Severyans

The Severyans (Северяне in Russian, Северяни in Ukrainian, or "northerners") were a tribe of Early East Slavs, which inhabited the regions along the rivers Desna, Seim, and Suda at the end of the 1st millennium.

The eastern and southern borders of the tribe's habitat were never permanent and would sometimes reach the upper reaches of the Seversky Donets. In the 8th - early 9th century, the Severyans used to pay tribute to the Khazars. In the late 9th century, they became a part of the Kievan Rus' together with the Polans. In 907, the Severyans participated in Oleg's campaign against the Byzantine Empire. The tribe was last mentioned in a chronicle in 1024.

The principal cities of the Severyans were Chernihiv, Kursk, Novhorod-Siversky and others. Archaeologists also found numerous rural settlements of the 8th - 10th centuries, inhabited by the Severyans, and burial mounds with cremated bodies. The Severyans were mostly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and different handicrafts.