Monthly Archives: March 2015

Polabian Gods Part Vb – Saxo Grammaticus on the Siege of Arkona

PublishedMarch 13, 2015 Post authortorino

We continue here with the story of the Danish invasion of Ruegen in 1168 as told by Saxo Grammaticus. The first part is to be found here.

The King Has a Feeling

“The [Danish] King was filled with a desire of destroying their fortifications no less than he wanted toe stroy the pagan cult which was present in this town; he believed, namely that if he were able to tame Arkona, then all of paganism on Rugia would be destroyed for he had no doubt that so long as this statue stood, it was easier for him to conquer the country’s fortifications than to defeat the pagan cult. In order to bring the siege to a quicker end, all of his warriors greatly labored on his orders to bring from nearby forests many a tree trunk that could be used to build siege engines. Whereas the engineers began to build [the siege engines], he appeared among them saying that their hard labors won’t bring any benefits and that the town will fall in their hands faster than they expected. When he was asked why he thinks this, he answered that he arrived at this conclusion for the following reason. He said that the Rugians at one time were conquered by Charlemagne and they were then ordered to pay tribute to the Abbey (of Saint Vitus) in Corvey, who became known thanks to his martyr’s death; but when Charlemagne died, they immediately dropped the enslaving yoke and returned to paganism; they then supposedly raised at Arkona this statue that they called Saint Vitus [i.e., Svantevit] and on whose worship they used all the money that earlier had been sent to Saint Vitus at Corvey with whom/which they now wanted nothing to do, for they said, that they were satisfied with the Saint Vitus [i.e., Svantevit] that they had at home and they felt no desire to subordinate themselves to some foreign [one]. Therefore, Saint Vitus, given that his day was drawing closer [i.e., the day of the feast of Saint Vitus] will destroy their walls as a penalty for them having portrayed him in such a barbarous way; they have earned his wrath for they have established a blasphemous cult in lieu of a holy commemoration [of his]. This was not revealed to him in a dream, said the King nor did he arrived at this conclusion from analyzing any occurrence that may have happened, but rather he only had this strong conviction/feeling that this is what had to happen.”

But His Warriors Are More Pragmatic

“Such prophesy generated more doubt than belief in it, and because the island on which Arkona stood that was called Wittow was separated from Rugia by only a thin strait that was only so wide as a small river and it was feared that the Arkonians could get reinforcements by this path, people were sent there so as to guard the ford and prevent the enemy from crossing. With the rest of the army he [the King] besieged the city paying careful attention to pace the catapults close to the walls. Absalon was tasked with dividing the people and telling them where they should set up camp and in order to do this he measured the country between both shores exactly.”

And the Arkonians Are More Impressed with Their Banner

“In the meantime the Arkonians filled the gate with a great quantity of earth so as to make it harder for the enemy to attack it and they blocked access to it with a wall made of turf and this filled them with such confidence that they neglected to post warriors in the tower over the gate but only hanged there several banners and pennants. One of their insignia that stood by reason of its color and of its size was called Stanica and the Rugians venerated this banner with such great reverence as almost all of their Gods taken together, for when it was carried in front of them they believed that they had sufficient might so as to challenge both gods and men and that there was not a thing they could not [lawfully?] do then [with the banner at their front] if they so should choose to such as plunder towns, destroy altars, commit dishonorable acts and to turn houses on Rugia into ruins. They were so tremendously supersticious when it came to this rag that they ascribed to it more authority and power than to a kingly [banner] and they venerated it as a divine standard, and even those who had been harmed [by the bearers of it] gave the banner great reverence and honor, irrespective of hoe much harm it brought them.”

BTW Note that the Stanica banner is also mentioned by Thietmar in his description of the temple at Radogost/Riedegost.

On the Bavarian Geographer – Suevi non sunt nati sed seminati?

