The calling of the Varangian king Rurik. Where did Rurik really come from?

Chronicle information about the reign of Rurik is extremely scarce, but an analysis of archaeological finds made in the Ladoga region and the use of data from Western European and Arab sources allows us to shed light on the activities of the Novgorod prince.
As archaeologists have established, the Normans appeared within the Eastern Slavs in the 7th century. Aldeiguborg (Ladoga), mentioned in the Scandinavian sagas, arose at the confluence of the Ladozhka and Volkhov rivers, not far from its confluence with Lake Ladoga. In these places, originally inhabited by Finnish tribes, the Vikings invaded from the Baltic Sea, across the Neva and Lake Ladoga, and founded a settlement.

The calling of the prince. Meeting of the prince with his squad, elders and people of the Slavic city. HELL. Kivshenko. 1880

Ancestors of Rurik. From here, bypassing Lake Ladoga, along the Svir River, the Scandinavians went to Lake Onega and further to the White Sea. Along the Volkhov it was possible to reach the sources of the Dnieper and Volga, which led them to the rich south and east. Since the 9th century, representatives of Slavic and Finnish tribes began to appear in Ladoga, but until the 10th century the Scandinavian population constituted the majority here. The sagas speak of Aldeiguborg as one of the kingdoms where the kings ruled. It was there, according to the Scandinavian sagas, that the grandfather and father of Rurik of Jutland, Eystein and Halfdan, found life partners. Although there is no, even indirect, information about the campaign of Rurik of Jutland to the lands of the Eastern Slavs, the version about the existence of his transshipment base in Ladoga, where his ancestors were kings, may have grounds. Some historians admit that Rurik could have walked with Frisian merchants to the east, protecting them from robbers, could have spent some time in Ladoga, and then returned to Jutland.
Scandinavian settlement in Ladoga. Wherever the Scandinavians settled, they built “long” houses, where all representatives of the same clan settled. The wooden building, often up to 100 meters long, consisted of a vestibule and a windowless room with a door facing south. In the center of the house there was a fireplace, and above it there was a hole in the roof for the smoke to escape. Benches and shelves for dishes were attached along the perimeter of the walls. The outside walls and roof of the house were covered with turf for warmth. In the settlements of the Varangians there were craft workshops. In Ladoga, archaeologists discovered a forge with a variety of tools, which belonged to immigrants from the Swedish island of Gotland. In the middle of the 9th century, the Varangian-Slavic-Finnish nobility held power in Ladoga. A number of scientists believe that even before being called to Rus', while fighting for his lands in Friesland, Rurik did not lose sight of Ladoga as a convenient refuge on the Great Volga Route.
Reign in Ladoga. In 862, according to the "Joachim Chronicle", Rurik " with the brethren and their houses"arrived in Ladoga and spent about two years there. He rebuilt the city and strengthened the port. Having entered into an agreement with the elders of the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes, he pledged to protect his subjects from attacks by other Scandinavians, ensure the normal functioning of trade in the region, and regulate "in truth" relations between the tribes, to defend their common interests. In return, he received food for himself and his retinue and payment in silver, as was customary everywhere. Chronicles report that one of Rurik’s brothers, Sineus, was sent by him “to Beloozero.” In those days it was was the entire territory of the tribe. Beloozero played an important role in the extraction of furs, which explains Rurik’s desire to put it under his control. Another brother, Truvor, began to reign in Izborsk, in the tribal center of the Krivichi. The prince distributed the remaining cities to the governors from the squad.

Distribution of land to "finders". In 864, Sineus and Truvor died. " And Rurik alone took over all power,- says the chronicle. - And he began to distribute volosts and cities to his husbands - to this Polotsk, to this Rostov, to another Beloozero. The Varangians in these cities are the Nakhodniki, and the indigenous people in Novgorod are the Slavs, in Polotsk the Krivichi, in Rostov the Merya, in Beloozero the whole, in Murom the Muroma, and Rurik ruled over them all". Rurik himself moved to the settlement at the source of the Volkhov. Now it became a fortress, trade, craft and military-administrative center of Northern Rus'. There was the court of the prince, and his squad was stationed. It is believed that the Rurik settlement was the original Novgorod - a new city in relation to old Ladoga.

