Krivich,Krivichi, In Lithuanian language "Krivichiai/Kirvichiai" means the men with axes
Formed from:
Settled originally by the Icelandic Norse Vikings.
Heavy Baltic influence.
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.
According to Vasmer, the name of the tribe may stem from that of their forefather Prince Kriv, whose name
derives from the adjective krivoy ("crooked/twisted") due to some possible birth defect.
Original Record of: 6th century
Migrations:
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. Together with the Dregovichs, Radimichs, Polochans and some
Baltic tribes they were the forefathers of the modern Belarusian nation.
There is also a referance to the Scandanavians thinking of them as witches. “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”
Cities or towns:
Izborsk , According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, the town was the seat of Rurik's brother in 862., and
Polotsk,Vitebsk, Usvyat/Mezhevo,Toropyets,
Gnezdovo in very close proximity to Smolensk but founded much earlier Appears in Chronicles as early as
950. Pottery findings from 920 of West & Sw Slavic design. Longhouse remains found.
Smaleskia (used in Icelandic Sagas)/Smolensk / also possibly the same as Miliniskia/ also possibly Syrnes
which means “brook of the swine” Founded around 1100's according to archeological findings.
One of Russia's oldest cities, Smolensk derived its name from the resin [Rus., smola] extracted from the
surrounding pine trees. The city was already a commercial center in the late 9th cent., when it was the
capital of the Krivichi tribe and a fortress and settlement for traders and artisans. It then fell under Kiev's
rule.
Novosielki 5km from Gnezdovo,
Language: Lithuanian related / some period manuscripts included at link
Recorded names:
Male: Jogaila, Brachislav, Vseslav Charadzey, Boris, Gleb, David, Rostislav, Svyatoslav, Ringhold, Klim
Smolatich, 11th Century Russian Prince Vseslav of Polotsk , Rogvolod, Prince of POLOTSK,
Female:( Predeslava-Eufrosina-Efrosinia Polotskaya was born about 1104 in the family of Polotsk Duke),
Praskoviya Alexandra, daughter of Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk 1200's, Princess Rogneda of Polotsk ...
Yaroslav's mother, (Premislava Svyatopolkovna, Princess of Kiev {1,2} Birth: 1075 Polotsk), Lyubov
Vasilkovna Princess Vitebsk ,
Neighbors
9th Century:
Sloveinie to the N. , Viatichi to the SE, Kievan State to the S.central and W.
Sources for Research:
Herodotus
Tacitus
Primary Chronicle
De Administrando Imperio, ed. Gy. Moravcsik, trans. R.J.H. Jenkins, rev. ed., Washington, Dumbarton Oaks
Center for Byzantine Studies, 1967.
Vernadsky, George (1973).
Russian Civilization in the Kievan Period
Franklin, Simon and Shepard, Jonathon, The Emergence of Rus, 750–1200
The Early Slavs P.M. Barford
Fragments from the History of Byelorussia (To 1700)
Material for Historical Research and Study of the Subject by Prof. R. Ostrowski
Viking Rus by Wladyslaw Duczko - contains a chapter of detailed information on the Gnezdovo/Smolensk
settlement.
Interesting Links:
History: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krivichs
Izborsk Fortress: www.globalheritagefund.org/where/izborsk.html