In the 7th century BC to the 4th century AD, the territory of Smolensk was inhabited by tribes of the Dnieper-Dvina culture. The area of this culture also expanded into the territory of most of the Mogilev and Vitebsk regions of the BSSR, the southern areas of Pskov, and the northern outskirts of Bryansk. Most researchers attribute this culture to the Baltic cultures.
From the end of the 1st millennium BC, the Zarubintsy tribes penetrated into the southern regions of Smolensk from the south. Their infiltration into this territory into the Baltic environment began. In the first centuries AD, the zone of penetration of the Zarubintsy reached the area of Smolensk. In the following centuries, it expanded further north. A similar process of penetration of the Zarubintsy into the indigenous Baltic continuum occurred during this period in central and northern Belarus.
As a result of the consolidation of the local and incoming (Zarubintsy) population in the territory of Smolensk, as well as in most regions of modern BSSR (except for a significant part of Polesie and the Neman region), in the territory of Bryansk, southern Pskov, some areas of the Kursk region, northern Chernigov, and northern Sumy, a cultural unity of the Bantsarovka culture was formed in the 4th century AD. It existed until the 8th century (over 300 years). Some researchers divide it into two cultures: the Bantsarovka-Tushamlin and the Kalochyn cultures. The population that created the Bantsarovka culture was evidently not homogeneous in linguistic terms: most likely, part of it used Baltic dialects, part Slavic dialects, and part both Baltic and Slavic. It seems that there was a gradual narrowing of the sphere of use of Baltic dialects and an expansion of the sphere of use of Slavic dialects. We cannot precisely establish the nature of the “Bantsarovka” unity; however, the existence of a cultural unity undoubtedly indicates a certain social unity. Considering the duration of the existence of the Bantsarovka culture, one can assume that during this time a significant degree of consolidation of local Slavic dialects was achieved in its territory. It is possible that a distinct Slavic “Bantsarovka” dialect even formed here. It is unlikely that the proximity of the areas of the Bantsarovka culture and the area of Belarusian dialects of the 19th to early 20th centuries (including transitional and mixed dialects) is coincidental, as we do not find another case of coincidence of the Belarusian linguistic area with a historical area.
In the 6th century, in Pskov, outside the area of the Bantsarovka culture, a Slavic ethnic group formed – the early Krivichs. In the 8th century, the area of the Krivichs expanded into the northern part of the area of the Bantsarovka culture – Podvinskie and Upper Dnieper. In this process, a significant role was played by the expansion of culture and migration movements from Pskov to future Polotsk and Smolensk. Which factors played a greater role – the expansion of the Krivich culture among the local population or migrations – is difficult to say now. As a result of the noted processes, two groups of Krivichs were formed – the Pskov and Polotsk-Smolensk.
In the 9th-10th centuries, a third group of Krivichs was formed – the Volga Krivichs. It was formed as a result of the resettlement of Krivichs from Pskov, Smolensk, and Polotsk to the Upper Volga and their mixing with the local population. The Polotsk-Smolensk, Pskov, and Volga Krivichs were separated by a large forest massif – the Akovsky Forest. Similarly, the Drigovichi were formed. This “tribe” was formed in the southern part of the former “Bantsarovka” area. Their initial center was the Middle Pripyat region (the Turaw – Mozyr area). In the southeastern part of the former “Bantsarovka” area, the Radimichi were formed.
The tribal center of the eastern part of the Polotsk-Smolensk Krivichs was Smolensk. According to chronicles, in the 9th century, it was governed by elders. It is possible that at this time there existed the Smolensk early-class principality.
In 882, Prince Oleg included Smolensk and Smolensk region into the composition of Rus. The Smolensk principality separated from Kievan Rus in 1054, although after that it remained dependent on Kiev for some time. In 1136, an episcopal see was established in Smolensk. The Smolensk principality existed until 1404. In 1404, it was included in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In this state, the Smolensk land enjoyed autonomy.
In 1514, Smolensk region entered the Russian (Moscow) state. However, in 1611, it again returned to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Since 1667, Smolensk region has been part of Russia.
On January 1, 1919, the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed in Smolensk. In early 1919, Smolensk region (except for the eastern areas) was part of the BSSR for some time.
In literature, there have been and continue to be many debates regarding the ethnic affiliation of the population of Smolensk region and its language (dialects). This is related to the complexity of the linguistic and ethnic history of the region.
For a long time, the name “White Russia” spread over Smolensk region. The meaning of this name was initially vague. In the 17th century, the name White Russia firmly became associated with Polotsk, Vitebsk, Mogilev, and Smolensk. It was used less frequently in relation to eastern Gomel region, even less frequently to Minsk region, and generally rarely in relation to the Neman region. Throughout the 19th century, the name White Russia firmly became associated with Minsk and Neman. In relation to Smolensk region, it began to be used somewhat less frequently, although as late as the first quarter of the 20th century, Smolensk region was often referred to as part of White Russia.
In the 19th century, official statistics classified part of the population of Smolensk region as Belarusians.