Ruins of the Church of the Annunciation of the 12th century. Rurik settlement. Contemporary photography

When was Novgorod founded?"The Tale of Bygone Years" reports two mutually exclusive versions of the emergence of Novgorod. According to one of them, Novgorod was “cut down” by Rurik. According to another, it was founded by the Slavs, who came to the north in the process of resettlement from the Dnieper region and then invited Rurik to become a prince. Archaeological research on the territory of Novgorod Detinets showed that there was a temple and a cemetery there before the appearance of the original fortress. This indicates the existence of an ancient intertribal center in Novgorod. In pagan times, the cemetery served as a place of veche gatherings, a place of court, and a place of cult festivities and games. Scientists believe that Novgorod was the center of the federation of Slovenes, Meri, Chud and Krivichi, and it arose in the 8th century before the appearance of Rurik in it.
The uprising of Vadim the Brave. Having accepted “all power alone,” Rurik, apparently, did not renew the previous “row” (agreement) with the elders. He relied on a strong Varangian squad, with whom he held council. From a serving mercenary, he turned into an autocratic ruler, which did not suit the tribal nobility. In 864, in the absence of Rurik, an uprising broke out in Novgorod, led by Vadim the Brave. According to V.N. Tatishchev, he was a Slovenian prince and raised the people to fight for the return of lost freedom. The Nikon Chronicle says that the Novgorodians " suffered in every possible way from Rurik and his family“and no longer wanted to live “like slaves.” Returning from the campaign, Rurik killed Vadim and severely punished the participants in the rebellion. Fearing reprisals, many “noble men” then fled to Kiev, where the Varangians Askold and Dir established themselves as rulers. Rurik quickly expanded his borders Novgorod land. Krivichi Polotsk, Meryan Rostov and Murom came under his control. N.M. Karamzin wrote: " The memory of Rurik, as the first Russian autocrat, remained immortal in our history; the main effect of his reign was the firm annexation of some Finnish tribes to the Slavic people".
Participation of the Varangians in the life of Northern Rus'. Immigrants from Scandinavia surprisingly easily integrated into the life of the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes. They willingly settled in cities, traded, built ships and forged weapons, and were engaged in jewelry craft. Rurik and his governors strengthened the principality, erected powerful border fortresses, and created an organized squad that ensured law and order. In place of the warring tribal regions, a single economic and social space arose. The actions of the ruler of Northern Rus' contributed to the preservation of peace within the Novgorod borders and the dynamic development of the economy and culture.

It was this man who was destined to begin the construction of a new state, which over more than a thousand years of history has grown into the largest state in the world. Let's briefly get acquainted with who the first prince of young Rus' was?

History of the Eastern Slavs before Rurik

The ancient Russian chronicle “The Tale of Bygone Years,” answering the question: “Where did the Russian land come from,” says that before the coming of the first Varangian prince Rurik, many disparate tribes lived on the territory of future Rus' - Krivichi, Slovenes and others. All these tribal unions had a common culture, language and religion. Each of them tried to unite the remaining tribes under its leadership, but the balance of power and constant wars did not reveal a winner. It was then that the tribal leaders decided that none of them would get power and it was decided that an invited prince would rule all the tribes. At that time, the most formidable warriors who were respected among the Slavic tribes, with whom they had close trade and cultural ties, were the Varangians - residents of Scandinavia. They easily served both the Byzantine emperors and joined mercenary squads in the west, and could also freely accept local beliefs, which forced the Slavic leader Gostomysl and his companions to go to Scandinavia and invite the Rus tribe and their king, Rurik, to rule.

Rice. 1. Prince Rurik.

Biography of the first Russian prince

We know very little about Rurik’s biography. The date and place of his birth are unknown, and the years of his reign are considered to be 862-879.

Rurik did not come to Rus' alone. He was accompanied by two brothers - Sineus and Truvor. Their squads landed in northeastern Rus' and came by invitation to Novgorod. There are often disputes about which city Rurik ruled. There is an opinion that this is Ladoga - the ancient capital of the northeastern Slavs. However, it was in Novgorod, having taken the reins of government, that Rurik went down in history as the first Russian prince.

Rice. 2. Calling of the Varangians.

He sent his brothers to reign in other strategically important cities. Sienus took power in Beloozero, and Truvor began to reign in Izborsk.

The prince's internal policy was aimed at strengthening the external borders of the state, as well as their expansion. During the period of his reign, Smolensk, Murom and Rostov became part of Rus'. Rurik made attempts to move south, but things did not go further than the robberies of local peoples. Rurik's squad advanced to the Kyiv lands. Rurik signs a peace treaty with the famous rulers of Kyiv Askold and Dir. And although Askold still tried to plunder the lands of Rurik, his squad was defeated.

TOP 5 articleswho are reading along with this

Rurik began the subjugation of the Finno-Ugric tribes. He was responsible for the preservation and protection of the Baltic-Volga river route, paving the way “From the Varangians to the Khazars”, establishing trade relations between Scandinavia and the Arabs who passed through his lands.

He died in 879 in the city of Ladoga, leaving behind a small son, the future Prince Igor.

Rice. 3. Prince Igor.

Igor was still a child when Rurik died. Before he grew up, the country was ruled by one of Rurik’s associates, Oleg. He annexed Kyiv to the young country, moved the capital there and was known for his campaigns against Byzantium. Igor Rurikovich began his reign already in the role of the Prince of Kyiv.

Rurik laid the foundation for the Russian monarchy. We learn about his closest descendants from the pedigree chart.

