Izhorians
Encyclopedia
The Izhorians along with the Votes
are an indigenous people
of Ingria
. Small numbers can still be found in the Western part of Ingria, between the Narva
and Neva rivers in northwestern Russia
.
The history of the Izhorians is bound to the history of Ingria. It is supposed that shortly after 1000, the Izhorians moved from Karelia
to the west and south-west. In 1478, the Novgorod Republic
, where Ingrians had settled, was united with the Grand Duchy of Moscow
, and some of the Izhorians were transferred to the east. The establishment of St Petersburg in 1703 had a great influence on Izhorian culture. World War II
had the biggest impact on Izhorian culture, as devastating battles (Siege of Leningrad
) took place nearby. A lot of Izhorians perished in during the World War II, so in honour of Izhorians was named legendary Izhorians's battalion (created of volunteers for the defensive of St-Petersburg).
In 1848, P. von Köppen counted 17,800 Izhorians, and by 1926 there were 26,137 Izhorians in the Russian SFSR. In the 1959 census, however, only 1,100 Izhorians were counted in the USSR. In 1989, 820 self-designated Izhorians, 302 of whom were speakers of the Ingrian language
were registered. 449 Izhorians lived in the territory of the USSR. According to the 2002 Russian Census, there were 327 Izhorians in Russia
, of whom 177 lived in Leningrad oblast
and 53 in St Petersburg. There were also 812 Ingrians in Ukraine
according to Ukrainian Census (2001)
(more than in Russian Federation and Estonia
altogether) and a further 358 Ingrians in Estonia
.
Their language, close to Karelian
, is used primarily by members of the older generation. Izhorian, along with Finnish
, Karelian
and Vepsian
, belongs to the Northern Finnic
group of the Uralic languages
. Izhorian consists of four dialects: Soikola, Hevaha (or Heva), lower-Luuga and Oredezhi — from the names of the Soikola
(Soikinsky) peninsula and the Heva, Luuga
(Lauga) and Oredezhi
rivers.
In 1932–1937, a Latin-based orthography for the Izhorian language existed, taught in schools of the Soikino Peninsula and the area around the mouth of the Luga River
. Several textbooks were published, including, in 1936, a grammar of the language. However, in 1937 the Izhorian written language was abolished and mass repressions of the peasantry began.
The Izhorians and the Votes
are generally Orthodox
, while the other Finnic
inhabitants of Ingria, the Ingrian Finns
, are generally Lutheran
. Some pre-Christian traditions exist, also.
Votes
Votes are a people of Votia in Ingria, the part of modern day northwestern Russia that is roughly southwest of Saint Petersburg and east of the Estonian border-town of Narva. Their own ethnic name is Vadjalain . The Finnic Votic language spoken by Votes is close to extinction. Votians were one of...
are an indigenous people
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
of Ingria
Ingria
Ingria is a historical region in the eastern Baltic, now part of Russia, comprising the southern bank of the river Neva, between the Gulf of Finland, the Narva River, Lake Peipus in the west, and Lake Ladoga and the western bank of the Volkhov river in the east...
. Small numbers can still be found in the Western part of Ingria, between the Narva
Narva River
The Narva is a river flowing into the Baltic Sea, the largest river in Estonia. Draining Lake Peipsi, the river forms the border of Estonia and Russia and flows through the towns of Narva/Ivangorod and Narva-Jõesuu into Narva Bay. Though the river is only 77 km long, in terms of volume...
and Neva rivers in northwestern Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
History
Karelia
Karelia , the land of the Karelian peoples, is an area in Northern Europe of historical significance for Finland, Russia, and Sweden...
to the west and south-west. In 1478, the Novgorod Republic
Novgorod Republic
The Novgorod Republic was a large medieval Russian state which stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Ural Mountains between the 12th and 15th centuries, centred on the city of Novgorod...
, where Ingrians had settled, was united with the Grand Duchy of Moscow
Grand Duchy of Moscow
The Grand Duchy of Moscow or Grand Principality of Moscow, also known in English simply as Muscovy , was a late medieval Rus' principality centered on Moscow, and the predecessor state of the early modern Tsardom of Russia....
, and some of the Izhorians were transferred to the east. The establishment of St Petersburg in 1703 had a great influence on Izhorian culture. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
had the biggest impact on Izhorian culture, as devastating battles (Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
) took place nearby. A lot of Izhorians perished in during the World War II, so in honour of Izhorians was named legendary Izhorians's battalion (created of volunteers for the defensive of St-Petersburg).
