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The epithet "'''Bavarian Geographer'''" ({{langx|la|Geographus Bavarus}}) is the conventional name for the [[Anonymous work|anonymous]] author of a short Latin [[medieval]] text containing a list of the tribes in [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]], headed {{Language with name/for|la|Descriptio civitatum et regionum ad septentrionalem plagam Danubii|''Description of cities and lands north of the [[Danube]]''}}.

The name "Bavarian Geographer" was first bestowed (in its French form, "{{lang|fr|Géographe de Bavière}}") in 1796 by Polish count and scholar [[Jan Potocki]].<ref>J. Potocki. ''Fragments historiques et geographiques sur la Scythie, Sarmatie, et les Slaves''. Brunsvic, 1796.</ref> The term is now also used at times to refer to the document itself.

It was the first Latin source to claim that all [[Slavs]] originated in the same homeland, called the [[Zeriuani]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curta |first=Florin |title=Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages (500-1300) (2 Vols) |date=2019 |page=44|publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-39519-0 |location=Boston |oclc=1111434007}}</ref>

== Origin ==
{{Hidden
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|content = <poem>{{lang|la|Descriptio civitatum et regionum ad septentrionalem plagam [[Danubii]]. Isti sunt qui propinquiores resident finibus Danaorum, quos vocant [[Obotrites|Nortabtrezi]], ubi regio, in qua sunt civitates LIII per duces suos partite. [[Uuilci]], in qua civitates XCV et regiones IIII. [[Linones|Linaa]] est populus, qui habet civitates VII. Prope illis resident, quos vocant Bethenici et Smeldingon et Morizani, qui habent civitates XI. Iuxta illos sunt, qui vocantur [[Hehfeldi]], qui habent civitates VIII. Iuxta illos est regio, que vocatur [[Sorbs (tribe)|Surbi]], in qua regione plures sunt, que habent civitates L. Iuxta illos sunt quos vocant Talaminzi, qui habent civitates XIII. [[Bohemians (tribe)|Beheimare]], in qua sunt civitates XV. [[Moravians (tribe)|Marharii]] habent civitates XL. [[Bulgarians|Uulgarii]] regio est inmensa et populus multus habens civitates V, eo quod mutitudo magna ex eis sit et non sit eis opus civitates habere. Est populus quem vocant [[Merehanos]], ipsi habent civitates XXX. Iste sunt regiones, que terminant in finibus nostris.

Isti sunt, qui iuxta istorum fines resident. Osterabtrezi, in qua civitates plus quam C sunt. Miloxi, in qua civitates LXVII. Phesnuzi habent civitates LXX. Thadesi plus quam CC urbes habent. [[Glopeani]], in qua civitates CCCC aut eo amplius. Zuireani habent civitates CCCXXV. Busani habent civitates CCXXXI. Sittici regio inmensa populis et urbibus munitissimis. Stadici, in qua civitates DXVI populousque infinitus. Sebbirozi habent civitates XC. Unlizi populus multus civitates CCCCXVIII. Neriuani habent civitates LXXVIII. Attorozi habent civitates CXLVIII, populus ferocissimus. Eptaradici habent civitates CCLXIII. Uuilerozi habent civitates CLXXX. Zabrozi habent civitates CCXII. Znetalici habent civitates LXXIIII. Aturezani habent civitates CIIII. Chozirozi habent civitates CCL. [[Lendizi]] habent civitates XCVIII. Thafnezi habent civitates CCLVII. [[Zeriuani]], quod tantum est regnum, ut ex eo cuncte genetes Sclauorum exorte sint et originem, sicut affirmant, ducant. [[Prissani]] civitates LXX. [[Uelunzani]] civitates LXX. [[Bruzi]] plus est undique quam de Enisa ad Rhenum Uuizunbeire [[Caziri]] civitates C. Ruzzi. Forsderen. Liudi. Fresiti. Serauici. Lucolane. [[Hungarians|Ungare]]. [[Uuislane]]. [[Sleenzane]] civitates XV. Lunsizi civitates XXX. Dadosesani civitates XX. [[Milzane]] civitates XXX. Besunzane civitates II. Uerizane civitates X. Fraganeo civitates XL. Lupiglaa civitates XXX. [[Opolini]] civitates XX. [[Golensizi]] civitates V.}}</poem>
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The short document, written in [[Latin]], was discovered in 1772 in the [[Bavarian State Library]], [[Munich]] by [[Louis XV]]'s ambassador to the Saxon court, Comte [[Louis-Gabriel Du Buat-Nançay]].<ref>Le comte du Buat. ''Histoire ancienne des peuples de l'Europe''. T. 11. Paris, 1772.</ref> It had been acquired by the [[Wittelsbach]]s with the collection of the antiquarian [[Hermann Schädel]] (1410–85) in 1571. The document was much discussed in the early 19th-century historiography, notably by [[Nikolai Karamzin]] and [[Joachim Lelewel]].<ref>J. Lelewel. ''Winulska Sławiańszczyzna z Geografa bawarskiego'', Tygodnik Wileński, nr 47, z dn. 8 paźdzernika 1816, s. 333, i w nastęnych numerach 48–50. Also: Joachim Lelewel, ''Geographe du Moyen Age III'', Bruxelles 1852, s.21–45.</ref>

