The area was first mentioned in the chronicles in relation to the events of 1021, when the army of the Kievan prince Yaroslav the Wise defeated the troops of the prince of Polotsk, Bryachislav of Polotsk, at the Sudoma River.
In 972, after the prince of Kiev, Sviatoslav I died, there was a power struggle between his two sons: prince of Novgorod Vladimir and prince of Kiev Yaropolk.
In 1069 Votes were mentioned taking part in an attack on the Novgorod Republic by the Principality of Polotsk.
Principality of Bulgaria | Polotsk | Principality of Ansbach | Principality of Lüneburg | Principality of Auersperg | Principality of Polotsk | Principality of Orange | Principality of Yaroslavl | Principality of Pereyaslavl | Principality of Calenberg | Principality of Lippe | Principality of Grubenhagen | Principality of Sealand | Principality of Piombino | Principality of Kiev | Principality of Catalonia | Principality of Anhalt-Zerbst | Bryachislav of Polotsk | Principality of Zeta | Principality of Transylvania | Principality of Lichtenberg | Principality of Hungary | Principality of Halberstadt | Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel | Tabasaran Principality | Serbian Grand Principality | Principality of Valona | Principality of Ryazan | Principality of Reuss-Greiz | Principality of Reuss |
In the first decade of the 13th century the principality of Jersika, also known as Lettia, was allied with the Principality of Polotsk and Lithuanian dukes against the Bishopric of Livonia, but was defeated in 1209.
Tautvilas (or Tautvila; died 1263) was Duke of Polatsk and one of the sons of Dausprungas and nephews of King of Lithuania Mindaugas.