Based on the testimony of Latin writers already in the 1st century. n. e. we can talk about the presence of Slavs in the southern Russian steppes and the Black Sea region. Pliny the Elder, Tacitus and Ptolemy preserved the names of the tribes, which later disappeared into the Slavic tribes. Since the first centuries of our era, the Venets have been spoken of as one of the most numerous Slavic tribes. The movement of the Slavs to the West is associated with the irresistible advance of the Germans, which was stopped only by the conquest of Italy by the Lombards in 568.
The Slavs attacked Byzantium in the first period, which can be traced back to sources, together with other peoples and tribes. The Slavs were part of the larger associations of the Gepids, Getae, Avars and together with them ravaged the rich regions of Byzantium. Often the Slavs moved as part of nomadic or semi-nomadic tribes who were looking for new pastures, although the Slavs themselves were already farming. Long before the VI century. The Slavs were located northeast of the Danube and were divided into two branches: the western one, which was called the Sklavens, or Slavs, and the eastern, called the Antae. Anty, according to the Byzantine historian of the VI century. Procopius. Caesarea, occupied the area north of the Sea of Azov and along the river. Don. Goth Jordan, who wrote in Latin, reports that from p. A populous tribe of Venets settled in the vast expanses of the Vistula. Although their names now change depending on the different tribes and localities, they are mainly called Sklavens and Antes. The name of the Venets is preserved for the Slavic tribes and in the VI century.
SLAVS IN THE FIGHT FOR THE BALKAN PENINSULA
The northern and northwestern borders of the Byzantine Empire were under constant pressure from barbarian invasions, most of which were attended by the Slavs. At the beginning of the VI century. the government of Emperor Anastasius was forced to build a huge structure - a watchtower, which stretched for more than 80 km between the Black and Marmara seas, encircling the capital for 40 km and turning it into a "small island". The protection of the long walls was very difficult, but for the capital, the danger that threatened it from the barbarians increased. In an effort to save the empire from invasion, the emperors resorted to the old, but far from safe method of recruiting entire tribes into the service of the empire. As federates, allies, and colonists, Byzantium drew all new peoples into the sphere of its cultural influence, providing them with areas located in the old provinces of the empire for settlement. Troops were recruited from Franks and Lombards, Heruls and Slavs.
By the VI century. the lower and middle course of the Istra (Danube) to the mouth of the Tissa was still considered the border of the empire, but in fact the power there belonged to the peoples of Slavic origin. The lands to the north of the Danube were long lost to Byzantium - they were owned by the Slavs.
From the beginning of the VI century. the Slavs cross the Danube almost every year, sometimes in small detachments, sometimes in large masses in order to capture prey and prisoners. In 547/48 the campaigns of the Slavs reached Illyricum and Dalmatia, and the 15-thousandth Byzantine army did not dare to enter into battle with them. The western regions of the Balkan Peninsula are no longer the mainstay of the empire. In the struggle of the Goths in northern Italy against the emperor Justinian, they were helped by the Slavic troops in the amount of 6,000 soldiers.
From the middle of the VI century. the campaigns of the Slavs beyond the Danube are becoming more systematic. They quickly appreciated the importance of the sea and coastal harbors, especially Soluni, realizing its naval, strategic and commercial importance. At the same time, the Slavs act in alliance with the Avars, a people close in origin to the Huns. Byzantine writers distinguish between Avars and Slavs, but they often unite them, since they make up one army.
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The empire had to buy off aggressive neighbors more than once. Avar ambassadors received generous gifts in Constantinople: gold, silver, clothes, saddles. Struck by the luxury of gifts, the "barbarians" sent new ambassadors, again gifted with the same generosity. With the help of the Avars, Emperor Justinian hoped to defeat his enemies, primarily the Slavs, whom the Avars had to keep as far as possible. But this policy did not always succeed. In 568, together with the Slavs, the Avars tried to seize the city of Sirmium (Srem) by attack, their goal was to further strengthen the Danube.
