Abodritia

•   St. Gottschalk
•   Mecklenburg
•   The Vendic Legacy
Abodritia
A Vendic State in the territory of former East Germany
Later, it was called Mecklenburg

The density of Vendic (Slav) names in the territory of ancient Vandalia (Eastern Germany) after Hana Skalovà. Such a density makes quotations of German historians doubtful, when one considers that 240.000 German colonists should have settled among ca. 250.000 Vends (Slavs). The names bear witness that the Vends survived for centuries, and that they gradually adopted the German language. Their German speaking offsprings are still settled in this area.

Dr. Jožko Šavli, FAS, KdB, FSAI
Fellow of the Augustan Society
Knight de Bryan
Fellow of Sodality of the Ark International

In the territory of the former East Germany (GDR), in the early Middle Ages several nations and national groups were to be found, which commonly are called the "Elbe Slavs". Historians say, that they migrated to this area in the 6th century AD. Their assertions, albeit never proven by historical records, are however copied from book to book.
However, irrespective of such „scientific" statement based on academic authorities, the historical truth could have been much different. Yet, the question of the „Slavs" for example represents in fact a bias. Indeed, the general opinion is, that the people of this name originated from Eastern Europe, from Russia, which is imagined to be the aboriginal country of all Slavs.

Nevertheless, an original people of Slavs did not exist at all, and the so-called „Elbe Slavs", too, did not stem from Eastern Europe. In my opinion, the State tradition of Pomeranians is very ancient, albeit, we do not find quotations about this in historical documents, with the exception of antique authors of 1st century AD, like Tacitus and Ptolemy, who place the Veneti in the coastal areas of the "Baltic Sea". Ptolemy even calls an area there "The Venetic Bay" (Igor H. Pirnovar, 11/14/06). They were and are an autochthonous Vendic people, despite the fact that official historians claim that the "Slav tribes" should have settled the area alongside the Baltic Sea not earlier then in the 5th-6th century AD.
In historical papers we find several sketches, elaborated first of all by German scholars. The sketches show the presence of Western Germans in the Elbe area since the La Téne period (2nd - 1st century BC) and also in the Roman Imperial period (2nd - 4th century AD). Naturally, the German scholars are in strict opposition to the Polish (and also to the Czech) historians, who defend here the presence of the Slavs (in fact, of the Vends).

Runes on the urne of Köbelich, which was unearthed in the district of Stargard in Meklenburg-Strelitz.
(Joh. Erasmus Wocel: Ueber die Runen der köbelicher Urne)

In the Early Middle Ages the Elbe river basin was certainly settled by the Vends or the so-called Elbe Slavs. This has been generally acknowledged. I think, however, they did not migrate from the East. On the contrary, they must have been settled here uninterruptedly as a basic people from prehistoric times, despite the fact that several Germanic peoples like Burgunds, Vandals or Goths… temporarily occupied this area. Moreover, it might be just as well, that we should call the West Germans (Westgermanen) by their historical name "Germans", and the East Germans (Ostgermanen) simply Vends, whose land in fact was called Vandalia.

Anyway, this question should not be treated in the light of the well-known German-Polish conflict concerning the historiography, which in fact is that of the pan-German and the pan-Slav ideology. Between these two ideologies and their worlds the very inhabitants of this territory, who from the historical point of view are neither Germans nor Slavs, did not discover the roots of their very name until today and are not aware of the important role they  play in history. These inhabitants are the Vendic peoples, the Vends, who in the course of centuries adopted the German language, and remained settled here.

In the historical records the Vendic people of this territory are appearing since 781 AD, when Charlemagne, the Frankish king, was fighting the neighbouring Saxons. At that time, the social structure of the Elbe Vends was based on groups still, called "zupe" (pronounce: jupe) or "opole" (civitates, in Latin). These groups obviously gradually developed from the former clans (Sippen, in German). But they were already bound to their proper territory, which was rounded off by natural, i.e., by geographic conditions. In this way many small Vendic nations colonized the territory between the rivers Elbe and Oder. Nevertheless, three among them developed to territorial States namely: the Abodriti (Obodriti), Liutizi (or Veleti, Vilzi), and Sorbians (or Sorabi).
The Liutizi settled the centre of today's territory called Mecklenburg and expanded to the Oder River in the East. The Abodriti, to whom we pay particular interest in this article, occupied the territory located north-west from the Luitizi. The Sorabi, the last state, settled in the area south of Berlin.
  
