in particular, they cremated the dead, erecting small mounds above the burial place. After Christianity took root among the Vyatichi, the rite of cremation gradually went out of use.
Vyatichi retained their tribal name longer than other Slavs. They lived without princes, the social structure was characterized by self-government and democracy. IN last time Vyatichi are mentioned in chronicles under such a tribal name in 1197.

Buzhan(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 locality 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 Volhynians 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 Volhynians were subordinated to the Kyiv prince Vladimir I and became part of Kievan Rus. Later, the Galicia-Volyn principality was formed on the territory of the Volynians.

Drevlyans- one of the tribes of Russian Slavs, lived along Pripyat, Goryn, Sluch and Teterev.
The name Drevlyane, according to the chronicler, was given to them because they lived in the forests. Describing the manners of the Drevlyans, the chronicler exposes them, in contrast to his fellow tribesmen - the glades, as extremely rude people (“I live bestially, kill each other, poison everything is unclean, and they never had a marriage, but a maiden washes by 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, it can be concluded that they had a well-known culture. A well-established burial rite testifies to the existence of certain religious beliefs 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, remnants of fabrics and skins indicate the existence of arable farming, pottery, blacksmithing, weaving and leather crafts 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 the trade was barter.
The political center of the Drevlyans in the era of their independence was the city of Iskorosten; at a later time, 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 Drugovites (Greek δρονγονβίται), the Dregovichi are already known to Konstantin Porfirorodny 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 mentions only that the Dregovichi once had their own reign. The capital of the principality was the city of Turov. The subjugation of the Dregovichi to the Kyiv princes probably happened very early. On the territory of the Dregovichi, the principality of Turov was subsequently formed, and the northwestern lands became part of the principality of Polotsk.

Duleby(not duleby) - an alliance of East Slavic tribes on the territory of Western Volhynia in the 6th - early 10th centuries. In the 7th century they were subjected to the Avar invasion (obry). In 907 they participated in Oleg's campaign against Tsargrad. They broke up into tribes of Volhynians and Buzhans, and in the middle of the 10th century they finally lost their independence, becoming part of Kievan Rus.

Krivichi- a numerous East Slavic tribe (tribal union), which occupied the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina in the 6th-10th centuries, southern part Lake Peipsi basin and part of the Neman basin. Sometimes the Ilmen Slavs are also classified as Krivichi.
The Krivichi were probably the first Slavic tribe to move from the Carpathians 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 Finns who lived there.
Having settled on the great waterway from Scandinavia to Byzantium (the path 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 Tsargrad. They participated in the campaigns of Oleg and Igor against the Greeks as a tribe subordinate to the Kyiv prince; Oleg's contract 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 Krivichi Rogvolod, together with his sons, was killed in 980 by the Novgorod prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In the Ipatiev list, the Krivichi are mentioned for the last time under 1128, and the Polotsk princes are named Krivichi under 1140 and 1162. After that, the Krivichi are 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 on the territory of modern Tver, Yaroslavl and Kostroma regions, was in close contact with the Finno-Ugric tribes.
The border between the territory of settlement of the Krivichi and Novgorod Slovenes is determined archaeologically by the types of burials: long mounds near the Krivichi and hills among the Slovenes.

Polochane- an East Slavic tribe that inhabited the lands in the middle reaches of the Western Dvina in today's Belarus in the 9th century.
Polochans 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 Polochans stretched from the Svisloch along the Berezina to the lands of the Dregovichi. The Polochans were one of the tribes from which the Polotsk principality was later formed. They are one of the founders of the modern Belarusian people.

