Dervan

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This article is about the Sorbian prince. For the American chemist, see Peter Dervan.

Dervan or Derwan (Latin: Dervanus) was an early prince of the Sorbs/Serbs (fl. 631–632). His cousin the Unknown Archont led the White Serbs to the Balkans.

He is mentioned by Fredegar in his Latin chronicle as dux gente Sorbiorum que ex genere Sclavinorum: "duke of the people of the Sorbs from the nation of the Slavs".[1] He is the first ruler of the northwest Slavs mentioned by name. Fredegar says that he had been subordinate to the Franks for a long time. After the defeat of the Frankish king Dagobert I by the Slavic king Samo near Wogastisburg in 631 or 632, Dervan declared independence from the Franks and "placed himself and his people under the rule of Samo".[2]

Dervan joined Samo in his subsequent wars against the Franks. Further reports of Fredegar imply that Dervan and his people lived to the east of the Saxon Saale. The reference to Dervan in 631/632 is also the first written confirmation of the presence of Slavs north of the Ore Mountains.

He was fighting against against Thuringia 631-634 and Derwan was finally defeated by duke Randulf, governor of Thuringia.(636)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Curta, 109.
  2. ^ Curta, 331.

[edit] Sources

  • Curta, Florin. The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region, c. 500–700. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. ISBN 0 521 80202 4.