Abodritia

View on Ratzeburg - Ratibor, the town on a lake island, on which at one-time the temple of the Vendic goddess Živa was to be found.

Abodritia is not a name proven by historical records. Nevertheless, we must use it for the land of the Abodriti people, respectively to the state level of the social organization that these people reached. Their State included also other minor groups. Later, founded on its historical basis, the Duchy of Mecklenburg took rise. The State of the Abodriti extended along the Baltic coast, from the Gulf of Kiel (Kyl) to the mouth of the Warnow River, where today the great port of Rostock (Raztok) is to be found. It reached also into the hinterland, where some important castles sprang up, like Velegard (Mecklenburg) in the proximity of today's port of Wismar (Vyšemìr), further Zvìrin (Schwerin) and Dobin.

The Vagri, a group, which was integrated into Abodritia, too, settled the western part of their territory, i.e., the eastern Holstein. They also possessed some important centres like Liubice (Alt Lübeck), Starigard (Oldenburg), Plona (Plön) and Scharsdorf.  Another group pertaining to this State was the Polabi, who were settled between the rivers Trave and Elbe. Their centre was Ratibor (Ratzeburg), which is located south of Lübeck. It was named after their Prince Ratibor. East of the Abodriti, between the rivers Warnow (Varnova) and Mildenitz, lived the Varni. In very close relations to the Abodriti were also the Liniani, who settled south of them, in the river basins of Elde, Löcknitz, and Stepenitz. And in the same manner were the Abodriti connected with the Dreviani in the western part of the Altmark, south of Elbe.
Apart from these peoples, Abodritia included several minor groups, which I would not call "tribes", for they already had a relatively high level of social organization and culture.
       
In fact, Abodritia was a State, based above all on a military-defence organization of its peoples, in which the Abodriti had a predominant position. Their attitude toward the more feeble groups however was not always correct. Consequently some of the groups would rise against the Abodriti from time to time, like for example the Gliniani and the Smolinzi, in the years 808 - 812.
       
Under Charlemagne, the Abodriti as well as the Liutizi acknowledged the authority of the Frankish king and they would, although only symbolically, pay him tributes. In 804, Charlemagne put at the head of the Abodriti and their groups a great prince, or chief king, called Draško († 810). In 812, Charlemagne died, and the Liutizi together with the Saxons, rose against the Franks. But they were defeated, and the Franks devastated their territory. However, Charlemagne's conquest in the Vendic region was lost.

At that time, Abodritia did not arise. It was shaken however by inner dynastic conflicts for the throne of the great prince (veliki knez). They began also to manifest their uneasiness against the Emperor Louis the Pious, Charlemagne's son. Finally, the great prince Cedrag (pronounce tchedrag) ascended the throne. He reconciled with the Emperor and ruled in peace until his death († 826). The authority of his successors, who ascended the throne as great princes of the Abodriti expended immensely. They would make themselves independent from the Frankish Empire.

Still, during the lifetime of Louis the Pious († 840), the Frankish Empire was divided between his three sons. The division was finally fulfilled in 843, and the eastern part of the empire, the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks or Francia Orientalis (later called Germany), was given to the emperor's son Louis the German. Already in 844 he invaded the territory of the Abodriti, and their great prince fell in combat. The eastern territories were declared Frankish marches, but in fact remained independent.  So, for a long time the historical records did not mention an Abodritian prince or king. However, he existed but did not depend on the Kingdom of the Eastern Franks.
       
