Obodars

Obodars were a Slavic tribe or tribal confederation that inhabited the region of modern-day Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northern Germany. Their name is believed to be derived from the Slavic word "oboda," meaning "fortress" or "protected place," likely referring to their fortified settlements. Historical accounts of the Obodars are primarily found in Frankish chronicles, particularly those of Einhard and the Royal Frankish Annals, which describe their interactions and conflicts with the Frankish Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries.

The Obodars were initially a pagan people who resisted Christianization efforts from the Franks. They engaged in both alliances and warfare with their neighbors, including the Saxons and the Wiltzes. Notable Obodar leaders mentioned in historical sources include Waclav and Gostimus. The tribe played a significant role in the political landscape of the region, often acting as a buffer between the Frankish realm and other Slavic groups to the east. Over time, the Obodar territory gradually came under Frankish influence and eventually, following the Great Slav Uprising of 983, their distinct political entity diminished, with their lands being incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire and subject to German colonization. The legacy of the Obodars is primarily preserved through archaeological findings and the sparse historical records left by their Frankish contemporaries.