PublishedMarch 8, 2015 Post authortorino

Researching early Slavic tribal names and histories is a rather difficult task for the simple reason that outside of Fredegar, Einhard, Paul the Deacon (and, possibly, Porphyrogenetus) or the various Carolingian annals’ mentions, very few sources regarding the same exist prior to the late 10th century. What the above contain, in turn, is very little. Therefore, speculation about Slavic tribal polities is necessarily mostly that – speculation. One example of an exhaustive, though rather skimpy, source is the so-called Note of the Bavarian Geographer. Discovered in 1772 in the Bavarian Prince Elector’s library by the nosy Louis-Gabriel Du Buat-Nançay (the French ambassador to the Saxon Court), it dates to the 9th century (probably the first half of it) and was published in 1796 by Jan Potocki the Polish archeologist (and, if this may not prove redundant, eccentric). It was Potocki that called it a note of the “Bavarian” geographer although it is unlikely that the writer was Bavarian (more likely Frankish) and even less likely that he was a geographer (most likely a spy or scout). So the French spy found a note by his predecessor-in-trade.

What is interesting about this note is that it lists not just the nearby Polabian Slavic tribes that we know from the much later writings of Thietmar, Adam of Bremen, Helmold and Saxo Grammaticus but it also lists tribes populating portions of Poland, the Czech lands and, more generally, contains a “Description of cities and lands north of the Danube” (Descriptio civitatum et regionum ad septentrionalem plagam Danubii). Although the note says nothing other than the name of the tribe and a measure of its relative strength expressed by the number of “civitates”, i.e., cities/towns that such tribe possesses, of some of these tribes it is the only witness to their existence.

Looking at this from the viewpoint of Polish historiography, it contains no mention of any Polans or Mazovians (though does contain Vislans and the Slenzans of Silesia). Neither does it mention Croats anywhere nor, probably, any Eastern Slav tribes. On the other hand, it does mention the Sorbs, what appear to be Bohemian tribes and the Prussians. Some of these names are obvious, the others’ association with known tribal entities is more tentative and yet others only leave us scratching our heads. Also note that researchers believe that there were perhaps two different source documents – therefore, we break up the piece below into two separate parts roughly corresponding to the two (proposed) pieces.

Without further ado here is the Bavarian Geographer:

Part I

“Description of cities and lands north of the Danube. These are they who reside closer to the borders of Denmark. who are called Nortabtrezi, where the region has 53 cities divided among their dukes. Vuilci who have 95 cities and 4 regions. Linaa are people who have 7 cities. Near them reside those whom they call Bethenici and Smeldingon and Morizani, who have 11 cities. And next to them are those who are called Hehfeldi, who have 8 cities. And next to them is the country called [of the ] Surbi, [in] which country there are many [people], and they have 50 cities. And next to them are the ones who are called Talaminzi who have 14 cities. Beheimare who have 15 cities. Marharii have 11 cities. The country of the Vulgarii is immense and the people plenty [and] they have 5 cities, because there is a great multitude of them and it is not [the work] of the cities to have them [?] There is a people who are called Merehanos, they have 30 cities. These are the countries that terminate/end at our borders.”

(Descriptio civitatum et regionum ad septentrionalem plagam Danubii. Isti sunt qui propinquiores resident finibus Danaorum, quos uocant Nortabtrezi, ubi regio, in qua sunt civitates LIII, per duces suos partite. Vuilci in qua civitates XCV et regiones IIII. Linaa est populus, qui habet civitates VII. Prope illis resident, quos vocant Bethenici et Smeldingon et Morizani, qui habent civitates XI. Juxta illos sunt, qui vocantur Hehfeldi, qui habent civitates VIII. Juxta illos est regio, quae uocatur Surbi, in qua regione plures sunt, quae habent ciuitates L. Juxta illos sunt quos uocantur Talaminzi qui habent ciuitates XIIII. Beheimare in qua sunt ciuitates XV. Marharii habent ciuitates XI. Vulgarii regio est inmensa et populus multus habens ciuitates V, eo quod mutitudo magna ex eis sit et non sit eis opus ciuitates habere. Est populus quem uocant Merehanos, ipsi habent ciuitates XXX. Iste sunt regiones, que terminant in finibus nostris.)