The scope of the Slavic raids on the Balkan provinces of Byzantium in the second half of the 6th century evidenced by a contemporary of these events, the Syrian historian John of Ephesus (died in 586). “In the third year after the death of King Justin, during the reign of King Tiberius, the accursed people of Sklavena came out and went through all Hellas, the region of Thessalonica and all of Thrace. They captured many cities and fortresses, devastated, burned, captivated and subjugated this region, and settled in it freely, without fear, as in their own. This lasted for four years, while the king was busy with the war with the Persians and sent all his troops to the east.”1 The Slavs' onslaught on the Balkan Peninsula ceases to be a temporary phenomenon. In clashes with Byzantium, the Slavs improved their military art, acquired new technical skills in warfare,which were successfully used against their enemies. Byzantine historians note the fighting efficiency, strength, courage of the Slavs. Constant looting made it possible to concentrate a significant amount of wealth in the hands of the ruling elite, which also increased the military power of the Slavs. Strengthening the Slavs and prompted the Byzantine government to come to an agreement with the Avars, with their help to deal with their dangerous rivals. But in reality it turned out differently: the Slavs, in alliance with the Avars and other peoples, invaded the Balkan provinces of Byzantium deeper and deeper. This is a whole coalition of "barbarians" against Byzantium, and from the mere fact that these peoples were able to organize joint attacks, it is clear that they were no longer as "barbarians" as it seemed in Constantinople. “They besieged the Roman cities and fortresses and told the inhabitants - come out, sow and reap the harvest,we will take only half the tax from you. " This was a significant relief for the population and reconciled them with the conquerors, as heavy forms of taxation were replaced by new, milder forms. This also provided the rear for the Slavs.
The Slavic invasions aimed to reach the sea and fortify in coastal harbors. Byzantine source of the early 7th century says: “The Slavic people arose, countless numbers of draguvites, Sagudats, Veleezites, Vayunits, Verzits and other peoples. Having learned to make boats from one tree and equipping them for sailing on the sea, they devastated all Thessaly and the islands located around it and Hellas. For this reason, a number of islands, areas of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor became uninhabited, since single-tree boats, hollowed out of wood, were in the hands of the Slavs as a terrible weapon. They surrounded the city, took it under siege, and boldly attacked, so that even such a significant sea harbor as Solun was kept only by chance. The Slavs offer the Avars an alliance against Byzantium so that they help in the capture of Solunya,for which the Avar kagan was promised a big booty. But the city withstood a thirty-three day siege. The names of the Slavic leaders who took part in this struggle for the Mediterranean port have survived: the prince of the Slavs Kuver, the prince of the Rinkhin Pervud.
THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE ANCIENT SLAVS
We find basic information about the internal life of the Slavs in Procopius of Caesarea, a Byzantine writer of the 6th century. In the third book of his essay "On the Gothic War", he writes: "The Slavs and Ants did not have sovereign power, they had a nationwide government, popular meetings, gatherings, at which they consulted on all military issues." At the first meetings with Byzantium "they went into battle on foot, were armed only with throwing spears, darts and had shields." Using natural protection, they located their dwellings in forest areas, near rivers, stagnant lakes, swamps; in the "Strategicon" of pseudo-Mauritius it is said about the ants, the eastern Slavs. In case of danger, their home has several exits. The Slavs ate modest and simple food, and their way of life is similar to the life of the Massagetae, known in the Black Sea and Azov regions back in the 3rd and 4th centuries.
Already at a very early time, one can speak of agriculture and cattle breeding among the Slavs as the main occupations. They had agricultural products at their disposal, especially millet and barley. The wide spread of pastoralism is indicated, for example, by the fact that they sacrificed oxen to their gods. In some cases, the Avars were common with the Slavs, detachments, in other cases they devastated and burned their villages. The wealth of Slavic settlements is confirmed by a number of testimonies. Thus, Ardagast is mentioned, the prince of the Slavun country, where agriculture flourished. Having seized the Balkan Peninsula, the Slavs here "got rich, have gold and silver." Herds of horses and weapons increased their combat power.
The social structure of the ancient Slavs in the VI century. represented a military democracy. Slavic princes, their leaders and military leaders are named by a number of Byzantine sources. The names of the leaders of Ardagast, Piragost, Prince Davrit, Prince Lavrita, Ambassador Mezamir and his brother Kalagast, Prince Akamir are known. By the time Byzantium came into close contact with the Slavs, their structure was of the type that Engels called military democracy (K. Marx and F. Engels Works, vol. 21, p. 127), the same that Procopius of Caesarea observed in sklaven and antes. The military campaigns of the Slavs were accompanied by plunder and captivity of large masses of the population.
The mass captivity of the population in the regions conquered by the Slavs was associated with the need for workers' hands. Slavery, undoubtedly, took place, but did not become widespread, which left a certain stamp on the social system of the ancient Slavs. For Byzantium, slavery was already a passed stage, the colonate was still widespread, but nevertheless it was turning into a feudal state. Slavic peoples followed the path of feudal development, bypassing the slave system. In the VI century. outlined forms of state structure of the Slavs, in the VII century. we can confidently talk about large and differentiated state formations among the Slavs.
N. Pigulevskaya