and expansion (in the context of
Migration period).
East Slavs , the first East Slavic state - in the 8th and 9th century. •
Antes (common ancestors of the
East Slavs; some were also the ancestors of part of
West Slavs and
South Slavs) •
Western-Northern groups •
Western Ruthenian group /
Western Old East Slavs /
Western Russian group ("Russians" or "Russian group" in the broad sense means
Old East Slavic peoples, the common group from where modern
ethnic groups or
peoples of the
Ukrainians,
Belarusians and
Rusinians,
Russians descend and not only Russians in the narrow sense) •
Southwestern group (roughly in a large part of the hypothesized region of
Proto-Slavs origin) •
Dulebes (
Dulebi), ancestors of Ukrainians, Belarusians, part of
Czechs and Poles. Assimilated into several East Slavic tribes or were the ancestors of them: the
Volhynians,
Drevlians,
Polans,
Dregoviches, and possibly
Buzhans, eventually to become part of the
Kievan Rus'. •
Buzhans /
Bugans (
Bugane >
Buzhane; [g] > [ʒ]; zh = [ʒ]) (in the regions of the
Southern Bug and
Western Bug rivers) • Southern Bug Buzhans (Southern Bug
Slavs) (
Buzhane). Ancestors of Ukrainians and Russians. • Western Bug Buzhans (
Western Bug Slavs) /
Volhynians (
Volynyane). Ancestors of Ukrainians, part of
Czechs, and Poles. •
Dregoviches / Dregovichians (
Dregovichi), they lived along the lower
Pripyat River and the northern parts of the right bank of the
Dnieper River. Ancestors of Belarusians. •
Drevlyans (
Drevlyane), they lived in
Polesia and
right-bank Ukraine. Ancestors of Ukrainians and Belarusians. •
Polans (eastern) (
Polyane), in
Dnieper right (western) bank,
Kyiv region. Ancestors of Ukrainians. •
Teverians (
Tivertsi / Tyvertsi) /
Stadici /
Stadichi (
Stadychi)?, lived around
Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of
Romanians (especially
Moldovans). •
White Croats, in
Prykarpattia and
Zakarpattia. Ancestors of
Rusyns,
Ukrainians,
Poles,
Slovaks,
Czechs and
Croats. •
Southern group •
Don Slavs •
Ulichians (
Ulichi), lived around lived around Southern Ukraine and
Bessarabia. Ancestors of Ukrainians, and part of
Romanians (especially
Moldovans). •
Central group •
Radimichians /
Radimichs (
Radimichi). Ancestors of
Belarusians and part of
Russians. Mentioned as being a
Lyakh tribes. •
Severians (
Severyane), some migrated south into the Eastern Balkans. Ancestors of Ukrainians, Russians and part of
Slavic Bulgarians. •
Northern Russian group /
Old Russian group /
Northern Old East Slavs /
Northern Ruthenian group •
Northeastern group (Krivichian-Vyatichian group) (
Krivichians and
Vyatichians played a large part in the formation of Proto-Russians) •
Krivichians (
Krivichi), originally native to the area around
Pskov. Ancestors of Belarusians and Russians (
Kievan Rus' Principalities roughly corresponded to older tribal lands) •
Polochans (
Polochane) /
Polotskian Krivichians, in
Polotsk Land (
Polotskaya Zemlya) (later
Polotsk Principality). Ancestors of Belarusians. •
Pskovians /
Pskovian Krivichians, in
Pskov Land (
Pskovskaya Zemlya). Ancestors of Russians. •
Smolenians /
Smolenian Krivichians, in
Smolensk Land (
Smolenskaya Zemlya) (later
Smolensk Principality). Ancestors of Russians. •
Tverians /
Tverian Krivichians, in
Tver Land (''
Tver'skaya Zemlya'') (later
Tver Principality). Ancestors of Russians. •
Zalessians /
Zalessian Krivichians, in
Zalessa Land or
Zalesye (
Zalesskaya Zemlya) /
Opolyans /
Opolyan Krivichians, in Opolye Land or
Opolye (
Opolskaya Zemlya) (later
Rostov-Suzdal Principality or
Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, that gradually evolved into the
Grand Duchy of Moscow also called
Muscovite Russia or
Muscovite Rus') (this political entity is traditionally perceived as a cradle of the
Great Russian language and Great Russian people, i.e. the Russians as a distinct Slavic people) (originally
Moscow region was an enclave inhabited by a remnant of the Dniepr-Oka
Baltic peoples, the
Eastern Galindians or
Goliad', which were conquered in the middle of 11th century by
Rostov-Suzdal). •