Part 2

“These are the ones that reside next to them. Osterabtrezi in whose [country] there are more than 100 cities. Miloxi who have 67 cities. Phesnuzi have 70 cities. Thadesi more than 200 towns. Glopeaniwho have 400 cities or even more. Busani have 231 cities. Sittici country is immense with many towns and people. Stadici have 516 cities an infinite people. Sebbirozi have 90 cities. Unlizi a populous people have 318 cities. Neriuani have 78 cities. Attorozi have 148, a very fierce people. Eptaradici have 263 cities. Vuillerozi have 180 cities. Zabrozi have 212 cities. Znetalici have 74 cities. Aturezani have 104 cities. Chozirozi have 250 cities. Lendizi have 98 cities. Thafnezi have 257 cities. Zeriuani, that is the only kingdom, to have arisen from all of the nations of the Slavs, and the origin, as they claim, they lead. Prissani, 70 cities. Velunzani, 70 cities. Bruzi are many on all sides from the Enisa [Ems? Neisse? Enns (Danube tributary)?] to the Rhine. Vuizunbeire. Caziri 100 cities. Ruzzi. Forsderen. Liudi. Fresiti. Serauici. Lucolane. Ungare. Vuislane. Sleenzane, 15 cities. Lunsici 30 cities. Dadosesani 20 cities. Milzane, 30 cities. Besunzane, 2 cities. Verizane, 10 cities. Fraganeo 40 cities. Lupiglaa 30 cities. Opolini 20 cities. Golensizi 5 cities.”

[we conclude with the note at the bottom of the page]

“Sueui are not born but sown [?]. Beire are not called Bavarians, but Boiarii from the river Boia.”

(Isti sunt, qui iuxta istorum fines resident. Osterabtrezi in qua ciuitates plus quam C sunt. Miloxi, in qua ciuitates LXVII. Phesnuzi habent ciuitates LXX. Thadesi plus quam CC urbes habent. Glopeani, in qua ciuitates CCCC aut eo amplius. Zuireani habent civitates CCCXXV. Busani habent ciuitates CCXXXI. Sittici regio inmensa, populis et urbibus munitissimis. Stadici in qua ciuitates DXVI populusque infinitus. Sebbirozi habent ciuitates XC. Unlizi populus multus, ciuitates CCCXVIII. Neriuani habent ciuitates LXXVIII. Attorozi habent CXLVIII, populus ferocissimus. Eptaradici habent ciuitates CCLXIII. Vuillerozi habent ciuitates CLXXX. Zabrozi habent ciuitates CCXII. Znetalici habent ciuitates LXXIIII. Aturezani habent ciuitates CIIII. Chozirozi habent ciuitates CCL. Lendizi habent ciuitates XCVIII. Thafnezi habent ciuitates CCLVII. Zeriuani, quod tantum est regnum, ut ex eo cuncte gentes Sclauorum exorte sint, et originem, sicut affirmant, ducant. Prissani, ciuitates LXX. Velunzani, ciuitates LXX. Bruzi plus est undique, quam de Enisa ad Rhenum. Vuizunbeire. Caziri, ciuitates C. Ruzzi. Forsderen. Liudi. Fresiti. Serauici. Lucolane. Ungare. Vuislane. Sleenzane, ciuitates XV. Lunsici ciuitates XXX. Dadosesani ciuitates XX. Milzane, ciuitates XXX. Besunzane, ciuitates II. Verizane, ciuitates X. Fraganeo ciuitates XL. Lupiglaa ciuitates XXX. Opolini ciuitates XX. Golensiz ciuitates V. Sueui n[on] s[unt] nati s[ed] seminati. Beire non dicuntur Bauarii, s[ed] Boiarii a Boia fluvio.)