About 928, King Henry I of Germany (919 - 936) was the first monarch that forced the Vendic territory to pay tribute again; he also placed it under the jurisdiction of the Counts of Saxon. The Frankish or Germanic dominion continued to make progress under King Otto I (936 - 973). He divided the territory of Abodritia between the two margraviates he had formed. Despite the endeavours of the Franks to expand the territory of their empire, the Christianization of the Vendic people was their main purpose. In 955, the Abodriti were defeated heavily in the fight near Raxa. But their prince Nakon extended his dominion further. Christianity found ingress into Abodritian lands, and in 968 a diocese was erected in Starigard (Oldenburg).
         
But instead of having Christianity carried out by missionaries, they rather used authority and military power. The Franks built in the marches several guard castles like Brandenburg, Havolberg etc. The Frankish (German) feudatories usurped the authority and appropriated the ground.  In 983, after the defeat of Otto II by the Saracenes near Capo Colonne in Calabria, the Liutizi were uprising in a great rebellion against the Franks (Germans), while the Abodriti were engaged in profiting from the loss of others.  The German feudatories were defeated.

The Abodriti under Mistivoj, who had previously accepted Christianity, plundered and burned Hamburg, ravaged the whole north part of Albingia (Holstein), crossed the Elbe and advanced as far as Milde. Every trace of Christianity was destroyed. Towards the end of his life Mistivoj turned in repentance once more to Christianity, and ended his days in the Monastery of Bardowiek.
       
There was much strife between Germans and Vends in the following decades.  It was not until the reign of King Henry II (1002 - 1024) that the Liutizi and Abodriti became allies of the German Empire against the Polish Duke Boleslaw. Then, Archbishop Unwanus of Hamburg (from 1013) laboured with energy and success; but the Saxon dukes exacted a heavy tribute, which was the chief reason why the Christian teaching protected by them was regarded with little favour. Even though the Vendic ruler Udo, Mistivoj's son, became a Christian. Though a poor one, says Adam of Bremen, because like his father Mistivoj he also renounced faith. Udo, for some act of cruelty, was slain by a Saxon.
       
Then, Udo's sun Gottschalk rebelled against the Saxons, but he was not able to withstand them, and he was taken prisoner. His lands were given to the new Prince Ratibor, and his family. Some years after, Gottschalk was released and left with many of his people for Denmark. Canute of Denmark employed them in his wars in Norway and sent them on an expedition to England. Gottschalk was very successful. Then, he started to practice his faith and married Sigrith, the daughter of Canute.

Alt Ratzeburg
"Races Burg" it says in a document issued in Worms from the year 1062

After the death of Ratibor and his sons, Gottschalk returned home, and with help of the Danes he regained his princely position. Not earlier then in 1040, he introduced anew the Christendom in Abodritia. He faithfully supported Archbishop Adalbert of Bremen.  Churches and monasteries rapidly appeared. New dioceses were founded in addition to the Diocese of Starigard, namely, Ratibor (Ratzeburg) under Bishop Aristo, and Velegard (Mecklenburg) under Bishop John, a Scot.  The missionary work was entrusted to St. Ansverus († 1066), a monk from the Monastery Harsefeld near Stade (north-west of Hamburg). In 1044, he and his fellows went to Ratibor. On the island of Ratibor, the Vends venerated the Goddess Siwa or Ziva (pron. jiva). There, they began their activity, and founded a monastery dedicated to St. George. The conversion of the entire country to Catholicism seemed assured.
       
The centralized Abodritian State was mighty enough, as to extend its territorial possession. In 1057 the Abodriti intervened in the "fraternal" fights of the Liutizi and they succeeded to conquer the western part of their territory. But the feudal conception of the Great Prince Gottschalk, that one is the ruler by "Dei gratia" (grace of God) only, strengthened the central authority, i.e., his authority in confront to the people and nobility, which was also sustained by the Frankish king.