Vyatichians (
Vyatichi) also
Oka Slavs, described as a
Lyakh tribe(s). Ancestors of Russians (
Kievan Rus' Principalities roughly corresponded to older tribal lands). •
Kozelians /
Kozelian Vyatichians, in
Kozelsk Land (roughly in today's
Kozelsk town and
Kaluga and
Tula regions, later part of the
Chernigov Principality by conquest). •
Ryazanians /
Ryazanian Vyatichians, in
Ryazan' Land (later
Ryazan Principality or
Murom-Ryazan). •
Northwestern group (possible
Northern Slavic group?) (they played a large part in the formation of Proto-Russians) •
Ilmen Slavs /
Ilmen Slovenians (
Slovene), also known as
Novgorod Slovenes,
Novgorod Slavs (
Slovene). Ancestors of Russians. •
Bezhetians /
Bezhetian Ilmen Slovenians (in
Bezhetsk Land -
Begetskaja Zemlja) (later part of the
Novgorod Land -
Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the
Novgorod Republic). •
Derevians /
Derevian Ilmen Slovenians (in
Dereva Land -
Derevskaja Zemlja) (later part of the
Novgorod Land -
Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the
Novgorod Republic). •
Obonegians /
Obonegian Ilmen Slovenians (in
Obonego Land -
Obonegskaja Zemlja) (later part of the
Novgorod Land -
Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the
Novgorod Republic). •
Shelonians /
Shelonian Ilmen Slovenians (in
Shelona Land -
Shelonskaja Zemlja) (later part of the
Novgorod Land -
Novgorodskaja Zemlja, and the
Novgorod Republic).
West Slavs shown in various colors and
Moravians in red, on a map of modern Czech Republic, an abandoned historiographical hypothesis. •
Veneti /
Wends Lechitic ancestors of
West Slavs; some were also the ancestors of part of
South Slavs •
Czech–Moravian-Slovak group •
Bohemians (
Čechové), tribal confederation, in
Bohemia,
Czech Republic. Ancestors of
Czechs. •
Berunzani (a Slavic Bohemian tribe,
Chekhove, of West Bohemia). •
Chekhove proper /
Čechové (
Bohemian Slavs proper), also known as
Pragani (
Fraganeo), the tribe that lived in the
Prague and
Central Bohemian regions •
Děčané, in
Děčín region, Czech Republic. •
Dudlebi (
Doudlebi / Doudlebové) (Bohemian
Dulebes), a group of Dulebes assimilated as a
Slavic Bohemian or
Czech tribe. (they lived in most of the southern half of
Bohemia). •
Khébané (
Chébané /
Hbané). • Khodove (
Chodové) ("Walkers", "Patrollers" or "Rangers") (formed from recruited people originating in the western
Carpathian Mountains) (in
Tuhošt' Land). •
Litoměřici or Lutomerizi, in the
Czech lands from the sixth century (they lived in the
Litoměřice region). •
Luchane /
Luchani /
Lutsane (
Lučané) •
Lemuzi •
Lupiglai •
Pshovane (
Pšované) /
Besunzane (
Bežunčani) •
Sedlichane (
Sedličané /
Sedlčané) •
Volynyane, a group of
Volhynians (
Volhynian Buzhans) assimilated as a
Slavic Bohemian or
Czech tribe. Volhynians are ancestors of Poles, Czechs and modern-day Ukrainians. •
Zlicans (Zlitsans) / Zlichane (
Zličané), in Bohemia (Czech). Ancestors of Czechs and possibly Poles. •
White Croats, in Northeastern Bohemia and Southern Poland by the 10th century, ancestors of Czechs, Slovaks, Poles and Croats. •
Moravians /
Northern Merehani (
Moravane), tribal confederation, in
Záhorie (
Slovakia) and
Moravia. Ancestors of (modern)
Moravians and part of the
Slovaks. The
Morava river of
Moravia was in their lands. Ancestors of the
South Moravians (
Merehani), in
Morava river valley, east
Serbia, that migrated south of the Danube and were assimilated by
South Slavs. •
Ganátsi /
Hanátsi (
Hanáci) •
Golasitsi /
Holasitsi (
Holasici) •
Gorátsi /
Horátsi (
Horáci) • (
Podyjští Moravané) •
Slovaks* (more appropriately
Sloveni for time period of this article), also called
Nitran Slavs / Váh Slavs / Hungarian Slavs / Moravian Slovenes / Sloväni / Slověniny), tribal confederation, in
Slovakia and northern parts of
Hungary, possibly western Hungary as well. Ancestors of
Slovaks, mayhaps were part of broader Slavic group sharing the same name (notice similarities with the
Slovenians). Sometimes referred to as
Slovieni, although this word is generally incorrect, being a contracted term from 19th century.
