Editing Vots (section)

==History==
{{Location map|Russia Leningrad Oblast
|relief  = yes
|width   = 300
|alt     = Leningrad Oblast, Russia.
|caption = [[Leningrad Oblast]], Russia, showing [[Kingisepp]] ({{langx|ru|Кингисепп}})
|label   = Kingisepp (Кингисепп)
|lat_deg = 59.22
|lon_deg = 28.37
}}
[[File:Votic language map.png|thumb|300px|A map of Votic and neighbouring Ingrian-Finnish and Izhorian villages 1848–2007.{{Legend|#ff0000|Votic villages (1848-2007)}}{{Legend|#40E0D0|Izhorian villages (by 1943)}}{{Legend|#adff2f|Finnish villages (by 1943)}}{{Legend|#ffff00|Other villages}}]]

Vots are the oldest known ethnic group in Ingria. They are probably descended from an Iron-age population of north-eastern Estonia and western Ingria. Some scholars claim they were a tribe of [[Estonians]], who developed a separate identity during isolation from other Estonians. It is speculated the ancient Estonian county of [[Vaiga]] got its name from Vots.<ref name="ERM"/> The [[Kylfings]], a people active in Northern Europe during the [[Viking Age]], may have been Vots.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

The earliest literary references to the Vots by their traditional name are from medieval Russian sources, where Vots are referred to as ''Voď''. Older Russian sources grouped them (under the name [[Chud]]es) with Estonians. [[Lake Peipus]] near the Votian homelands is called ''Chudsko ozero'', meaning "Lake of Chudes" in Russian.<ref name="Suomensukuiset kansat">Toivo Vuorela: ''Suomensukuiset kansat'', Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, 1960 {{in lang|fi}}</ref>
 
In 1069, the Vots were mentioned taking part in an attack on the [[Novgorod Republic]] by the [[Principality of Polotsk]]. Eventually Vots became part of the Novgorod Republic, and in 1149 they were mentioned taking part in an attack by Novgorod against ''{{ill|Jems|fi|Jäämit|ru|Емь}}'', who are speculated to be peoples of [[Tavastia (historical province)|Tavastia]]. One of the administrative divisions of Novgorod, ''Voch'skaa'', was named after Vots. After the collapse of Novgorod in the 1470s, the [[Grand Principality of Moscow]] deported many Vots from their homelands, and began more aggressive conversion of them. Missionary efforts started in 1534, after Novgorod's [[Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow|archbishop Macarius]] complained to [[Ivan IV]] that Vots were still practicing their pagan beliefs. Macarius was authorized to send monk Ilja to convert the Vots. Ilja destroyed many of the old holy shrines and worshipping places. Conversion was slow and the next archbishop {{ill|Feodosii II of Novgorod|ru|Феодосий II (архиепископ Новгородский)}} had to send priest Nikifor to continue Ilja's work. Slowly Vots were converted and they became devoted Christians.<ref name="GR">Gustav Ränk, ''Vatjalaiset'', Suomalaisen Kirjallisuuden Seura, Helsinki 1960 ''(Finnish)''</ref>

Sweden controlled Ingria in the 17th century, and attempts to convert local Orthodox believers to the Lutheran faith caused some of the Orthodox population to migrate elsewhere.<ref>[http://www.joensuu.fi/ajankohtaista/vaitos2.php?id=921 Mika Sivonen, ''Me inkerikot, vatjalaiset ja karjalaiset" - Uskonnollinen integrointi ja ortodoksisen vähemmistön identiteetin rakentuminen Ruotsin Inkerissä 1680-1702''] {{in lang|fi}}</ref> At the same time many Finnish peoples immigrated to Ingria. Religion separated the Lutheran Finns and Estonians and the Orthodox Izhorians and Vots, so intermarriage was uncommon between these groups. Vots mainly married other Vots, or Izhorians and Russians. They were mostly trilingual in Votic, Ingrian and Russian.<ref name="Suomensukuiset kansat"/> In 1848, the number of Vots had been 5,148, (Ariste 1981: 78),<ref>[[Paul Ariste]] 1981. ''Keelekontaktid''. Tallinn: Valgus. [pt. 2.6. ''Kolme läänemere keele hääbumine'' lk. 76-82] {{in lang|et}}</ref> but in the Soviet Russian census of 1926 there were only 705 left. From the early 20th century on, the Votic language no longer passed to following generations.<ref name="Suomensukuiset kansat"/> Most Vots were evacuated to [[Finland]] along with Finnish [[Ingrian Finns|Ingrians]] during [[World War II]], but were returned to the Soviet Union following the September 1944 Moscow Armistice.<ref name="RedBook">[http://www.eki.ee/books/redbook/votes.shtml The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire]</ref>

As a distinct [[nation|people]], Vots have become practically extinct after [[Stalinist]] dispersion to distant Soviet provinces as 'punishment' for alleged disloyalty and cowardice during World War II. Expellees allowed to return in 1956 found their old homes occupied by Russians.<ref name="RedBook"/> In 1989, there were still 62 known Vots left, with the youngest born in 1930. There were 73 self-declared Vots in the 2002 Russian census. Of them 12 lived in [[St. Petersburg]], 12 in [[Leningrad Oblast]] and 10 in [[Moscow]]. In 2008 Vots were added to the list of Indigenous peoples of Russia, granting them some support to preserving their culture.<ref>[http://www.inkeri.com/vatjalaiset.html Inkeri: Kantakansojen päivillä pohdittiin vatjalaisten ja inkerikkojen tulevaisuutta], {{in lang|fi}}</ref> There have been some conflicts with Votic villagers and foresters, and in 2001 the Votic museum was burned in the village of Lužitsõ.<ref>[http://www.vaikuttava.net/article.php?sid=1215 Vaikuttava Tietotoimisto: Sukukansojamme kohdanneet onnettomuudet] {{in lang|fi}}</ref> Another possible problem is a port which is being constructed to [[Ust-Luga]]. It is planned that some 35,000 people would move near historic Votic and Izhoran villages.<ref>[http://www.inkeri.ee/INKERI/2008_05/Laukaansuu.htm Inkeri.ee: Laukaansuun suursatama uhkaa inkerois- ja vatjalaiskyliä] {{in lang|fi}}</ref><timeline>
ImageSize = width:350 height:300
PlotArea = left:50 right:40 top:20 bottom:20
TimeAxis = orientation:vertical
AlignBars = justify
Colors =
  id:gray1 value:gray(0.9)
DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:0 till:13672
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:4000 start:0 gridcolor:gray1
PlotData =
  bar:1732 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:13672 width:15  text:13&nbsp;672 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:1848 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:5148 width:15  text:5148 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:1926 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:705 width:15  text:705 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:1959 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:230 width:15  text:230 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:1989 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:62 width:15  text:62 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:2002 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:74 width:15  text:74 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:2010 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:64 width:15  text:64 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
  bar:2020 color:gray1 width:1 
   from:0 till:99 width:15  text:99 textcolor:red fontsize:8px
</timeline>