Volhynians
Encyclopedia
Volhynians were a tribe
or tribal union of Vlachs
. They are mentioned in the Primary Chronicle
as well as by the Bavarian Geographer
. According to the latter, the Volhynians had seventy "cities" (fortresses) in the last half of the 10th century. Some historians believe that the Volhynians and the Buzhans
are descendants of the Dulebes
, or a few historians claimed the name came from Celtic tribes known as Bolihii before the arrival of Slavic tribes in the 6th century AD. The Volyhnians lived in the region of Volhynia
that covered present-day sections of eastern Poland
, western Ukraine
and southern Belarus
.
Their main cities were Volyn’ and Volodymyr (Volodymyr-Volynsky). According to archeological studies, the Volhynians had well-developed agriculture
and various handicraft
s such as blacksmith
ing, casting
, and pottery
. In 981
prince Vladimir the Great subjugated the Volhynians under Kievan Rus. At the end of 10th century, the principality
of Volodymyr-Volynsky gained dominion over the lands of Volhynians, and later Roman the Great
conquered Halych
to create the principality of Halych-Volhynia
.
Note the term Volhynian was used to name the Poles
or Volen, Polen or Polan, but the Poles named them Wolyn or Wolhynske in their language. The name was also used for local groups of non-Slavic peoples that lived in the historic region: Magyars as in Vaelan Hungarians, Vlachs
or Volaches as in Volhynian Romanians
, and Volhynian Germans
as in Wolenes or Wellanes. In Yiddish, Ashkenazi Jews with residing in the area were referred to as Voliners (וואָלינערס( It's not entirely clear if the Volhynians descended from all these peoples, be it Celtic, Germanic, Magyar and Slavic all put together in the course of 1,500 years.
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
or tribal union of Vlachs
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
. They are mentioned in the Primary Chronicle
Primary Chronicle
The Primary Chronicle , Ruthenian Primary Chronicle or Russian Primary Chronicle, is a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113.- Three editions :...
as well as by the Bavarian Geographer
Bavarian Geographer
The Bavarian Geographer is a conventional name given by Jan Potocki in 1796 to the author of an anonymous medieval document Descriptio civitatum et regionum ad septentrionalem plagam Danubii ....
. According to the latter, the Volhynians had seventy "cities" (fortresses) in the last half of the 10th century. Some historians believe that the Volhynians and the Buzhans
Buzhans
The Buzhans or Buzhane were one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs. They are mentioned as Buzhane in the Primary Chronicle. It appears that the name of the tribe derives from the Southern Bug River, where they chose to settle down. According to the Bavarian Geographer, the Buzhans had 230...
are descendants of the Dulebes
Dulebes
The Dulebs or Dulebi were one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 10th centuries. Dulebi were among the twelve East Slavic tribes mentioned in the Primary Chronicle...
, or a few historians claimed the name came from Celtic tribes known as Bolihii before the arrival of Slavic tribes in the 6th century AD. The Volyhnians lived in the region of Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
that covered present-day sections of eastern Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, western Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and southern Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.
Their main cities were Volyn’ and Volodymyr (Volodymyr-Volynsky). According to archeological studies, the Volhynians had well-developed agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and various handicraft
Handicraft
Handicraft, more precisely expressed as artisanic handicraft, sometimes also called artisanry, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. Usually the term is applied to traditional means...
s such as blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
ing, casting
Casting
In metalworking, casting involves pouring liquid metal into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowing it to cool and solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process...
, and pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
. In 981
981
Year 981 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The Viking explorer Eric the Red-haired leaves Norway to survey west of Iceland. He finds land and calls it Greenland...
prince Vladimir the Great subjugated the Volhynians under Kievan Rus. At the end of 10th century, the principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
of Volodymyr-Volynsky gained dominion over the lands of Volhynians, and later Roman the Great
Roman the Great
Roman Mstislavich , also Roman Mstyslavych or Roman the Great, was a Rus’ prince, Grand Prince of Kiev ....
conquered Halych
Halych
Halych is a historic city on the Dniester River in western Ukraine. The town gave its name to the historic province and kingdom of Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia, of which it was the capital until the early 14th century, when the seat of the local princes was moved to Lviv...
to create the principality of Halych-Volhynia
Halych-Volhynia
The Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia or Kingdom of Rus or Galicia–Vladimir was a Ruthenian state in the regions of Galicia and Volhynia during 1199–1349. Along with Novgorod and Vladimir-Suzdal, it was one of the three most important powers to emerge from the collapse of Kievan Rus'...
.
Note the term Volhynian was used to name the Poles
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
or Volen, Polen or Polan, but the Poles named them Wolyn or Wolhynske in their language. The name was also used for local groups of non-Slavic peoples that lived in the historic region: Magyars as in Vaelan Hungarians, Vlachs
Vlachs
Vlach is a blanket term covering several modern Latin peoples descending from the Latinised population in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe. English variations on the name include: Walla, Wlachs, Wallachs, Vlahs, Olahs or Ulahs...
or Volaches as in Volhynian Romanians
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
, and Volhynian Germans
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
as in Wolenes or Wellanes. In Yiddish, Ashkenazi Jews with residing in the area were referred to as Voliners (וואָלינערס( It's not entirely clear if the Volhynians descended from all these peoples, be it Celtic, Germanic, Magyar and Slavic all put together in the course of 1,500 years.