Glade(poly) - the name of the Slavic tribe, in the era of the settlement of the Eastern Slavs settled along the middle course of the Dnieper, on its right bank.
Judging by chronicle news and the latest archaeological research, the territory of the land of the glades before the Christian era was limited to the course of the Dnieper, Ros and Irpin; in the north-east it was adjacent to the derevskaya 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 glades, the chronicler adds: “outside in the field, gray-haired.” The meadows differed sharply from the neighboring Slavic tribes both in moral properties and in the forms of social life: “The glade for their father, the customs of the name is quiet and meek, and ashamed of his daughters-in-law and sisters and mothers .... marriage customs having a husband.
History catches the meadows already at a rather late stage political development: the social system is made up of two elements - communal and princely-druzhina, the former being strongly suppressed by the latter. With the usual and ancient occupations of the Slavs - hunting, fishing and beekeeping - cattle breeding, agriculture, "woodworking" and trade were more common among the glades than among other Slavs. The latter was quite extensive not only with Slavic neighbors, but also with foreigners in the West and East: the coin treasures show that trade with the East began as early as the 8th century - it stopped during the strife of the specific princes.
At first, about the middle of the 8th century, the glades, who paid tribute to the Khazars, due to their cultural and economic superiority, soon moved from a defensive position in relation to their neighbors to an offensive one; the Drevlyans, Dregovichi, northerners and others by the end of the 9th century were already subject to the glades. They also adopted Christianity earlier than others. The center of the Polyana ("Polish") land was Kyiv; her others settlements- Vyshgorod, Belgorod on the Irpen River (now the village of Belogorodka), Zvenigorod, Trepol (now the village of Trypillya), Vasilev (now Vasilkov) and others.
The land of the glades with the city of Kiev became the center of the possessions of the Rurikovichs from 882. The last time in the annals the name of the glades was mentioned in 944, on the occasion of Igor's campaign against the Greeks, and was replaced, probably already at the end of the Χ century, by the names Rus (Ros) and Kiyane. The chronicler also calls the Glades the Slavic tribe on the Vistula, mentioned for the last time in the Ipatiev Chronicle under 1208.

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 the Desna.
Around 885, Radimichi became part of the Old Russian state, and in the 12th century they mastered most of Chernigov and the southern part of Smolensk lands. The name comes from the name of the ancestor of the Radima tribe.

northerners(more correctly - the 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 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 the obsolete Old 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 northerly 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 Novgorod land.

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

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

Croatians- 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 with them, who lived in the Balkans. The name of the tribe is derived from the ancient Iranian word "shepherd, guardian of cattle", which may indicate its main occupation - cattle breeding.

Bodrichi(encouraged, rarogs) - Polabian Slavs (lower reaches of the Elbe) in the VIII-XII centuries. - the union of the Wagrs, Polabs, Glinyakov, Smolensk. Rarog (among the Danes Rerik) - main city peppy. Mecklenburg in East Germany.
According to one version, Rurik is a Slav from the Bodrich tribe, the grandson of Gostomysl, the son of his daughter Umila and the Bodrich prince Godoslav (Godlav).

Vistula- a West Slavic tribe that lived at least from the 7th century in Lesser Poland. In the 9th century, the Vistulas formed a tribal state with centers in Krakow, Sandomierz and Straduv. At the end of the century, they were subjugated by the king of Great Moravia Svyatopolk I and were forced to be baptized. In the 10th century, the lands of the Vistulas were conquered by the Polans and incorporated into Poland.

Zlichane(Czech. Zličane, Polish. Zliczanie) - one of the ancient Czech 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 embraced in the early 10th century. East and South Bohemia and the region of the Duleb tribe. The main city of the principality was Libice. The princes of Libice Slavniki competed with Prague in the struggle for the unification of the Czech Republic. In 995, the Zlichans were subjugated by the Přemyslids.