Table “Rurik’s closest descendants”

Prince	Who is Rurik related to?	Years of reign
Igor Rurikovich
	Daughter-in-law
Svyatoslav Warrior
Yaropolk Svyatoslavich

What we know about him:

Since all the information about Rurik that historians have today is contained in several sources - “The Life of Saint Prince Vladimir” (about 1070) and, in most detail, in the chronicle of the 12th century "Tales of Bygone Years", it is not possible to establish the true history of its existence.

According to the Tale of Bygone Years, in 862 year, the Varangian Rurik and his brothers, at the invitation of such tribes as the Chud, Ilmen Slovenes, Krivichi, and all were called to reign in Novgorod. This event in historical science is called " The calling of the Varangians"The reason for the invitation of the "Varangians" the chronicler calls the civil strife that engulfed the Slavic tribes living on the Novgorod lands. Rurik came with his entire family, called Rus, whose ethnicity continues to be discussed.

The Tale of Bygone Years:

And they came and the eldest, Rurik, sat down in Novgorod, and the other, Sineus, on Beloozero, and the third, Truvor, in Izborsk. And from those Varangians the Russian land was nicknamed. Novgorodians are those people from the Varangian family, and before they were Slovenians. Two years later, Sineus and his brother Truvor died. And Rurik alone took all power, and began to distribute cities to his husbands - Polotsk to one, Rostov to another, Beloozero to another. The Varangians in these cities are the Nakhodniki, and the indigenous population in Novgorod are the Slovenes, in Polotsk the Krivichi, in Rostov the Merya, in Beloozero the whole, in Murom the Muroma, and Rurik ruled over them all 1 .

Old Russian chronicles began to be compiled 150-200 years after the death of Rurik on the basis of oral traditions, Byzantine chronicles and the few existing documents. Therefore, in historiography there have been different points of view on the chronicle version of the calling of the Varangians. In the 18th - first half of the 19th centuries, the prevailing opinion was that Prince Rurik was of Scandinavian or Finnish origin, and later a hypothesis was proposed about his Pomeranian origin.

There are several versions of the origin of Rurik, the main ones being Norman and West Slavic.

Supporters of the Norman theory talk about the German-Scandinavian origin of the name Rurik, citing as evidence a large number of similar-sounding names.

Also, according to one version, Rurik was the Viking Rorik of Jutland (or Friesland) from the Skjoldung dynasty, brother (or nephew) of the exiled Danish king Harald Klak, who in 826 a year or so 837 year received from the Frankish Emperor Louis the Pious a fief on the Frisian coast with a center in Dorestad, which was raided by the Vikings.

Another version of Rurik’s Scandinavian origin connects him with Eirik Emundarson, the king of Swedish Uppsala.

The Western Slavic version of the origin of Rurik also has a number of assumptions.

Thus, some researchers said that Rurik came from among the West Slavic tribes of the Obodrites, Ruyans and Pomeranians. “The Tale of Bygone Years” directly states that Rurik, being a Varangian, was neither a Norman, nor a Swede, nor an Englishman, nor a Gotlander.

The Austrian Sigismund von Herberstein, being an adviser to the ambassador in the Grand Duchy of Moscow in the first half of the 16th century, alone became acquainted with Russian chronicles and expressed his opinion on the origin of the Varangians and Rurik. Connecting the name of the Varangians with the Slavic Baltic tribe of the Vagr, Herberstein comes to the conclusion that: “the Russians summoned their princes from the Vagr, or Varangians, rather than entrusting power to foreigners who differed from them in faith, customs and language” 2.

Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov deduced Rurik and the Varangians from the Prussians, relying on toponyms and later chronicles, which replaced the lexeme “Varangians” with the pseudo-ethnonym “Germans”.

M.V. Lomonosov:

"... the Varangians and Rurik with their family, who came to Novgorod, were Slavic tribes, spoke the Slavic language, came from the ancient Russians and were by no means from Scandinavia, but lived on the eastern-southern shores of the Varangian Sea, between the Vistula and Dvina rivers... named Rus in Scandinavia and on the northern shores of the Varangian Sea has never been heard of... Our chroniclers mention that Rurik and his Family came from Germany, and it is sometimes written that from Prussia... Between the Vistula and Dvina rivers the river flows into the Varangian Sea from the east-south side, which at the top, near the city of Grodno, is called Nemen, and at its mouth is known as Rusa. Here it is clear that the Varangians-Rus lived in the eastern-southern shore of the Varangian Sea, near the Rusa River... And the very name Prussians or Porussians shows that the Prussians lived according to the Russians or near the Russians" 3.

There is also a folk legend about Rurik and his brothers, published in the 30s of the 19th century by the French traveler and writer Xavier Marmier in the book “Northern Letters”. He recorded it in Northern Germany, among Mecklenburg peasants who lived on the former lands of the Bodrichi, who by that time were completely Germanized. The legend tells that in the 8th century, the Obodrit tribe was ruled by a king named Godlav, the father of three young men, the first of whom was called Rurik the Peaceful, the second - Sivar the Victorious, the third - Truvar the Faithful.

