Dregoviches

Iron axe and afire strikerattributed to the Dregoviches. Also a variety of male and female costume accessories: belt buckles, bracelets, beads and other jewelry.State Historical Museumof Russia

The Slavs in the 9th century

European territory inhabited by East Slavic tribes in 8th and 9th centuries.

TheDregoviches,also called theDregovichi,were anEast Slavictribal union.They inhabited the territories along the lowerPripyat Riverand the northern parts of the right bank of theDnieper River(more exact extents of the tribe's domain are still unknown). The name of the tribe probably derives from theOld Ruthenianword "дрегва" or "дрягва" (drehva,ordryahva,which means "swamp") because the Dregoviches used to live in themarshlands.

History

The first known reference to the Dregoviches is in thePrimary Chronicle,where they are listed among the 12 tribes. However, there is a reference in theDe Administrando ImperioofConstantine Porphyrogenitusto "δρουγουβίται", "Drougoubitai".Since the reference appears in a passage describing the "Druguvitai" as one of the Slavic peoples who pay tribute to the princes ofKievan Rus',and they are named alongside theSeveriansandKrivichians,it was suggested these are the same people as the Dregoviches. By the 12th century, they were assimilated into the mainEast Slavic peoples.

Thechroniclesdo not tell historians much about the Dregoviches. We only know that they had their ownprincelyrule in the city ofTurov.In the 10th century, the lands of the Dregoviches became a part of Kievan Rus and later theTurov Principality.The northwestern part of the land of the Dregoviches became a part of thePolotsk Principality.

LinguistOleg Trubachyovsuggested they are related to a South Slavic tribe with a similar name,Drougoubitai.

See also

• List of early Slavic peoples

Sources

• De Administrando Imperio ofConstantine Porphyrogenitus,ed. R.J. Jenkins,Dumbarton OaksCenter for Byzantine Studies (1967)