However, the ferment of the old antagonism to pay tribute to the Empire and the Saxon dukes led to a heathen reaction. In 1066, in Abodritia there broke out a pagan rebellion. The first victim was Prince Gottschalk himself; he was killed. In the rebellion, also the Benedictine Monastery of St. George near Ratibor was ruined. The Abbot Ansverus and 28 Benedictine monks were stoned to death. In Velegard the aged Bishop John and many other Christians were slain, and within a few months the German supremacy was thrown off. The Abodriti even plundered the Christian cities of Schleswig and Hamburg; the bishop of the latter being obliged to transfer his see to Bremen.
  
St. Gottschalk (Godescalcus) - On June 7, 1066, he was slained together with other men at the monastery in Lenzen on the Elbe, and June 7 is noted as his feast. He became a martyr prince of the Abodriti and of the Wends. The young Gottschalk, Udo's son, was sent to the St. Michael Monastery in Lenzen to further his education. When the news reached him that his father was slain, he escaped from there, casting aside all Christian principles, thinking only of revenge. After his return from Denmark, and after ascending the throne as Prince of Abodritia, he became a very apostle of his people. Adam of Bremen calls him a pious and God-fearing man, but he was more. His object in life focused on collecting the scattered Vendic peoples into one Christian kingdom. It was a great kingdom that he really founded, and he obtained priests from Germany to carry out the Christianization. He would accompany the missionaries from place to place, and would inculcate their words by his own explanation and instructions. He established monasteries and contributed most generously to build churches and to support clergy. By his work he was also seconded by Adalbert, Bishop of Hamburg, and numerous conversions were the result of their efforts. But some of the peoples refused to adopt Christianity and rose in rebellion. Gottschalk and many other clergy became victims of hatred of Christianity.
       
The people's right to elect their rulers was instaured anew. Then, the people and the nobility elected as their new ruler a pagan great prince named Krut (Cruto), who was already the ruler of Rujana (Rügen), the large island in the Baltic Sea. He ruled the country for nearly 30 years.  In 1068, the Liutizi formed an alliance with the adversaries of the Abodriti, but without success. Thanks to their social structure and military -democratic organization, the Liutizi still for a half century resisted to the concentric attacks of the Franks (Germans) and Poles. Then, after exhausting conflicts, their federation went under forever.

In Abodritia, in spite of the heathen dome the State structure remained unaltered. In 1093, Great Prince Krut was killed. His widow married Gottschalk's son, the Great Prince Henry († 1126). He succeeded, with the help of the Danes, to obtain again the lost positions of the Christendom. The decisive battle, in which the heathen party was defeated, occurred near Ratibor, on the Schmielauer Heide, as it is called now. Henry also transferred his residence to Liubice (Alt Lübeck).  The name very probably derives from lob (elevation, ascent), dimin. pl. lobice, dialectal liubice, and certainly not from the verb "ljubiti" (to love), as generally thought. Although a Christian, Prince Henry never attempted to force Christianity upon the Vends. The only church stood in his capital Liubice.
         
Soon after Henry's death his family became extinct, and the Emperor Lothair granted the vacant territory in fief to Henry's Danish cousin Knut Laward († 1131), Duke of Schleswig.  Claims were also made by Henry's nephew Pribislav I, and by Niklot, an Obotrite noble. These two divided the rulerless land between them, when in 1131 his cousin Magnus killed Knut.
       
With the renewed Christianization the dependence and the vassalage toward the Church were done away with. Therefore, heathens got up anew. In 1138 the chief town of Luibice was made ablaze. Then, Prince Pribislav I could no longer maintain himself against the German advance.  He was obliged to surrender in 1142 to Count Adolf of Schauenburg, who repopulated the almost desolate territory with colonists from Flandern, Holland, Westphalia, and Frisia.
       
Prince Niklot, on the other hand, preserved his independence until, after a protracted struggle, Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony (-1142 - 1180), subdued him. Upon agreeing to accept Christianity and to acknowledge German supremacy, Niklot was allowed to retain his possessions, in 1147. Christianity was introduced anew. In 1142, the Monk Ansverus was declared a Saint. In 1172, also his relics were found, and were transferred in a solemn procession to the Cathedral of Ratibor.

