Votes

Categories / Population/Ethnic Groups
VOTES, an ethnic group descendent from the ancient population of of Votia in Ingria. The Votic language is related to the Finno-Ugric group of the Uralic language group and is close to Estonian. The first mention of the Votes in the Russian chronicles in 1069, when they came under the rule of Great Novgorod (Veliky Novgorod, see Votic Fifth). Christianity began to spread into the region in the 12th century. The traditional vocations of the Votes: farming, animal husbandry, fishing. Researchers estimate the number of Votes at present to be approximately 60 people, (mostly people from the older generation), living in the villages of Krakolye and Luzhitsy in the Kingisepp District of the Leningrad Region. They are mostly Russian Orthodox (until the 20th century they preserved the remnants of their pagan beliefs).

Reference: Гадзяцкий С. С. Вотская и Ижорская земли Новгородского государства // Ист. зап. 1940. Т. 6. С. 100-148; Мы живем на одной земле: Население Петербурга и Ленингр. обл. / Сост. и науч. ред. К. В. Чистов. СПб., 1992.

A. Y. Chistyakov. Гадзяцкий С.С. Вотская и Ижорская земли Новгородского государства // Ист. зап., 1940
Мы живем на одной земле: Население Петербурга и Ленингр. обл. / Сост. и науч. ред. К. В. Чистов. СПб., 1992