 An alternate explanation for the name comments on the white clothing worn by the local Slavic population. A third theory suggests that the old Rus'lands that were not conquered by the Tatars (i.e., Polatsk, Vitsiebsk and Mahilyow) had been referred to as "white." Other sources claim that, before 1267, the land not conquered by the Mongols was considered "White Rus'".