The renewed conversion of the Abodriti to Christianity was however due to St. Vicelin († 1154) the missionary, who proclaimed the word of God in Liubice since 1126. Hartwig of Stade, Bishop of Bremen, soon provided for the restoration of the former Vendic dioceses. In 1150 he consecrated Vicelin Bishop of Starigard (Oldenburg), and Emmehard Bishop of Velegard (Mecklenburg), Zvìrin (Schwerin) now becoming the see of the latter.
       
At the same time Henry the Lion was empowered by the Emperor to found dioceses and churches in the region on the farther side of the Elbe and to endow them with imperial domains, which was what the conquered Vendic territory was held to be. In 1154 Henry re-established the Diocese of Ratibor (Ratzeburg), appointing as bishop Evermod, the Cathedral Provost of Dìvin (Magdeburg).
       
Subsequently, a number of Christian Germans came into the region, and the Vends were made to accept Christianity. The land was rapidly covered with churches, parishes, and monasteries. Besides the Cistercian Monastery of Dobberan, that Prince Pribislav endowed largely with lands, there were new erected monasteries of Benedictines, Franciscans, Premonstratensians, of the religious orders of Knights Hospitallers, of St. Anthony, etc.
  
Mecklenburg

Subsequently, Prince Niklot  headed a revolt in which he was overthrown, in 1160. He may have been defeated, but the country was not pacified until Niklot's son, Prince Pribislav II († 1178), after being baptized in 1167, became the new ruler. In 1170, Emperor Frederic Barbarossa gave Pribislav II the status of a Prince of the Empire; he called himself Prince of Mecklenburg and became the ancestor of the reigning dynasty in Abodritia, who ruled the land uninterruptedly until 1918. The name Mecklenburg derives from castle "Mechelenburg" (Velegard, in Vendic), which lay between Wismar and Schwerin, and is mentioned in the records for the first time in 955. The events of that period are described by Helmold († ca. 1177) in his „Chronica Slavorum". He was the parish priest of Bosau (Bozov, pron. Bojow) at Plona (Plön) Lake.
After Niklot's death, Henry the Lion tried to obtain in fief the whole Abodritia, but he failed. He obtained a minor part only.  After Pribislav's death in 1178, however, domestic disputes broke out, and the overthrow of Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, in 1180 weakened the German power in the northern part of the empire. Denmark was thus enabled to bring under its authority large portions of northern parts of Germany, Mecklenburg being obliged to recognize Danish supremacy under the reign of Henry Burwy I (1178 - 1227).  In 1227 Henry Burwy I, in confederation with the Counts of Schwerin, the Archbishop of Bremen, and the City of Lübeck, cast off the Danish yoke. Thereupon the influx of German colonists received a new impetus, and, in the first half of the thirteenth century, a German municipality had already developed there. After the death of Henry Burwy, the territory was divided (1229) into four principalities: Mecklenburg, Werle, Rostock, and Parchim. The two latter lines died out in 1314 and 1316 respectively; that of Werle flourished until 1430.
The main branch of the Mecklenburg line was founded by John II (1226 - 1264). One of its members, Henry the Pilgrim (1264 - 1302) was captured at Cairo in 1271, while on a crusade, and kept prisoner until 1297. His son, Henry the Lion, obtained the district of Stargard as dowry with his wife, Beatrice of Brandenburg, and, on the Rostock line becoming extinct, forced the Danes to recognize him as the hereditary possessor of the city and territory of Rostock, then under Danish supremacy. Henry's two sons, Albert II († 1379) and John I († 1392), were made dukes and princes of the empire by the Emperor Charles IV. The partition of 1352 led to the founding of the Stargard line, which became extinct in 1471. - In 1358 Albert II succeeded in obtaining the County of Schwerin by purchase.
Albert II' scheme to place his eldest son, Henry III, on the Danish throne failed completely. However, his second son, Albert III, in 1363 was elected King of Sweden. However, soon after Albert III had succeeded his father in the government of Mecklenburg (1383), a rival claimant of the throne of Sweden appeared in the person of Queen Margaret of Denmark. In 1389 Margaret took Albert III prisoner, and did not release him until, after six years of captivity, he renounced all claims to the Swedish throne. His son, Albert V (1412 - 1422), was followed by his own cousin, Henry the Fat (1422 - 1477). After the Stargard line - to which the foundation of a university at Rostock in 1418 is due - had become extinct, Henry reigned over the whole of Mecklenburg until 1471. Thus once more it was united under a single ruler.
Henry's successor, Magnus (1477 - 1503), was a very energetic prince. The cities had, under the weak rule of his predecessor, become insubordinate. Magnus directed his efforts towards bringing them under the control of the ruler and evolving a unified state out of a confused medley of districts, cities, and estates. For a time his sons, Henry V (1503 - 1552) and Albert VII (1503 - 1547), reigned jointly so as to maintain the country undivided. In 1523 the prelates, knighthood, and cities formed a Landesunion, which was the basis of the present constitution, and established a common diet for all the divisions of the territory without regard to any partitions. The Protestant Reformation in Mecklenburg was entirely the work of the two joint rulers, Henry V and Albert VII. Even Protestant historians have testified that before the Reformation the country had excellent bishops, a pious clergy, and a genuinely Catholic population.  In 1536 the brothers divided their dominions, Henry becoming Duke of Schwerin and Albert Duke of Güstrow.
In 1621, the land was also formally shared between two family lines. In this way arose the Duchies Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Güstrow. The latter line died out in 1695, and anew, in 1701 two duchies came into the being: Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, both Mecklenburg duchies advanced to Great Duchies. In 1871 they were integrated in the new German State (Deutsches Reich). In 1920, the great duchies were declared Republics (Freistaaten), and in 1933 they were united anew in the Land (country) Mecklenburg with the chief town in Schwerin.  
  
