The Polabians (German: Polaben; Latin: Polabi) are a constituent Lechitic tribe of the Obotrites who lived between the Trave and the Elbe.
The main settlement of the Polabians is Racisburg (modern Ratzeburg), named after their Prince Ratibor.
The Polabians are similar to the Drevani, also known as the Draväno-polaben or Drevanen, in Lüchow-Dannenberg.In 1139 Henry the Lion grants "Polabia" to Count Henry of Badewide.
The tribe is subsequently Germanized and assimilated over the following centuries.
The last remnants of the Polabians die out in the seventeenth century, as does the Polabian language.
Cultural remnants of the Polabians of Lower Saxony include numerous villages in the region based on Slavic settlement forms.
