Obotrites: Map & History
The Obotrites or Obodrites, also spelled Abodrites, were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany.
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The Obotrites or Obodrites, also spelled Abodrites, were a confederation of medieval West Slavic tribes within the territory of modern Mecklenburg and Holstein in northern Germany. For decades, they were allies of Charlemagne in his wars against the Germanic Saxons and the Slavic Veleti. The Obotrites under Prince Thrasco defeated the Saxons in the Battle of Bornhöved (798). The still-Pagan Saxons were dispersed by the emperor, and the part of their former land in Holstein north of Elbe was awarded to the Obotrites in 804, as a reward for their victory. This however was soon reverted through an invasion of the Danes. The Obotrite regnal style was abolished in 1167, when Pribislav was restored to power by Duke Henry the Lion, as Prince of Mecklenburg, thereby founding the Germanized House of Mecklenburg.
Modern Countries Once Part of Obotrites
At its mapped extent, Obotrites covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Obotrites's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Obotrites in Depth
History
The Bavarian Geographer, an anonymous medieval document compiled in Regensburg in 830, contains a list of the tribes in Central Eastern Europe to the east of the Elbe. The list includes the Nortabtrezi (Obotrites) - with 53 civitates.
Adam of Bremen referred to them as the Reregi because of their lucrative trade emporium Reric. In common with other Slavic groups, they were often described by Germanic sources as Wends.
As allies of the Carolingian kings and the empire of their Ottonian successors, the Obotrites fought from 808 to 1200 against the kings of Denmark, and on occasion the Franks, Northern Christian forces, and in later years, the Holy Roman Empire.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Obotrites (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Obotrites Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Obotrites appears, with the other states of the time.
Obotrites Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 15,438 km² in 810 CE.
Obotrites: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Obotrites exist?
Obotrites is dated to 793 CE – 946 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Obotrites?
The capital of Obotrites was Veligard or Veligrad (German: Michelenburg).
How large was Obotrites at its peak?
At its peak in 810 AD Obotrites covered about 15,438 km².
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