Polans (western)
The Western Polans were a Lechitic tribe, inhabiting the Warta River basin of the historic East Germania and contemporary Greater Poland region in the 8th century. They were one of the main tribes in Central Europe and were closely related to the Vistulans, Masovians, Czechs and Slovaks.History
In the 9th century the Polans united several West Slavic groups to the north of Great Moravia. The union led by the Piast dynasty developed into the Kingdom 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. The first historical ruler was Mieszko I, 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 document describes the country as stretching between the Oder and Rus and between Lesser Poland 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 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 after the Eastern Polans, a similarly named but unrelated Slavic tribe which lived near modern-day Kiev, were last documented in AD 944.
