04 June 2003, 05:01
Savirs
Savirs, savars - Caspian nomadic tribes of Hun or Turk origin. They are related to Khazars. They were mentioned by Ptolemy (II century AD), were well-known by Byzantian and Armenian writers of the V-IX centuries (Yegish, Pheophan, Menandr and others). Savirs were an important military force of the North Caucasus and were often used by Byzantium and Sasanid Iran in their struggle for power over the Caucasus. In 516, having broken through the Derbent passage, Savirs entered Asia Minor. In the end of the 6th century their military power was destroyed by the Avars. In the VII-VIII centuries the remains of Savirs lived in the lower part of the river Kuma and in the North Dagestan. Savirs were a component of the formation of Kumiks and some other peoples of Dagestan.
