Polybius 2.17

“The Etruscans were the oldest inhabitants of this plain at the same period that they possessed also the Phlegraean plain in the neighborhood of Capua and Nola, which, accessible and well known as it is to many, has such a reputation for fertility.  Those therefore who would know something of the dominion of the Etruscans should not look at the country where they now inhabit but at these plains and the resources they drew thence.  The Celts being close neighbors of the Etruscans and associating much with them, cast covetous eyes on their beautiful untry, and on small pretext, suddenly attacked them with a a large army and, expelling them from the plain of the Po, occupied it themselves.  The first settlers at the eastern extremity, near the source of the Po, were the Laevi and Lebecii, after them the Insubres, the largest tribe of all, and next these, on the banks of the river, the Cenomani.  The part of the plain near the Adriatic had never ceased to be in the possession of another very ancient tribe called the Veneti, differing slightly from the Gauls in customs and costume and speaking another language.  About this people the tragic poets tell many marvelous stories.  On the other bank of the Po, by the Apennines, the first settlers beginning from the west were the Anares and next them the Boii.  Next the latter, towards the Adriatic, were the Lingones and lastly, near the sea the Senones.”

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We all “know” that the Slavs are latecomers.  Or, at least, all the academics “know” that.  With that preconception in mind we begin here a new series that looks at this claim in more detail by examining instances of strange names or places that seem to gainsay the above made claim.  Nothing conclusive, of course, just some investigation with a looking glass.

Frequently, the claim is made that the Venethi/Veneti/Venedi name as applied to the Slavs is simply a carryover of the old name, most likely by the Germans, onto their new neighbors, the incoming Slavs.  Most people will admit that some Venethi may have been Slavicize din the process as, for that matter, may have been some remaining Restgermanen.  What is interesting, however, is that other instances appear where the same claim would have to be made.  That is, certain Slavic tribes, seem to have the same names as the Germans or Celts who allegedly preceded them.  In some cases, this may be explained by the fact that the geography of a given place necessarily preserved the name for the newcomers.  Think of the Rugians, for example.  Assuming the name Rugen remains in use then the people who live there are Rugians, whether they are the “original” Germanic Rugii or the new Slavic Rugii (aka Ranii).  But there are other instances of the same phenomenon which are not so easily explained.  So let us focus on one of them here.

Of the Rauraci

Ceasar, in his De Bello Gallico, mentions in Book I Chapter 5 and Chapter 29, the following Celtic peoples: Helvetii, Tulingi, Latobrigi, Rauraci and Boii (the last of whom are, we are to believe, the Celtic people, whose name gave name to the country of Bohemia).  Specifically, he says, when discussing this Celtic rebellion:

“After his death [that of Orgetorix of the Helvetii], the Helvetii nevertheless attempt to do that which they had resolved on, namely, to go forth from their territories.  When they thought that they were at length prepared for this undertaking, they set fire to all their towns, in number about twelve – to their villages about four hundred – and to the private dwellings that remained; they burn up all the grain, except what they intend to carry with them; that after destroying the hope of a return home, they might be the more ready for undergoing all dangers.  They order every one to carry forth from home for himself provisions for three months, ready ground.  They persuade the Rauraci, and the Tulingi, and the Latobrigi, their neighbors, to adopt the same plan, and after burring down their towns and villages, to set out with them: and they admit to their party aunited to themselves as confederates the Boii, who had dwelt on the other side of the Rhine, and had crossed over into the Norican territory, and assaulted Noricia.”

This was Chapter 5 so now for Chapter 29, where Ceasar mentions certain lists that the Romans found in the Helvetii camp that showed the strength of the individual tribes of this venture:

“Of all which items the total was [the following number of heads]: Of the Helvetii 263,000, of the Tulingi… 36,000, of the Latobrigi… 14,000, of the Rauraci… 23,000, of the Boii… 32,000…”

Appropriately enough the Rauraci are also listed on the Tabula Peutingeriana:

There they are sitting comfortably around Lake Geneva at Lausanne – close to Lake Constance with its Bregentz and Vindelici.  A similarly named Reruiges are further North:

(There are other interesting names on this map, e.g., Rutenii, Radriani or, for that matter, Veliati)

Of the Reregi

Adam of Bremen has this to say in his Book II Chapter 18 description of Slavia which is “a very large province of Germany [which is] inhabited by the Winuli who at one time were called Vandals”:

“Then come the Abodrites, who now are called Reregi, and their city is Mecklenburg.”

(Deinde secuntur Obodriti, qui nunc Reregi vocantur, et civitas eorum Magnopolis. )

(Except, it does not quite say that, rather it says: “Deinde secuntur Obodriti, qui altero noie Reregi vocantur, et civitas eorum Magnopolis.” That is “Obotrites who are also called Reregi”.  Same concept)

Further in Book III, Chapter 19:

“Now all the Slavic peoples who belonged to the diocese of Hamburg practices the Christian religion devoutly under that prince; that is, the Wagiri and Abodrites and Reregi and Polabingi [Polabians]; likewise the Linguones, Warnavi, Kicini, and Circipani, as far as the Pane River which in the privileges of our Church is called the Peene.”

