European Kingdoms

Western Polans (Lechia) (Slavs)
5th Century AD - AD 962
Incorporating the Goplans, Lendians, Polans, Slezans, & Vistulans

Indo-Europeans - Slavic Tribes (Intro) Anatolian Tribes Balkans Tribes Baltic Tribes Celtic Tribes Germanic Tribes Italic Tribes Indo-Iranian/Aryan Tribes Slavic Tribes Tocharians (Intro)

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, also known as Polanes, or Polanians. 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 (who formed the later eastern-central Polish region of Mazovia), to the south-east by the Vistulans (in Lesser Poland) and then the Lendians (in south-eastern Lesser Poland, not far from Lviv in Early Ukraine), to the south by the Slezans (Silesians), and to the west by the Sorbs.

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.

The Western Slav Goplans or Goplanes came to be located in today's Kujawy region, possibly making Kruszwica in modern northern-central Poland their tribal capital (German 'Cruswitz'). Although apparently governed by Polans princes in the ninth century, and theorised as living on the north-eastern edge of Polans territory, they retained some level of identity until they were absorbed by the Polans in the tenth century.

The Polans tribal name appears to originate with the Slavic word for field, 'polje', which defines a wide flat plain in an area of karst, or soluble bedrock such as limestone. They were part of the Lechtic language group of West Slavs which occupied much of eastern and Central Europe, including Poland, eastern Germany, Bohemia, and Moravia. They are not to be confused with the Eastern Polans who occupied territory near Kyiv and who participated in the creation of the Rus states.

Legendarily, the Polans first formed a state of some kind in the mid-sixth century, under Lech, brother of the equally legendary Czech and Rus, 'founders' of Bohemia and the Rus respectively. 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.

(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 Forgotten Kingdom of Lechia (the argument for the mythical 'Kingdom of Lechia'), 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 Western Polans 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.

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)

Western Polans occupy the central region of Greater Poland (central-western modern Poland), and during this century a dominant kingship appears to emerge.

Its early rulers are legendary, probably created by later generations to confirm the royal family's ancient pedigree (these names are shown with a shaded background). The figures from Popiel onwards would seem to represent real rulers.

6th century

Eponymous mid-sixth century founder of the Poles.

Lech is the legendary mid-sixth century figure to whom the title of duke is first given. From him the country derives the name Lechia, by which it is apparently still known in the tenth century (especially in states to the east and south).

It also remains in use much later with the Tartars. His people are called Polechia, or the children of Lech. He is credited with founding Gnesa and Posna.

Even more legendary than the brothers who reputedly founded the Polish, Czech, and Rus states is the story of a 'Kingdom of Lechia' which dates back at least to 700 BC and supposedly lasts until the Piasts come to power amongst the Polans

Nephew.

The legendary Viscimir is the probable successor to Lech, although it is also claimed that Lech's son rules after him, or that the most eligible noble is selected (which could easily be Viscimir himself, perhaps after a successional conflict with Lech's son).

Viscimir is credited with conquering unrealistically vast amounts of territory, including the heart of Denmark, although he is not mentioned at all by Danish chroniclers.

Wealthy noble selected to rule. Founded Kraków.

Eldest son. Elected to rule, but soon murdered by his brother.

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.

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.

This is a window urn of the Olsztyn group, which was generally located in Masuria in what is now eastern Poland but was territory which belonged to the Balts in the eighth century

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.700 - ?

Brother. Deposed when his crime was discovered.

fl c.750

Daughter. A 'virgin queen'. Committed suicide.

Wenda successfully defends her country from an invading Teutonic prince named Rudiger who is demanding her hand in marriage. Upon his defeat he falls on his sword, and Wenda is soon overcome with gloom and depression at the loss of such a noble figure.

She attends a sacrifice to the gods and immediately throws herself from the bridge into the Vistula (although the suicide is a later addition to the story). The surrounding country is apparently named Vandalia in her honour, a name which is in fact in use well before this date (a remembrance of Vandali occupation in this region, perhaps).

The main bodies of the Vandali, Alani, and Suevi tribes crossed the Rhine at the end of 406, resulting in panic and chaos within the Roman empire

Rudiger himself is described as an 'Alemann tyrant' which may or may not link him to the Alemanni (the term could be a reference to a broader Germanic heritage to the west of the Polans). A period of division and internecine strife follows.

? - c.760

Premislaus, a 'private soldier'. Died without an heir.

c.760 - 810

A former peasant, and a good and strong ruler.

c.810 - 815

Son.

fl c.830

Son. Founded Kruszwica, possible seat of the Goplans.

The (legendary) Popielids rule the Western Polans during the first half of the ninth century. The last of them is the cruel Popiel II, who is ousted from power owing to his poor rule of the Western Polans and Goplans, including his failure to defend the land from Viking attacks.

He is replaced by Piast, whose name suggests that his family has previously been stewards or mayors of the palace. Like their Frankish counterparts, the Carolingian mayors, the Piasts seize control.

The legend regarding Popiel and the 'Mouse Tower' to which he retreated is widely known in Poland, especially from the 1876 novel Stara Baśń (An Ancient Tale), adapted for the big screen as An Ancient Tale: When the Sun was a God, 2003.

fl c.830 - c.842

Son. Last of the Popielid rulers of the Polans & Goplans.

c.842

The earliest of the Piasts 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.

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.

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

c.842 - 860

Son of Chościsko. Former mayor of the 'palace'?

860 - 892

Son. Duke of the Polans.

892 - 921

Son. Duke of the Polans.

c.930

Although Leszek's existence is debatable, the tribes within later Poland become known as the Lestkowici during this period. Either his name is a fiction to provide an origin for the Lestkowici, or they confirm his historical existence.

921 - 962

Son. Duke. Died about 960 or 962.

940

Gniezno becomes one of the main fortresses of the early Piasts. It is possible that Siemomysl begins the subjugation of the Masovians who reside to the east of the Polans (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 Masovians and also the West Slavic-dominated Pomeranians. He forms a duchy which is quickly elevated to a kingdom of Poland.