Thus, in 1866, according to the data from the Central Statistical Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, out of 1,150,541 residents of Smolensk province, 487,930 people (42.4%) were Great Russians, 537,149 people (46.7%) were Belarusians, and 121,407 people (10.6%) were “a mixture of Great Russians and Belarusians.” In individual districts, these groups were distributed as follows.
Great Russians:
- Sychevsky district: 104,047 people (99.9%)
- Gzhatsky district: 117,196 people (99.8%)
- Yukhnaovsky district: 104,047 people (87.6%)
- Vyazemsky district: 71,256 people (86.3%)
- Belsky district: 69,642 people (64.6%)
- Smolensky district: 7,611 people (8.3%)
- Roslavlsky district: 5,806 people (5.1%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 4,238 people (5%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 3,419 people (4.7%)
- Yelninsky district: 4,307 people (4.1%)
- Krasninsky district: 3,047 people (4%)
- Parechsky district: 2,202 people (2.7%)
Belarusians:
- Krasninsky district: 72,977 people (95.4%)
- Roslavlsky district: 108,266 people (94.7%)
- Smolensky district: 82,636 people (90.5%)
- Yelninsky district: 89,304 people (84.8%)
- Parechsky district: 68,995 people (82.9%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 67,106 people (78.7%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 47,865 people (66%).
“Mixture of Great Russians and Belarusians”:
- Belsky district: 37,984 people (35.2%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 21,055 people (29%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 13,558 people (15.9%)
- Parechsky district: 11,713 people (14.1%)
- Vyazemsky district: 11,181 people (13.5%)
- Yukhnaovsky district: 14,626 people (12.3%)
- Yelninsky district: 11,290 people (10.7%).
In addition, there were Gypsies (1,241 people), Jews (1,179 people), Poles (1,156 people), and Germans (479 people) living in the province.
According to military statistics, in 1875, there were 570,259 males living in Smolensk province. Among them, Great Russians made up 242,931 people (42.6%), Belarusians 266,317 people (46.7%), and “a mixture of Great Russians and Belarusians” 59,226 people (10.4%). The distribution of these groups by districts is as follows.
Great Russians:
- Gzhatsky district: 56,767 people (99%)
- Sychevsky district: 41,646 people (99%)
- Yukhnaovsky district: 52,821 people (88%)
- Vyazemsky district: 35,017 people (86%)
- Belsky district: 34,353 people (64.6%)
- Smolensky district: 3,713 people (8.1%)
- Roslavlsky district: 4,521 people (8%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 2,856 people (7.8%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 2,068 people (5%)
- Yelninsky district: 2,101 people (3.9%)
- Krasninsky district: 1,487 people (3.8%)
- Parechsky district: 1,075 people (2%).
Belarusians:
- Krasninsky district: 36,769 people (95.4%)
- Roslavlsky district: 52,813 people (91%)
- Smolensky district: 42,082 people (91%)
- Yelninsky district: 44,719 people (85%)
- Parechsky district: 34,695 people (83.4%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 31,895 people (78%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 23,344 people (63.8%).
“Mixture of Great Russians and Belarusians”:
- Belsky district: 18,529 people (34.8%)
- Dorogobuzhsky district: 10,271 people (28.1%)
- Dukhovshchinsky district: 6,614 people (16%)
- Parechsky district: 5,714 people (13.7%)
- Vyazemsky district: 5,455 people (13%)
- Yukhnaovsky district: 7,145 people (11%)
- Yelninsky district: 5,508 people (10.4%).
According to the 1897 census, there were 100,756 Belarusians (6.6%) in Smolensk province, of which 92,006 lived in Krasninsky district, where they made up 90% of the total population, and 8,750 lived in other districts.
According to calculations by Y.F. Karski, in 1903, there were about 948,000 Belarusian-speaking people in Smolensk province, and in 1917 – about 842,000.
Many researchers attributed the dialects of Smolensk region (except for its eastern part) to Belarusian ones (A.I. Sabalevsky, Y.F. Karski, authors of the Moscow Dialectological Commission – M.M. Durnovs, M.M. Sokolov, D.M. Ushakov, and others). At that time, it was noted in the works of the 19th century that these dialects, even in the western part of the area, were significantly influenced by the Russian language. Scholars noted that near railways, large cities, and in the eastern parts of the Dorogobuzhsky, Yelninsky, and Roslavlsky districts, the population switched to Russian or, at least, spoke a very mixed language. One of the reasons for such a linguistic situation is the resettlement from Central Russia to Smolensk starting from 1514.
Ambiguous interpretations of Smolensk dialects in relation to the main masses of Russian and Belarusian languages were given by A.A. Shakmatov and P.A. Rastorguev. Thus, A.A. Shakmatov wrote: ”… neither the Kaluga nor the Smolensk dialects in their greater part can be attributed to the Belarusian family; they are intermediate dialects between both major families – the southern Great Russian and the Belarusian…” And here are the conclusions of P.A. Rastorguev. The basis of Smolensk dialects, according to the researcher, is Belarusian. However, in their current state (mid-20th century), they cannot be called Belarusian, cannot be called transitional, and cannot be called Russian with certain Belarusian features. These dialects are mixed. Russian and Belarusian features are found parallel in the same dialect, in the language of the same person. At the same time, there is a gradual rapprochement of Smolensk dialects with the Russian literary language. This process began long ago; now, in most of these dialects, Russian features prevail over Belarusian ones.
