Libidyen, Veren, and Serejhen

**Libidyen**, **Veren**, and **Serejhen** (**Лібіден**, **Верен**, і **Сережен**) are three obscure kings in the Book of Veles who succeeded Kiy I. They each ruled in succession to one another until in the reign of Serejhen the Goths came and dethroned him, leading to a period of chaos.

## Libidyen, Veren, and Serejhen

### From the Book of Veles

##### Original text:

(plank 36 b)

Одіеде Хоревь і Щек одо іне, а сехомь до карпаньсте горя. І тамо бяхомь іні граде творяеам, іну імахом, соплемены іні, а і богентсве імяхомь велкo.

Се бо врзі нелезеще на ны, і то тещахомь до кіе-градо а до голуне, і тахомь оселещете се, огне свеа палюще до сврзе а жьртвы твряце благодарчете бземь і такове о ны.

І се Кые умре за трі десенте ляты владыщете ны. І по земе бащь сын **Лебедянь**, іжь се реще славере, і тоіе жіве два десент ляты. А по те бясть **Верен** [і]зь влікоградіе, текожьде два десенте. І [по] тому **Cережень** десенте.

І ос те ле одержяху оне вітензествы о врзіех, і тьмы ліхы ніестща о сынь, і се грендещеть на не і на мы.

І то годе пріедьща до ступен нашіех злы твряі. І се добле денбу імать праоце нашя пряті се о жідьбоу. Се бо сехомь слвне, якожде слвіхомь бозе. І семы о бзех внуще, Ісьвра нашіе а Дажбо. І такожде трпіехомь о зле, а поедждіе сылу імяхомь влку о те[і] і браньдехомь се вліце оде натенщене годіе бързіе одье шенсеть ляте.

І ту ілмрі ны подржашють. І такве імяхомь вентезства о врзе. Се бо тоіе десенте рехы імаі і тоі вліціе беньде прящет, лі еі вое хорбере о се на не наліезе. Те поща сі хріа творяе, іне мы е, брані іню, якожде меще хряжденьсте оменіены од овні і овще, і та о Твастеру утвріе во сврзіе само.

##### English translation:

Khoriv and Shchek left us and went to the Carpathian Mountains, and there they built their own cities and made their own clans, and all possessed great riches.

But now the enemies come at us, and so we took refuge in Kie-grad on the hill, and there we lived, and fires burnt up to Svarza, and we made many sacrifices to the gods.

But now Kiy died after reigning over us for thirty years, and his son **Libidyan** inherited the land, for that is what he (Kiy) wished. And he (Libidyan) reigned twenty years, and after those (years) came **Veren** from Vlikograd, and reigned another twenty. And after him, **Serejhen** for ten.

They held on to their power despite the enemy’s efforts, [but] now darkness covers the sun, and it darkens them and us.

In those years there came to our steppes some evil creations, and day after day(?) our fathers fought for their lives. The Slavs, who serve the gods and who are the grandchildren of our Isvar (Svarog?) and Dajhbo (Dadjbog), had to undergo these evils, and so were granted(?) great strength, and we armed ourselves against the oncoming quick-footed goths, and the war lasted for sixty years.

And now the Ilmens attack us, and we make war(?) on them. Then did we have ten rivers, and which make great splashing, and there was a brave army, and everyone was attacking it. But these [brave men] sent all the attackers back, for we have different arms, for our sword’s ridges are brought to us(?) by our sheep and lambs, who themselves take it(?) from Tvaster, [who makes] them in Svarza itself.