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Chapter 83: West Slavs,Pannonia and Poland
As for Central Europe, we can witness a period of fragmentation. This is because the defensive is on the advantage to the offensive, and somehow, this region lacks powerful historical figures, or conquerors, who are able to hold pretenders and powerful nobles at bay.
In Poland, after the death of Boleslaw the Bold, the country was eventually divided, with successor realms beings established in Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, Mazovia and Silesia. The fragmentation of Poland greatly benefits its neighbours, in the north (Kashubia and Prussia), but also in the east (Galicia), who manage to develop their own identities and statehood.
These new states develop their own centres of power, which serve as capitals for their duchies: Gniezno in Greater Poland, Krakow in Lesser Poland, Warsaw in Masovia, Wroclaw in Silesia and Gduńsk[1] in Kashubia. Apart from Masovia being often ravaged by Sudovian and Prussian raiders, not much happens in Poland. By the end of the 12th century, one can observe a unification of Lesser and Greater Poland, initiated by the former, resulting in Krakow becoming the capital of the new state.
The Duchy of Silesia proceeded to create a personal union with Sorbia, unifying the two realms in the valley of the river Oder. Sorbia however saw considerable settlement by Saxons, who arrived into the western reaches of the area, as population grew much faster in Saxony, than in the Slavic realms. By the end of the 12th century, the Saxons (and to a smaller extent also the Thuringians, have colonized almost all lands to the west of the Elbe River; and the language borders were established especially a few miles to the east of its flow[2].
Similar developments occur further south. After the Arpád dynasty dies out, the Hungarian kingdom crumbles and successor realms[3] emerge in Moravia, Nitra, Zemplin [4], Pannonia, Temes[5] and Bihar[6].
The Duchy of Moravia could have been found between the Danube and the source of the Oder River, with its seat in Olomouc. This duchy maintains its Slovak cultural identity; although its southern districts, between the Thaya and the Danube were settled by Bavarians.
The Duchy of Nitra is located between the Carpathians, the Danube and the Transcarpathian Mountains. It includes also parts of Upper Pannonia, with the seat of the Archbishopric at Ostrihom. What can be seen is the assimilation of Magyars in parts of the Lesser Hungarian plain, as they pick up Slovak as their daily language. This duchy is ruled by the House of Divinský. The Duchy of Nitra is home to many towns, which have also a strong German element.
The House of Laborecký rules the upper reaches of the Tisa Valley. Especially the region of Spiš becomes home to German townsfolk, who build the cities of Käsemarkt, Leutschau and others. The principality of Laborecký, based in the Zemplín region, acknowledges the authority of the Divinsky dynasty and merges with the Duchy of Nitra.
The Duchy of Bihar ultimately fails and is conquered by Ardeal, which extends its borders until the river Tisa. Ardeal is thus a regional power, commanding Transylvania, Crisana and Maramures. As mentioned, the population consists of Vlachs and Biharians[7].
The Principality of Temes has been overrun by Pechenegs, who escaped after their crushing defeat by the Rhomaic army westwards. Their former realm is now seized by Vlachs from Oltenia from the west, Russians from the north and Karvunians from the south. Yes, many Paulician Karvunians from the Rhomaic diocese of Paristrion now pour into this steppe region, seeking refuge from Rhomaic inquisition.
The region between the Danube and the Tisa was seized by the Duchy of Pannonia, roughly corresponding to ancient Roman Pannonia Valeria, based in Sopiane[8]. The Dukes invited many Italian settlers, mainly from the Veneto region, to help cultivate the lands. These arrive, mixing with the native Pannonians, hence some north Italian influences in the Pannonia language. The Magyar language is now on the retreat, as it was closely associated with the steppe nomadic culture
Ultimately, we have Croatia, which was now reduced to the Slavonian Mesopotamia, threatened by the Rhomaic Empire from the south. The capital of this Slavonia is at Sisak[9]. Slavonian language is essentially of the Kajkavian dialect[10]; and with Sisak being established as its own metropolitan province, this dialect gets spread eastwards into the region of Syrmia as well.
View attachment 511504View attachment 511505View attachment 511506
Political map of the area, linguistic map and canonical map.
[1] The Kashubian name of Danzig
[2] So here we have it, the German Ostsiedlung. Ostsiedlung does not happen so dratically and is slowed down in territorial extent, as the area concerned is not under German rule.
[3] Or warlord states
[4] Eastern Slovakia
[5] Banate
[6] Bihar is the name for the Romanian-Hungarian borderlands
[7] The Slavic population of Transylvania ethnically identifies with Bulgaria. Somecan be found in the Bihor/Crisana regions ; others have settled from the hills and slopes of the Eastern Carpathians. These peoples however are classified as Eastern, rather thaqn Southern Slavic; and have settled the rather sparsely populated parts of the the northeastern Alfold
[8] From Sopianae, the Latin name for the city of Pécs, in Pannonia
[9] Ancient Siscia.
