What is the story behind the terms ‘White Russia’, ‘Black Russia’, ‘Red Russia’ and ‘Green Russia’?

truefaithmom

"White Russia" (Belarusian: Áåëàÿ Ðóñü ~ English: White Ruthenia) is a name that has historically been applied to various regions in Eastern Europe, most often to that which roughly corresponds to present-day Belarus. In English, the use of "White Russia" to refer to Belarus is dated. Many other languages, however, continue to use a literal translation of "White Russia" to refer to Belarus. There is also a region historically known as Black Ruthenia (Black Russia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Russia Red Russia can refer to: Bolshevist Russia a mistranslation of Red Ruthenia loosely, the Soviet Union http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Russia Green Russia (Çåëåíàÿ Ðîññèÿ) is a coalition of 18 green political organizations in Russia. However, it is not the most prominent green party. Green Russia was formed in 1995 as an alliance of the Russian Green Party, the Public Ecological Foundations Union, the All-Russian Environment Protection Society, the Ecological Academy, the Ecological Assembly of Women and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, and many others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Russia Jun 22 08, 7:36 PM

author

I am asking for geographical regions, so the Green party of Russia (Green Russia) should not be included here. As your links suggest, it is probably more correct to ask for White/Black/Red/Green Ruthenia.But the terms White/Black/Red/Green Russia are also used sometimes. So then again I ask: What is the origin of these geographical terms? Jun 22 08, 7:57 PM

truefaithmom

Here are more specific geographical descriptions of White, Red and Black Russia. Still working on Green Russia :-) Red Ruthenia (Ukrainian: Червона Русь, Chervona Rus, Polish: Ruś Czerwona, Latin: Ruthenia Rubra or Russia Rubra) is the name used since medieval times to refer to the area known as Eastern Galicia prior to World War I. The Western part is the area of Eastern Poland around Przemysl, the Eastern part (around Lviv) is a part of Western Ukraine. Black Ruthenia, Black Rus' or Black Russia are variant term used for a region around Novgorodok (Navahrudak), in the western part of contemporary Belarus on the upper reaches of the Neman River "White Russia" (Belarusian: Белая Русь ~ English: White Ruthenia) is a name that has historically been applied to various regions in Eastern Europe, most often to that which roughly corresponds to present-day Belarus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Ruthenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Ruthenia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Russia In the 11th century, Kievan Rus' was, geographically, the largest state in Europe. During this time, Ukraine became known in the rest of Europe as Ruthenia (the Latin name for Rus', especially after the separation of Russia from Rus' propria). In addition, the name "Ukraine" first appears in recorded history on maps of the period. The meaning of term seems to have been synonymous with the land of Rus' propria--the principalities of Kiev, Chernihiv and Pereyaslav. The term, "Greater Rus' was used to apply to all the lands ruled by Kiev, including those that were n Jun 22 08, 8:26 PM

truefaithmom

Sorry, exceeded character count. In the 11th century, Kievan Rus' was, geographically, the largest state in Europe. During this time, Ukraine became known in the rest of Europe as Ruthenia (the Latin name for Rus', especially after the separation of Russia from Rus' propria). In addition, the name "Ukraine" first appears in recorded history on maps of the period. The meaning of term seems to have been synonymous with the land of Rus' propria--the principalities of Kiev, Chernihiv and Pereyaslav. The term, "Greater Rus' was used to apply to all the lands ruled by Kiev, including those that were not just Slavic, but also Finno-Ugric in the northeast portions of the state. Local regional subdivisions of Rus' appeared in the Slavic heartland, including, "Belarus'" (White Ruthenia), "Chorna Rus'" (Black Ruthenia) and "Cherven' Rus'" (Red Ruthenia) in northwestern and western Ukraine. http://www.stranslation.com/Ukrainian_Translation/history_of_ukraine.htm Jun 22 08, 8:27 PM

truefaithmom

Based on some research and deduction, Green Russia could refer to Moldova (Moldavia). Russian words for green include - molodojj, molodost' http://ftp.vpcit.ru/cgi-bin/dict/bobo/trans?name=green+russia&nocache=1214188566766&ttype%3Aint=2 "Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova (Republica Moldova) is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova Because of Moldavia's fertile plains, it could have been considered "green". "Moldova (formerly Moldavia) is a landlocked republic of hilly plains lying east of the Carpathian Mountains between the Prut and Dniester (Dnestr) rivers. The country is sandwiched between Romania and Ukraine. The area is a very fertile region with rich black soil (chernozem) covering three-quarters of the territory." http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107787.html Jun 22 08, 8:48 PM

author

Green Russia also confuses me. According to this site, it refers to the Eastern part of Russia, so then Moldova is out of the question. The story of the totem-god Svitovyd is interesting, it's also interesting to now that "Svitjod" was the name used by Norwegians for the Sweden/the Swedes in that time. Quote: Svitovyd (Svetovyd) is an old-Slavonic totem-god of pre-christian Rus'. Idols which depicted the totem were characterized by having four faces. As a result this totem was able to see the whole world. Each face had a specific colour. The northern face of this totem was white (hence Byelorus], the White sea etc), the western - red (hence Chervona Rus'), the southern Black (hence the Black sea) and the eastern Green (hence Zelenyj klyn etc). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svitovyd Jun 23 08, 6:45 AM

author

Here is a better link, calling the Slavic deiy of war Svetovid. Quote: Sventevith, Svetovid, Suvid, Svantevit, Svantovit, Swantovít, Sventovit, Zvantevith, Świętowit, Światowid, Sutvid, Vid. and, incorrectly, Światowit, is the Slavic deity of war, fertility and abundance. Sometimes referred to as Beli (or Byali) Vid, Beli = white, bright, shining (as in a Serbian folklore poem Vojevao Beli Vide / Tri god'ne s kleti Turci / A čet'ri s crni Ugri... - Beli Vid waged war / Three years with the damn Turks / And four with the black Hungarians). Svetovid is associated with war and divination and depicted as a four-headed god with two heads looking forward and two back. A statue portraying the god shows him with four heads, each one looking in a separate direction, a symbolical representation of the four directions of the compass, and also perhaps the four seasons of the year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetovid This page in Russian shows the four faces of Svetovid. http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B1%D1%80%D1%83%D1%87%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BB I also found this English site calling this deity the Zbruch idol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zbruch_Idol The deity is also sometimes called Svantevit or Svantovit. http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svantovit Jun 23 08, 6:49 AM