(Igitur omnes populi Sclavorum, qui ad Hammaburgensem respiciunt dyocesim, sub illo principe christianam fidem coluerunt devote, hoc est Waigri et Obodriti vel Reregi vel Polabingi, item Linoges, Warnabi, Chizzini et Circipani, usque ad Panem fluvium, quem nostrae privilegia ecclesiae vocant Penem.)

These reference are made only in Adam’s work and some have speculated that they are based on a confusion with a trading place Rerk/Reric that was earlier mentioned by Einhard (whom Adam expressly relied on) or some other author of the Reichsannalen (under the years 808/809 as Emplorium Reric) but the suggestion that somehow Adam was fooled into thinking that Rerk  must have meant that there was or ought to have been a tribe of the same or similar name seems hollow.

Of Rarog

There are two things that are interesting about this name.  First, the Raurici/Reregi name is not one which one might say is easily, coming off the tongue so to speak, replicated, or, to put it a bit differently, it is not a name that one might think could be independently invented in different times and places.  But, you might say, we already have two similar names on the Tabula and, in any event, as we mentioned before, perhaps the same name was applied to a different people (i.e., the later Slavic one).

There is, however, a second interesting thing about this or a similar name.  Rarog or Raróg has a Slavic etymology.  It means a type of a falcon (or, etymologically, of a raven).  What’s more it is falcon that seems to have a religious connotation to Slavs.  Further, rarog, like Svarog or tvarog are words that are undoubtedly Slavic and are ancient (see Aleksander Brückner’s comment that it is a Slavic “ur-word”).

Coincidence?

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We have raised this question before but we think it is worth enunciating it a bit so we will do it through the words of the chroniclers – one separated by a millennium of history.

 Helmold

[Partially Following Adam of Bremen]

“The second river, that is the Oder/Odra heads towards the North and cuts across the land of the Vinulli [Winnuli/Wends] and separates the Pomeranians from the Wilzi [Veleti].  At the mouth of this river, where it hits the sea, there was once a most illustrious city Winneta [Vinneta or Vinneda]… [description of the town and its fall follows] There one can witness a sea in three parts.  This island [on which the city stood] is cut through by three mouths of the river – one of them, as they say, is extraordinarily green, the second white and third is always covered in storms.”

Adam of Bremen

“Beyond the Leutici, who are alsoc called Wilzi, one comes to the Oder River, the largest stream in the Slavic region.  At its mouth where it feeds the Scythian marshes, Jumne, a most noble city, affords a very widely known trading center… There Neptune may be observed in a threefold mood: that island is washed by the waters of three straits, one of which they say is of a very green appearance; another rather whitish; the third rages furiously in perpetual tempests.”

Jordanes

“This island [Scandza] lies in front of the river Vistula which rises in the Sarmatian mountains and flows through its triple mouth into the northern Ocean in sight of Scandza, separating Germany and Scythia…”

“This land, I say, -namely, Scythia, stretching far and spreading wide, – has on the east the Seres [Serbs?], a race that dwelt at the very beginning of their history on the shores of the Caspian Sea.  “On the west are the Germans and the river Vistula…”

“Near their left ridge, which inclines toward the north, and beginning at the source of the Vistula, the populous race of the Venethi dwell, occupying a great expanse of land.  Though their names are now dispersed amid various clans and paces, yet they are chiefly called Sclaveni and Antes.  The abode of the Sclaveni extends from the city of Noviodunum and the lake called Mursianus to the Danaster, and northward as far as the Viscla…”

“But on the shore of Ocean, where the floods of the river Vistula empty from three mouths, the Vidivarii dwell, a people gathered out of various tribes.  Beyond them the Aesti, a subject race, likewise hold the shore of Ocean.  To the south dwell the Acatziri…”

“These Gepidae were then smitten by envy while they dwelt in the province of Spesis on an island surrounded by the shallow waters of the Visclae.  This island they called in the speech of their fathers, Gepodoios; but it is now inhabited by the race of the Vividaria, since the Gepidae themselves have moved to better lands.  The Vividarii are gathered from various races into this one asylum, if I may call it so, and thus they form a nation.”

[in some manuscripts, Vidivarii [Vindi-varii?]]

 Ptolemy

“and the mouths of the Vistula river, the head of the river, the source which is to the west and is said to be towards the Albis [Elbe]“.

[yes, the source of the Oder is much closer to the source of the Elbe than is the source of the Vistula]

“Those that inhabit Germany on the other side of the river Rhine… and after these the Rugiclei up to the Vistula river….”

[yes, the Rugian island is west of the Oder]

Question

So: Is it the case that Visculus sive Vistla as Pliny would have it?  Or maybe Visculus does sive Vistla but the Latin/Greek authors use the term erroneously when thinking of the Oder?

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Of all the stories about the early Slavs, the story of Samo’s state is perhaps the most curious.  The story comes in two parts.  First, Samo, apparently a Frankish merchant, heads off to the Slavs who are in middle of a rebellion against the Avars and leads them to victory over the former overlords.

Then he reigns over them for many years leading them to further glory by refusing to submit to and ultimately defeating the army of the Frankish King Dagobert.

