Vepses
Encyclopedia
Veps or Vepsians are a Finnic
people that speak the Veps language
, which belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic languages
. The self-designations of these people in various dialects are vepslaine, bepslaane, and (in northern dialects, southwest of Lake Onega
) lüdinik and lüdilaine. According to the 2002 census
, there were 8240 Veps in Russia. Of the 281 Veps in Ukraine
, 11 speak Vepsian. (Ukr. Census 2001). The most prominent speaker and researcher in Finland is Eugene Holman of the University of Helsinki. Western Vepsians have kept their language and culture. Nowadays almost all Vepsians speak fluently in Russian
.
, Lake Onega
(Änine), and White Lake or Lake Beloye (Valged’ärv, Белое Озеро) - in the Russia
n Republic of Karelia
in the former Veps National Volost
(the northern Veps dialect area), in Leningrad Oblast
along the Oyat River
in the Podporozhskii and Lodeinopolskii raions and further south in the Tikhvinskii raion (western parts of the Central Veps dialect area), in the Vytegorskii and Babayevo raions of the Vologda Oblast
(eastern parts of the Central Veps dialect area), and in the Boksitogorskii raion of the Leningrad Oblast (southern Veps dialect area).
From archeological studies and old names suggest that they lived at least in the valleys of the rivers Sheksna
, Suda
and Syas
. They probably also lived in Olonets Karelia and on the northern coast of Lake Onega
. One of the eastern routes of Vikings went through their area. Tomb findings prove that they had contact with Staraya Ladoga
, western Finnish area and Meryans, other Volga Finnic
tribes and later with Novgorod and other Russian principalities. Later Vepsians inhabited also Western and Eastern shores of Onega.
In early Russian chronicles, they are called "Весь" (Ves’) and in some Arabic sources they are called Wisu. It is assumed that Bjarmians were at least partly Vepsians. From 12th century their history is connected with first Novgorod and then Russia
. Russian settlement reached Äänis-Veps in approximately the 14th or 15th century. Eastern Vepsians in Kargopol
area merged linguistically with Russians before 20th century.
In the beginning of 20th century there were some signs of national awakening among Vepsians. Early Soviet nationality politics supported this progress, and 24 administrative units with the status of national village soviets were formed. Some Veps language schools were founded and written language was created. Oppression of Veps culture begun in 1937. All national cultural activities were stopped and the national districts were abolished. When Finland invaded the area of Äänis-Veps in Continuation war
, some of them joined the Finnish army in so called Kindred Battalion. These troops were relinquished to the Soviet Union after the war.
In the postwar period many Veps moved from historic Veps villages to larger cities. Many Veps were ashamed of their heritage, and reported themselves as Russians in official censuses. In 1983, on the initiative of national academics, an inquiry was carried out which showed that there were nearly 13,000 Veps in the Soviet Union, 5,600 of whom lived in Karelia, 4,000 in the Leningrad region and just under a 1,000 in the Vologda region.
Finnic peoples
The Finnic or Fennic peoples were historic ethnic groups who spoke various languages traditionally classified as Finno-Permic...
people that speak the Veps language
Veps language
The Veps language , spoken by the Vepsians , belongs to the Finnic group of the Uralic languages...
, which belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic languages
Uralic languages
The Uralic languages constitute a language family of some three dozen languages spoken by approximately 25 million people. The healthiest Uralic languages in terms of the number of native speakers are Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Mari and Udmurt...
. The self-designations of these people in various dialects are vepslaine, bepslaane, and (in northern dialects, southwest of Lake Onega
Lake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
) lüdinik and lüdilaine. According to the 2002 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, there were 8240 Veps in Russia. Of the 281 Veps in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, 11 speak Vepsian. (Ukr. Census 2001). The most prominent speaker and researcher in Finland is Eugene Holman of the University of Helsinki. Western Vepsians have kept their language and culture. Nowadays almost all Vepsians speak fluently in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.
Geography
In modern times, they live in the area between Lake LadogaLake Ladoga
Lake Ladoga is a freshwater lake located in the Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Oblast in northwestern Russia, not far from Saint Petersburg. It is the largest lake in Europe, and the 14th largest lake by area in the world.-Geography:...
