The Kriviches: Etymology, Localization, and Type of Identity

Abstract

The article analyzes the data from a set of written sources on the early medieval community of Kriviches. These data unequivocally indicate that the Kriviches were the carriers of the Slavic language. Their place of habitation is specified — within the limits of the Oka forest, it is shown that they originally inhabited the cities of Smolensk and Polotsk. The time when their community existed — from the middle of the 10th century to the beginning of the 12th century — is also specified. It is concluded that the Kriviches were one of the Slavic communities, evidently serving (guides and boatmen on drag) the system of trade and communication routes between the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina rivers. There are also arguments in favour of the fact that the inhabitants of the Polotsk land continued to be considered Kriviches in the 12th century, and perhaps even later — until the beginning of the 14th century.