There is, perhaps, only one and only one source for this story of the “first” Slavic polity –  Book IV of the Fredegar’s Chronicle.  We will now present the entire Samo story and all the other parts of that book that relate to Wends, Slavs and Samo (though the principal years that relate to the two episodes are 623 and 630 in chapters 48 and 68, respectively).  We note first that Samo was not the first recorded Slavic king with his own kingdom as the southern Slavs had had several (and that is not even counting Boz of the Antes) quasi-states with their (explicitly noted by the chroniclers) own territory before Samo rolled in, as already mentioned here.  Further, it behooves us to say that “traces” of Samo may have survived outside of the chronicles – a topic which we will come back to later in this post – for now the story of Samo, in full, as related by Fredegar (manuscript pictures: Bibliotheque National de France, Latin manuscript 10910). (The years are given after the chronicle – some commentators question, e.g., whether the revolt happened in 623 or only after the Avar defeat at Constantinople in 626).

 Samo in Fredegar’s Chronicle

Book IV, Section 48 (Year 623)

English:

“In the fortieth year [of the rule of Chlothar?/Theuderich?], a certain Samo of the nation of the Franks from Sennonago [Sens in France? Soignies in Belgium?] together with a group of merchants went to trade with the Slavs who are called Wends.  The Slavs had at that point already risen up against the Avars that were known as Huns and their King Khagan.  Already in the olden days were the Wends used by the Huns as the so-called befulci [besulci?] so that when the Huns took the field against a nation, they themselves would stand in muster in front of their camp but the Wends would fight.  If the Wends won, the Huns would come forth to claim the booty; but if the Wends lost, they would regroup/gather new forces with the Huns’ help/protection.  They were called besulci by the Huns because they walked before the Huns and had to endure a double battle in any combat.”  [this may refer to the “motivational” influence of the Avars behind the Wends back]

“Each year, the Huns came to the Slavs, to spend the winter with them; then they took the wives and daughters of the Slavs and slept with them, and among the other mistreatments [already mentioned] the Slavs were also forced to pay levies to the Huns.  But the sons of the Huns, who were [then] raised with the wives and daughters of these Wends could not finally endure this oppression anymore and refused obedience to the Huns and began, as already mentioned, a rebellion.  When now the Wendish army went against the Huns, the [aforementioned] merchant Samo accompanied the same.  And so the Samo’s bravery proved itself in wonderful ways and a huge mass of Huns fell to the sword of the Wends.  Since these recognized Samo’s bravery they elected/raised him [to be] their king and he ruled happily thirty-five years long.  Many battles did the Wends fight under his rule and each time thanks to him did they remain victors.  Samo had twelve Wendish wives with whom he raised twenty-two sons and twenty-five daughters.”

Latin:

“Anno 40 regni Chlotharii, homo quidam, nomine Samo, natione Francus, de pago Sennonago plures secum negotiantes ascivit, ad exercendum negotium in Sclavos , cognomento Winidos, perrexit. Sclavi jam contra Avares, cognomento Chunos , et regem eorum Gaganum coeperant rebellare. Winidi Befulci Chunis fuerant jam ab antiquitus, ut cum Chuni in exercitu contra gentem quamlibet aggrediebant, Chuni pro castris adunato illorum exercitu stabant, Winidi vero pugnabant; si vero ad vincendum praevalebant, tunc Chuni praedas capiendum aggrediebant; sin autem Winidi superabantur, Chunorum auxilio fulti vires resumebant. Ideo Befulci vocabantur a Chunis, eo quod duplici in congressione certaminis vestita praelia facientes ante Chunos praecederent Chuni ad hiemandum annis singulis in Selavos veniebant; uxores Selavorum et filias eorum stratu sumebant; tributa super alias oppressiones Sclavi Chunis solvebant. Filii Chunorum, quos in uxores Winidorum et filias generaverant , tandem non sufferentes hanc malitiam ferre et oppressionem, Chunorum dominationem negantes, ut supra memini, coeperant rebellare. Cum in exercitu Winidi contra Chunos fuissent aggressi, Samo negotians, de quo memoravi superius, cum ipsis in exercitu perrexit, ibique tanta ejus fuit utilitas, ut mirum fuisset, et nimia multitudo de Chunis gladio Winidorum trucidata fuisset. Winidi cernentes utilitatem Samonis, eum super se eligunt regem, ubi triginta quinque annos regnavit feliciter. Plura praelia contra Chunos suo regimine Winidi gesserunt, suo consilio et utilitate Winidi semper superarunt. Samo duodecim uxores ex genere Winidorum habebat, de quibus viginti duos filios et quindecim filias habuit.”

