Editing Wends (section)

==Legacy==

The Wendish people co-existed with the German settlers for centuries and became gradually assimilated into the German-speaking culture.

The [[Golden Bull of 1356]] (one of the constitutional foundations of the German-Roman Empire) explicitly recognised in its Art. 31 that the German-Roman Empire was a multi-national entity with "diverse nations distinct in customs, manner of life, and in language".<ref>Charles IV, Golden Bull of 1356 (full text English translation) [http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/golden.asp translated into English], Yale</ref> For that it stipulated "the sons, or heirs and successors of the illustrious prince electors, ... since they are expected in all likelihood to have naturally acquired the German language, ... shall be instructed in the grammar of the Italian and Slavic (i.e. Wendish) tongues, beginning with the seventh Year of their age."<ref>Charles IV, Golden Bull of 1356 (full text English translation) [http://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/golden.asp translated into English], Yale</ref>

Many geographical names in [[Central Germany (cultural area)|Central Germany]] and northern Germany can be traced back to a Slavic origin. Typical Slavic endings include -itz, -itzsch and -ow. They can be found in city names such as [[Delitzsch]] and [[Rochlitz]]. Even names of major cities like [[Leipzig]] and [[Berlin]] are most likely of Wendish origin.

Today, the only remaining minority people of Wendish origin, the [[Sorbs]], maintain their traditional languages and culture and enjoy cultural [[self-determination]] exercised through the [[Domowina]]. The third [[minister president]] of Saxony [[Stanislaw Tillich]] (2008–2017) is of Sorbian origin, being the first head of a German federal state with an ethnic minority background.

===The Texas Wends===
In 1854, the [[Wends of Texas]] departed [[Lusatia]] in north central Europe on the ''[[Ben Nevis Ship|Ben Nevis]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/WTBlock/Texas-Germanic-Heritage-2-Ben-Nevis.htm|title=Ben Nevis, Wends and German Texans}}</ref> seeking greater liberty, in order to settle an area of central Texas, primarily [[Serbin, Texas|Serbin]]. The Wends succeeded, expanding into [[Warda, Texas|Warda]], [[Giddings, Texas|Giddings]], Austin, Houston, Fedor, Swiss Alp, Port Arthur, Mannheim, Copperas Cove, Vernon, Walburg, The Grove, Bishop, and the Rio Grande Valley.

A strong influence of the Wendish pioneers remains evident today in thousands  of families (many unaware of their background) descended from them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://texaswendish.org/2010/01/01/who-are-the-wends//|title=Who Are the Wends?|date=January 2010}}</ref>
[[File:Serbin_church_facing_the_rear.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2.5|The interior of the original Lutheran Church the Wends established in [[Serbin, Texas]], St. Paul.]]