A few interesting things to note:

1) Zeriuani, “that is the only kingdom, to have arisen from all of the nations of the Slavs, and the origin, as they claim, they lead.” Who are these? Serbs (Surbi) have already been listed above so they do not really fit this role (though repeats of some of these tribes are possible). Perhaps Severians but which ones (in Russia or on the Danube – there were two)?

Or perhaps, this has something to do with the man that the Armenian historian Mosis Chorenensis aka Moses Khorenatsi’s (Moses of Khoren) wrote about as Zerovanus (Moses wrote many interesting things – we will be back to him), a Bactrian king who was by others (Berosus) seen as the same as Zoroaster.

2) Bruzi “are many on all sides from the Enisa [Ems? Neisse? Enns (Danube tributary)?] to the Rhine.” This makes little sense unless either Rhine means something else than the Rhine or we are placing Prussians, if that is who they are, between the Enns and the Rhine, i.e., basically in today’s Netherlands.

3) Sometimes German names are used while at other times Slavic but Osterabtrezi is in a “Slavic section” – does it mean Eastern Abotrites? Or those Abotrites who worship Oster?

4) And then there is the below little note (written by?):

“Sueui are not born but sown [?]. Beire are not called Bavarians, but Boiarii from the river Boia.”

which brings us to the Suevi… but we will not tackle them yet.

BTW the above is the only known existing copy of this listing.

Description of Slavia in Adam of Bremen

PublishedMarch 4, 2015 Post authortorino

We have discussed previously Adam of Bremen’s History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen in the context of Polabian religion as well as regarding the Rarogi. However, Adam’s work also touches upon other aspects of Polabian Slavs and his description of the Slavs is worth discussing on its own. In the following we include a description of Slavia – that “region of Germany” where Slavs live with the exception of two fragments – one is what we already discussed regarding religion and which you may find here; the other is the description of Wolin or Jumneta which we leave for another time.

We note first that Adam understood Slavs to mean chiefly Wends, i.e., western-most or Polabian Slavs. Other Slavs already had their separate names and states and as such were distinguished by Adam from the Polabian “Rest-Slavs”, so, crudely, to speak, that inhabited the lands between the Oder and the Elbe (and beyond).

In the section references we use the alternative numbering system (the book numbers are the same) used in some manuscripts.

[BTW the reference to the Winuli (Winnulis, Wimulis, Vinnulis, Vinulis) is curious and likely a mistake (Adam also calls Winuli, Vandals – which clearly is a mistake) in that that is the old name of the Lombards/ Langobarden as per Paul the Deacon. See also Benedict from Monte Soratte (previously, Monte Soracte) (aka Benedict of Soracte) in his 968 (?) Chronicle (Chapter 36 (SS, III, 717) as per MGH (the truthfulness of a lot of Benedict’s work has been put in some doubt); apparently the Winuli are separate from the Wilini also mentioned by Adam]

Book II
Section 14

“To the archbishopric of Magdeburg was subjected all Slavia as far as the Peene River. There were five suffragan bishoprics. Of these Merseburg and Zeitz were established on the Saale River, Meissen on the Elbe, Brandenburg and Havelberg farther inland. The sixth bishopric of Slavia is Oldenburg. Because it is nearer to us, the emperor put it under the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Hamburg. For it our archbishop consecrated as the first bishop Ebrachar or Egward, whom in Latin we call Evagrius…”

Section 15

“We have also found that the boundaries of Saxony across the Elbe were drawn by Charles and other emperors as follows: The first extends from the east bank of the Elbe up to the rivulet which the Slavs call Boize. From that stream the line runs through the Delvunder wood up to the Delvenau River. And so it goes on to the Hornbecker Muehlen-Bach and to the source of the Bille, thence to Liudwinestein and Weisbirken and Barkhorst. Then it passes on through Suederbeste to the Trave woods and again through this forest to Blunk. Next it goes to the Tensfelder Au and ascends directly up to the ford called Agrimeswidil. At that place, too, Burwid fought a duel with a Slavic champion and slew him; and a memorial stone has been put in that spot. Thence the line runs up, going to the Stocksee, and thus on to the Zwentifeld lying to the East as far as the Schwentine River itself. Along the latter stream the Saxon boundary goes down to the Scythian Lake and to the sea they call the Eastern Sea.”