Book IV, Section 58 (Year 628)

[speaking of Dagobert in the seventh year of his reign]

English:

“…And so great was the fear that he aroused among all the people that they all in humility submitted to his rule and even peoples, who lived on the border to the Avars and the Slavs willingly requested that he come to [rule over] them and he hoped confidently that the Avars and the Slavs and the other peoples all the way to the borders [of the Byzantine Kingdom] to rule…”

Latin:

“...Timorem vero sic fortem sua concusserat utilitas, ut jam devotione arriperent suae se tradere ditioni, ut etiam gentes, quae circa limitem Avarorum et Sclavorum consistunt, eum prompte expeterent, ut ille post tergum eorum iret feliciter, et Avaros et Sclavos caeterasque gentium nationes usque manum publicam suae ditioni subjiciendum fiducialiter spondebat…”

Book IV, Section 68 (Year 630) 

English:

“In this year, merchants trading in Samo’s kingdom were killed and their property robbed by the Slavs that went by the name Wends.  This was the reason behind the falling out between Dagobert and the King of the Slavs Samo.  Dagobert sent an emissary Sycharius to Samo with the demand, to intervene, on account of the murder and theft committed by his [subjects/ people] on the Frankish merchants, as justice would demand it.  Because Samo did not even want to see Sycharius and would not let [Sycharius] before him, therefore, [Sycharius] put on Slavic garb and appeared before Samo and proclaimed to [Samo] all that he was supposed to proclaim. [i.e., he made the above-described demands for justice to be dispensed by Samo]  But Samo did not, for such are the pagan and haughty ways of bad people, recompense/undo what his [subjects/people] had done, and only committed himself to conduct judicial proceedings to resolve these and similar disputes between the two sides.  To that Sycharius replied in unfortunate words/threats, as is the manner of boisterous emissaries, which words/threats he was not empowered [by Dagobert] to use, that Samo and his entire people were  subjects of Dagobert’s.  Hurt [by these words] the King replied: “The country that we possess and we ourselves are Dagobert’s but only if he wants to keep friendship with us.”  To which Sycharius said: “It is not possible, that Christians, servants of God, should be friends with dogs.”  And then Samo replied: “If you are servants of God and we are God’s dogs then it is permitted us when you continually act against His will that we bite you.”  And with these words they threw Sycharius out.”

“When Dagobert found out about this he raised a great army out of all Austrasia [northern France – province of the Merovingian Empire] against Samo and the Wends and sent it to take the field divided in three parts.  At the same time, the Langobards raided [a/the] Slavic country to support Dagobert.  The Slavs prepared themselves to resist but the Alemanic army under Duke Crodobert  on a victory over them [Slavs] in the place where it breached their territory, and so too the Langobards won a victory; and both, Alemans and Langobards led away with them a huge multitude of prisoners.  But as the Austrasians headed towards Wogastisburg, where the main force of the Wendish forces was, there came to a three-day long battle, in which the greater part of Dagobert’s army fell to the sword, and leaving all their tents and all their belongings behind they went fleeing home.  Since that time, the Wends raided Thuringia and other Frankish provinces.  Yes, even Dervanus, the duke of the Sorbs, a people of the Slavic tribes, who until then to the Frankish Kingdom belonged, went over to Samo.  And by the way the Wends did not win their victory over the Franks thanks to their bravery but rather on the account of bad faith of the Austrasiers since they hated Dagobert for having constantly exploited them.”

Latin:

“Eo anno Sclav, cognomento Winidi, in regno Samonis negotiantes, Francorum cum plurimam multitudinem interfecissent et rebus exspoliassent, hoc fuit initium scandali inter Dagobertum et Samonem regem Sclavinorum . Dirigensque Dagobertus Sicharium legatarium ad Samonem, petens ut negotiantes quos sui interfecerant, et res quas illi cite usurpaverant cum justitia faceret emendare Samo nolens Sicharium videre, nec ad se eum venire permitteret; Sicharius vestes indutus ad instar Sclavinorum cum suis ad conspectum pervenit, Samoni universa quae injuncta habebat nuntiavit. Sed ut habet gentilitas et superbia pravorum, nihil a Samone quae sui admiserant est emendatum, nisi tantum placita vellens instituere, ut de his et aliis intentionibus, quae inter has partes ortae fuerant, justitia redderetur in invicem. Sicharius, sicut stultus legatus, verba improperii quae injuncta non habuerat, et minas adversus Samonem loquitur, eo quod Samo et populus regni sui Dagoberto deberent servitium. Samo respondens jam saucius [Clar., caucius] dixit: Et terram quam habemus Dagoberti est, et nos sui sumus, si tamen nobiscum disposuerit amicitias conservare. Sicharius dicens: Non est possibile, ut Christiani Dei servi cum canibus amicitias collocare possint, Samo e contrario dixit: Si vos estis Dei servi, et nos sumus Dei canes, dum vos assidue contra ipsum agitis, nos permissum accepimus vos morsibus lacerare. Ejectus est Sicharius de conspectu Samonis. Cum haec Dagoberto nuntiasset. Dagobertus superbiter jubet de universo regno Austrasiorum contra Samonem et Winidos movere exercitum: ubi tribus turmis phalangae super Winidos exercitus ingreditur, etiam et Langobardi solatione Dagoberti idemque hostiliter in Sclavos perrexerunt. Sclavi his et aliis locis e contrario praeparantes, Alamannorum exercitus cum Chrodoberto duce in parte qua ingressus est victoriam obtinuit. Langobardi itidemque victoriam obtinuerunt; et plurimum numerum captivorum de Sclavis Alamanni et Langobardi secum duxerunt. Austrasii vero cum ad castrum Wogastisburc , ubi plurima manus fortium Winidorum immoraverant, circumdantes, triduo praeliantes, plures ibidem de exercitu Dagoberti gladio trucidantur, et exinde fugaciter omnes tentoria et res quas habuerunt relinquentes, ad proprias sedes revertuntur. Multis post haec vicibus Winidi in Thoringiam et reliquos vastando pagos in Francorum regnum irruunt. Etiam et Deruanus dux gentis Urbiorum , qui ex genere Sclavinorum erant, et ad regnum Francorum jam olim aspexerant, se ad [Al., se et] regnum Samoni cum suis tradidit. Istamque victoriam quam Winidi contra Francos meruerunt, non tantum Sclavinorum fortitudo obtinuit, quantum dementatio Austrasiorum, dum se cernebant cum Dagoberto odium incurrisse, et assidue exspoliarentur.”

