For the agrotown in Belarus, see
Smalyany .
The Smolyani (Bulgarian : смоляни ; in Byzantine sources Smolenoi or Smoleanoi ) were a medieval Slavic tribe that settled in the Rhodope Mountains , the valley of the Mesta River and the region around Blagoevgrad Province , possibly in the 7th–8th century. The tribe revolted against the Byzantine authorities of Constantinople in 837 and were supported by Bulgarian ruler Presian , who, together with his deputy Kavhan Isbul , crossed the lands of the Smolyani and conquered the territory as far south as Philippi , including most of Macedonia .[1]
Etymology
Their name etymologically derives from Proto-Slavic word "smola" ('resin '), with same derivation being ethnonym of the West Slavic tribe of Smeldingi and the East Slavic toponym of the city of Smolensk .[ 1] Smolyan in southern Bulgaria is named after this tribe.
See also
References
East Slavs
West Slavs
South Slavs
Notes (ethnicity is undefined): 1 = supposedly Eastern Slavic tribes2 = supposedly Finno-Ugric tribes3 = some of the Silesian tribes are Germanic, for example Silings 4 = generally considered synonym for early medieval Slovaks
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