TheMilceni orMilzeni (Czech:Milčané;German:Milzener;Polish:Milczanie)[nb 1] were aWest Slavic tribe, who settled in the present-dayUpper Lusatia region. They were gradually conquered byGermans during the 10th century. They were part ofSorbian tribes.[1][2] Modern descendants of the Milceni are theUpper Sorbian-speakingSorbs of theFree State of Saxony,Germany.[1][3]
Pavel Jozef Šafárik derived their name fromLithuanian languagemilżinas (giant, behemoth, colossus).[1]Mikołaj Rudnicki considered it derives from personal names Milobud and Miloslav.[1]Stanisław Urbańczyk reconstructed the ethnonym asMělъčane, meaning inhabitants of an assumed river called*Mělъcъ or*Mělъča, with similar argumentation by E. Eichler and H. Walther, possibly as an older name of upperSpree.[1] However, that hypothesis ignores consonant "z" and suffix "-jane", which would reject a form of Milčane, and suggest derivation of Milzane/Milzeni <*Milъt-jane <*Milit-jane from Latinmilites (possibly also the case with theMiloxi's name mentioned byBavarian Geographer).[1] Predrag Komatina derived from Slavic adjective "*milъ" (sweet).[4] Some scholars considered common origin with early Slavic tribe ofMilingoi/Melingoi in the Eastern Balkans.[1][4][5]
The exact borders of their settlement area are disputed. It is generally accepted that their fielded land had fruitfulloess soil and had dimensions of approximately 50 km from east to west and 20 km from north to south. The northern border was in swampy and partially infertile terrain, while the southern border formed part of theLausitzer Bergland. The hills ofBurkau nearKamenz formed a natural boundary for the Milceni in the west, while their territory bordered that of theBesunzane in the east. The boundaries of the tribe have also been given as thePulsnitz River in the west and theKwisa River in the east.[citation needed]
They were first mentioned asMilzane in the middle of the 9th century AD by theBavarian Geographer as having 30civitates.[1] In 992 theDagome iudex records that "in terram Milze et a fine Milze intra Oddere" was borderingCivitas Schinesghe which was Polish realm of kingMieszko I.[1]
Henry the Fowler, King of the Germans, defeated the Slavic tribe in 932 and demanded conversion toChristianity, although this was only partially successful.[6] EmperorOtto I defeated the Lusatians in 963 and placed them under the rule of MargraveGero. The Milceni were finally subjugated by MargraveEkkehard I ofMeissen ca. 990 and had their territory incorporated into theHoly Roman Empire. During the 10th–12th centuries, the region of Bautzen was known in written sources (e.g.Thietmar of Merseburg) asGau Milsca. Temporarily conquered by the Polish kingBolesław I the Brave, the Milceni lands returned under German rule by 1031. Enfeoffed to DukeVratislaus II of Bohemia in 1076, their estates later became known asLand Budissin and Upper Lusatia. In Polish, Upper Lusatia was known asMilsko until the 15th century. The Milceni were still mentioned in the 12th century, both aspago Milzana,[1] andSong of Roland ("the second of big-headed men from Misnes– along the vertebrae all down their backs these men have tufted bristles, just like hogs").[7]
Recent archaeological research shows that in the Milzeni's area exist fortifications and castles of large size, some with additional castles and so on, showing a central authority of power, meanwhile, this is exactly lacking in the nearby area of the tribe of Lusici/Lusatians in Lower Lusatia, revealing no tribal seat and authority there.[6] The network of castles in both Lusatia was probably built as defensive effort prior to the Henry's military campaign.[6]
One of such fortifications wasLiubusua Castle mentioned regarding the 932 events by Thietmar of Merserburg, according to whom it needed 3,000 defenders, and north of it was an even larger and older fortification in ruins which could hold 10,000 people.[6] Until the 20th century they couldn't be located, some argued location in Lower Lusatia, but the historical description did not match that area. Recent discoveries identified the Liubusa location atSchlossberg near old villageLöbsal 12 km north ofMeissen, and north of Schlossberg/Löbsal is largest castle complex in Saxony, theGoldkuppe.[6] This was also supported by toponomastic research, being located on the border between Milceni andGlomatians tribal area.[6][8]
There's lack of information about the princes of Milceni and Lusici, possibly of Milzeni being certainvenerabilis senior Dobremirus married to Saxon count's daughter and father ofEmnilda (wife ofBolesław I the Brave), mentioned by Thietmar of Merserburg.[6]