VECHE OF THE POMERANIAN SLAVS IN THE ELEVENTH–TWELFTH CENTURIES (to the historiography of the problem)

Abstract

Background: The research on early medieval Pomerania (eleventh–twelfth centuries) and its assemblies discusses a variety of interpretations. Scholars explain veche and its place in the governance of the region based on their understanding of Slavic societies. Historians trace the development of Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages, analyze gradual transformation of its institutions. Recent studies use such concepts as segmentary structures and chiefdom as well as the newest archaeological material. Purpose: The goal of the article is to study the research on veche, particularly the most recent publications. Among them, the works of such historians and archaeologists as Piotr Boroс, Karol Modzelewski, Roman Zaroff, Michaі Tymowski, Michaі Kara, Przemysіaw Urbaсczyk, and others. The paper investigates their understanding of the place of assemblies in the governance of early medieval Pomerania as well as the appliance of such concepts as segmentary structures and chiefdom. Results: Pomeranian veche could be understood both as an element of the early medieval societies and as a way of collective decision-making. The article highlights various approaches to the study of veche, specifically the appliance of such concepts as segmentary structures and chiefdom. The paper investigates their usefulness for the research on early medieval Pomerania and its assemblies. The concepts of segmentary structures and chiefdom describe local communities and regional political formations, respectively. They help to distinguish a few levels of governance, to analyze relations between various parts of early medieval societies, and to trace integration as well as state formation processes. The future studies could continue the discussion about the appliance of different methodological approaches in research on well-known and fragmentary source material. Key words: veche, Pomerania, historiography, segmentary structures, chiefdom.