Wendland

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For the Austrian botanist, see Heinrich Wendland.

Throughout history, there has been different usage of the term (ON.) Wendland, Vendland, Ventheland or (Lat.) Vandalia. The Latinized form is usually associated with the germanic tribe Vandals, although Wendland or Vandalia is the land inhabited by the Wends (today considered to be a Slavic people). The most common interpretations:

1. The region inhabited by West Slavic groups, corresponding to North-Eastern Germany.
2. The region Lüchow-Dannenberg including the former micronation de:Republik_Freies_Wendland.
3. According to the Finnish historian Matti Klinge, an earlier name for Finland, especially Finland Proper. This theory has few supporters, and is based on an interpretion of old maps, some of which place Wendland in the far north or European Russia, and term Gulf of Finland as 'Mare Vendicus'.