The 19th century historian Stepan Aleksandrovich Gedeonov suggested that Rurik was not his own name, but the generic nickname Rerek, which was borne by all representatives of the ruling Obodrit dynasty. In support, Gedeonov refers to Snorri Sturluson’s Scandinavian saga about Hakon the Good from the “Earthly Circle” cycle, where, in his opinion, the Vendians are called falcons.

According to the Joachim Chronicle, Rurik was the son of an unknown Varangian prince in Finland from Umila, the middle daughter of the Slavic elder Gostomysl. The chronicle does not say what tribe the prince was in Finland, it only says that he was a Varangian. Before his death, Gostomysl, who reigned in the “Great City” and lost all his sons, gave the order to call the sons of Umila to reign, in accordance with the advice of the prophets.

However, we will not delve into the details of various hypotheses of the origin of Rurik, looking for confirmations and inconsistencies of some of them, leaving this activity to professional researchers - historians and archaeologists. We will judge Rurik by his deeds recorded in the chronicles.

Mark on history:

As we know, in 862 Rurik arrived in Novgorod, Sineus to Beloozero in the region of the Finnish people Vesi, and Truvor to Izborsk, the city of Krivichi. These lands, united under the power of Rurik and his brothers, according to Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, were first called Russia. IN 864, after the death of Sineus and Truvor, the elder brother, annexing their regions to his Principality, founded the Russian monarchy. Having accepted autocracy, Rurik gave control to his famous fellow citizens of Belaozero, Polotsk, Rostov and Murom, which he or his brothers had conquered. Thus, together with the supreme princely power, the feudal (appanage) system was established in Russia.

According to Nestor's chronicle, at this time two of Rurik's fellow citizens - Askold and Dir, perhaps dissatisfied with the prince, went with their comrades from Novgorod to Constantinople. On the way, they saw a small town on the high bank of the Dnieper, which was Kyiv. Askold and Dir took possession of it, annexed many Varangians from Novgorod, and began to rule in Kyiv under the name of Russians. Feeling their strength, the new princes of Kyiv decided to undertake a campaign against Constantinople, which, however, although it greatly shocked the Greeks, ended in failure.

Thus, the Varangians founded two autocratic regions in Russia: Rurik in the North, Askold and Dir in the South. Unfortunately, nothing is known about Rurik’s further actions in Novgorod. However, it seems unlikely that Rurik spent the rest of his life inactive. Surrounded from the West, North and East by Finnish peoples, could he leave them alone? It is likely that the surrounding areas of Lake Peipus and Lake Ladoga were also witnesses to his courageous deeds, undescribed and forgotten. He reigned autocratically, after the death of Sineus and Truvor, for 15 years in Novgorod and died in 879, entrusting the reign and his young son, Igor, to his relative Oleg.

Although Rurik was not the first ruler of the East Slavic tribes, his memory, as the first ruler of the Russian state, remained immortal in our history. Now we begin the countdown of the glorious history of our Fatherland from Rurik.

Notes:

1. “The Tale of Bygone Years” translated by D.S. Likhachev;

2. Rydzevskaya E.A. On the issue of oral traditions as part of the oldest Russian chronicle;

3. Lomonosov M.V. "Objections to Miller's Dissertation."

Who was Rurik? Having answered this question, we will answer the question “where did the Russian land come from?” Historians have been breaking their spears over this issue for centuries, presenting various arguments in favor of one theory or another.

Dane

According to the first version, “our” Rurik is Rorik of Jutland, a Danish king from the Skjoldung dynasty, which traces its ancestry back to Odin himself. Mentions of Rorik are found in Frankish chronicles, where he is called the ruler of Dorestad and several Frisian lands in the years 841-873. In the Xanten Annals it is also called the “plague of Christianity.”

The first version of the identity of “our” Rurik and the Danish Rurik was expressed by Pastor H. Hallman in his work “Rustringia, the original fatherland of the first Russian Grand Duke Rurik and his brothers. Historical experience", published in 1816. 20 years later, Professor of the University of Dorpat Friedrich Kruse also identified Rurik with Rorik of Jutland.

Of the Russian scientists, Nikolai Timofeevich Belyaev was the first to write about the identity of these historical figures in his work “Rorik of Jutland and Rurik of the Initial Chronicle,” published in Prague in 1929. As evidence of the correctness of the theory, the scientist cites temporary gaps in the Frisian chronicles (863-870) and corresponding mentions of Rurik of Novgorod in Russian chronicles.

Also, as an argument, a close correspondence of the archaeological layers of the Jutlandic city of Ribe and Ladoga of Rurik’s time is given.
Among modern Russian scientists, the Danish version of the origin of Rurik was supported by Boris Rybakov, Gleb Lebedev, Dmitry Machinsky and others.

