Polabian Slavs
The Polabian Slavs, sometimes referred to as the Elbe Slavs or more broadly as the Wends, were a group of Lechitic tribes that occupied the area around the Elbe River, now in modern northeastern Germany. These tribes are classified primarily into three groups: the Obotrites, the Veleti, and the Lusatian Sorbs.
Historical Context
The migration period during the 6th century saw the emigration of Germanic tribes, allowing the Polabian Slavs to settle in the vacated territories. These West Slavic peoples occupied areas extending from the Elbe to the Oder River. Notably, small groups of these Slavs were also found near the Main and Regnitz rivers in northeastern Bavaria.
Political and Religious Relations
The Polabian Slavs occasionally clashed with surrounding political entities. During their history, they were intermittently under nominal control by the Holy Roman Empire, yet maintained a degree of autonomy. The Christianization of the Slavs was a prolonged process, and many Polabian Slavs perceived Jesus as a "German god," thereby persisting in their pagan practices. This religious resistance was notable even as figures like Mieszko I, the Christian Duke of Poland, exerted influence over certain Slavic tribes.
Tribal Structure and Culture
The Polabian Slavs were organized into tribes, each known as a "civitas." For instance, the Obotrites comprised 53 civitates, while the Veleti had 95 and the Sorbs 50. The structure of these civitas allowed the Slavs to maintain a level of independence and cultural identity amidst external pressures.
Language and Religion
The Polabian language was a West Slavic language that served as the vernacular for these tribes. Despite the eventual decline of the language due to Germanization, elements of it persisted until the 18th century.
Religiously, the Polabian Slavs worshipped a pantheon of gods, with Svetovit being one of the principal deities. Svetovit's cult was particularly significant on the island of Rügen, where a large temple at Cape Arkona existed.
Decline and Legacy
The expansion of Germanic influence and the successful conversion campaigns by Christian missions gradually led to the diminution of the Polabian Slavs as distinct entities. Over time, the assimilation processes integrated them into the growing political and cultural landscape of medieval Germany.