Last modified: 2003-07-05 by dov gutterman
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Starayatviahi (Old-Sudovians) Flag
by Grzegorz Skrukwa, 12 August 2001
Mladayatviahi (Young-Sudovians) Flag
by Grzegorz Skrukwa, 12 August 2001
See also:
In Belarus is active (?) a movement of "Yatviahi",
claiming national rebirthment of Yatviahi people (Sudovians).
Historical Yatviahi were a small Baltic tribe, related to
Lithuanians and old-Prussians. Their name was Yatviahi in
Belarusian, Jacwingowie in Polish, Sudawen in German, Sudovians
or Yatvingians in English. They lived in river-basin of Niemen
and Narew Rivers, i.e. in territories today belonging to Poland
(Podlaskie Voivodship), Belarus and Lithuania. In 13th Century
Sudovians were exterminated by Teutonic Knights. Survivors
assimilated with Belarusians, Lithuanians and Poles.
Contemporary "Sudovian rebirthment movement", in my
opinion, is rather a demonstration of pro-Baltic, pro-Western and
anti-Moscowian feelings of part of Belarusian intelligentsya,
than a real aspirant people movement. There are no native
speakers of Sudovian language since Middle Age. However, modern
Sudovian-English and English-Sudovian dictionaries are published
at <members.nbci.com/Virdainas/Virdainas/virdainas.htm>.
More informations about historical Sudovians are at <hello.to/Balts>.
Belarusian flag book by Basau and Kurkou [bku94] reports, that
"Yatviehi" movement breaks up into two factions:
"starayatviahi" ("Old-Sudovians") and
"mladayatviahi" ("Young-Sudovians"). The flag
of Old-Sudovians is horizontal tricolor White-Blue-White. The
flag of Young-Sudavians is horizontal tricolor Blue-Yellow-Green.
Grzegorz Skrukwa, 12 August 2001