- Radimichs
The Radimichs ("Радзiмiчы" in Belarusian, "Радимичи" in Russian; "Радимичі" in Ukrainian), were a
tribe ofEarly East Slavs of the last few centuries of the1st millennium , which inhabited upper east parts of theDnieper down theSozh River and its tributaries. The name probably derives from the name of the forefather of the tribe - Radim.The lands of the Radimichs were conveniently connected with the central regions of the
Kievan Rus by waterways. In the 11th and 12th centuries, the Radimichs had a few known cities: Homiy (today'sHomel ) andChechersk on the Sozh,Vshchizh on theDesna River ,Vorob'yin ,Ropeisk ,Starodub and others. Seven-beam temporaljewelry made ofbronze orsilver represent a specificethnic trait of the Radimichs of the 9th -11th century .There is little information on the Radimichs. Historians know that in the middle of the
9th century they were paying tribute to theKhazars . In885 , the Radimichs were conquered byPrince Oleg of Novgorod and became part ofKievan Rus . In907 , the Radimichs are mentioned as a part of Oleg's army in his military campaign againstByzantine empire . In984 , the Radimichs tried to break away from the Kievan Rus, but were defeated on thePischan River byVladimir the Great 'scommander Volchiy Khvost ("Wolf's Tail"). Since then, there had been no mentioning of the tribe in thechronicle s. They continued living on their land, gradually assimilating with neighboring tribes and peoples and forming the Belarusian nationality. Subsequently, the lands of the Radimichs became a part of theChernihiv andSmolensk principalities.The Radimichs were last mentioned in a chronicle in
1169 .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.