Section 17

“Thus far Einhard: but since the Slavs are mentioned so many times we do not think it improper to say something about the nature and peoples of Slavia by way of an historical survey, especially since it is related that nearly all the Slavs were at that time converted to the Christian religion though the efforts of our archbishop Adaldag.”

Section 18

“Slavia is a very large province of Germany inhabited by the Winuli who at one time were called Vandals. It is said to be ten times larger than our Saxony, especially if you count as part of Slavia Bohemia and the expanses across the Oder, the Poles, because they differ neither in appearance nor in language. Although this region is very rich in arms, men and crops, it is shut on all sides by fast barriers of wooded mountains and rivers. In breadth it extends from south to north, that is, from the Elbe River to the Scythian Sea. And in length it appears to stretch from our diocese of Hamburg, where it begins, toward the east and, spread in boundless expanses, reaches clear to Bavaria, Hungary and Greece. There are many Slavic people, of whom the first, beginning in the west, are the Wagiri, neighbors of the Transalbingians. their city is Oldenburg by the sea. Then come the Abotrites, who now are called Reregi, and their city is Mecklemburg. In our direction too, are the Polabingi, whose city is Ratzeburg. Beyond them live the Linguones and Warnavi. Farther on dwell the Chizzini and Circipani, whom the Peene River separates from the Tholenzi and from the Retharii and their city of Demmin. There is the end of the diocese of Hamburg. There also are other Slavic peoples, who live between the Elbe and the Oder; such as the Heveldi, who are seated by the Havel River, and the Doxani, Leubuzi, Wilini, and Stoderani, besides many other. Among them the Retharii, centrally located are the mightiest of all. Their city, very widely known as Rethra, is a seat of idolatry…”

[for a description of the next part see here]

Section 19

“Beyond the Leutici, who are also called Wilzi, one comes to the Oder River, the largest stream in the Slavic region. At its mouth, where it feeds the Scythian marshes, Jumne, a most noble city, affords, a very widely known trading center for the barbarians…”

[a description of Jumne/Wolin follows – we will discuss it later so we skip it for now]

Section 19 (continued)

“From that city it is a short passage in one direction to the city of Demmin, which is situated at the mouth of the Peene River, where the Rugiani also live. The other one reaches the province of Semland, which the Prussians occupy. The journey is such that it takes seven days to go from Hamburg or the Elbe River to the city of Jumne by land; for by the sea route one boards ship at Schleswig or Oldenburg to get to Jumne. From that city it is fourteen days’ sail up to Ostrogard of Russia. The largest city of Russia is Kiev, rival of the scepter of Constantinople, the brightest ornament of Greece. Now, as was said before, the Oder River rises in the depths of the Moravian forest, where our Elbe also has its source. At first not a great distance from each other, these rivers follow different courses. For the one, that is the Oder, tending toward the north, passes through the midst of the Winuli peoples [medios Winulorum populos] until it passes by Jumne, where it divides the Pomeranians from the Wilzi. But the other, that is the Elbe, rushing toward the west, waters in the uppermost course the country of the Bohemians and the Sorbs; midway in its course it divides the pagans from the Saxons; in its lower part it divides the dioceses of Hamburg from that of Bremen and sweeps into the British Ocean.”

Section 20

“These remarks about the Slavs and their country may suffice, because through the valor of the great Otto they were all at that time converted to Christianity. Now we shall address our pen to what was done after the emperor’s death and in the remaining years of our archbishop.”