Lusatians, Lusatian Serbs, Sorbs (German Sorben), Wends - the indigenous Slavic population living in the territory of Lower and Upper Lusatia - areas that are part of modern Germany. The first settlements of the 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 dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron gives a definition: "Sorbs are the name of the Wends and, in general, the Polabian Slavs." Slavic people inhabiting a number of areas in Germany, in the federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony.
Lusatian Serbs are one of the four officially recognized national minorities in Germany (along with gypsies, Frisians and Danes). It is believed that about 60,000 German citizens now have Lusatian Serb roots, of which 20,000 live in Lower Lusatia (Brandenburg) and 40,000 in Upper Lusatia (Saxony).

Lyutichi(Vilts, Velets) - an alliance of West Slavic tribes living in early middle ages in what is now eastern Germany. The center of the union of the Lyutichs was the sanctuary "Radogost", in which the god Svarozhich was revered. All decisions were made at a large tribal meeting, and there was no central authority.
The Lyutichi led the Slavic uprising of 983 against the German colonization of lands east of the Elbe, as a result of which colonization was suspended for almost two hundred years. Even before that, 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 Poland, Boleslav the Brave.
Military and political successes strengthened the adherence to paganism and pagan customs in the Lutiches, which also applied to related Bodrichs. However, in the 1050s, civil war broke out among the Lutici and changed their situation. The union quickly lost power and influence, and after the central sanctuary was destroyed by the Saxon duke Lothar in 1125, the union finally broke up. Over the following decades, the Saxon dukes gradually expanded their holdings to the east and conquered the lands of the Luticians.

Pomeranians, Pomeranians - West Slavic tribes who lived from the 6th century in the lower reaches of the Odra on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It remains unclear whether there was a residual Germanic population prior to their arrival, which they assimilated. In 900, the border of the Pomeranian area passed along the Odra in the west, the Vistula in the east and the Notech in the south. They gave the name of the historical area of ​​Pomerania.
In the 10th century, the Polish prince Mieszko I included the lands of the Pomeranians into the Polish state. In the 11th century, the Pomeranians revolted and regained their independence from Poland. During this period, their territory expanded westward from the Odra into the lands of the Luticians. At the initiative of Prince Vartislav I, the Pomeranians adopted Christianity.
From the 1180s, German influence began to grow and German settlers began to arrive on the lands of the Pomeranians. Because of 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(wounds) - a West Slavic tribe that inhabited the island of Rügen.
In the VI century, the Slavs settled the lands of present-day eastern Germany, including Rügen. The Ruyan tribe was ruled by princes who lived in fortresses. The religious center of the Ruyans was the sanctuary of Yaromar, in which the god Svyatovit was revered.
The main occupation of the Ruyans was cattle breeding, agriculture and fishing. There is information according to which the Ruyans had extensive trade relations 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. Ruyan king Jaromir became a vassal Danish king, and the island is part of the Bishopric of Roskilde. Later, the Germans came to the island, in which the blush dissolved. In 1325, the last Ruyansk prince Wislav died.

Ukraine- 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 now called the Uckermark.

Smolensk(Bulgarian Smolyan) - a medieval South Slavic tribe that settled in the 7th century in the Rhodopes and the valley of the Mesta River. In 837 the tribe revolted against the Byzantine supremacy, concluding an alliance with the Bulgarian 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.

Timochan- 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. Timochan joined the first Bulgarian kingdom, after the Bulgarian Khan Krum conquered their lands from the Avar Khaganate in 805. In 818, during the reign of Omurtag (814-836), they rebelled along with other border tribes, as they refused to accept the reform that limited their local self-government. 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 through diplomacy, but his letters to Louis remained unanswered. After that, he decided to suppress the uprising by force and sent soldiers along the Drava River to the lands of the Timochan, who again returned them to the rule of Bulgaria.
Timochan merged into the Serbian and Bulgarian peoples in the late Middle Ages.

For this interesting material we are grateful to sai "Rusich":

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

Rusichi were not the only people who inhabited Kievan Rus. In the cauldron of the ancient Russian state, other, more ancient tribes “boiled”: Chud, Merya, Muroma. They left early, but left a deep mark on the Russian ethnos, language and folklore.

