page_title: Dervan
hierarchical_section_title: Dervan
caption_attribution_description: English: Tribal Kingdom of Samo. Map is based on the maps in: Korošec, Paola (1990): Alpski Slovani-Die Alpenslawen, Ljubljana, Znanstveni institut Filozofske fakultete, unnamed map on the page 18; Šavli, Jožko (1995): Sovenija: Podoba evropskega naroda, Bilje, založba Humar, map Samovo kraljestvo on the page 19; Barford, Paul M. (2001): The Early Slavs, Cornell University Press, map on the page 356, named Geography of the Slav settlement of Polabia - concerning the location of Sorbs east of Saale; map IV on page 397 for Sorbian culture, Devinska Nova Ves culture and Avarian state. It is also based on descriptions in: Štih, Peter (2001): Ozemlje Slovenije v zgodnjem srednjem veku: osnovne poteze zgodovinskega razvoja od začetka 6. do konca 9. stoletja, Ljubljana, Filozofska fakulteta; page 30 - concerning the relationship between king Samo and the ancestors of Slovenians; Korošec, Paola (1990): Alpski Slovani-Die Alpenslawen, Ljubljana, Znanstveni institut Filozofske fakultete, page 17 – concerning the Sorbs and their duke Dervan. For eastern and southern extant of tribal kingdom: known territories are shown by the scheme of franco-slavic border and information about the conflicts with Avars is imlemented. The inclusion of Bohemian basin is followed. Contacts with Avars are reached through the territory of Moravians and Eastern Alps. The territories further east and south, which are in proximity of Avars, could be parts of tribal kingdom, too.
context_page_description: Dervan or Derwan was an early King of the Sorbs.
  According to some historians and Emperor Constantine VII, Dervan was brother of the Unknown Archon, but some historians also think that Dervan may be his father, which is less likely. According to Serbian academic Tibor Živković, the migration could take place between 629 and 632, before Dervan joined Samo.
  He is mentioned by Fredegar in his Latin chronicle as dux gente Surbiorum que ex genere Sclavinorum: "ruler of the people of the Surbi from the nation of the Sclavenians". He is the first ruler of the tribe mentioned by name. Fredegar records him being subordinate to the Franks for a long time and then joining the Slavic union of Samo. After the defeat of the Frankish king Dagobert I by king Samo near Wogastisburg in 631 or 632, Dervan declared independence from the Franks and "placed himself and his people under the rule of Samo".
  Dervan joined Samo in his subsequent wars against the Franks. Further reports of Fredegar imply that Dervan and his people lived to the east of the Saxon Saale. The reference to Dervan in 631/632 is also the first written confirmation of the presence of Slavs north of the Ore Mountains.
context_section_description: Dervan or Derwan (Latin: Dervanus) was an early King of the Sorbs (fl. 615–636).
  According to some historians and Emperor Constantine VII, Dervan was brother of the Unknown Archon, but some historians also think that Dervan may be his father, which is less likely. According to Serbian academic Tibor Živković, the migration could take place between 629 and 632, before Dervan joined Samo.
  He is mentioned by Fredegar in his Latin chronicle as dux gente Surbiorum que ex genere Sclavinorum: "ruler of the people of the Surbi (Sorb autonym: Serbja, Serb autonym: Srbi) from the nation of the Sclavenians". He is the first ruler of the tribe mentioned by name. Fredegar records him being subordinate to the Franks for a long time and then joining the Slavic union of Samo. After the defeat of the Frankish king Dagobert I by king Samo near Wogastisburg in 631 or 632, Dervan declared independence from the Franks and "placed himself and his people under the rule of Samo". 
  Dervan joined Samo in his subsequent wars against the Franks. Further reports of Fredegar imply that Dervan and his people lived to the east of the Saxon Saale. The reference to Dervan in 631/632 is also the first written confirmation of the presence of Slavs north of the Ore Mountains.
  He was fighting against Thuringia 631-634 and Dervan was finally defeated by duke Radulf, governor of Thuringia in 636.
caption: Serbian principality under Dervan, as part of Samo's realm in 631.
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