Swede

Second version: Rurik was a Swede. This hypothesis has no more evidence than the previous one. According to it, Rurik is the Swedish king Eirik Emundarson. It is mentioned by the Icelandic skald Snorri Sturluson in The Circle of the Earth.

Skald describes the Thing (national gathering) in 1018, held in Uppsalla. One of its participants recalls King Eirik, saying that every summer he went on campaigns and conquered different lands: Finland, Kirjalaland, Eistlaind, Kurland and many lands in Australland.

In the sagas, Finland was called Finland, Kirjalaland was Karelia, Eistland was Estonia, Kurland was Courland, Austrweg was the Eastern Route (“from the Varangians to the Greeks”), and Austrland was the name of the lands that later became Russian.

However, according to Russian chronicles, Rurik was called to rule, and did not come on a campaign of conquest. Secondly, in The Tale of Bygone Years the Swedes are not considered Varangians. “Varyazi” and “Svei” are considered different peoples: “Afetovo and that tribe: Varyazi, Svei, Urman, Gote, Rus...”.

Thirdly, Eirik and Rurik are still different names. They are translated differently. Eirik (Eric, Erik) means, translated from ancient German, “rich in honor”, ​​Rurik (Ro/rik) - “glorious in nobility”.

Slav

According to the anti-Norman theory, Rurik is “from ours, from the Slavs.” There are two versions of the Slavic origin of the founder of Russian statehood.

According to the first version, Rurik was the leader of the Obodrit Slavs (Polabian Slavs), the son of Gotleib, the Obodrit prince who died in 808. This hypothesis explains the origin of the coat of arms of Rurik - the ancestral tamga with a diving falcon, since the tribal symbol of the Obodrite Slavs was precisely the falcon (in Western Slavic - “rereg/rarog”).

According to the genealogy of Friedrich Chemnitz (XVII century), Rurik and his brothers were also considered the sons of the already mentioned Gotleib. Sivar and Troir are named there as Rurik's brothers. What is significant is that the memory of Rurik, the son of Gotleib, was preserved in those places (northeast Germany) for a long time. The Frenchman Xavier Marmier, traveling in those places in the mid-19th century, wrote about Prince Rurik.

The second Slavic version speaks of the origin of Rurik from the Baltic island of Ruyan, which today is called Rugen. The origin of Rurik from here can be explained by the name “Rus” itself (the version with obodrites does not explain this). In the same Mercator’s “Cosmography” the island of Ruyan is called “Russia”.

Historian Nikolai Trukhachev also noted that in Western sources the inhabitants of Ruyan are repeatedly called Ruthenians or Ruthenians.
Also typical of Ruyan Island was the cult of the white horse; traces of it are preserved in Russian folklore, as well as in the tradition of installing “horses” on the roofs of huts.

Chechen

In 2007, the newspaper “Chechen Society” published an article authored by historian Murtazaliev. It tells that the Anglo-Saxons, Goths, Normans and Rus' are one people.

“The Rus were not just anyone, but Chechens. It turns out that Rurik and his squad, if they really are from the Varangian tribe of Rus, then they are purebred Chechens, moreover, from the royal family and speaking their native Chechen language.”

Murtazaliev ends the article like this: “But still, I would like Chechen scientists not to stop there, but to develop in this direction, given that many want to “warm their hands” on Chechen history against logic, ignoring all moral barriers. All this throws our people back year after year, decades, and maybe hundreds of years ago.”

Who is he?

The question of who Rurik really was (and whether he existed at all) is one of the “eternal” questions of Russian historiography. The scientific debate between Normanists and anti-Normanists continues, but, according to historian Igor Danilevsky, by and large, it is meaningless, since Rurik is already a legendary character.

Until the end of the 15th century, none of the Russian princes called themselves “Rurikovich,” and the history of the scientific debate on the topic of establishing the identity of Rurik dates back to a later time - to the 18th century, when German historians led by Gerard Miller, who worked in Russia at the invitation government, the so-called “Norman theory” was put forward.

Mikhail Lomonosov then sharply criticized this theory. In 1761, he wrote a note to the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences, where he wrote that there was no evidence that Rurik and his retinue came from Scandinavia, and not from other regions close to Novgorod.

The people-tribe of Rus', according to Lomonosov, could not have originated from Scandinavia under the influence of the expansion of the Norman Vikings. First of all, Lomonosov opposed the thesis about the backwardness of the Slavs and their inability to independently form a state.

Prince Rurik (?830 - 879) is one of the most mysterious figures of ancient Russian history, the legendary Norman (Varangian) king (leader of the squad), according to legend, called to Rus' by the ancient Slavic (Novgorod Slovenes) and Finno-Ugric tribes (Krivichi, Chudyu and all). He is the founder of the Rurik dynasty, which ruled Russia, and subsequently Russia from the end of the 12th to the end of the 16th century. (the last of the dynasty is Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich).

In Russian chronicles the name Rurik sounds the same as it sounded in Celtic Gaul. This name probably goes back to the name of one of the Celtic tribes - "Rurik", "Raurik", and the tribal name is possibly associated with the Ruhr River.

