Polabian Slavs is a collective term applied to a number of Slavic tribes living along the Elbe, between the Baltic Sea to the north, Solau to the west and Sudetes to the south. The tribes settled the area late in the first millennium. The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ... The River Elbe (Czech Labe , Sorbian/Lusatian Łobjo, German Elbe) is one of the major waterways of Central Europe. ... Map of the Baltic Sea. ... A view from Zygmuntówka refuge, Góry Sowie Śnieżka/Sněžka/Snow Mountain Destroyed forest on the top of Wielka Sowa The Sudetes (IPA: ), also called Sudeten (in German; pronounced: ) or Sudety (pronounced in Czech, in Polish), is a mountain range in Central Europe. ...

The Polabian Slavs were grouped in three basic tribal groups:

• Ranes
• Coldizi
• Wieletes (Redars and Czrezpienians)
• Obodrites (Obodrites and Wengrians)
• Lusatian Sorbs (Sorbians, Głomacze, Milczians and Lusatians)

Some scientists claim that the Sorbians were a separate group, distinct from the Polabians. The Veleti are a group of the Polabian Slavs. ... The Obotrites (sometimes Abodrites, Obodrites) were a group of Slavic peoples who had in the 6th century settled in the regions later known as Mecklenburg and Schleswig-Holstein in what is now north-eastern Germany. ... The Sorbs are a Slavic minority indigenous to the region known as Lusatia in the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg (in former GDR territory). ...

The two latter groups were subjugated by the Franks in the 7th century and their lands were soon afterwards occupied by German bishops and nobles. They liberated themselves in a pagan uprising in 983, but were again subdued by the Germans in mid-12th century. Despite the forcible christianisation, the Slavic language was spoken by the descendants of Drewlians in the area of lower Labe until the early 18th century. For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... The 7th century is the period from 601 - 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Events Hugh Capet, a distant relative of the last Carolingian king of the Franks, is crowned King of France, beginning the Capetian dynasty and, arguably, modern French history. ... The Teutonic knights in Pskov in 1240. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

In turn, the Lusatian Sorbs remained independent to a large extent. They were temporarily subdued by Charlemagne, but upon his death the links with the Franks were broken. In a series of bloody wars between 929 and 963 their lands were conquered by Henry the Fowler (Heinrich der Vogler) and his son Otto the Great and were incorporated into the German domain. By the 14th century the majority of Slavs living there had been germanised. However, the lands of the Milczians and Lusatians remained in the sphere of influence of Poland and Bohemia and the Slavic presence there prevailed into the 21st century. Sorbian national flag The Sorbs (also Lusatians or Lusatia Serbs) are a relatively small west Slavic people, living as a minority in the region known as Lusatia in the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg (in former GDR territory). ... Charlemagne (742 or 747 – 28 January 814) (also Charles the Great[1]; from Latin, Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus), son of King Pippin the Short and Bertrada of Laon, was the king of the Franks from 768 to 814 and king of the Lombards from 774 to 814. ... For other uses, see Franks (disambiguation). ... Events Emir Abd-ar-rahman III of Cordoba declares himself caliph. ... Events Holy Roman Emperor Otto I defeats Mieszko I of Poland, compels him to pay tribute Luxembourg is founded, and the Belgium area becomes part of the United Provinces of the Netherlands. ... Heinrich I depicted as The Bamberg Knight Henry I, the Fowler (German: Heinrich der Finkler or Heinrich der Vogler) (876 - July 2, 936), was Duke of Saxony from 912 and king of the Germans from 919 until his death in 936. ... Emperor Otto I Otto I the Great (November 23, 912 - May 7, 973), son of Henry I the Fowler, king of the Germans, and Matilda of Ringelheim, was Duke of Saxony, King of the Germans and arguably the first Holy Roman Emperor. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sorbian national flag The Sorbs (also Lusatians or Lusatia Serbs) are a relatively small west Slavic people, living as a minority in the region known as Lusatia in the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg (in former GDR territory). ... Flag of Bohemia Bohemia (Czech: ; German: ) is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western and middle thirds of the Czech Republic. ... The 21st century is the present century of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Currently Polabian proper is extinct. However, both Lusatian languages are spoken by approximately 60,000 inhabitants of the region and the languages are regarded by the government of Germany as official languages of the region. The Polabian language was a group of Slavic dialects spoken in present-day northern Germany: Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, eastern parts of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. ... This article or section should be merged with List of Sorbian languages The Sorbian languages are members of the West Slavic branch of languages spoken in eastern Germany. ...

See also

• Wends
• Slavs

Wends (German: Wenden, Latin: Venedi) is the English name for some Slavic people from north-central Europe particularly the Sorbs living in modern-day Germany. ... The Slavic peoples are the most numerous ethnic and linguistic body of peoples in Europe. ...

External link

• Map of the lands inhabitated by Polabian Slavs