The provenance of the document is disputed. Although early commentators suggested that it could have been compiled in [[Regensburg]],<ref name="Lowmianski1">[[Henryk Łowmiański]], ''O pochodzeniu Geografa bawarskiego'', Roczniki Historyczne, R. 20, 1955, s.9–58</ref> the list seems to have been taken from {{lang|la|Codex Reginbertinus II}}, recorded in the 9th century in the library of the [[Reichenau Abbey]] and named after a local librarian.<ref>The codex contains [[Boethius]]'s treatise on geometry. See: Novy R. ''Die Anfänge des böhmischen Staates'', 1: Mitteleuropa im 9. Jh. Praha, 1969.</ref> Based on these findings, [[Bernhard Bischoff]] attributes it to a monk active at Reichenau from the 830s to 850s.<ref>[[Bernhard Bischoff]]. ''Die südostdeutschen Schreibschulen und Bibliotheken in der Karolingerzeit''. Bd. 1.2. Aufl. Wiesbaden, 1960.</ref> [[Aleksandr Nazarenko]] finds it more probable that the list was composed in the 870s, when [[Saint Methodius of Thessaloniki|Saint Methodius]] is believed to have resided at Reichenau. The document may have been connected with his missions in the Slavic lands.<ref>{{lang|ru|[[Aleksandr Nazarenko|А. В. Назаренко]]. Древняя Русь на международных путях: Междисциплинарные очерки культурных, торговых, политических связей IX–XII веков}}. Moscow, 2001. Pages 52–70.</ref> [[Henryk Łowmiański]] demonstrated that the list consists of two parts, which may be datable to different periods and attributed to distinct authors.<ref name="Lowmianski2">Henryk Łowmiański, ''O identyfikacji nazw Geografa bawarskiego'', Studia Źródłoznawcze, t. III: 1958, s.1–22.</ref>

In modern times, some scholars attribute the information from this document to be limited, because it is largely geographic in nature, and its understanding of Eastern European geography is limited, so it may be a case of [[cosmography]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Curta |first=Florin |title=Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages (500-1300) (2 Vols) |date=2019 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-39519-0 |location=Boston |page=26|oclc=1111434007}}</ref>

== Content ==
The document has a short introductory sentence and a list of 58 tribal names in [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]], east of the [[Elbe]] and north of the [[Danube]] to the [[Volga]] River to the [[Black Sea]] and [[Caspian Sea]] (most of them of [[Slavic peoples|Slavonic]] origin, with ''[[Rus' (people)|Ruzzi]]'', and others such as ''[[Bulgars|Vulgarii]]'', etc.).<ref name="Lowmianski1"/> Absent on the list are [[Polans (western)|Polans]], [[Pomeranians (Slavic tribe)|Pomeranians]] and  [[Mazovians|Masovians]], tribes first of whom are believed to have settled along the shores of the [[Warta]] river during the 8th century,<ref>Andrzej Buko: Archeologia Polski wczesnośredniowiecznej: odkrycia, hipotezy, interpretacje. Warszawa, 2005.</ref> as well [[Dulebes]], [[Volhynians]] and [[White Croats]], but instead mentioning several unknown tribes hard to identify.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Koncha |first=S. |title=Bavarian Geographer On Slavic Tribes From Ukraine |url=http://ukrbulletin.univ.kiev.ua/Visnyk-16-en/Koncha.pdf |journal=Ukrainian Studies |year=2012 |volume=12 |publisher=Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv |pages=15–21}}</ref> There is also some information about the number of strongholds ({{langx|la|civitates}}) possessed by some of the tribes, however the number in several instances seems exaggerated.<ref name="Lowmianski1"/><ref name="Lowmianski2"/> The list consists of two parts, first describing the tribes in the Eastern neighborhood of [[Francia]] (''iste sunt regiones ... nostris''), while the second or near or outside the zone of the first going in different directions. The tribes can be geographically grouped into Danubian, Silesian-Lusatian, Baltic, and Eastern Vistulan-Caspian.<ref name="Lowmianski1"/><ref name="Lowmianski2"/>

