Wendland

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Throughout history, there has been different usage of the term (ON.) Wendland, Vendland, Vindland, Ventheland or (Lat.) Vandalia. The Latinized form is usually associated with the Germanic tribe Vandals, although Wendland or Vandalia is the land inhabited by the Wends (today considered to be a Slavic people). The most common interpretations:

1. The region inhabited by West Slavic groups, corresponding to North-Eastern Germany.
2. The region Lüchow-Dannenberg including the former micronation Republik Freies Wendland.
3. According to the Finnish historian Matti Klinge, an earlier name for Finland, especially Finland Proper. This theory has few supporters, and is based on an interpretation of old maps, some of which place Wendland in the far north or European Russia, and term Gulf of Finland as 'Mare Vendicus'.

Wendland is mentioned c. 900, by Wulfstan of Hedeby as Weonodland:

Then, after the land of the Burgundians, we had on our left the lands that have been called from the earliest times Blekingey, and Meore, and Eowland, and Gotland, all which territory is subject to the Sweons; and Weonodland was all the way on our right, as far as Weissel-mouth.[1]

[edit] People named Wendland

• Heinrich Wendland, German botanist (H.L.Wendl.)
• Hermann Wendland, German botanist (H.Wendl.)
• Johann Christoph Wendland, German botanist (Wendl.)
• Paul Wendland
• Robert Wendland, subject of an American court case concerning right to life vs. right to die