In 1848, P. von Köppen counted 17,800 Izhorians, and by 1926 there were 26,137 Izhorians in the Russian SFSR. In the 1959 census, however, only 1,100 Izhorians were counted in the USSR. In 1989, 820 self-designated Izhorians, 302 of whom were speakers of the Ingrian language
Ingrian language
The Ingrian language is a Finnic language spoken by the Izhorians of Ingria. It has approximately 500 speakers left, most of whom are aging...
were registered. 449 Izhorians lived in the territory of the USSR. According to the 2002 Russian Census, there were 327 Izhorians in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, of whom 177 lived in Leningrad oblast
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
and 53 in St Petersburg. There were also 812 Ingrians in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
according to Ukrainian Census (2001)
Ukrainian Census (2001)
The first Ukrainian Census was carried out by State Statistics Committee of Ukraine on 5 December 2001, twelve years after the last Soviet Union census in 1989....
(more than in Russian Federation and Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
altogether) and a further 358 Ingrians in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
.
Language
Karelian language
Karelian language is a Finnic language spoken mainly in the Russian Republic of Karelia. Linguistically Karelian is closely related to the Finnish dialects spoken in eastern Finland and some Finnish linguists even classified Karelian as a dialect of Finnish...
, is used primarily by members of the older generation. Izhorian, along with Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
, Karelian
Karelian language
Karelian language is a Finnic language spoken mainly in the Russian Republic of Karelia. Linguistically Karelian is closely related to the Finnish dialects spoken in eastern Finland and some Finnish linguists even classified Karelian as a dialect of Finnish...
and Vepsian
Veps language
The Veps language , spoken by the Vepsians , belongs to the Finnic group of the Uralic languages...
, belongs to the Northern Finnic
Finnic languages
The term Finnic languages often means the Baltic-Finnic languages, an undisputed branch of the Uralic languages. However, it is also commonly used to mean the Finno-Permic languages, a hypothetical intermediate branch that includes Baltic Finnic, or the more disputed Finno-Volgaic languages....
group of the Uralic languages
Uralic languages
The Uralic languages constitute a language family of some three dozen languages spoken by approximately 25 million people. The healthiest Uralic languages in terms of the number of native speakers are Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Mari and Udmurt...
. Izhorian consists of four dialects: Soikola, Hevaha (or Heva), lower-Luuga and Oredezhi — from the names of the Soikola
Soikinsky Peninsula
The Soikinsky Peninsula in Kingisepp District, Leningrad Oblast, Russia projects out into the Gulf of Finland, separating the Luga Bay from the Koporye Bay. Its name is derived from Soikkola, which is the Izhorian word for "peninsula"....
(Soikinsky) peninsula and the Heva, Luuga
Luga River
The Luga River -See also:* Shum Gora, an archaeological site near the banks of the river...
(Lauga) and Oredezhi
Oredezh River
Oredezh River is a river in the south-western part of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, a right tributary of Luga River. A cascade of hydroelectric plants was constructed on the upper course of the river in 1948....
rivers.
In 1932–1937, a Latin-based orthography for the Izhorian language existed, taught in schools of the Soikino Peninsula and the area around the mouth of the Luga River
Luga River
The Luga River -See also:* Shum Gora, an archaeological site near the banks of the river...
. Several textbooks were published, including, in 1936, a grammar of the language. However, in 1937 the Izhorian written language was abolished and mass repressions of the peasantry began.
The Izhorians and the Votes
Votes
Votes are a people of Votia in Ingria, the part of modern day northwestern Russia that is roughly southwest of Saint Petersburg and east of the Estonian border-town of Narva. Their own ethnic name is Vadjalain . The Finnic Votic language spoken by Votes is close to extinction. Votians were one of...
are generally Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
, while the other Finnic
Finnic peoples
The Finnic or Fennic peoples were historic ethnic groups who spoke various languages traditionally classified as Finno-Permic...
inhabitants of Ingria, the Ingrian Finns
Ingrian Finns
The Ingrian Finns are the Finnish population of Ingria descending from Lutheran Finnish immigrants introduced to the area in the 17th century, when Finland and Ingria were both part of the Swedish Empire...
, are generally Lutheran
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
. Some pre-Christian traditions exist, also.
External links
- Izhorians in the Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire
- Estonian National Museum
- V.Cherniavskij "Izoran keel (Ittseopastaja)/Ижорский язык (Самоучитель) (Ingrian Self-Taught Book)"(in Russian).