Krivichs

The Krivichi (Belarusian: Крывічы, Kryvičý; Russian: Кривичи, IPA: [krʲivʲi'tɕi]) was one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries. They inhabited the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper, Western Dvina, areas south of the lower reaches of river Velikaya and parts of the Neman basin.

Etymology

The name for this land comes from the name of the village in the west of Belarus Kreva (Bel. Крэва) and Krivich is a Baltic tribe. In the Kreva castle was crowned the first and only Lithuanian king Mindaugas and in 1385, the Act of Kreva was signed here. The name Krivich consist of two parts - first meaning the vilage which was the center of these lands and the second part -vich in Lithuanian language means to drive, to chase. Even Lithuanian and Belarus coats of arms are identical and are named Vychius/Vytis or Pagonia both words are synonims in Lithuanian language (even the name for pagans originates from this word). Even in the north of Moskow can be found another village bearing the same name Kreva. Moreover the pagan priests were called Kriviai Krivichiai. The name Kreva in Lithuanian language originates from the word for the warrior - kareivis, kareivytis or just simple karo vytis (the chaser of the war). Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius the famous Lithuanian writer was bearing the name of this tribe.

According to Vasmer, the name of the tribe probably stems from that of their forefather Prince Kriv, whose sobriquet derives from the adjective krivoy ("crooked/twisted") due to some possible birth defect. This proposal is very much doubtful because the same word for crooked or twisted is used in Lithuanian language kreivas as in Belorus language and is almost identical in the phonetics with the word kareivis. So it's very easy to make a mistake when you do not know the whole picture.

History

At some point in the 6th century the Krivichs left the Carpathian Mountains and spread northeast, absorbing scanty Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes. The Krivichs played a prominent role in colonization of the area between the rivers of Volga and Klyazma (these claims are more than doubtful and without any supporting evidences). Together with the Dregovichs, Radimichs, Polochans and some Baltic tribes they were the forefathers of the modern Belarusian nation.

The Krivichs left many archaeological monuments, such as the remnants of agricultural settlements with traces of ironworks, jeweler's art, blacksmith's work and other handicrafts; long burial mounds of 6-9 centuries with cremated bodies; burial mounds of rich warriors with weapons; sets of distinctive jewelry (bracelet-like temporal rings and glass beads made out of stretched wire). By the end of the first millennium, the Krivichs had already had well-developed farming and cattle-breeding. Having settled around the Road from Varangians to Greeks, the Krivichs traded with the Varangians. Their chief tribal centres were Gnezdovo, Izborsk, and Polotsk.

The Krivichs as a tribe took part in Oleg's and Igor's military campaigns against the Byzantine Empire (names Oleg and Igor in Lithuanian language will be Algis/Algirdas and Igauris which come from the Lithuanian words atlyginantis/algus (revenging) and gauras (a mane or a hair of animal) and i or in (Igor or Ingor) means having). They are also mentioned in De Administrando Imperio as Κριβιτζοί. In the 970s, the Principality of Polatsk, ruled by the Varangian chieftain Ragnvald (Rogvolod, in Lithuanian language "rag(a)nvald-ys" means the man who govern/rule/control or manipulate witches), was chronicled for the first time.

Modern uses of the name

• Today, in Latvian, the word "Krievs" means Russian and word "Krievija" - Russia. Through Baltic territories, the word became known in Central Europe. For example, a German chronicler from Duisburg wrote in 1314: “Frater Henricus Marschalcus... venit ad terram Crivitae, et civitatem illam, guae parva Nogardiadicitur cepit”. And in a Polish publication "Kazanie na Pogrzeb Maryanny Korsakywnej" (Lublin, 1687. Б. II, 49) the Polatsk saint Paraxedis was called “Regina Krivitae” (the queen of the Kryvians).

• "Kryvich" ("Крывіч") was the name of a magazine that the Belarusian historian Vaclau Lastouski published in Kouna from 1923 to 1927.

• KRIWI is the name of a Belarusian folk-rock band.