“In the share of Japheth lie the Russ, Chud, and all the gentiles: the Merya, Muroma, Ves, Mordva, Chud beyond the hills (2), Perm, Pechera, Yam, Ugra, Litva, Zimegola (3), Kors Letgola, and Liv. The Liv, the Prusi and Chud border on the Varangian (Baltic) Sea. The Varangians dwell on the shores of that same sea... Beyond them reside the Krivichians, who live at the head waters of the Volga, the Dvina and the Dnieper, and whose city is Smolensk.” “The following other tribes pay tribute to the Russ: Chud, Merya, Ves, Muroma, Cheremis, Mordva, Perm, Pechers, Yam, litva, Zimegola, Kors, Narva (Naroma) and Liv. These tribes have their own languages and belong to the race of Japheth, which inhabit the land of north” (Nestor, c. 4&10). The Russians are listed as Slavs and, additionally, there were the two semi-Slavic tribes, the Litva (Lithuanians) and Letgola (Letts, Latvians). The national origin of the tribe of Zimegola is not entirely clear (see Wrangell, p. 14). 1) One of the best commentaries on this document is given by N. K. Chadwick in “The Beginings of Russian History” (Cambridge, 1946). 2) More exactly: Zavolotchkaja Chdi, Hinterland Chuds. 3) Landrath O.F. von Wrangell, in his chronicle (1695-1726) states that Semgallen (Zimegola) and Lettland were, from time immemorial, a part of Estonian territory, but now the farmers in Curonia and semigallia speak Lettic ,except the tribe of Grewinger, who still continue to use the Estonian language, although the language used in their churches is Lettic. (Wrangell, 4-5). See also: Micrellius “Syntagma historiarum mundi”, 1627, etc. This valuable list of the nations consists, over-whelmingly, of the Finno-Ugric tribes, which were widely spread in Northern Russia, especially on the shores of lakes and rivers, although they are not found far south of Moscow.
1) One of the best commentaries on this document is given by N. K. Chadwick in “The Beginings of Russian History” (Cambridge, 1946).
2) More exactly: Zavolotchkaja Chdi, Hinterland Chuds.
3) Landrath O.F. von Wrangell, in his chronicle (1695-1726) states that Semgallen (Zimegola) and Lettland were, from time immemorial, a part of Estonian territory, but now the farmers in Curonia and semigallia speak Lettic ,except the tribe of Grewinger, who still continue to use the Estonian language, although the language used in their churches is Lettic. (Wrangell, 4-5). See also: Micrellius “Syntagma historiarum mundi”, 1627, etc.
This valuable list of the nations consists, over-whelmingly, of the Finno-Ugric tribes, which were widely spread in Northern Russia, especially on the shores of lakes and rivers, although they are not found far south of Moscow.
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