The Milceni or Milzeni (Czech: Milčané; German: Milzener; Polish: Milczanie)^{[nb 1]} were a West Slavic tribe, who settled in the present-day Upper Lusatia region. They were gradually conquered by Germans during the 10th century. They were part of Sorbian tribes.^[1][2] Modern descendants of the Milceni are the Upper Sorbian-speaking Sorbs of the Free State of Saxony, Germany.^[1][3]

Pavel Jozef Šafárik derived their name from Lithuanian language milżinas (giant, behemoth, colossus).^[1] Mikołaj Rudnicki considered it derives from personal names Milobud and Miloslav.^[1] Stanisław Urbańczyk reconstruced the ethnonym as Mělъčane, meaning inhabitants of an assumed river called *Mělъcъ or *Mělъča, with similar argumentation by E. Eichler and H. Walther, possibly as an older name of upper Spree.^[1] However, that hypothesis ignores consonant "z" and suffix "-jane", which would reject a form of Milčane, and suggest derivation of Milzane/Milzeni < *Milъt-jane < *Milit-jane from Latin milites (possibly also the case with the Miloxi's name mentioned by Bavarian Geographer).^[1] Predrag Komatina derived from Slavic adjective "*milъ" (sweet).^[4] Some scholars considered common origin with early Slavic tribe of Milingoi/Melingoi in the Eastern Balkans.^[1][4][5]

The exact borders of their settlement area are disputed. It is generally accepted that their fielded land had fruitful loess soil and had dimensions of approximately 50 km from east to west and 20 km from north to south. The northern border was in swampy and partially infertile terrain, while the southern border formed part of the Lausitzer Bergland. The hills of Burkau near Kamenz formed a natural boundary for the Milceni in the west, while their territory bordered that of the Besunzane in the east. The boundaries of the tribe have also been given as the Pulsnitz River in the west and the Kwisa River in the east.^{[citation needed]}

They were first mentioned as Milzane in the middle of the 9th century AD by the Bavarian Geographer as having 30 civitates.^[1] In 992 the Dagome iudex records that "in terram Milze et a fine Milze intra Oddere" was bordering Civitas Schinesghe which was Polish realm of king Mieszko I.^[1]

Henry the Fowler, King of the Germans, defeated the Slavic tribe in 932 and demanded conversion to Christianity, although this was only partially successful.^[6] Emperor Otto I defeated the Lusatians in 963 and placed them under the rule of Margrave Gero. The Milceni were finally subjugated by Margrave Ekkehard I of Meissen ca. 990 and had their territory incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. During the 10th–12th centuries, the region of Bautzen was known in written sources (e.g. Thietmar of Merseburg) as Gau Milsca. Temporarily conquered by the Polish king Bolesław I the Brave, the Milceni lands returned under German rule by 1031. Enfeoffed to Duke Vratislaus II of Bohemia in 1076, their estates later became known as Land Budissin and Upper Lusatia. In Polish, Upper Lusatia was known as Milsko until the 15th century. The Milceni were still mentioned in the 12th century, both as pago Milzana,^[1] and Song of Roland ("the second of big-headed men from Misnes– along the vertebrae all down their backs these men have tufted bristles, just like hogs").^[7]

Recent archaeological research shows that in the Milzeni's area exist fortifications and castles of large size, some with additional castles and so on, showing a central authority of power, meanwhile, this is exactly lacking in the nearby area of the tribe of Lusici/Lusatians in Lower Lusatia, revealing no tribal seat and authority there.^[6] The network of castles in both Lusatia was probably built as defensive effort prior to the Henry's military campaign.^[6]

One of such fortifications was Liubusua Castle mentioned regarding the 932 events by Thietmar of Merserburg, according to whom it needed 3,000 defenders, and north of it was an even larger and older fortification in ruins which could hold 10,000 people.^[6] Until the 20th century they couldn't be located, some argued location in Lower Lusatia, but the historical description did not match that area. Recent discoveries identified the Liubusa location at Schlossberg near old village Löbsal 12 km north of Meissen, and north of Schlossberg/Löbsal is largest castle complex in Saxony, the Goldkuppe.^[6] This was also supported by toponomastic research, being located on the border between Milceni and Glomatians tribal area.^[6][8]

There's lack of information about the princes of Milceni and Lusici, possibly of Milzeni being certain venerabilis senior Dobremirus married to Saxon count's daughter and father of Emnilda (wife of Bolesław I the Brave), mentioned by Thietmar of Merserburg.^[6]

• List of Medieval Slavic tribes

• Die Milzener e.V.