This tribe, even at the turn of our era, left the troops that invaded Gaul, and it could only leave to the east. In later times, people from the banks of the Ruhr River also received the names (or nicknames) Rurik. The names of Rurik's brothers also find explanations in Celtic languages. The name Sineus most likely comes from the Celtic word "sinu" - "elder". The name Truvor is also explained from the Celtic language, in which the name Trevor means “third by birth.”

Rurik is the founder of the Rurik dynasty - a dynasty of Russian princes, and later kings, who ruled for 736 years, from the end of the 9th to the 16th centuries. Rurik, leader of the Varangian tribe "Ros" or "Rus". During the reign of Rurik, the lands of the Merya, Ves and Murom tribes were annexed to the lands of the Slavs. According to the chronicle, Rurik was married to Princess Efand of Urmansk and had a son, Igor. According to unverified data from the late 16th - early 17th centuries, Rurik died in Korel in 879, giving control of the state and his young son to his distant relative Oleg.

There are numerous versions of the origin of Rurik.

According to one version, he was a representative of the noble Danish Skioldung family, which owned the city of Doresnad in Friesland in 837-850. In Danish sources his name is mentioned as "Rorik". With his squad, Rerik made raids in Germany, France, England and Sweden until 860, when he was “called over the sea from the Germans” (as reported in the chronicle) and settled in the “city of the Slavs” - Ladoga, from where he then came to Novgorod.

According to another version, Rurik was the son of the Bodrich prince Godoslav (d. 808) and Umila, the daughter of the Novgorod elder Gostomysl. According to the Ipatiev Chronicle and according to V. Klyuchevsky, Rurik from time immemorial lived in Ladoga, from where he was called by the Slavs to Novgorod. In this case, there was no “calling of the Varangians from overseas”, because the Slav Rurik was the leader of a hired Varangian squad in Ladoga.

Invited by the Novgorod elders to stop intra-city feuds together with the brothers Sineus and Truvor, he married in Novgorod the noble Novgorod Efand (Edvinda), with whom he had a son Igor and two daughters. Rurik's brothers - Sineus and Truvor - arrived in the city with him, and after their death, Rurik annexed to Novgorod the estate of Sineus Beloozero (populated by miracles and all) and Truvor's estate Izborsk (the city of the Krivichi), after which he declared Novgorod the capital of the entire Russian land in 864 year.

Some historians trace the origin of Rurik to Prus, brother of Emperor Augustus.

There is another version. According to which, the brothers Rurik Sineus and Truvor did not exist at all, the Russian chroniclers simply could not understand and distorted during translation the foreign text that told about the arrival of Rurik to Rus' with his house (sine-khus) and a loyal squad (tru-vor) ). Researchers who adhere to this point of view believe that there was no invitation from the Novgorod Slavs, but on the contrary, the king who ruled in Ladoga took advantage of the internal strife in the city and himself arrived in Novgorod.

And in one of the chronicles, in this regard, it is reported about an uprising of those dissatisfied with Rurik in the city, led by Vadim the Brave, which was suppressed. Vadim was killed, his supporters fled south to Kyiv. According to this chronicle story, Rurik’s warriors named Askold and Dir, who were able to seize power in Kyiv around 866, also went there. According to this version, two states initially arose: northern and southern Rus', and both were led by Varangians.

Be that as it may, but while ruling Novgorod, Rurik extended his influence to the north and east of the city, was able to annex the lands of the Merya tribes, the entire Murom, and thus expanded the Novgorod principality from Volkhov to the mouth of the Oka.

Formation of the Old Russian state. Rurik, Truvor and Sineus

The Normans forced the Novgorodians and another Slavic tribe, and three Finnish tribes to pay them tribute. But the Slavs and Finns coped with it and kicked out the uninvited guests. But they didn’t live like this for long. There was a lot of unrest, but the truth was not respected. A dispute will arise among people from different clans, elders will gather to judge them, each one will stand up for his relative. And the families began to fight with each other. And then there was a custom, if there was some important matter, then the elders of the entire tribe or even from several tribes that lived amicably among themselves would gather in one place. So the elders of the tribes who drove out the Varangians gathered and began to think about how they could stop the unrest. How to do this?

The trouble came from the fact that there was no truthful judge. If there were such a judge, then the Slavs would begin to live peacefully among themselves. But where can I get it? You cannot choose such a judge from the Slavs or Finns: injustice will again occur. You need a judge from among strangers - he will judge more accurately. And such a judge is also needed so that he has the power, so that if the defendant is stubborn, he would force him to obey. And the Slavs decided to look for judges for themselves in a foreign land, namely among the Varangians. They heard that in one Varangian clan, which was called Russia, there are three princes who judge fairly and are good warriors, so that they can force their subjects to obey and will not give offense to anyone.

