TheSelonians (Latvian:sēļi;Lithuanian:sėliai, fromLivonian:sälli – "highlanders") were a tribe ofBaltic peoples. They lived until the 15th century inSelonia, located in southeasternLatvia and northeasternLithuania. They eventually merged with neighbouring tribes, contributing to theethnogenesis of modernLatvians andLithuanians. They spoke theEastern BalticSelonian language.
Little is known about the Selonians. There is little archaeological evidence and in historic sources the region is often described as a "scarcely populated land". In written sources they are mentioned only few times.
Archeological data can trace the Selonians back to the beginning of 1st millennium AD when they lived on both sides of theDaugava River.[1] But since the 6th and 7th centuries their settlements can be traced only on the left bank of the river.
Selonian culture had a very strongLatgalian influence. Selonian and Latgalian burial traditions show little difference. Some scholars speculate that during the late Iron Age the Selonians had already partly merged with the Latgalians.[2]
TheChronicle of Henry of Livonia mentions the Selonians at the beginning of the 13th century, when they were conquered and christened. The author of the chronicle describes the Selonians asLithuanian allies.[3]Their lands were subjects of the principalities ofJersika andKoknese, which were vassals of theprincipality of Polotsk. The Southern lands however were ruled byLithuanian lords.
In 1207, the GermanBrothers of Sword together with theirLivonian and Latgalian allies besieged the main Selonian centre atSēlpils hillfort. Reason for the attack were German claims that Sēlpils hillfort was used as main Lithuanian support base for their attacks inLivonia. After a long siege the Selonians agreed to baptism and German rule and the stoneSēlpils Castle (German: Selburg) was built in place of the hillfort.[4] The Selonians were last mentioned in written sources in the 15th century.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)