Contemporary Russian dialectologists include most Smolensk dialects in the western group of the southern Great Russian dialect area.
We present samples of dialect speech from those places in Smolensk region where the Belarusian component is quite noticeable in local dialects. Individual phrases are provided. The material is taken from the “Smolensk Regional Dictionary.” Samples of those examples that are records made by students of Smolensk Pedagogical Institute during dialectological expeditions in the 1950s-70s are presented.
Dorogobuzhsky district: Daitia h’th razok hlytanut’, usio u roti pyryasokhla. Shcho ni dyareunya, to i paver’ya: u kozhny homun’ svoy. Deuki, h’manytya tykha, puskay malits zasnet’. Zharili, zharili hryby, a yany usio harenyut’, atvaryt’ nada bylo.
Dziamidavsky district: Den’ dzhyzhdala, pakul attsaplivyli vahony. I matka, i bat’ka putyany, a yon blukunyaitstsa toka. Nada matku pasluht’! U zhupany i shuby prnshivalis’ h’plyuki, takiyi zhaliznyy kruchki. My uzhu spim, a yany usio h’myniat’.
Dukhavshchinsky district: Husey manut’ s vozira: hali-gali, hali-gali. Nu i harny zh yon h’varit’, zaslukhatsya mozhna. Hlanula kvasku kholodnyh. Yablunya vyrysla hylynastyya tyka byas sonca. Yany i doma ni byli h’rdyvaty, i u lyudzyakh budut paslukhm’yany. Yon u voziri rastet’. Yeta u kuzni harno. Vot typl’yatki kyla kuritsy harnulysya. Zhyvets’ yak h’psadynya i nuzhdy ni znait’. L’on hyalavisty u radziu’sya.
Krasninsky district: Pynayshli u khatu tsyhany, hargochut’, a ya nicho ni panimayu. Tikh’n, yak ashaleyu, dyk, buvala, vyydyt’ s khaty y haykyit’ n’ kryltse. Lihla, dum’la zasnu. Ide zh tut zasnesh!
Monastyrshchinsky district: Sashka h’ndlyuit’ uvasyu: ryzdau svaye igrooshki ribyatym, a teya yamu zhilyazyak usikh nyv’lakli.
Roslavlsky district: Vo u Manyki takoy malits yest’, tozha duzha haluzliviy.
Safonovsky district: Ty ni slukh’y bab’y h’amonki, u knihu hledi. Ty k Mashki skhadi: vo khto h’manukha, n’ghavorit’ tabye, shcho khosh.
Smolensky district: U myane skora u harodi svaye huryki budut. Syanni budu pastivity karou n’ harokhvynniku. Byla matka zhyva, usikh harnula k sabye, a tyapery p’ryz’yekh’sya khto kudy. Ina h’manukha, a ty mauchunya. Ina zh devichka spakoynyaya, ni hareznitsa. Dakedo vy uchora pr’paloli? Yany p’rdavnyv’ly s’ena, ti shcho tam kasili. Dochka mne havorit’: chaho ty haydyr’m khodish?
Yartsevsky district: Tabe usio mala, ty usio hnyapish. Ni haykiy, usie rauno ni pushshu na vulytsu. Uzhy dvahtsyat’ hadou, a vam usio b h’livat’. Yon krichau hval’tu, dy nikhto ny uslysh’u. Vouka, khvatit’ tabe h’yrit’, dai myachik, idi damou. Chaho yta husy h’rhygtali nochchiy? Ti ni tkhory’ lazit’?
Yelninsky district: Hanki ranshy zvali, tipery kryltso.
Pachynkavsky district: U tom domi baby h’hamanlivy zhivut’, idit’ k yim. Harelku kuplyayut’ yashchikami i samyi hon’yut’. Yety huryk h’rkavy, ny esh yago.
The name “Smolyane” has firmly established itself for the indigenous population of Smolensk region. Due to the peculiarities of their language, culture, ethnic and political history, they represent a specific ethnographic group. They are closely connected with both Russia and Belarus.
The formation of the Smolyane began in pre-Kievan times when the eastern group of Krivichs separated from the Polotsk-Smolensk group with a center in Smolensk. Its consolidation continued during the times of the Smolensk principality and then the autonomous Smolensk land within the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The distinctiveness of Smolensk region and its specificity were significantly influenced by the nature of its connections at different times with the main Russian and main Belarusian ethnic masses. At certain times, Smolensk region was closely linked with Central Russia and separated from Vitebsk-Mogilev Belarus; at other times, conversely, it shared the fate of Belarusian lands and was separated from Central Russia. As for the ethnographic boundaries of the Smolyane, some historical factors contributed to their stabilization, while others led to their dilution.