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The Severians or Severyans or Siverians were a tribe or tribal union of Early East Slavs occupying areas to the east of the middle Dnieper river around the rivers Desna, Sejm and Sula on the territory of the archaelogical Romny culture.

Etymology

The Etymology of the name of Severians is controversial. Though it is similar to the Russian word for "north" (sěver), the severians never were the northiest tribe of Slavs. More probable is that the name is of iranian (sarmathian tribe of "Seuer", from Iranian "seu" = black) or Turkic origin (a part of Huns). Alternatively, the name may be derived from a Proto-Slavic word for "family member".

The modern names are Сiверяни in Ukrainian and Северяне in Russian.

Geography

Their neighbours were the tribes of Viatich and Radimich in the north, and the Derevlian and Polian tribes in the west. The eastern and southern borders of the tribe's habitat were never permanent and would sometimes reach the upper reaches of the Seversky Donets.

History

Their existence as a political unit can be proven for the 8th to 11th century. They had to pay tribute to the Khazars in the 8th and 9th century, were annexed by Oleg of Novgorod to the Kiev state together with the Polans in the late 9th century, and participated in Oleg's campaign of the Rus' to Constantinople in 907. Finally they became part of the Grand Principality of Chernigov (modern Chernihiv)). The last reference to them stems from 1024. For subsequent history of the region, see Severia (whose name is derived from "Severians").

They are mentioned especially by Geographus Bavarus (9th century, "Zeriuani"), by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, by the khazar khagan Joseph (c. 960) and by the Primary Chronicle.

The principal cities of the Severians were Chernigov, Kursk, Novgorod-Seversky (modern Novhorod-Siverskyi) and others. Archaeologists also found numerous rural settlements of the 8th - 10th centuries, inhabited by the Severians, and burial mounds with cremated bodies. The Severians were mostly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and different handicrafts.

Severians did not occupy areas of the west Pannonian plain or the Carpathians.

• Slavic tribes
• Middle Ages