Chud

"Whatever you call a boat, that's how it will float." The mysterious people Chud fully justifies its name. The folk version says that the Slavs dubbed some tribes Chud, because their language seemed strange to them, unusual. In ancient Russian sources and folklore, there are many references to the “chud”, which “the Varangians from overseas imposed tribute”. They took part in Prince Oleg's campaign against Smolensk, Yaroslav the Wise fought against them: "and defeated them, and set up the city of Yuryev", legends were made about them, as about white-eyed miracles - an ancient people, akin to European "fairies". They left a huge mark in the toponymy of Russia, their name is Lake Peipus, Peipsi coast, the villages: "Front Chud", "Middle Chud", "Rear Chud". From the north-west of present-day Russia to the Altai mountains, their mysterious “wonderful” trace can be traced to this day.

For a long time, it was customary to associate them with the Finno-Ugric peoples, since they were mentioned where representatives of the Finno-Ugric peoples lived or still live. But the folklore of the latter also preserved legends about the mysterious ancient people of the Chud, whose representatives left their lands and went somewhere, not wanting to accept Christianity. Especially a lot about them is told in the Komi Republic. So they say that the ancient tract Vazhgort " Old village» in the Udora region was once a Chudi settlement. From there they were allegedly driven out by Slavic newcomers.

In the Kama region, you can learn a lot about Chud: locals describe their appearance (dark-haired and swarthy), language, customs. They say that they lived in the middle of the forests in dugouts, where they buried themselves, refusing to obey the more successful invaders. There is even a legend that “the miracle went underground”: they dug a large hole with an earthen roof on pillars, and they brought it down, preferring death to captivity. But none popular belief, nor the annalistic mention can answer the questions: what kind of tribes were they, where did they go and whether their descendants are still alive.

Some ethnographers attribute them to the Mansi peoples, others to the representatives of the Komi people, who preferred to remain pagans. The most daring version, which appeared after the discovery of Arkaim and the "Country of Cities" of Sintashta, claims that the Chud are ancient arias. But so far one thing is clear, the Chud are one of the natives of ancient Rus' whom we have lost.

Merya

“The Chud did it, but measured the gates, roads and milestones ...” - these lines from Alexander Blok’s poem reflect the confusion of scientists of his time about the two tribes that once lived next door to the Slavs. But, unlike the first, Mary had a "more transparent story." This ancient Finno-Ugric tribe once lived in the territories of modern Moscow, Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Tver, Vladimir and Kostroma regions of Russia. That is, in the very center of our country.

There are many references to them, merya (merins) is found in the Gothic historian Jordanes, who in the 6th century called them tributaries of the Gothic king Germanaric. Like the Chud, they were in the troops of Prince Oleg when he went on campaigns to Smolensk, Kyiv and Lyubech, about which records have been preserved in the Tale of Bygone Years. True, according to some scientists, in particular Valentin Sedov, by that time, ethnically, they were no longer a Volga-Finnish tribe, but "half-Slavs." The final assimilation occurred, obviously, by the 16th century.

One of the largest peasant uprisings of Kievan Rus in 1024 is associated with the name of Merya. The reason was the great famine that engulfed the Suzdal land. Moreover, according to the annals, it was preceded by "immeasurable rains", drought, premature frosts, dry winds. For Mary, most of whose representatives opposed Christianization, this obviously looked like “divine punishment”. At the head of the rebellion were the priests of the "old faith" - the Magi, who tried to use the chance to return to pre-Christian cults. However, unsuccessfully. The rebellion was defeated by Yaroslav the Wise, the instigators were executed or sent into exile.

Despite the scarce data that we know about the Merya people, scientists managed to restore them. ancient language, which in Russian linguistics was called "Meryansky". It was reconstructed on the basis of the dialect of the Yaroslavl-Kostroma Volga region and the Finno-Ugric languages. A number of words were recovered thanks to geographical names. So it turned out that the endings "-gda" in the Central Russian toponymy: Vologda, Sudogda, Shogda are the heritage of the Meryan people.