=== List of tribes ===
According to [[Henryk Łowmiański|Łowmiański]] (1958), in the first list are mentioned:
* 1. ''Nortabtrezi'' ([[Obotrites]]), 
* 2. ''Uuilci'' ([[Veleti]]), 
* 3. ''Linaa'' ([[Linones]]), 
* 4.–6.''Bethenici''-''Smeldingon'' ([[Smeldingi]])-''Morizani'', 
* 7. ''Hehfeldi'' ([[Hevelli]]), 
* 8. ''Surbi'' ([[Sorbs (tribe)|Sorbs/Serbs]]), 
* 9. ''Talaminzi'' (Daleminzi-[[Glomacze]]), 
* 10. ''Beheimare'' ([[Bohemians (tribe)|Bohemians]]), 
* 11. ''Marharii'' ([[Moravians (tribe)|Moravians]]), 
* 12. ''Uulgarii'' ([[Bulgars]]), 
* 13. ''[[Merehani|Merehanos]]'' ([[Principality of Nitra|Nitra]] Moravians).<ref name="Lowmianski2"/>

In the second list are mentioned:
{{columns-list|colwidth=25em|
* 14. ''Osterabtrezi'' (other Obotrites), 
* 15. ''Miloxi'' (uncertain), 
* 16. ''Phesnuzi'' (unknown), 
* 17. ''Thadesi'' (uncertain, [[Bad Oldesloe|Tadeslo]]), 
* 18. ''Glopeani'' ([[Goplans]]), 
* 19. ''[[Zuireani]]'' (uncertain), 
* 20. ''Busani'' ([[Buzhans]]), 
* 21. ''Sittici'' (uncertain), 
* 22. ''Stadici'' (uncertain), 
* 23. ''[[Sebbirozi]]'' (uncertain), 
* 24. ''Unlizi'' ([[Ulichs]]), 
* 25. ''Neriuani'' (uncertain), 
* 26. ''Attorozi'' (uncertain), 
* 27. ''Eptaradici'' (uncertain, [[Seven Slavic tribes]]), 
* 28. ''Uuilerozi'' (uncertain), 
* 29. ''[[Zabrozi]]'' (uncertain), 
* 30. ''[[Znetalici]]'' ([[Netolice]] and Neletici), 
* 31. ''Aturezani'' (unknown), 
* 32. ''Chozirozi'' (uncertain), 
* 33. ''Lendizi'' ([[Lendians]]), 
* 34. ''Thafnezi'' (unknown), 
* 35. ''[[Zeriuani]]'' (uncertain), 
* 36. ''[[Prissani]]'', 
* 37. ''Uelunzani'' ([[Wolinians]]), 
* 38. ''Bruzi'' ([[Old Prussians|Prussians]]), 
* 39. ''Uuizunbeire'' ([[Volga Bulgaria]]), 
* 40. ''Caziri'' ([[Khazars]]), 
* 41. ''Ruzzi'' ([[Rus' people]]), 
* 42.–43. ''Forsderen''-''Liudi'' (uncertain, [[Drevlians]]), 
* 44. ''Fresiti'' (unknown), 
* 45. ''Serauici'' (unknown), 
* 46. ''Lucolane'' (uncertain), 
* 47. ''Ungare'' ([[Hungarians]]), 
* 48. ''Uuislane'' ([[Vistulans]]), 
* 49. ''Sleenzane'' ([[Silesians (tribe)|Silesians]]), 
* 50. ''Lunsizi'' ([[Lusatia]]ns), 
* 51. ''Dadosesani'' (Dziadoszanie), 
* 52. ''Milzane ([[Milceni]])'', 
* 53. ''Besunzane'' (Bežunčani or [[Mělník|Pšovans]]), 
* 54. ''Uerizane'' (unknown), 
* 55. ''Fraganeo'' ([[Prague]]), 
* 56. ''Lupiglaa'' (uncertain), 
* 57. ''Opolini'' ([[Opolans]]), 
* 58. ''[[Golensizi]]''.<ref name="Lowmianski2"/>
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

