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.