Book IV, Section 72 (Year 630) 

English:

“In the same year there arose a great discord in Pannonia in the Kingdom of the Avars that are called Huns.  There was a quarrel between an Avar and a Bulgar over the succession to the throne.  Both collected huge armies and fought with one another.  Finally, the Bulgars lost.  Nine thousand of them with wives and children were driven then out of Pannonia and turned now to Dagobert to give them permanent places to live within the country of the Franks.  Dagobert bade them for the time being to spend the winter by the Bavarians until he had time to take counsel with the Franks what should happen with them next.  Once they have settled in the houses of the Bavarians, he issued, after the council of the Franks, an order to the Bavarians that they should in one night, each in his own house, kill these Bulgars together with their women and children.  And that order was immediately carried out by the Bavarians so that only Alciocus with 700 men, women children survived from the Bulgars and saved themselves by escaping to the territory of the Wends where he with his people lived for many years with Wallucus, the duke of the Wends.”

Latin:

“Eo anno in Abarorum , cognomento Chunorum, regno in Pannonia surrexit vehemens intentio, eo quod de regno certarent, cui deberetur ad succedendum, unus ex Abaris et alius ex Bulgaris; collecta multitudine uterque in invicem pugnarunt. Tandem Abari Bulgaros superant. Bulgaris superatis, novem millia virorum cum uxoribus et liberis de Pannonia expulsi, ad Dagobertum expetunt, petentes ut eos in terra Francorum ad manendum reciperet. Dagobertus jubet eos ad hiemandum Bajoarios recipere, dummodo pertractaret cum Francis quid exinde fieret. Cumque dispersi per domos Bajoariorum ad biemandum fuissent, consilio Francorum Dagobertus Bajoariis jubet ut Bulgaros illos cum uxoribus et liberis unusquisque in domo sua in una nocte Bajoarii interficerent, quod protinus a Bajoariis est impletum. Nec quisquam ex illis remansit Bulgaris, nisi tantum Altioeus cum septingentis viris, et uxoribus cum liberis, qui in marca Winidorum salvatus est. Post haec cum Walluco duce Winidorum annis plurimis vixit cum suis.”

Book IV, Section 74 (Year 631) 

English:

“In the tenth year of the rule of Dagobert it was reported to him that an army of Wends raided Thuringia.  He left, therefore, with his forces from Metz and crossed the Ardennes towards Mainz in order to cross the Rhein there.  In addition to dukes and counts he also had the choicest cohort of brave men from Neustrien and Burgundy.  There appeared now emissaries of the Saxons in front of Dagobert asked him to exempt them form the taxes that they [noarmally] paid to the [Frankish] state.  In exchange for that they promised with great zeal and success to defend [against the Wends] and the Franksih country on the Wendish border to protect.  Dagobert fulfilled this request, after a/the council of the Neustrasier and the Saxon emissaries gave their promise, in accordance with their custom by hitting [their] weapons, for the entire Saxon nation.  Though, the promise was not successful, the taxes that they used to pay remained unpaid in accordance with Dagobert’s order.  Chlotar the Old had required them to pay annual taxes of 500 cows which taxes Dagobert now exempted them from.”

Latin:

“Anno 10 regni Dagoberti, cum ei nuntiatum fuisset exercitum Winidorum Thoringiam fuisse ingressum, cum exercitu de regno Austrasiorum de Mettis urbe promovens, transita Ardenna, Magantiam magno cum exercitu aggreditur , disponens Rhenum transire, scaram de electis viris fortibus de Neuster et Burgundia cum ducibus et grafionibus secum habens. Saxones missos ad Dagobertum dirigunt, petentes ut eis tributa quae fisci ditionibus dissolvebant indulgeret: ipsi vero eorum studio et utilitate Winidis resistere spondent, et Francorum limitem de illis partibus custodire promittunt. Quod Dagobertus, consilio Neustrasiorum adeptus, praestitit Saxonibus qui his petitionibus suggerendum venerant. Sacramentum, ut eorum mos erat , super arma placata [Al. placita] pro universis Saxonibus firmant. Sed parum haec promissio sortitur effectum, tamen tributum Saxones, quod reddere consueverant, praeceptione Dagoberti habent indultum. Quingentas vaccas inferendales annis singulis a Chlothario seniore censiti reddebant, quod a Dagoberto cassatum est.”