These brothers' names were: Rurik, Sineus and Truvor. So the Slavs sent ambassadors to them. The ambassadors came, bowed to these princes and said: “Our land is great and abundant, but we have no order, come to reign and rule over us.” These princes agreed to their request, and came to them with all their family and retinue.

Those who followed some prince or chief military leader to war were called squads. They were not his relatives, and therefore they served because they hoped to get more booty with him, and indeed, the good prince loved his squad very much and took care of it.

Rurik and his brothers arrived in the Slavic lands and brought with them their entire Russian family, which is why the land where they began to reign was called Russia. This happened in 862 from the Nativity of Christ. This means that now more than 1000 years ago, as it happened, then the Russian state began. Rurik, Sineus and Truvor began to judge the Slavs and Finns, who called them, defended them from enemies, and they paid them tribute for this. They paid tribute as much as the prince prescribed. He himself went for her every year.

Sineus began to reign in the city of Beloozero, Truvor - in Izborsk, and Rurik - first in Ladoga, then in Novgorod. His brothers died, and he began to rule all of Russia. But she wasn't big. Nowadays we have provinces that are larger than all of Rus' at that time. However, the Norman princes immediately began to increase their lands and conquered the cities: Polotsk, Murom, Rostov. Things got better for the Slavs under the rule of the princes, the chaos ended. The princes began to judge truthfully, and if anyone did not obey, he was punished. The Novgorodians decided to be willful, but Rurik pacified them. And none of the neighbors began to offend them.

However, he himself judged only in Novgorod, and in other cities he appointed boyars, who began to judge instead of the prince, which is why they were called governors. These boyars were from the princely squad. In it, the older, most important people were called boyars, and the smaller ones - gridny and howls. The prince's servants were called youths. Everyone could apply to join the princely squad and, perhaps, rise to the rank of boyar. The most glorious boyars also had their own squads. And when the war began, the older people from each family armed themselves and came to the prince, while the younger ones remained at home. The governors received great benefits.

From Rurik's squad there were two warriors, Askold and Dir, who also wanted to be governors, but he did not give them cities. They asked him to go to Constantinople to serve the Greek emperor. Rurik let them go. So they and their family sailed along the Dnieper and saw Kyiv. They asked whose city this was and found out that it pays tribute to the Khazars. They stopped here. Quite a few Varangians gathered around them, who still continued to go to Constantinople for services this way. The people of Kiev began to pay tribute to them instead of the Khazars; They defeated the neighboring Slavs and began to reign in Kyiv.

When Askold and Dir became stronger there, they decided to go to Constantinople, not to serve, but to fight, and sailed there on 200 ships. And the Greek army at that time was fighting in another place. The Russians began to plunder the outskirts of Constantinople and terrified the city itself. There was a Blachernae church in it, where the robe of the Mother of God was kept. The chief Greek bishop, who was called the patriarch, performed a prayer service and carried this robe around the walls of the city. A storm arose, the Russian boats were broken, they themselves barely escaped to the shore and began to ask for peace, and when they learned everything that had happened, they wanted to become Christians.

The Greeks were very happy about this, baptized Askold and Dir and the rest of their squad, gave them gold, silver, silk fabrics, and they returned to Kyiv. They did not live on friendly terms with Rurik, attacked his southern lands, and received those who left Novgorod for them. But Rurik soon died; his son Igor was only two years old. An infant, of course, could not rule the state. And therefore Rurik transferred power to Oleg, apparently to his associate.

Oleg and Igor

Later, versions arose linking Oleg with the Rurik family. According to them, Oleg is the brother of Rurik’s wife, that is, Igor’s maternal uncle. It should be noted that the importance of the maternal line of kinship was important at that time, and a maternal uncle could be considered a closer relative than paternal relatives, and could even raise a nephew. Oleg became a kind of “breadwinner” for Igor, a regent during his childhood. However, even then, when Igor grew up, Oleg did not let go of princely power. This guardian Igor soon became famous for his great courage, victories, prudence, and love of his subjects.

Oleg was a cunning man. At first he took the cities of Smolensk and Lyubech, which stood on the road from Novgorod to Kyiv; then he gathered a large army from all the peoples under his control and went to Kyiv on boats. Only he left most of the boats behind, and hid the soldiers on the rest, sailed to Kyiv and sent them to tell Askold and Dir that the Varangian merchants had arrived, but they were not feeling well, that’s why they asked the princes to come to their ships. The princes believed, took a few people with them, came to Oleg’s ships, and he came out to them with young Igor in his arms and said:

“You are not princes, but here is the son of Rurik.” And at that very moment his warriors came out from under the decks of the ships, rushed at Askold and Dir and killed them. He really liked it in Kyiv: it’s warmer in Kyiv, and everything will be good, and the land is rich. Oleg said: “Let Kyiv be the mother of Russian cities,” and began to live in it, and left a governor in Novgorod. But between Novgorod and Kiev there were still Slavic tribes that were not yet subject to Oleg. He conquered them all, although the Drevlyans and Northerners fought him very bravely.