Despite the fact that the mention of Merya completely disappeared in the sources back in the pre-Petrine era, today there are people who consider themselves to be their descendants. Basically, these are residents of the Upper Volga region. They argue that the Meryans did not dissolve over the centuries, but formed the substratum (underlying) of the northern Great Russian people, switched to the Russian language, and their descendants call themselves Russians. However, there is no evidence for this.

Murom

As the Tale of Bygone Years says: in 862 Slovenes lived in Novgorod, Krivichi in Polotsk, Merya in Rostov, Murom in Murom. The chronicle, like the Meryans, refers to the non-Slavic peoples. Their name is translated as "an elevated place near the water", which corresponds to the position of the city of Murom, which for a long time was their center. Today, on the basis of archaeological finds found in large cemeteries of the tribe (located between the tributaries of the Oka, the left Ushna, Unzha and the right Tesha), it is practically impossible to determine to which ethnic group they belonged.

According to domestic archaeologists, they could be either another Finno-Ugric tribe or part of the Mary, or Mordovians. Only one thing is known, they were friendly neighbors with a highly developed culture. Their weapons, in terms of workmanship, were among the best in the surrounding areas, and Jewelry, which are found in abundance in burials, are distinguished by the ingenuity of forms and the care taken in their manufacture.

Murom was characterized by arched head ornaments woven from horsehair and strips of leather, which were spirally braided with bronze wire. Interestingly, there are no analogues among other Finno-Ugric tribes.

Sources show that the Slavic colonization of Muroma was peaceful and occurred mainly due to strong and economic trade ties. However, the result of this peaceful coexistence was that the Muroma was one of the very first assimilated tribes that disappeared from the pages of history. By the XII century, they are no longer mentioned in the annals.

Polischuks

Polesie - an area located today on the territory of four states: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland - has a special role in the history of the Slavs. If you look at the map, then Polesie will be right in the center of the Slavic world. Hence the idea of ​​it as the ancestral home of the Slavs, as well as the hypothesis of the "Polesye Lake" - an impenetrable swampy barrier that separated the Slavs and the Balts, which allegedly violated their original unity.

Today, the idea of ​​Polissya as the place where the Proto-Slavic ethnic group first originated is very popular. At the very least, this may be true in relation to its western regions. The Soviet archaeologist Yuri Kukharenko called them a "bridge", along which the ancient migration of the Slavs from west to east, from the Vistula to the Dnieper region, took place.

Today, these territories are inhabited by a completely unique East Slavic people, who are neither Russians, nor Ukrainians, nor Belarusians. Western polishchuks or tuteishs are a distinctive Slavic ethnic group: they differ from their neighbors not only in language and culture, but also in physical features.

According to the researchers, they may be descendants of groups of Duleb tribes, known as "Buzhans" and "Volynians", who lived in this territory in the first millennium of our era. Today they are conditionally divided into three groups, depending on the territory they inhabit: forest people living in villages on the outskirts of forests, swamps - the most significant group occupying swamp territories and field workers living on the plains.

Despite the fact that today the number of Western polishchuks has exceeded three million, no one has yet recognized the official status of a separate ethnic group for them.

Settlement of Slavic tribes in Rus'

Narrating the resettlement of the Slavs, the chronicler tells how some Slavs "sedosha along the Dnieper and swung over the Polyana", others were called Drevlyans ("zane sedosha in the forests"), the third, who lived between Pripyat and the Dvina, were called Dregovichi, the fourth lived along the river Cloths were called Polotskians. Slovenes lived near Ilmensky Lake, and northerners lived along the Desna, Seim and Sula.

Gradually, the names of other East Slavic tribes appear in the chronicler's story.

