Krivichs Explained
The Krivichs or Kryvichs (Russian: кри́вичи|p=ˈkrʲivʲɪtɕɪ|krivichi|links=y; Belarusian: крывічы́|kryvičý, in Belarusian pronounced as /krɨvʲiˈt͡ʂɨ/) were a tribal union of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries.[1] It is suggested that originally the Krivichi were native to the area around Pskov.[2] They migrated to the mostly Finnic areas in the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper, Dvina, areas south of the lower reaches of river Velikaya and parts of the Neman basin.[3]
In some variants of Belarusiphile anti-normanist history, the city, and later principality of Polotsk is linked to Krivichians, much like Kyiv is linked to Polianians, however, based on most modern evidence, these were all likely linked to Rus' people.[4]
Etymology
Many historians suggest that the name of the tribe probably stems from that of their legendary forefather Kriv, possibly a kniaz or a voivode. According to Max Vasmer, this sobriquet was derived from the Slavic adjective krivoy ("crooked/twisted") due to some possible birth defect. Jan Stankievič believed it was derived from the adjective kroŭ/kryvi ("blood"), hence, kryvič would mean "blood relationship".
History
The Krivichs left many archaeological monuments, such as the remnants of agricultural settlements with traces of ironworks, jeweler's art, blacksmith's work and other handicrafts; long burial mounds of the 6th to 9th centuries with cremated bodies; burial mounds of rich warriors with weapons; sets of distinctive jewelry (bracelet-like temporal rings and glass beads made out of stretched wire). By the end of the first millennium, the Krivichs had already had well-developed farming and cattle-breeding. Having settled around the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, the Krivichs traded with the Varangians. Their chief tribal centres were Gnezdovo, Izborsk, and Polotsk.
The Krivichs as a tribe took part in Oleg's and Igor's military campaigns against the Byzantine Empire. They are also mentioned in De Administrando Imperio as (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Κριβιτζοί).
Modern uses of the name
- Today, in Latvian, Latvian: Krievs means "Russian" and Latvian: Krievija is "Russia". Through Baltic territories, the word became known in Central Europe. For example, a German chronicler from Duisburg wrote in 1314: "Latin: Frater Henricus Marschalcus... venit ad terram ''Crivitae'', et civitatem illam, quae parva Nogardia dicitur cepit|italic=unset". And in a Polish publication Polish: Kazanie na Pogrzeb Maryanny Korsakywnej (Lublin, 1687. Б. II, 49) the Polotsk saint Paraxedis was called Latin: Regina Krivitae (the queen of the Kryvians).
- Also in Latvian, a Belarusian is known as Latvian: Baltkrievs, and Belarus is named Latvian: Baltkrievija. The prefix balt- is from the Latvian word Latvian: balts which means "white", thus Latvian: Baltkrievija is cognate to "White Russia" and "Belarus" itself.
- Belarusian: Kryvich (Belarusian: Крывіч) was the name of a magazine that the Belarusian historian Vaclau Lastouski published in Kaunas from 1923 to 1927.
- Kriwi is the name of a Belarusian folk-rock band.
- Places named Kryvičy in modern Belarus are possibly named after the tribe, however this is contested basing on the suggested areal of Krivichs.[5]
See also
References
- Book: An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of the Russian and Soviet Empires. Olson. James Stuart. Pappas. Lee Brigance. Pappas. Nicholas Charles. 1994. Greenwood Publishing Group. 9780313274978. 88. en.
- Web site: Становление культуры псковских длинных курганов .
- Book: The World of the Slavs : Studies of the East, West and South Slavs: Civitas, Oppidas, Villas and Archeological Evidence (7th to 11th Centuries AD). Živković. Tibor. Crnčević. Dejan. Bulić. Dejan. Petrović. Vladeta. Cvijanović. Irena. Radovanović. Bojana. 2013-07-01. Istorijski institut. 9788677431044. 327. en.
- Book: Nation-building in the post-Soviet borderlands : the politics of national identities . 1998 . Cambridge University Press . Graham Smith . 0-521-59045-0 . 32 . Cambridge [England] . 37755070.
- Ежы Ахманскі. Літоўская этнічная мяжа на ўсходзе ад племянной эпохі да XVI стагоддзя // ARCHE 2 2016. С. 13—96.