Book IV, Section 75 (Year 632) 

English:

“The eleventh year of the reign of Dagobert.  Since the Wends on the orders of Samo continued their wild raids and would often come raiding out of their own country into the Frankish Kingdom and devastated Thuringia and other provinces, therefore, did Dagobert come to the town Metz and made, after a determination of the clergy and the nobles of his country, his son Sigebert into King of Auster and gave him the town Metz as his seat.  And to the Bishop of Koln Chunibert and to Duke Adigisel he left the affairs in Sigebert’s Kingdom and palace.  He also left a sufficient treasury for his son and granted him all that his high honor required.  All these nominations he reaffirmed with specially prepared certificates.  From that time was the Frankish Kingdom through the zeal of the Austrasier sufficiently protected.”

Latin:

“Anno 11 regni Dagoberti, cum Winidi jussu Samonis fortiter saevirent, et saepe transcenso eorum limite regnum Francorum vastandum, Thoringiam et reliquos pagos ingrederentur, Dagobertus Mettis urbem veniens, cum consilio pontificum seu et procerum, omnibusque primatibus regni sui consentientibus, Sigibertum filium suum in Austeris regem sublimavit, sedemque Mettis civitatem habere permisit. Chunibertum Coloniae urbis pontificem, et Adalgiselum ducem palatium et regnum gubernandum instituit. Thesaurum quod sufficeret filio tradens, condigne, ut decuit, eum hujus culmine sublimavit, et quodcunque eidem largitus fuerat, singillatim praeceptionibus roborandum decrevit. Deinceps Austrasii eorum studio limitem et regnum Francorum contra Winidos utiliter defensasse noscuntur.”

Book IV, Section 77 (Year 633) 

English:

“Radulf, the son of Chamar, whom Dagobert made Duke of Thuringia, fought many times against the Wends, defeated them and expelled them.  This made him arrogant and he took every opportunity to act in a hostile manner towards Duke Adalgisel and already then was preparing to rebel against King Sigebert.  He acted according to the proverb: ‘He who loves war, always looks for/thinks of conflict.'”

Latin:

“Radulfus dux illius Chamari, quem Dagobertus Thoringiae ducem instituit, pluribus vicibus cum exercitu Winidorum dimicans, eosque victos vertit in fugam. Hujus victoriae superbia elatus, et contra Adalgiselum ducem diversis occasionibus inimicitias tendens, paulatim contra Sigibertum jam tunc coeperat rebellare. Sed, ut dictum est, sic agebat: Qui diligit rixas, meditatur discordias.”

Book IV, Section 87 (Year 640) 

English:

[In this year Radulf came to open rebellion.  Sigebert crossed the Rhine to attack him and initially won but then suffered a great loss at a battle at Radulf’s wood-protected camp that stood overlooking the river Unstrut.  Thereafter, Sigebert was allowed to withdraw and go home.  And, thereupon…]

“Radulf full of overconfidence/arrogance called himself King of Thuringia, became friends with the Wends and had a peaceful relationship with the other neighboring peoples.  Officially, he recognized Sigebert’s as his sovereign but in practice he opposed stingily/at every turn his rulership.”

Latin:

“Radulfus superbia elatus ad modum regis in Thoringia se esse censebat, amicitias cum Winidis firmans, caeterasque gentes, quas vicinas habebat, cultu amicitiae obligabat. In verbis tamen Sigiberto regimen non denegabat, sed in factis fortiter ejusdem resistebat dominationi.”

Conclusion 

No one knows what happened to Samo.  If you look at the “learned” sources they will say that he ruled until 658.  There is, however, no proof of this.  All we  know is that Fredegar said Samo came to power in 623 and ruled for 35 years.  That and only that is the source of the year 658.  In Fredegar’s chronicle no mention is made of Samo after the events of the year 632 where his Wends were raiding Thuringia.  Fredegar’s Chronicle ends on the year 642 and that is, as they say, that.

However, there are other interesting signs of Samo’s story to be found elsewhere.

One example given is the Saint Catherine’s rotunda in the town of Znojmo.  Its frescoes (oldest in the Czech Republic)  date to 1134 (the rotunda is about 100 years older) and show the ancient rulers of the Czech lands (Znojmo is in Moravia but more or less).

The first name shown is Zamo (the next three cannot be read and then we get Moimir I, the first historical ruler of  Great Moravia – between c 820-846).

You can look at the rotunda here.

And then there are the names of some of the (legendary) Polish rulers, e.g. Siemo-wit or Ziemo-mysl.

There is, of course, also the question of the meaning of befulci which we will not touch save to say the meaning seems to be basically “cannon fodder”.

Then there is the question of the location of Wogastisburg.  While a lot of people are pointing at the Czech Republic, the constant mention of the Thuringians and Wends suggests a different answer perhaps.  One that points to the Veleti or Obodrites – it is in the territory of these that we find today’s Wolgast (or maybe it’s Znojmo…).  In any event, let us “REMEMBER [THE VICTORY AT] WOGASTISBURG!”