, Lake Onega
Lake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
(Änine), and White Lake or Lake Beloye (Valged’ärv, Белое Озеро) - in the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Republic of Karelia
Republic of Karelia
The Republic of Karelia is a federal subject of Russia .-Geography:The republic is located in the northwestern part of Russia, taking intervening position between the basins of White and Baltic seas...
in the former Veps National Volost
Veps National Volost
Veps National Volost was a municipal autonomy of North Vepses in Prionezhsky District of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. The autonomy was established on January 20, 1994, and it was discontinued in 2004. Its territorial centre was the village of Shyoltozero. Volost's population was 3,166 in...
(the northern Veps dialect area), in Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
along the Oyat River
Oyat River
Oyat is a river in Vologda Oblast and Leningrad Oblast of Russia, a left tributary of the Svir River ....
in the Podporozhskii and Lodeinopolskii raions and further south in the Tikhvinskii raion (western parts of the Central Veps dialect area), in the Vytegorskii and Babayevo raions of the Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast
Vologda Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is Vologda. The largest city is Cherepovets.Vologda Oblast is rich in historic monuments, such as the magnificent Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery, Ferapontov Convent , medieval towns of Velikiy Ustyug and Belozersk, baroque...
(eastern parts of the Central Veps dialect area), and in the Boksitogorskii raion of the Leningrad Oblast (southern Veps dialect area).
History
Sheksna River
The Sheksna is a river in Belozersky, Kirillovsky, Sheksninsky, and Cherepovetsky Districts of Vologda Oblast in Russia. It is a left tributary of the Volga River. It is long, and the area of its basin...
, Suda
Suda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
and Syas
Syas River
Syas River is a river in the Novgorod and Leningrad Oblasts of Russia. The Syas River flows from Valdai Hills north into Lake Ladoga. A town of Syasstroy is located at its mouth. The largest tributary is Tikhvinka River...
. They probably also lived in Olonets Karelia and on the northern coast of Lake Onega
Lake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
. One of the eastern routes of Vikings went through their area. Tomb findings prove that they had contact with Staraya Ladoga
Staraya Ladoga
Staraya Ladoga , or the Aldeigjuborg of Norse sagas, is a village in the Volkhovsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Volkhov River near Lake Ladoga, 8 km north of the town of Volkhov. The village used to be a prosperous trading outpost in the 8th and 9th centuries...
, western Finnish area and Meryans, other Volga Finnic
Finnic peoples
The Finnic or Fennic peoples were historic ethnic groups who spoke various languages traditionally classified as Finno-Permic...
tribes and later with Novgorod and other Russian principalities. Later Vepsians inhabited also Western and Eastern shores of Onega.
In early Russian chronicles, they are called "Весь" (Ves’) and in some Arabic sources they are called Wisu. It is assumed that Bjarmians were at least partly Vepsians. From 12th century their history is connected with first Novgorod and then Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Russian settlement reached Äänis-Veps in approximately the 14th or 15th century. Eastern Vepsians in Kargopol
Kargopol
-Culture and recreation:Today, Kargopol is a sleepy historical town adjoining the Kenozyorsky National Park. It is best known in Russia for Kargopol toys , which are small, simple clay figures painted in traditional style....
area merged linguistically with Russians before 20th century.
In the beginning of 20th century there were some signs of national awakening among Vepsians. Early Soviet nationality politics supported this progress, and 24 administrative units with the status of national village soviets were formed. Some Veps language schools were founded and written language was created. Oppression of Veps culture begun in 1937. All national cultural activities were stopped and the national districts were abolished. When Finland invaded the area of Äänis-Veps in Continuation war
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
, some of them joined the Finnish army in so called Kindred Battalion. These troops were relinquished to the Soviet Union after the war.
In the postwar period many Veps moved from historic Veps villages to larger cities. Many Veps were ashamed of their heritage, and reported themselves as Russians in official censuses. In 1983, on the initiative of national academics, an inquiry was carried out which showed that there were nearly 13,000 Veps in the Soviet Union, 5,600 of whom lived in Karelia, 4,000 in the Leningrad region and just under a 1,000 in the Vologda region.