TheWolinians (Latin:Velunzani, Uelunzani,Polish:Wolinianie) were aLechitic[citation needed]tribe in Early Middle Age Pomerania. They were first mentioned as "Velunzani" with 70civitates by theBavarian Geographer, ca. 845.[1] Associated with both theVeleti (later Lutici) and thePomeranians, they were based on the island ofWolin and the adjacent mainland.[2] Compared to other tribes of these groups, the Wolinians' territory was relatively small but densely settled: in the 11th century, there was one settlement per four square kilometers.[3] The Wolinians are described by Jan Maria Piskorski as the most powerful Pomeranian tribe.[2] This position resulted from the multi-ethnicemporium at the site of the present-daytown of Wolin (Wollin), then known asJomsborg, Jumne, Julin orVineta.[3]
In the late 10th century, thePolish dukesMieszko I andBolesław I Chrobry subdued parts ofPomerania and also fought the Wolinians.[3] Much of Wolin was destroyed in 1043 by Dano-Norwegian KingMagnus the Good, who however failed to conquer its center.[4] Also in the mid-11th century, export and wealth were greatly reduced, in part due to the breakdown of the Polish market.[4] Yet the Wolinians retained their independence and continued to house refugees from the Danish opposition, causing Danish kingErik I Evergood to mount another campaign in 1098.[4]
In 1121/22, thePolish dukeBolesław III Wrymouth conquered the area along with theDuchy of Pomerania underWartislaw I.[5] The inhabitants were subsequentlyChristianized,[5] and lost their tribal identity when they were integrated into theDuchy of Pomerania. In 1173 and 1184, Wolin was finally destroyed by subsequent Danish campaigns,[4] all of Pomerania was under Danish suzerainty for the next decades.
Today, the Wolinians together with thePolans and otherLechitic tribes, are regarded as one of the main tribes settled in an area of modernPoland.[6]