Oh, yes, and there is the issue of the origin of the name Samo (which, interestingly, translates roughly into “by myself”)

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Masudi, born in Baghdad became a world traveler and an author of a history book (under the rather confusing name of “The Meadows of Gold” (or, more fully, “The Meadows of Gold and Mines of Precious Gems”).  He wrote it between 941-956 (first edition in 943) in Egypt where he chose to settle.  Masudi died in 957 – eight years before Ibrahim Ibn-Ya’qub arrived at Otto I’s court in Magdeburg.  Although the below discusses some religious practices of the [seemingly, East] Slavs, we leave a wider discussion of the topic for later.  Finally, we include the Paul Lunde translation of the same separately at the back.

From Masudi

(c 943)

“The Saqaliba are descended from Madhay, the son of Japheth, the son of Noah and all the Saqaliba peoples derive their origins and trace their genealogies back to him, or at least this is the opinion of most of those who have devoted themselves to the question.  The Saqaliba dwell in the North, whence they have spread westwards.”

[this seems to suggest that at least some Slavs moved West from East; on the other hand, below Masudi seems to have his East-West confused as he suggests the Rus and Slavs extend eastwards from the Khazar Khaganate]

“The Saqaliba are divided into several different peoples who war among themselves and have kings.  Some of them belong to the Christian faith, being of the Jacobite sect, while the others are pagans and have no scripture and know nothing of divine law.”

[Jacobite, presumably meaning the Syrian Church]

“Among the different peoples who make up this pagan race, there is one that in ancient times held sovereign power.  Their king was called Majik and they themselves were known as Walitaba [Veleti].  In the past, all the Saqaliba recognized their superiority, because it was from among them that they chose the paramount ruler, and all the other chieftains considered themselves his vassals.”

[although this may seem far-fetched, if we take into account that M-dzh-k is a reconstruction, one might ask whether this could be a form of M-sh-c or M-sh-k, i.e., Mieszko – this would not be impossible though highly unlikely as in the 940s Mieszko I was very young and likely not even yet a chieftain and we also do not have evidence of earlier Mieszkos in the same area (though we also have no earlier evidence at all of that area); for a discussion of the same topic in Ibrahim‘s account (he uses the name Makha) see here]

“Among the Saqaliba peoples of the second rank should be mentioned in the following order: the Istrana, whose king in our own times is called Basqlabij; then the Dulaba, whose present king is called Wanjslaf.  Next are the Namjin, whose king is called Gharand; among all the Saqaliba these are the bravest and the best horsemen.  After, come the Manabin, whose king is called Ratimir; the Sarbin, a Saqaliba people much feared for reasons that it would take too long to explain and whose deeds would need much too detailed an account.  They have no particular religious affiliation.  Then there is the people called the Murawa and another known as the Kharwatin, and yet another called the Sasin, then the Khashanin and the Baranijabin.  The names of some of their kings which we have given are in fact dynastic titles.  The Sarbin, whom we have just mentioned, have the custom of burning themselves alive when a king or chieftain dies.  They also immolate his horses.  These people have customs similar to those of the Indians.”

[Tribes’ names mentioned above require some explanation:

– Istrana – difficult to do anything with this one; the Ister was the Danube, of course; maybe these were a tribe from the Dniester region such as the Tivercians; but the Venethi enthusiasts should also note that Istrana is a town in the Venetian country of Italy;

– Dulaba – the Dulaba were presumably the Dulebians mentioned in the PVL as being abused by the Avars and then dwelling “along the Bug where the Volhynians now are”;

– Namjin – the name might suggest Germans (Nemcy) especially given the name of the leader – Gharand (or maybe Goran?); this should not be that surprising since Masudi also lists the Sasin – possibly Saxons and the Turks (Hungarians) as Slavs; some have speculated that the reference is to Bavarians; it is interesting that these may be rendered in the Slavic suggesting a Slavic source;

– Manabin – other translations include mayin and maghanin – nonetheless, we can only throw our hands up in the air and say whaaaa?;

– Sarbin – ok, easy – Serbs of one type or another;

– Murawa – presumably the Moravians;

– Kharwatin – presumably the Croatians/Croats;

– Sasin – German Saxons or Cesi (Czechs)?;

– Khashanin – Kashubs? Those who live near Koszalin?;

– Baranijabin – we give up – other than to say that the town of Baranovichi is in Western Belarus] 

“Earlier in this work, we briefly mentioned this while discussing the Caucasus/the town Qabh [?] and the Khazars, we remarked that in the land of the Khazars there are, as well as the Khazars themselves, a Saqaliba and a Rus population and that these last [last or last two?] also immolate themselves.  These Saqaliba and other related peoples extent to the East rather than to the West.”

“The foremost of the Saqaliba kings is Aldayr, whose domains include great cities and much cultivated land, vast troops and countless armies.  Muslim merchants make their way to his capital with all kinds of merchandise.”

[Aldayr – Askold & Dir?; or is it really aldair as in aeldar as in chieftain? Or al-Ta’ir, the flying one or the flying eagle (see the Star Aquila)? Or, perhaps it is Aldir?]