Note: While today the male member of Slovak nation is called
Slovák, the original name for such person would be approx.
Sloven. This is evident from the endonym of the country (
Slovensko), and also the name for Slovak female (
Slovenka) or language (
slovenský jazyk). This change, purely linguistical, occurred starting in 14th century, applying the newer suffix
-ák/-ak/-iak to the stem word
Slov. This change most likely originated in neighbouring Bohemia, which is probably the reason why it never completely permeated
Slovak language (compared to the
Moravian region of
Slovácko, so called
Moravian Slovakia). •
Lechites (
Lechitic group) Lechitic tribes are ancestors of Poles/Polish people, Lechia was the pre-Christian name of Poland. •
Polish tribes- also known as Lechitic tribes. •
Lendians, in east Lesser Poland and Red Ruthenia (Poland and Ukraine). Ancestors of
Poles. •
Masovians, tribal confederation, in Mazovia, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. •
Polans (western), tribal confederation, in
Greater Poland, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. •
Silesians /
Silezane /
Slezane (Ślężanie) Lechitic tribe, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. •
Besunzane /
Bezunchane (
Bieżuńczanie) •
Bobryane (
Bobrzanie) •
Dyedoshane (
Dziadoszanie) /
Dadosesani •
Golensizi (
Golęszyce) •
Lubushane (
Lubuszanie) •
Lupiglaa (in today's
Głubczyce region) •
Opolans /
Opolini (
Opolanie Lechitic tribe •
Silesians Slezane/(
Ślężanie) •
Tryebovane (
Trzebowianie) •
Vistulans, in
Lesser Poland, tribal confederation, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. Likely the same people as the White Croats. •
Pomeranians, tribal confederation, in
Pomerania, Lechitic tribes living at the Baltic Sea regions. Ancestors of
Poles,
Kashubians,
Slovincians, and modern-day Germans. •
Kashubians, in
Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. Ancestors of the modern-day
Kashubians. •
Prissani /
Pyritzans (
Pyrzyczanie), in Pomerania, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. •
Slovincians, a West Slavic tribe that lived between lakes
Gardno and
Łebsko near
Słupsk in
Pomerania. Ancestors of modern-day
Slovincians. •
Wolinians /
Uelunzani, on
Wolin island, Pomerania, Poland. Ancestors of Poles •
Goplans, in
Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Poland. Ancestors of Poles. •
Wends also spelled as Wenedi, Veneti, Vendi, Vindi, Vinden, includes Northern Polabian and Southern Polabian tribes. The former are linguistically grouped with Lechitic, while the latter with Sorbian languages. See also
Bavaria Slavica where some Wends settled in Bavaria and Franconia. •
Veleti (
Wilzi) (
Northern Polabians), tribes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, modern-day Germany. •
Lutici, Lechitic tribal confederation, northeastern region of modern-day Germany. •
Bethenici (
Bethenzi or
Bechelenzi) •
Doshane •
Lutici •
Circipane, in
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, modern-day Germany. •
Kessinians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. •
Redarians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. •
Tollensians, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. •
Hevelli (Havolane), in
Brandenburg, by river
Havel. •
Smeldingi •
Morizani / Morichane •
Rani /
Rujani, on Lechitic tribes on Rugia/Rügen island. •
Sprevane, by river Spree. •
Stodorane (
Lutici Stodorane) •
Ukrani, in
Uckermark and
Vorpommern-Greifswald. •
Obotrites /
Reragi (
Northern Polabians) •
Belesem /
Byelozem = "White Earth" or "White Earth Tribe", they lived scattered in Oster Walde /
Osterwalde - "Eastern Woods" in the Old Mainland
Saxon view, west banks of the
Elbe river •
Drevani = "Wood" or "Wood Tribe", they lived scattered in Oster Walde /
Osterwalde - "Eastern Woods" in the Old Mainland
Saxon view, west banks of the Elbe river) (
Osterwalde and
Luneburg Heath also matched the land where the
Langobards lived for a time before migrating towards South) (mostly in today's
Lower Saxony, in the
Hanoverian Wendland, Lechitic tribes in modern-day Germany). •
Linones, in the region around
Lenzen. •