In the upper reaches of the Volga, Dvina and Dnieper live Krivichi, "their own city is Smolensk." From the Krivichi, the chronicler brings out the northerners and Polochans. The chronicler speaks of the inhabitants of the Bug region, who in ancient times were called Dulebs, and now Volynians or Buzhans. In the story of the chronicler, the inhabitants of Posozhye - Radimichi, and the inhabitants of the Oka forests - Vyatichi, and the Carpathian Croats, and the inhabitants of the Black Sea steppes from the Dnieper and Bug to the Dniester and Danube - the Ulichi and Tivertsy act.

“This is the only Slovenesk language (people) in Rus',” the chronicler ends his story about the resettlement of the Eastern Slavs.

The chronicler still remembers those times when the Slavs of Eastern Europe divided into tribes, when the Russian tribes “have their own customs and the law of their fathers and traditions, each their own temper” and lived “individually”, “each with his own family and in their own places, owning each other with their own family”.

But when the annalistic initial code was compiled (XI century), tribal life was already receding into the realm of legends. Tribal associations were replaced by new associations - political, territorial. The tribal names themselves disappear.

Already from the middle of the X century. the old tribal name "Polyane" is replaced by a new one - "Kiyane" (Kyivians), and the area of ​​​​Polyany, "Field", becomes Rus.

The same thing happens in Volhynia, in the Bug region, where the ancient tribal name of the inhabitants of the region - "Dulebs" - gives way to a new name - Volynians or Buzhans (from the cities of Volyn and Buzhsk). The exception is the inhabitants of the dense forests of the Oka - the Vyatichi, who lived "individually", "of their kind", back in the 11th century.

East Slavic tribes in the IX-XII centuries. Areas (according to V.V. Sedov): a - Slovenian Ilmen; b - Pskov Krivichi; c - Smolensk-Polotsk Krivichi; d - Rostov-Suzdal branches; e - radimichi; e - tribes of the southeast Rus. plains (B - Vyatichi, C - northerners); g - Duleb tribes (V - Volhynians; D - Drevlyans; P - glade); h - Croats

From the Carpathian Mountains and the Western Dvina to the headwaters of the Oka and Volga, from Ilmen and Ladoga to the Black Sea and the Danube, Russian tribes lived on the eve of the formation of the Kievan state.

Carpathian Croats, Danube streets and Tivertsy, Pobuzh Dulebs or Volynians, inhabitants of the swampy forests of Pripyat - Dregovichi, Ilmen Slovenes, inhabitants of the dense Oksky forests - Vyatichi, numerous Krivichi of the upper reaches of the Dnieper, Western Dvina and Volga, Zadneprovsky northerners and other East Slavic tribes constituted a kind of ethnic unity , "Slovene language in Rus'". It was the eastern, Russian branch of the Slavic tribes. Their ethnic proximity contributed to the formation of a single state, and a single state rallied the Slavic tribes.

Various tribes, creators and bearers of different, albeit close to each other, cultures took part in the formation of the Slavs in the process of convergence.

The composition of the Eastern Slavs included not only the Proto-Slavic tribes of the middle Dnieper and adjacent river systems, not only the early Slavic tribes of the culture of the burial fields, but also tribes descended from ancestors with a culture of a different kind, with a different language.

What picture do the material monuments of the forest strip of Eastern Europe paint for us?

The patriarchal-clan system is indestructible. In the fortified settlements-fortifications live big families. The nests of settlements make up the settlement of the clan. Gorodische is a village of a family community - a closed little world that produces everything that is necessary for life. Nests, settlements stretch along the banks of rivers.

Huge expanses of uninhabited lands of river watersheds, overgrown with forest, separate the areas of settlement of the ancient tribes of the forest belt of Eastern Europe. Along with primitive slash-and-burn agriculture, cattle breeding, hunting and fishing play an important role, the latter often being more important than agriculture.

There is no private property, no individual economy, no property, and, moreover, social stratification.