In the 9th century, the Polans united several West Slavic (Lechitic) groups to the north of
Great Moravia. The union led by the
Piast dynasty developed into the
Duchy of Poland, whose name derives from that of the Polans. The earliest Polan rulers mentioned by name are the legendary figures of
Piast the Wheelwright and
Popiel (8th–9th centuries). The first historical ruler was
Mieszko I (960–992), who enlarged the territory later named Poland by incorporating
Masovia and conquering
Silesia and the Vistulan lands of
Lesser Poland. The
Dagome iudex document refers to Poland during
Mieszko's reign as
Civitas Schinesghe (The
Gniezno State). The document describes the country as stretching between the
Oder and
Rus and between
Lesser Poland ("Craccoa"/"Alemure") and the
Baltic Sea. For more information, see
Poland in the Early Middle Ages and
History of Poland during the Piast dynasty. Archeological findings reveal four major strongholds or
gords (Polish
gród) in the early Polans' state: •
Giecz – the place from where the
Piasts gained control over other groups of Polans. •
Poznań – the largest and probably the main stronghold in the state. •
Gniezno – probably the religious centre of the state, although archeological findings proving this have not been excavated so far. •
Ostrów Lednicki – smaller stronghold halfway between Poznań and Gniezno. The Western Polans were first mentioned around the year AD 1000.
Eastern Polans, a similarly named Eastern Slavic tribe which lived near modern-day
Kyiv were last documented in AD 944. ==See also==