Lipani, tribe that lived scattered in the west banks of the Elbe river •
Obotrites proper /
Northern Obotrites (
Wismar Bay to
Lake Schwerin). •
Polabians proper, in modern-day eastern
Schleswig-Holstein area. •
Travjane east of the
Trave. •
Wagri /
Wagrians (the eastern
Holstein as part of
Saxony). •
Warnabi /
Warnower in (the upper
Warnow and
Mildenitz). •
Southern Polabians tribes in
Saxony (
Lusatia) and
Thuringia. • Sorbian tribal confederation in the narrow sense • Proper
Sorbs /
White Serbs • Chutici-Chudzicy-Khutices • Citici-Żytyce-Zhitices • Colodici-Koledycze-Koledices •
Glomacze-Daleminzi • Neletici-Neletiches-Nieletycy-Nieletycze •
Nishans-Nishane • Nizitsi-Niszanie-Nizchices • Nudycze • Plisny • Siusler-Susłowie • Szkudycze • Zyrmunty-Yhirmunts • Sorbian tribal confederation in the wider sense •
Lusatians, in
Lower Lusatia. Ancestors of
Sorbs in
Lower Lusatia. •
Milchane (
Milčané) /
Milceni /
Milzeni, in
Upper Lusatia, and in an area of far north
Bohemia. Ancestors of
Sorbs in
Upper Lusatia.
South Slavs South Slavic tribes descend mainly from two Slavic tribal confederations,
Sclaveni and
Antes. To reach the
Balkans, the two groups took two different paths. While the Sclaveni came from
Central Europe north of the
Danube and migrated south around the eastern edges of the
Alps and across the western part of the
Pannonian Plain, the Antes came from the steppe between the
Dniester and the
Dnieper, penetrating into the Balkans throuhgh
Transylvania or, alternatively, the mouth of the
Danube. A number of historians have attributed the early split between
Eastern and
Western South Slavs to the different origins of Sclaveni and Antes. While Western South Slavs were closely linked to the
Western Slavic Veneti, Eastern South Slavs originated from the
Eastern Slavic Antes. This is confirmed by both historical records and the duplication of tribal names between
West Slavs and
Western South Slavs and
East Slavs and
Eastern South Slavs, respectively. For example, the Polabian
White Serb confederation is generally thought to be the ancestor of both Western Slavic
Sorbs and South Slavic
Serbs, while the Dunabian Abodriti, also known as
Praedenecenti, are generally associated with the Polabian
Obotrites. The same is true for Antes and Eastern South Slavs. For example, part of the East Slavic
Severians are known to have migrated to present-day northeastern Bulgaria, becoming foederati of the
First Bulgarian Empire under the name
Severi, while some
Pripyat Dregoviches are assumed to have migrated to the valley of the
Vardar, establishing themselves as the
Drougoubitai. The
Seven Slavic tribes are also hypothesized to be Antes hailing from the lands of modern Ukraine, but missing records of their tribal names makes the hypothesis unverifiable. Therefore, it has been suggested that the ancestors of medieval Bosnians, Serbs and Croatians were the
Sclaveni, whereas the progenitors of the
Bulgarian Slavs were the
Antes. Nevertheless, there must have been substantial overlap between Sclaveni and Antes, especially in contact zones. For example, the exact origin of
White Croats is still shrouded in mystery. Some scholars consider them be an Antes tribal polity that migrated to
Galicia in the 3rd–4th century, while others regard them as early
Sclaveni or as a mixture of both Antes and Sclaveni. Nevertheless, South Slavs over time evolved into a new Slavic ethnolinguistic group. This phenomenon was accentuated by the
Bavarian expansion east (as an element in the
Ostsiedlung) and by the
Magyar settlement and expansion in the
Pannonian Plain, which severed the contiguous land or territory between West and South Slavs (in the Middle
Danube river basin) and contact between both of them, contributing to greater differentiation. •
Sclaveni / Slavini (common ancestors of most Western
South Slavs) •
West South Slavic group •
Bošnjani, inhabited central parts of
early medieval Bosnia, between the rivers of
Upper Neretva on the south, Middle
Bosna and the
Krivaja (Bosna) on the north,
Upper Drina on the east and Upper
Vrbas on the west. Ancestors of
Bosniaks and
Bosnians. Theories of them being descended from the
Buzhans exist. •