The Vendic Legacy


A German woodcut from 15the century showing Europe and its nations in an allegory. Between Dania and Polonia we see also Vandalia as a historical nation.

I found in some modern German papers a condemnation of the "genocide" of the so-called Elbe Slavs (i.e., Vends) which apparently was carried out by the feudal lords of the Medieval German State (Kingdom of the Eastern Franks), or more concretely, above all by the Saxon dukes and counts. However, until now I did not meet an interdisciplinary approach to this problem that would reveal to us the other side of the face.

Indeed, I noticed that the papers present the problem from one side only, i.e., from the linguistic point of view. In fact, today the people of the Elbe Slav territory, the ancient Vandalia, are speaking German (Deutsch), except a linguistic Sorbian isle remained in Lusatia. But such circumstances do not signify that the people, with the exception of a small part, could have been of Germanic (Germanisch) origin, too.

It is a generally known fact, but German scholars continue to present the people of the one-time Vandalia upon which, after the settlement of German colonists, the German ethnicity prevailed completely. One estimates, that only in the 12th century ca. 200,000 German peasant colonists migrated in the territory over the Elbe River (B. Brügger, Hannover 1997). The same author but alleges, that at the turn of the millennium there lived in the territory between Elbe and Oder ca. 250,000 Vends only. Thus, an enormous number of colonists for that period, so that the question must be asked: How many people did they still leave behind? Further more, under such circumstances, the German ethnic element, supported also by the German feudal authority, must have prevailed soon. However, the Vendic language holds itself until the 16th century, and in the 18th century it was finally extinct. The Vendic ethnic peculiarities, on the other hand, but were preserved until today.
       
Thus, there are many serious objects against the interpretation that, the ancient Vandalia was totally Germanized, or even underwent genocide. For example, the density of Vendic place names over the whole territory is so immense, that an overflow of German colonists in such large numbers must be excluded. In the topographic map of Hana Skalovà, these place names are diffused also in the area on the left bank of the Elbe River, in the Altmark and in the nearby Wendland. The density of the Vendic names did not allow German colonists to settle the one-time "desolated lands" and spread German names. Only Vendic names are covering all the territory.

