Tivertsi
Encyclopedia
Tivertsi, a.k.a. Tivertsy, Tiverians (Тиверці in Ukrainian
, Тиверцы in Russian
) is a tribe of early East Slavs which lived in the lands near the Dniester
, and probably the lower Danube
, that is in modern-day western Ukraine and Moldova
and possibly in eastern Romania
and southern Odessa oblast
of Ukraine
. Several settlements of Tivertsi are now archaeological site
s, in Ukraine and Moldova (Alcedar
, Echimăuţi
, Rudi
and others).
The original information about the tribe is scarce. Tivertsi and Ulichs
are briefly mentioned in early Ruthenia
n manuscripts, 863 being the earliest reference, 944 being the latest. The Primary Chronicle
from the Laurentian Codex
mentions that they lived by Dniester and Danube down to the sea (evidently, the Black Sea
). The Hypatian Codex
replaces Dniester with Dnieper. The Tver Chronicle mentions them in the year 883, mentioning their fight against Askold and Dir
. A number of manuscripts mention in the year 885 that they fought with Oleg
. They are mentioned as taking part in Oleg's expeditions in 907 and in Igor
's expeditions in 944, the latter year being the last reference to Tivertsi in early East Slavic manuscripts.
All other knowledge concerning them consists of the hypotheses of various historians.
George Vernadsky
suggests that the name Tivertsi possibly originates from the fortress Turris of Justinian I
, pointing out that the letter "u" was commonly rendered as "v" (or, rather, ypsilon), suggesting the common root "tvr" of Iranian origin.
At the beginning of 10th century, the tribe became part of the Kievan Rus. Starting in the mid-10th century, the Tivertsi frequently carried fights with the neighbouring Pechenegs and Cumans
, as a result of which the tribe was gradually assimilated by other East Slavic tribes. In 12th and 13th centuries, some lands of Tivertsi were part of kingdom of Galicia and later the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. On the lands populated by Wallachians, from Transylvania
, some Tivertsi were gradually assimilated by them. There also is a hypothesis that they are the predecessors of Hutsuls
.
Ukrainian language
Ukrainian is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. It is the official state language of Ukraine. Written Ukrainian uses a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet....
, Тиверцы in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
) is a tribe of early East Slavs which lived in the lands near the Dniester
Dniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
, and probably the lower Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, that is in modern-day western Ukraine and Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
and possibly in eastern Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and southern Odessa oblast
Odessa Oblast
Odesa Oblast, also written as Odessa Oblast , is the southernmost and largest oblast of south-western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Odessa.-History:...
of 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...
. Several settlements of Tivertsi are now archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s, in Ukraine and Moldova (Alcedar
Alcedar
Alcedar is a commune in Şoldăneşti district, Moldova. It is composed of three villages: Alcedar, Curătura and Odaia....
, Echimăuţi
Echimăuţi
Echimăuţi is a commune in Rezina district, Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Echimăuţi....
, Rudi
Rudi, Soroca
Rudi is a commune in Soroca district, Moldova. It is composed of a single village, Rudi....
and others).
The original information about the tribe is scarce. Tivertsi and Ulichs
Ulichs
The Ulichs were a tribe of Early East Slavs who between the eighth and the tenth century inhabited the territories along the Lower Dnieper, Bug River and the Black Sea littoral....
are briefly mentioned in early Ruthenia
Ruthenia
Ruthenia is the Latin word used onwards from the 13th century, describing lands of the Ancient Rus in European manuscripts. Its geographic and culturo-ethnic name at that time was applied to the parts of Eastern Europe. Essentially, the word is a false Latin rendering of the ancient place name Rus...
n manuscripts, 863 being the earliest reference, 944 being the latest. The Primary Chronicle
Primary Chronicle
The Primary Chronicle , Ruthenian Primary Chronicle or Russian Primary Chronicle, is a history of Kievan Rus' from about 850 to 1110, originally compiled in Kiev about 1113.- Three editions :...
from the Laurentian Codex
Laurentian Codex
Laurentian Codex or Laurentian Chronicle is a collection of chronicles that includes the oldest extant version of the Primary Chronicle and its continuations, mostly relating the events in Northern Russia ....
mentions that they lived by Dniester and Danube down to the sea (evidently, the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
). The Hypatian Codex
Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex is a compendium of three chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kiev Chronicle, and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle. It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'...
replaces Dniester with Dnieper. The Tver Chronicle mentions them in the year 883, mentioning their fight against Askold and Dir
Askold and Dir
Askold and Dir are semi-legendary rulers of Kiev who, according to the Primary Chronicle, were two of Rurik's voivodes in 870s...
. A number of manuscripts mention in the year 885 that they fought with Oleg
Oleg of Novgorod
Oleg of Novgorod was a Varangian prince who ruled all or part of the Rus' people during the early 10th century....
. They are mentioned as taking part in Oleg's expeditions in 907 and in Igor
Igor, Grand Prince of Kiev
Igor was a Varangian ruler of Kievan Rus' from 912 to 945.-Biography:...
's expeditions in 944, the latter year being the last reference to Tivertsi in early East Slavic manuscripts.
All other knowledge concerning them consists of the hypotheses of various historians.
George Vernadsky
George Vernadsky
George Vernadsky , Russian: Гео́ргий Влади́мирович Верна́дский) was a Russian-American historian and an author of numerous books on Russian history.- European years :...
suggests that the name Tivertsi possibly originates from the fortress Turris of Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
, pointing out that the letter "u" was commonly rendered as "v" (or, rather, ypsilon), suggesting the common root "tvr" of Iranian origin.
At the beginning of 10th century, the tribe became part of the Kievan Rus. Starting in the mid-10th century, the Tivertsi frequently carried fights with the neighbouring Pechenegs and Cumans
Cumans
The Cumans were Turkic nomadic people comprising the western branch of the Cuman-Kipchak confederation. After Mongol invasion , they decided to seek asylum in Hungary, and subsequently to Bulgaria...
, as a result of which the tribe was gradually assimilated by other East Slavic tribes. In 12th and 13th centuries, some lands of Tivertsi were part of kingdom of Galicia and later the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. On the lands populated by Wallachians, from Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
, some Tivertsi were gradually assimilated by them. There also is a hypothesis that they are the predecessors of Hutsuls
Hutsuls
Hutsuls are an ethno-cultural group of Ukrainian highlanders who for centuries have inhabited the Carpathian mountains, mainly in Ukraine, the northern extremity of Romania .-Etymology:...
.