Braničevci / Braniches, in eastern
Serbia. • '
Carantanians / Carniolan Slavs / Old Slovenes / Southern Slovene'''
(Sloventsi''), tribal confederation, in Austria and Slovenia. Ancestors of
Slovenes (particularly
Carinthian Slovenes). They descend in part from
Nitran Slavs (Northern Slovenes) that were also partial ancestors of modern
Slovaks. •
Dudleipa, they may have been a branch of the
Dulebes. •
Duliebi, they may have been a branch of the Dulebes. •
Stodorane (
Caranthanian Stodorane) •
Susili •
Docleani / Diokletlians, in southern
Montenegro (see also
Tribes of Montenegro) •
Guduscani, in
Lika,
Croatia. •
Kanalites, in southern
Dalmatia. •
Merehani / Southern Merehani / Southern Moravians (
Moravci / Moravtsi), in (South)
Morava river, eastern Serbia. They descend from
Moravian /
Merehani tribal groups that migrated south of the Danube and over time differentiate themselves and were assimilated into South Slavs. •
Narentines /
Neretvians, in southern
Dalmatia. •
Pannonian Slavs, in west
Pannonian Plain, west of the
Danube river, roughly in today's west Hungary. They were assimilated by
Magyars after they settled in Hungary. •
Pannonian Dulebes, a group of Dulebes. • Sava Slavs, roughly in the plain between the
Sava and
Mura rivers. Ancestors of part of Croats. •
Praedenecenti /
Eastern Abodriti /
Eastern Obotrites, in
Banat. They descend from
Abodriti /
Obotrites tribal groups that migrated south of the Danube and over time differentiate themselves and were assimilated into South Slavs. •
Timočani, in eastern Serbia. •
Travunians /
Terbunians, in
Herzegovina and western
Montenegro •
White Croats, in
Western Ukraine,
Lesser Poland and
Bohemia. Ancestors of Croats and other Slavic peoples. •
Croats •
White Serbs /
Sorbs, in
Lower Lusatia, Germany. Ancestors of
Sorbs and
Serbs. •
Serbs •
Zachumliani /
Zachlumians, in southern
Dalmatia. •
Antes (common ancestors of most Eastern
South Slavs) •
East South Slavic group •
Berziti /
Bersites, in Ohrid,
North Macedonia. •
Drougoubitai /
Draguvites, in
North Macedonia and
Greek Macedonia. •
Moratsi, or Marvatsi, in the western
Rhodopes, along the
Mesta river and around
Dospat. •
Milcovci /
Miltsovtsi •
Seven Slavic tribes (or
Seven Slavic Clans) (Heptaradici / Eptaradici - "Seven Roots"?), tribal confederation, in northern Bulgaria and Southern Romania that formed the basis of the
Slavic Bulgarians (after later being conquered by the Turkic origin
Bulgars that formed much of the
Aristocracy and led to the name change of the people and language). • Unknown tribes (unknown names) •
Severians, in Dobrudja, /
Severes /
Severi (Balkan
Severians), northeast Bulgaria and Southeastern Romania, the
Severians were an
East Slavic tribe, part of the tribal groups that migrated southward and southwestward and formed a union with the
Seven Slavic tribes (to form the
Slavic Bulgarians) and over time differentiate themselves and were assimilated into
South Slavs. •
Smolyani, in the Central and Western
Rhodopes, the
Mesta valley and the adjoining areas of northern
Greece. They revolted against Byzantine rule in 837 and after receiving military aid by Khan
Presian I of Bulgaria, their territory was annexed by the
First Bulgarian Empire. Their name is not mentioned after the mid 800s, which suggests assimilation into Slavic Bulgarians. •
Strymonites, along the
Struma river in southwestern
Bulgaria and the adjoining part of northern
Greece. Annexed by the
First Bulgarian Empire in 840. They were last mentioned in 904 in connection with the
Sack of Thessaloniki by the Arabs and were therefore most likely assimilated into Slavic Bulgarians. •
Sklavenoi /
Sclaveni Proper (
Slavic tribes of Greece, including
Greek Macedonia). •
Baiounitai /
Bainuites /
Vajunites, originally in
Macedonia, later migrated to
Epirus/South Albania (
Vagenetia). •
Belegezites /
Velegezites, in
Thessaly. •
Ezerites /
Erezitai, in the
Peloponnese. •
Melingoi, in the
Peloponnese. •
Rynchines /
Rhynchinoi, also
Recchines, in
Greek Macedonia. (Southern Macedonia), Northern
Chalkidiki and southern slopes of the
Rhodopes. •
Sagudates, in southern
Greek Macedonia. ==Unclassified Slavs==