Regretfully, the chapter of Vendic names keeps on to be suppressed by German scholars. They quote for example, Liubice (Lübeck), Ratibor (Ratzeburg) or even Starigard (Oldenburg), then their good will ceases. In their papers I could not meet names such as Rybnica (Ribnitz), Bardo (Barth), Stralova (Stralsund), Uznoim (Usedom), Zvìrin (Schwerin), Lìšane (Lassan), Volegošt (Wolgast), Premislav (Prenzlau), Rìdegost (Riedegast), Mogyla (Mügel), Spandov (Spandau), Barnim (Barnau) etc. etc. - Unless these names were treated in special Slavistic magazines, which were never brought to the attention of the public.

The meaning of these names is very interesting from the topographic and social point of view. For example, names like Ratibor (Ratzeburg) or Branibor (Brandenburg) contain the ancient word "bor", which corresponds to "Burg" in German or "pur" in Sanscrit. In 19th century, the Slovenian intellectuals in Lower Styria, named Maribor after this example, the modern Slovenian form of Marburg (a.d. Drau).
The chapter of Vendic names, once it has been opened does not end in Vandalia. It extends over the whole territory of Germany. Vendic names appear everywhere. Near Dortmund, for example, there is still to be found a site called Kamen (stone) - as to mention only one of many cases. E. Röth researched the place names in Thuringia, and published a book under the title "Sind wir Germanen? Das Ende eines Irrtums" /Are we Germans? The end of an error/ (Kassel, 1967). It is evident that, in spite of the German language, the roots of the Germans could be, eventually even for the largest part, of Vendic and not of Germanic origin. A fact that ruins the myths, that modern German people descend from the "proud and bellicose" ancient Germans. - It is very possible, that the colonists brought to Vandalia, were mostly of Vendic origin and that they, almost in part, still spoke the Vendic language.
       
The original Vendic social structure, naturally, was not maintained at top level of the Abodritian State. Its first head was the "kral", which already Charlemagne encountered. However, at that time the meaning of this word was not "King" as in the following periods and as it is still today.  Back then he was still an "elected ruler". The Indo-European root of this word is to be found also in German verbs like "kiesen" or "küren" (cf. Duden). After the Christianization of the Abodriti, also their ruler, beginning with Pribislav II (1167), became a feudal prince. However, in the villages the ancient social organization with the "zupan" (pron. jupan) was maintained onwards.
       
Moreover, the Vendic tradition and customs continued to be present in the villages. One of the most characteristics is the linden-tree (Linde, lipa), that has been preserved as the "tree of life" and is to be found in the villages all over eastern and middle Germany. Even the famous maypole (Maibaum, mlaj) is in fact a Vendic and not a Germanic symbol. It is to be found in the territory between the Baltic and the Adriatic Sea, irrespectively of the language spoken by the people.
       
A special attention deserves the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24th, which is the ancient feast celebrating the beginning of summer. I consider it a Vendic tradition, too. In the evening and the night before (called Johannisnacht) secret spirit forces appear which determine the life of the man. The feast is generally called Kres, after the great fire, which the village community is lightening on a panoramic elevation, etc.

It is certain that German traditions prevailed in the towns and cities. They were also important as centres of trade and political economic power. Their inhabitants were part of an industrial and vibrating environment in the city . Discrimination of Vendic people is rather to be found in country people, as seen from the view point of (German) feudal lords and (German) townspeople. The Vendic man and woman were subjects of law (Schwabenspiegel, ca. 1275).

The country people and their culture prevailed for a long extent until 19th century. Then, because of industrial development, the (Vendic) people began to migrate into towns. My impression is that even though they already spoke German, they continued to maintain their Vendic character, which, quite naturally, underwent many changes. They were, in sense of their language, already Germans (Deutsche), however; they distinguish themselves a great deal from their fellow-countrymen in the ancient Germanic lands. The same happening occurs in Berlin, the symbolic avenue "Unter den Linden" (Under the linden-trees) seems to testify not only an ancient tradition, but also the merry character of the Vendic people.