# Severia

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severia
> Source revision: 1348790349
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{{Short description|Historical region at the boundary of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine}}
{{distinguish|Siberia}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Severia
| official_name                   = {{lang|orv|Сѣверія}} <small>(in Old East Slavic)</small>
| native_name                     = {{lang|ru|Северщина}} <small>{{in lang|ru}}</small><br>{{lang|be|Севершчына}} <small>{{in lang|be}}</small><br>{{lang|uk|Сіверщина}} <small>{{in lang|uk}}</small>
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| flag_alt                        = Flag of the Region of Murcia
| image_shield                    = Герб Северной страны 1672 года.png
| shield_size                     = 100x100px
| shield_alt                      = Герб Северной страны 1672 года.png
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| image_map                       = Ziemie Czernihowsko-Siewierskie w XV wieku.jpg
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| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = [Russia](/source/Russia), [Belarus](/source/Belarus), [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine)
| seat_type                       = Capital
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| demographics_type2              = [Demonym](/source/Demonym)
| demographics2_info1             = Murcian
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| blank1_name_sec1                = [Official language](/source/Official_language)s
| blank1_info_sec1                = East Slavic
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}}

'''Severia''' ({{langx|orv|Сѣверія|Sěverìja}}, {{langx|ru|Северщина|translit=Severshchina}}; {{langx|be|Севершчына|translit=Sievierščyna}}) or '''Siveria''' ({{langx|uk|Сіверія}} / {{lang|uk|Сіверщина}}, {{small|[romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Ukrainian):}} ''Siveria'' / ''Sivershchyna'') is a historical region in present-day southwest [Russia](/source/Russia), northern [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine), and eastern [Belarus](/source/Belarus). The largest part lies in modern Russia, while the central part of the region is the city of [Chernihiv](/source/Chernihiv) in Ukraine.

==Severians==
{{main|Severians}}
The region received its name from the [Severians](/source/Severians), an [East Slavic](/source/East_Slavs) tribe which inhabited the territory in the late 1st millennium A.D.; their name is Slavic meaning "Northerners". Their main settlements included seven cities of modern Russia ([Kursk](/source/Kursk), [Rylsk](/source/Rylsk%2C_Russia), [Starodub](/source/Starodub), [Trubchevsk](/source/Trubchevsk), [Sevsk](/source/Sevsk), [Bryansk](/source/Bryansk), [Belgorod](/source/Belgorod)) and five cities of modern Ukraine ([Liubech](/source/Liubech), Novhorod-Siverskyi, [Chernihiv](/source/Chernihiv), [Putyvl](/source/Putyvl), [Hlukhiv](/source/Hlukhiv)).

According to the ''[Primary Chronicle](/source/Primary_Chronicle)'', the Severians paid tribute to the [Khazars](/source/Khazars), along with the neighboring [Polans](/source/Polans_(eastern)). Prince [Oleg of Novgorod](/source/Oleg_of_Novgorod) (reigned 879–912) conquered them and incorporated their lands into the new principality of [Kievan Rus'](/source/Kievan_Rus'). By the time of [Yaroslav the Wise](/source/Yaroslav_the_Wise) (1019–1054) the Severian peoples had lost most of their distinctness, and the areas of Severia along the upper course of the [Desna River](/source/Desna_River) became controlled by Chernihiv.

