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Lechites

Lechites (Lechici, Lechiten), also known as the Lechitic tribes (Plemiona lechickie, Lechitische Stämme), is a name given to certain West Slavic tribes who inhabited modern-day Poland and eastern Germany, and were speakers of the Lechitic languages. Distinct from the Czech–Slovak subgroup, they are the closest ancestors of ethnic Poles and of Pomeranians, Lusatians and Polabians. According to Polish legend, Mieszko I inherited the ducal throne from his father who probably ruled over two-thirds of the territory inhabited by eastern Lechite tribes. He united the Lechites east of the Oder (Polans, Masovians, Pomeranians, Vistulans, Silesians) into a single country of Poland. His son, Bolesław I the Brave, founded the bishoprics at Wrocław, Kołobrzeg, and Kraków, and an archbishopric at Gniezno. Bolesław carried out successful wars against Bohemia, Moravia, Kievan Rus' and Lusatia, and forced the western Pomeranians to pay Poland a tribute. Shortly before his death Bolesław became the first King of Poland in 1025. Poles and Polans Masovians Vistulans Goplans Lendians Silesian tribes Bieżuńczanie Bobrzanie Dziadoszanie Golęszyce Lubuszanie Opolanie Ślężanie Trzebowianie Pomeranians Kashubians Slovincians (†) Pyrzyczanie (†) Wolinianie (†) Polabians (†) Radimichs (†) Vyatichi (†) Obodrites/Abodrites (†) Obotrites proper Wagrians Warnower Polabians proper Linonen Wenden Travnjane Drevani Sorbs Venedi Luzyczanie Veleti (Wilzi) (†) Lutici (Liutici) Kissini (Kessiner, Chizzinen, Kyzziner) Circipani (Zirzipanen) Tollensians Redarians Ucri (Ukr(an)i, Ukranen) Rani (Rujani) Hevelli (Stodorani) Volinians (Velunzani) Pyritzans (Prissani) The West Slavs included the ancestors of the peoples known later as Poles, Pomeranians, Czechs, Slovaks, Sorbs and Polabians. The northern so-called Lechitic group includes, along with Polish, endangered Pomeranian and Polabian, a dead language; Silesian, which is variously considered a Polish dialect or a language in its own right, is also part of this group.

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Related concepts (14)
Polish tribes
"Polish tribes" is a term used sometimes to describe the tribes of West Slavic Lechites that lived from around the mid-6th century in the territories that became Polish with the creation of the Polish state by the Piast dynasty. The territory on which they lived became a part of the first Polish state created by duke Mieszko I and expanded at the end of the 10th century, enlarged further by conquests of king Bolesław I at the beginning of the 11th century. In about 850 AD a list of peoples was written down by the Bavarian Geographer.
Mazovia
Mazovia or Masovia (Mazowsze) is a historical region in mid-north-eastern Poland. It spans the North European Plain, roughly between Łódź and Białystok, with Warsaw being the unofficial capital and largest city. Throughout the centuries, Mazovia developed a separate sub-culture featuring diverse folk songs, architecture, dress and traditions different from those of other Poles. Historical Mazovia existed from the Middle Ages until the partitions of Poland and consisted of three voivodeships with the capitals in Warsaw, Płock and Rawa.
Silesians
Silesians (Ślōnzŏki or Ślůnzoki; Silesian German: Schläsinger or Schläsier; Schlesier; Ślązacy; Slezané) is a geographical term for the inhabitants of Silesia, a historical region in Central Europe divided by the current national boundaries of Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Historically, the region of Silesia (Lower and Upper) has been inhabited by Germans (German speakers), Czechs, Poles, and Slavic Upper Silesians. Therefore, the term Silesian can refer to anyone of these ethnic groups.
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