Liub (died 823; Latin: Liubi), also known as Lub, was a grand prince of the Confederation of the Veleti, ruling from 810 to 823. He was the eldest son, and successor, of Dragovit. He had two sons, Milegast, and Cealadragus, with Milegast, as the eldest son, succeeding his throne.[1][2]
| Liub | |
|---|---|
| Grand prince of the Veleti | |
| Reign | 810–823 |
| Predecessor | Dragovit |
| Successor | Milegast |
| Died | 823 |
| Issue | |
| Father | Dragovit |
History
editLiub was a son of Dragovit, a ruler of the Confederation of the Veleti, located in Western Pomerania, in Central Europe. After the death of his father in 810, together with younger brothers (of which the number remains unknown), Liub inherited the throne of the tribe. As the eldest brother, he held the title of the grand prince. He had continued leading his tribe in the war against the Carolingian Empire and the tribe of Obotrites, that his father fought before him. At this time, the Kingdom of Denmark, which was allied with Veleti, had signed a peace treaty with Emperor Charlemagne, ruler of the Carolingian Empire. During the war, Liub had led successful raids in the eastern Old Saxony.[1]
Between 811 and 812, he led his army against the Carolingian forces. In the first campaign, Carolingian forces had repulsed Veletian attacks and recaptured fortresses in Old Saxony. In the second campaign, Liub's forces experienced a heavy defeat, resulting in him agreeing to release prisoners of war, and becoming obliged to pay a tribute to the Carolingian Empire.[1]
At the same time, the conflicts with the tribe of Obotrites continued. In 822, Liub sent a message to the Emperor Louis the Pious, the ruler of the Carolingian Empire, complaining about Ceadrag, ruler of Obotrites. In May 823, the war between Veleti and Obotrites broke out, with the latter being assisted by Carolingian troops.[1] Liub died in 823, in the battle fought against Obotrites.[1][3]
Liub had two sons, Milegast, and Cealadragus. After his death, Milegast, as the eldest son, succeeded Liub's throne.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Kazimierz Wachowski, Gerard Labuda: Słowiańszczyzna zachodnia. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Poznańskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciól Nauk, 2000, p. 67. ISBN 9788370632717. (in Polish)
- ^ a b Słownik starożytności słowiańskich, vol. 3, part 1, Wrocław, 1967. (in Polish)
- ^ Paval Urban: Staražytnyja lićviny: mova, pachodžańnie, etničnaja prynaliežnaść. Miensk, 2001. p. 47. (in Belarusian)