European Kingdoms

Masovians (Slavs)
5th Century AD - AD 962

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It is generally accepted that Slavic origins in Eastern Europe are tied in with those of Indo-Europeans in general, and especially with the migrations of the Yamnaya horizon. Initially the proto-Slavs were closely related to the proto-Balts, and both seem to have been far less mobile than most other Indo-European groups.

The Western Polans were a West Slavic tribe. By the eighth century AD they were occupying the Warta river basin in modern Poland's western-central Greater Poland region. They were neighboured to the east by the Masovians (or Mazovians) who formed the later eastern-central Polish region of Mazovia). To their south were the the Vistulans (in Lesser Poland) and then the Lendians (in south-eastern Lesser Poland, not far from Lviv in Early Ukraine), while to their south-west were the Slezans (Silesians).

To the north of this Early Poland were the Pomeranians, but in the early days there was also still a sizeable population of mixed-origin Vidivarii groups which would only gradually fade into history. There were also Balts in the north-east, and the Venedi along the Vistula, and all of these were either later incorporated into the Polish state, or retreated to Lithuania, or were conquered and largely obliterated by the Teutonic Knights.

Population pressures on the Pontic steppe had been growing, with the invasion of the Huns in the late fourth century providing possibly the first major impetus for Slavic migration northwards to escape. Further invasions by the Avars in the early sixth century and then the creation of the empire of Great Bulgaria in the early seventh century did the rest.

West Slav migration by then was in full swing, pushing outwards and putting pressure on the Baltic peoples who occupied a large swathe of northern territory. West Slavic tribes largely avoided them by heading north-west, while the East Slavic tribes maintained more of an eastwards presence.

The Masovian dialect of West Slavic is distinctive from that of the majority West Polans population of modern Poland. It bears similarities with the Kashubian group of West Slavics who intruded early on into Pomerania. It also carries influences from the now-extinct Old Prussian group of Baltic-speakers, and quite probably from the Vistula Venedi whose territory along the river the Masovians partially came to dominate.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from A History of Poland from its Foundation, M Ross, from Geography, Ptolemy, from The Earliest Icelandic Chronicle of the Norwegian Kings (1030-1157), Theodore Murdock Andersson & Kari Ellen Gade Morkinskinna, the International Encyclopaedia for the Middle Ages-Online (Supplement to LexMA-Online), from The Horse, the Wheel, and Language: How Bronze-Age Riders from the Eurasian Steppes Shaped the Modern World, David W Anthony, and from External Links: The Balts, Marija Gimbutas (1963, previously available online thanks to Gabriella at Vaidilute, but still available as a PDF - click or tap on link to download or access it), and The Slavs and the Avars, Omeljan Pritsak, and Brepolis Medieval Encyclopaedias Online.)

5th century

Pushed to migrate northwards by the Hunnic empire, Slavs first enter what is now central Poland towards the later part of the fifth century, filling the void left by the greater part of the departed East Germanic tribes in regions such as Galicia, Lusatia, and Silesia.

Masuria is also reoccupied, by the West Baltic tribe of the Galindians, after parts of it have been abandoned by the Vidivarii and their preceding Willenberg culture ancestors due to large-scale tribal movements.

The legendary brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus, were the eponymous founders of the Polish, Czech and Russian nations, shown here in Viktor Vasnetsov's 'Warriors', 1898

Elements of Galindians establish the regionally-significant Olsztyn group, which includes horse burials along with its dead, and a large array of sophisticated bronze, silver, and gold items gained through extensive trade in all directions. As well as this Balt presence, the new Slav populations are still neighboured to the north by surviving Vidivarii populations.

6th century

The Masovians gradually subjugate the remaining Germanic populations in the north of the region. It is in the early part of this century that isolated remains last appear from cultures which have been influenced by Rome, mostly the remnants of Germanic tribes which have traded directly or obliquely with the former empire. Germanic (and Celtic-influenced) populations survive in Pomerania.

8th century

By this century, small Slavic states are beginning to emerge, and these coalesce and expand over the course of the next century. Western Balts also occupy regions of Poland, mostly around the lower Vistula where they probably subsume northern Venedi populations.

Stettin in Pomerania was for a brief time controlled by Poland during one of that state's many forays into Pomeranian lands in an attempt to control the pagan natives (and possibly also to block similar German incursions)

Two tribes which are named by Ptolemy in the mid-second century, the Galindai and Soudinoi, survive as the Galindians (in Masuria and the northern fringes of Mazovia), and the Sudovians or Yotvingians into the eleventh century, before being absorbed into the Polish duchy.

These Western Balts are survived by their kinfolk, the later Old Prussians. Yotvingian territory is largely absorbed into what is now the Polish Podlaskie voivodeship, although outlying parts now fall within the borders of Lithuania and part of the Hrodna province of Belarus.

c.842

The earliest of the Piast rulers of the Western Polans to be known in any source is Chościsko. He is mentioned in the first Polish chronicle, Cronicae et gesta ducum sive principum Polonorum (The Deeds of the Princes of Poland) by Gallus Anonymus. It dates to the early twelfth century and is therefore a far from reliable source, although 'Anonymus' may have access to earlier material which has not survived.

The Baptism of Poland, by Jan Matejko in 1888-1889, portrays a romanticised version of the acceptance of Christianity by Duke Mieszko on behalf of his people in 966

Chościsko's son is Piast, who is the first of the early Piast rulers of the tribes of the Polans and Goplans. He and the subsequent three princes of early Poland are of dubious certainty.

However, it is they, or their historical counterparts, who begin the process of uniting the other West Slavic tribes in the region into a single state. The village of Giecz is the main centre of this early Polish state.

940

Gniezno becomes one of the main fortresses of the early Western Polans Piasts. It is possible that their Prince Siemomysl begins the subjugation of the Masovians who reside to their east (although his father can also be credited with this). The task is completed either by him or by his successor, while the Goplans are subsumed around the same time.

Germany in AD 962 may have had its new emperor to govern those territories which are shown within the dark black line, but it was still a patchwork of competing interests and power bases (click or tap on map to view full sized)

962

The successor to Siemomysl is his son, Mjeczislas, or Mieszko, the first documented ruler of the Western Polans. He is also the figure who is responsible for completing the task of uniting several of the West Slavic tribes of the region.

This task includes subsuming the West Slavic-dominated Pomeranians, and also the Masovians, creating a region and duchy of Masovia in the process. He forms a duchy which is quickly elevated to a kingdom of Poland.