* Le comte du Buat, {{lang|fr|Histoire ancienne des peuples de l'Europe}}, T. 11. Paris 1772
* [[Jan Potocki]], {{lang|fr|Fragments historiques et geographiques sur la Scythie, Sarmatie, et les Slaves}}, Brunsvic 1796
* V. von Keltsch, {{lang|de|''Der bairische Geograph'', Alpreussische Monatsschr.|italic=unset}}, 23 (1886), s. 507 n.
* A. Králiček, {{lang|de|''Der s.g. bairische Geograph und Mahren'', Zeitschr d. Vereins f. die Geschichte Mahrens u. Schlesiens II|italic=unset}} (1898), pp.&nbsp;216–235, 340–360
* S. Zakrzewski, {{lang|pl|Opis grodów i terytoriów z północnej strony Dunaju czyli tzw. Geograf bawarski}}, Lwów 1917 
* E. Kucharski, ''Polska w zapisce karolińskiej zwanej niewłaściwie "Geografem bawarskim"'', [w:] Pamiętnik IV powszechnego Zjazdu historyków polskich, t. I, Lwów 1925, sekcja II, s. 111; 
* E. Kucharski, ''Zapiska karolińska zwana niewłaściwie "Geografem bawarskim"'', Sprawozdania Tow. Nauk. we Lwowie, t. V (1925), s. 81–86 
* [[Aleksandr Nazarenko|A. V. Nazarenko]]. {{Transliteration|ru|Nemetskie latinoyazychnye istochniki IX–XI vekov: teksty, perevod, kommentarii}}. Moscow, 1993 
* W. Fritze, ''Die Datierung des Geographus Bavarus'', Zschr f. Slavische Philologie, 21, Heft 2 (1952), pp.&nbsp;326–242 
* [[Henryk Łowmiański]], ''[https://www.wbc.poznan.pl/dlibra/publication/475205/edition/391752 O pochodzeniu Geografa bawarskiego]'', Roczniki Historyczne, R. 20, 1955, s. 9–58; reed: w: ''Studia nad dziejami Słowiańszczyzny, Polski i Rusi w wiekach średnich'', Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznań 1986, s. 104–150, {{ISSN|0554-8217}} 
* [[Henryk Łowmiański]], ''[https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/publication/39264/edition/41519 O identyfikacji nazw Geografa bawarskiego]'', Studia Źródłoznawcze, t. III: 1958, s. 1–22; reed: w: ''Studia nad dziejami Słowiańszczyzny, Polski i Rusi w wiekach średnich'', Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza, Poznań 1986, s. 151–181, {{ISSN|0554-8217}} 
* Gerhard Billig, ''Zur Rekonstruktion der ältesten slawischen Burgbezirke im obersächsisch-meißnischen Raum auf der Grundlage des Bayerischen Geographen'', Neues Archiv für sächsische Geschichte 66 (1995), pp.&nbsp;27–67 
* [[Jerzy Nalepa]], ''O nowszym ujęciu problematyki plemion słowiańskich u "Geografa Bawarskiego". Uwagi krytyczne'', Slavia Occidentalis, T. 60 (2003), s. 9–6

== External links ==
{{wikisource|la:Geographus Bavarus|Geographus Bavarus}}
*[http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/bsb00018763/image_321 Original Latin text in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek]
*[https://salutemmundo.wordpress.com/2021/07/06/the-bavarian-geographer-and-the-cities-of-the-east/ English translation of text.]

{{Bavarian Geographer}}
{{Carolingian geography}}

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[[Category:9th-century geographers]]
[[Category:Medieval German geographers]]
[[Category:9th-century books in Latin]]
[[Category:Ancient Slavic peoples]]
[[Category:Anonymous works]]
[[Category:9th-century manuscripts]]
[[Category:Slavic history]]
[[Category:Writers from the Carolingian Empire]]
[[Category:9th-century writers in Latin]]