“After this, on the borders of this Saqaliba king, comes the king of al-afragh [Prague?], who has a gold mine, towns, extensive well-cultivated lands, numerous soldiers and a large population.  He is at war with the Byzantines, the Franks, the Bazkard [Bashkirs but here are meant the Hungarians seeing as that (Urals) is where they (or rather the ruling class) likely came from] and other nations besides the hostilities among them are continuous.  Neighboring this king is the king of the Turks.  These people are the handsomest, the most numerous and the most warlike of all.  The  Saqaliba comprise many different peoples and are very far-flung, but this work is not the place for a detailed description and classification of them.”

“I began by mentioning the king whose suzerainty has been recognized by all the other rulers since ancient times, that is to say Majik, king of the Walitaba, who are the original, pure-blooded Saqaliba, the most highly honored, and take precedence over all the other branches of the race.      Later, dissent having established itself among these peoples, their original organization was destroyed and the various families formed isolated groups, each choosing a king, as we have said above.  An account of all these events would take too long, all the more so, since I have already related them in a general way and with great detail in my earlier works, the Historical Annals and the Intermediate History.”

***

This is the Paul Lunde translation of the same: Chapter 9 (The Slavs):

“The Slavs are descended from Madhay, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah, and all the Slavic peoples derive their origins and trace their genealogies back to him, or at least this is the opinion of most of those who have devoted themselves to the question.  They dwell in the north, whence they have spread westwards.”

“The Slavs are divided into several different peoples who war among themselves and hav kings.  Some of them belong to the Christian faith, being of the Jacobite set, while the others are pagans and have no scripture and know nothing of divine law.”

“Among the different peoples who make up this pagan race, there is one that in ancient times held sovereign power.  Their koing was called Majik, and they themselves were known as Walitaba [Wiltzes?].  In the toast, all the Slavs recognized their superiority, because it was from among them that they chose the paramount ruiler, and all the other chieftains considered themselves his vassals.”

“Among the Slavic peoples of the second rank should be mentioned in the following order: the Istrana, whose king in our own times is called Basqlabij [Vaclav?]; then the Dulaba [western Dulabians?], whose present king is called Wanjslaf.  Next are the Namjin [‘Niemczyn, ‘Germans’] whose king is called Gharand [Conrad]; among all the Slavs these are the bravest and the best horsemen.  After, come the Manabin, whose king is called Ratimir; the Sarbin [the Serbs], a Slavic people much feared for reasons that it would take too long to explain and whose deeds would need much too detailed an account.  They have no particular religious affiliation.”

“Then there is the people called the Murawa [the Moravians] and another known as the Kharwatin [the Croats], and yet another called the Sasin [either the Saxons or the Czech ‘Cacin’], then the Khashanin and the Baranijabin.  The names of some of their kings which we have given are in fact dynastic titles.”

“The Sarbin, whom we hav just mentioned, have the custom of burning themselves alive when a king or chieftain dies.  They also immolate his horses.  These people have customs similar to those of the Indians.”

“In the land of the Khazars there are, as well as the Khazars themselves, a Slav and a Rus population and that these last also burn themselves.  These Slav and other related peoples extend to the east rather than to the west.”

“The foremost of the Slav kings is the ruler of Aldayr, whose domain include great cities and much cultivated land, vast troops and countless armies.  Muslim merchants make their way to his capital with all kinds of merchandise.”

“After this, on the borders of this Slavic king, comes the king of al-Afragh [Prague], who has a gold mine, towns, extensive well-cultivated lands, umerous soldiers and a large population.  He is at war with the Byzantines, the Franks, the Bazkard [the Magyars] and other nations besides; the hostilities among them are continuous.”

“Neighbouring this Slavic king is the king of the Turks.  These people are the handsomest, the most numerous and the most warlike of all.  The Slavs comprise many many different peoples and are very far-flung, but this work is not the place for a detailed description and classification of them.”

“I began by mentioning the king whose suzerainty has been recognized by all the other rulers since ancient times, that is to say Majik, king of the Walitaba, who are the original, pure-blooded Slavs, the most highly honoured and take precedence over all the other branches of the race.”

“Later, dissent having established itself among these peoples, their original organization was destroyed and the various families formed isolated groups, each choosing a king, as we have said before.  An account of all these events would take too long, all the more so since I have already related them in a general way and with great detail in my earlier works, the Historical Annals and the Intermediate History.”

***

And here are some other references from the main Lunde/Stone translation from  their main edition on the Abbasids:

[volume VII: 323-324 of Les Prairies d’or by Barbier de Meynard and Pavet de Courteille, Paris 1861-77; s 3015]

“Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mu’tasim was poclaimed Caliph the day Mun-tasir died, that is, Sunday, the 5th of Rabi’ II 248 ah [862 AD]. He was known as Abu al-Abbas. His mother was a slave of Slavic origin, named Mukhariq.”  

[volume VIII: 147-150 of Les Prairies d’or by Barbier de Meynard and Pavet de Courteille, Paris 1861-77; s 3288]

“I have spoken in my Historical Annals of the eunuchs from the Sudan, the Slavic countries, Byzantium and China – for the Chinese, like the Byzantines, will castrate several of their children. I have discussed, in the same work, the contradictions in character of eunuchs which result from the removal of this member and what nature causes to occur in them when that happens, as has often been confirmed and described.”

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