Red Ruthenia or
Red Russia ( or , , , ) is a historic term used since the Middle Ages for southeastern
Poland and
Western Ukraine. First mentioned in a 1321 Polish chronicle, it was the portion of
Rus' incorporated into Poland by
Casimir the Great during the 14th century. Its name reportedly derives from the old Slavonic use of colours for the cardinal points of the compass. The
totem-god
Svetovid had four faces; his northern face was white, his western face red, southern black and eastern green. However,
Black Ruthenia is west of
White Ruthenia. According to another theory, its name is related to the
Cherven Cities; some settlements in the area have names related to the color red (
cherv- root).