Arthania (Arabic:ارثانية’Arṯāniya;[1]Russian:Арcания,romanized: Arsaniya orАртания (Artaniya);Ukrainian:Артанія,romanized: Artaniya;Belarusian:Артанія,romanized: Artania) was one of the three states of theRus[1][2] orSaqaliba (early East Slavs)[3] with its capital in Artha (Russian:Арса,romanized: Arsa). The Persian geographerAbu Zayd al-Balkhi described Arthania in his book (now lost) dating fromc. 920 CE and mentioned in works by some of his followers: (Ibn Hawqal,Al-Istakhri, andHudud ul-'alam).[4][5] The two other Rus centers identified in the Arabic-language sources wereSlawiya (Arabic:صلاويةṢ(a)lāwiya, tentatively identified with the land of theIlmen Slavs, seeRus Khaganate) andKuyaba (Arabic:كويابةKūyāba; usually identified withKyiv).[1][2][4]
Ibn Hawqal claims that nobody had ever visited Artha because the locals killed every foreigner attempting to penetrate their land. They are involved in trade withKuyaba, selling sable furs, lead, and a modicum of slaves.[4]
Modern scholars have been unable to pinpoint the location of Arthania. A linguistic line of argument leads some historians to such far-away places asCape Arkona on theBaltic Sea, the land of theErzya (an ethnic group of theMordva nation; seeGelons and Mordvins) and thePlisnesk hillfort in the UpperWestern Bug.[3][1][6][7]George Vernadsky located Arsa on theTaman Peninsula (seeTmutarakan),[8] whileVladimir Minorsky connected "Arsa" withRyazan.[7] No archaeological confirmation of these linguistic speculations has ever been produced.[9]
Modern Russian historiography tends to identify Arthania with the land of theMerya serving theVolga trade route.[10] Archaeological evidence points toSarskoe Gorodishche andTimerevo as this area's main centers.[9] The native name of either town remains unknown.