{{main|Principality of Novgorod-Seversk}}
In 1096, [Oleg I of Chernigov](/source/Oleg_I_of_Chernigov) (also referred to as ''Oleh'') created a large Severian Principality, which stretched as far as the upper reaches of the [Oka River](/source/Oka_River). Until the end of the century, the principality served as a [buffer state](/source/buffer_state) against [Cuman](/source/Cumans) attacks. Its most celebrated ruler was [Prince Igor](/source/Igor_Svyatoslavich) (1150–1202), whose exploits are recounted in the 12th century epic ''[The Tale of Igor's Campaign](/source/The_Tale_of_Igor's_Campaign)''.
thumb|Duchy of Severia as depicted by Henri Chatelain in his map of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1712.
After the [Mongol invasion of Rus'](/source/Mongol_invasion_of_Rus'), the principality became largely ruined; however, it remained intact throughout repeated [Tatar invasions](/source/Tatar_invasions). Unfortunately, not much is known about this period as Severia was rarely mentioned in written accounts of the 13th century. By the mid 14th century, it was already part of the [Grand Duchy of Lithuania](/source/Grand_Duchy_of_Lithuania) as appanage duchy,<ref name=eohou>Vortman, D., Vermenych, Ya. ''[http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?Z21ID=&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Novhorod_Siverskyj Novhorod-Siverskyi (НОВГОРОД-СІВЕРСЬКИЙ)]''. Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine</ref> whose [Gediminid](/source/Gediminids) princes ([Ruthenian](/source/Ruthenian_language)-speaking and [Orthodox](/source/Eastern_Orthodoxy) by religion) established their capitals in the cities of Novhorod-Siverskyi, [Starodub](/source/Starodub), and [Trubchevsk](/source/Trubchevsk). During the 1501-1503 Lithuanian-Muscovite wars, an ally of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Khan of Great Horde [Sheikh Ahmed](/source/Sheikh_Ahmed) destroyed the duchy's capital Novgorod-Siverskyi which by that time was controlled by Muscovites.<ref name=eohou/> After the Lithuanian defeat at the [Battle of Vedrosha](/source/Battle_of_Vedrosha), the Severian Principality was acquired by [Muscovy](/source/Grand_Duchy_of_Moscow). After the war the duchy was controlled by Muscovite subject Prince [Vasiliy Shemiachich](/source/Vasili_Ivanovich_Shemyachich) (after he was imprisoned in Moscow in 1523, the duchy was governed by Muscovite voivodes (capetanus)).

During the 18th century, the [Hetmans of Ukrainian Cossacks](/source/Hetmans_of_Ukrainian_Cossacks) established residences in the towns of [Baturyn](/source/Baturyn), [Hlukhiv](/source/Hlukhiv), and [Pochep](/source/Pochep). Hlukhiv, in particular, developed into a veritable capital of 18th-century [Ukraine](/source/Ukraine).

Following the [October Revolution](/source/October_Revolution), the Severian lands, populated by a mixture of [Ukrainians](/source/Ukrainians) and [Russians](/source/Russians), were divided between the [Ukrainian](/source/Ukrainian_SSR) and [Russian](/source/Russian_SFSR) [Soviet republics](/source/Soviet_republics), finally dividing the land of the former Severians.

==Culture==
Since the 16th and 17th centuries, the specific Severian icon-painting style had been forming. It was much influenced by conservative [Byzantine](/source/Byzantine) specimens which dominated in the [Grand Duchy of Moscow](/source/Grand_Duchy_of_Moscow). Severian icons are characterized by internal restraint, severeness and [asceticism](/source/asceticism). These features survived during the [Baroque](/source/Baroque) epoch: volume and emotions were almost absent. The collection of Severian icons is preserved in the [Museum of Ukrainian home icons](/source/Museum_of_Ukrainian_home_icons) of the [Radomysl Castle](/source/Radomysl_Castle).

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{in lang|ru}} Golubovsky Peter V. (1881) [http://new.runivers.ru/lib/book3100/9765/ History Seversk to half of the 14th century — История Северской Земли до половины XIV столетия] at [http://runivers.ru/ Runivers.ru] in [DjVu](/source/DjVu) format
*[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\S\I\Siverskprincipality.htm Siversk principality] in the ''Encyclopedia of Ukraine''
*[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\K\U\Kurhan.htm Siverianians] in the ''Encyclopedia of Ukraine''

{{Ukrainian historical regions}}

Category:Historical regions in Belarus
Category:Historical regions in Russia
Category:Historical regions in Ukraine
Category:Principality of Chernigov

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Severia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.