Krivich
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The Krivichs or Kryvičy (Template:Lang-be; Template:Lang-ru), one of the tribal unions of Early East Slavs between the 6th and the 12th centuries, which inhabited the upper reaches of the Volga, Dnieper, Western Dvina, areas south of the lower reaches of river Velikaya and parts of the Neman basin. The name of the tribe probably derives from the name of their forefather Prince Kriv, who bore the nickname of Krivoy ("Handicapped") due to some possible birth defect, or it may be derived from "kriv" or blood, thus their name can mean "related by blood". Kryvian (Krivian, Kriwi) — of or pertaining to the Kryvichy.
It is likely that the Krivichs were the first of the East Slavs to leave the Pripyet Marshes in the 6th century and head northeast, absorbing scanty Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes (the Krivichs couldn't move towards northwest or west because of their encounters with strong Lithuanian and Finnic tribes). The Krivichs played a big role in colonization of the area between the rivers of Volga and Klyazma. Together with the Dryhavičy, they were the forefathers of the Belarusian nation.
The Krivichs left many archaeological monuments, such as the remnants of agricultural settlements with traces of ironworks, jeweler's art, blacksmith's work and other handicrafts; long burial mounds of 6-9 centuries with cremated bodies; burial mounds of rich warriors with weapons (especially in the Gnezdovo burial mounds); sets of distinctive jewelry (bracelet-like temporal rings and glass beads made out of streched wire). By the end of the first millennium, the Krivichs had already had well-developed farming and cattle-breeding.
Having settled around the Road from Varangians to Greeks, the Krivichs traded with the Varangians.
According to a number of chronicles, the Krivichs had had their own princely rule in the second half of the 9th century before becoming a part of the Kievan Rus. The Krivichs as a tribe, subjugated by Kiev, took part in Oleg's and Igor's military campaigns against the Byzantine Empire.
At the beginning of the 10th century the Principality of Polatsk was established in the territories of Kryvichy. The inhabitants of the Principality are several times referred to in the Chronicles as Kryvichy as late as the 12th century (e.g. annals for 1127, 1129, 1140, 1162). The Principal cities of the Krivichs were Izborsk, Polotsk, Smolensk and, probably, Pskov.
The name was still used even at a later time. For example, a German chronicler from Duisburg wrote in 1314: “Frater Henricus Marschalcus... venit ad terram Crivitae, et civitatem illam, guae parva Nogardiadicitur cepit”. And in a Polish publication "Kazanie na Pogrzeb Maryanny Korsakywnej" (Lublin, 1687. Б. II, 49) the Polatsk saint Paraxedis was called “Regina Krivitae” (the queen of the Kryvians). Today in Latvia the word "Krievs" means Russian and word "Krievija" - Russia.
In poetry Kryvichy is often used as a metonym for Belarusians - particularly in contexts evoking a heroic past. KRIWI is also a name of a Belarusian folk-rock band. "Kryvich" ("Крывіч") was also the name of a magazine that Belarusian historian Vaclau Lastouski published in Kouna in 1923-1927.
Together with Drehovians, Radzimians and some Baltic tribes, Kryvians formed the basis of the modern Belarusian nation.