[10] The dialect spoken at Zagreb, very close to Slovene
In Poland, after the death of Boleslaw the Bold, the country was eventually divided, with successor realms beings established in Greater Poland, Lesser Poland, Mazovia and Silesia. The fragmentation of Poland greatly benefits its neighbours, in the north (Kashubia and Prussia), but also in the east (Galicia), who manage to develop their own identities and statehood.
These new states develop their own centres of power, which serve as capitals for their duchies: Gniezno in Greater Poland, Krakow in Lesser Poland, Warsaw in Masovia, Wroclaw in Silesia and Gduńsk[1] in Kashubia. Apart from Masovia being often ravaged by Sudovian and Prussian raiders, not much happens in Poland. By the end of the 12th century, one can observe a unification of Lesser and Greater Poland, initiated by the former, resulting in Krakow becoming the capital of the new state.
The Duchy of Silesia proceeded to create a personal union with Sorbia, unifying the two realms in the valley of the river Oder. Sorbia however saw considerable settlement by Saxons, who arrived into the western reaches of the area, as population grew much faster in Saxony, than in the Slavic realms. By the end of the 12th century, the Saxons (and to a smaller extent also the Thuringians, have colonized almost all lands to the west of the Elbe River; and the language borders were established especially a few miles to the east of its flow[2].
Similar developments occur further south. After the Arpád dynasty dies out, the Hungarian kingdom crumbles and successor realms[3] emerge in Moravia, Nitra, Zemplin [4], Pannonia, Temes[5] and Bihar[6].
The Duchy of Moravia could have been found between the Danube and the source of the Oder River, with its seat in Olomouc. This duchy maintains its Slovak cultural identity; although its southern districts, between the Thaya and the Danube were settled by Bavarians.
The Duchy of Nitra is located between the Carpathians, the Danube and the Transcarpathian Mountains. It includes also parts of Upper Pannonia, with the seat of the Archbishopric at Ostrihom. What can be seen is the assimilation of Magyars in parts of the Lesser Hungarian plain, as they pick up Slovak as their daily language. This duchy is ruled by the House of Divinský. The Duchy of Nitra is home to many towns, which have also a strong German element.
The House of Laborecký rules the upper reaches of the Tisa Valley. Especially the region of Spiš becomes home to German townsfolk, who build the cities of Käsemarkt, Leutschau and others. The principality of Laborecký, based in the Zemplín region, acknowledges the authority of the Divinsky dynasty and merges with the Duchy of Nitra.
The Duchy of Bihar ultimately fails and is conquered by Ardeal, which extends its borders until the river Tisa. Ardeal is thus a regional power, commanding Transylvania, Crisana and Maramures. As mentioned, the population consists of Vlachs and Biharians[7].
The Principality of Temes has been overrun by Pechenegs, who escaped after their crushing defeat by the Rhomaic army westwards. Their former realm is now seized by Vlachs from Oltenia from the west, Russians from the north and Karvunians from the south. Yes, many Paulician Karvunians from the Rhomaic diocese of Paristrion now pour into this steppe region, seeking refuge from Rhomaic inquisition.
The region between the Danube and the Tisa was seized by the Duchy of Pannonia, roughly corresponding to ancient Roman Pannonia Valeria, based in Sopiane[8]. The Dukes invited many Italian settlers, mainly from the Veneto region, to help cultivate the lands. These arrive, mixing with the native Pannonians, hence some north Italian influences in the Pannonia language. The Magyar language is now on the retreat, as it was closely associated with the steppe nomadic culture
Ultimately, we have Croatia, which was now reduced to the Slavonian Mesopotamia, threatened by the Rhomaic Empire from the south. The capital of this Slavonia is at Sisak[9]. Slavonian language is essentially of the Kajkavian dialect[10]; and with Sisak being established as its own metropolitan province, this dialect gets spread eastwards into the region of Syrmia as well.
View attachment 511504View attachment 511505View attachment 511506
Political map of the area, linguistic map and canonical map.
[1] The Kashubian name of Danzig
[2] So here we have it, the German Ostsiedlung. Ostsiedlung does not happen so dratically and is slowed down in territorial extent, as the area concerned is not under German rule.
[3] Or warlord states
[4] Eastern Slovakia
[5] Banate
[6] Bihar is the name for the Romanian-Hungarian borderlands
[7] The Slavic population of Transylvania ethnically identifies with Bulgaria. Somecan be found in the Bihor/Crisana regions ; others have settled from the hills and slopes of the Eastern Carpathians. These peoples however are classified as Eastern, rather thaqn Southern Slavic; and have settled the rather sparsely populated parts of the the northeastern Alfold
[8] From Sopianae, the Latin name for the city of Pécs, in Pannonia
[9] Ancient Siscia.
[10] The dialect spoken at Zagreb, very close to Slovene
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 870