Oleg, both before and after the campaign, tried a lot to figure out how to organize the Russian land, traveled around it, carried out justice and reprisals, and established tribute. All the people loved him very much. This is what is said about his death. There were then many sorcerers, or sorcerers, that is, sorcerers. Oleg asked one of them what he would die from? And the sorcerer answered: “From your beloved horse.” Oleg stopped riding this horse and ordered it to be rested and groomed.

Returning from the Constantinople campaign, he asked where his horse was? They tell him that the horse is dead. And the prince felt sorry for the horse, he wanted to see its bones, came to where they lay, stepped on the skull and said: “Why did I listen to this magician? He kept telling lies: he said that I would die from the horse, but the horse is dead, and I am alive and well.” As the prince said this, a snake crawled out of the horse’s skull, wrapped itself around the prince’s leg and bit him. Oleg died from this. Igor took power over Russia after Oleg's death.

Igor Rurikovich - Grand Duke of Kiev, the only son of Rurik, born in 877, killed in 945. The chronicles provide quite little information about Igor’s life before his reign: in 903, when Igor was still under the tutelage of Oleg, his wife was brought to him from Pskov, named after Olga; in 907, Oleg, setting off on a campaign against Byzantium, left Igor in Kyiv, as if his governor. In 912, Oleg died, and the first task of Igor, who reigned in Kyiv, was to pacify the rebellious Drevlyans, whom he punished by increasing tribute (914).

At the same time, the Uglich tribe, which lived next door to the Tivertsy, was subjugated or returned to submission; Igor imposed a tribute on the Uglich people, which he gave to his beloved governor Sveneld; He also gave the Drevlyan tribute to him, which aroused a murmur in his squad. In 915, the Pechenegs came to the Russian land for the first time and the Kiev prince made peace with them; however, already in 920 Igor had a chance to wage war with these steppe inhabitants; her circumstances are unknown.

935 - Igor’s ships and troops sailed with the Greek fleet to Italy; but in 941 their peaceful relations were broken and Igor with a large flotilla - according to the chronicle consisting of 10,000 ships - went to Constantinople. The emperor was notified of the arrival of the Russians by the Bulgarians; but Igor managed to land and devastate the surroundings of the Bosphorus; The Russian flotilla anchored near Fara.

When the Greek fleet came out against her, Igor was so confident of victory that he gave the order to his soldiers to spare the enemy and capture them alive; but in the battle that took place, the Greek fire, which the Russians saw here for the first time, brought such horror to Igor and his soldiers that they hurriedly retreated to the shores of Asia Minor. There they tried to land in Bithynia, but Patrick Bardas and Domestic John forced them to retire to the ships; The Russians off the coast of Thrace once again fought with the Greeks at sea and went home with great damage. However, Igor began again to gather a large army: the Varangians were called from overseas and the Pechenegs were hired, from whom hostages were taken.

944 - Igor set out on a new campaign against Greece with a fleet and cavalry. The Korsuns and Bulgarians again let the emperor know about the arrival of the Russians, and he immediately sent envoys to Igor, who met the prince near the Danube mouth and offered him the tribute that Oleg had once taken, even more, if he agreed to peace. Having reached the Danube, Igor, after consulting with his squad, took gifts from the Greeks for all his soldiers and, ordering the hired Pechenegs to devastate Bulgaria, returned to Kyiv. The next year, the emperor sent envoys to Igor, and the latter sent his envoys to Constantinople, where a peace treaty was concluded, “for all the years while the sun shines and peace lasts,” but on terms less favorable to Rus' than under Oleg.

The emperor confirmed the treaty with an oath and again sent his ambassadors to Kyiv, before whom Igor, on a hill at the foot of Perun, solemnly swore to maintain friendship with the empire; His warriors, as a sign of an oath, laid weapons, shields and gold at the foot of the idol, and those of them who were Christians swore an oath in the church of St. Elijah. Igor released the Greek ambassadors, giving them precious furs, wax and prisoners. Igor’s squad was jealous of Sveneld’s youths because they were rich in weapons and all kinds of clothing, while they, the prince’s squad, were barefoot and naked. The warriors therefore demanded that Igor go with them to collect taxes from the subject tribes and to share with them.

With the onset of autumn 945, Igor went with his squad to the Drevlyan land and collected tribute from it; then, leaving a small part of the squad with him, and sending the rest home, the prince also wanted to take tribute from the Drevlyansky land. But this outraged the Drevlyans: it was necessary to kill the predatory wolf, they decided, otherwise it would destroy everything; They armed themselves under the command of the local prince Mal, left Korosten, killed Igor and buried him not far from their city, killing his squad. According to Byzantine news, the Drevlyans tied Igor to two trees bent to the ground and, releasing the trees, tore him in two.

The reign of Igor refers to the story of the Arab writer Abulfed that in 944 the Russians took the capital of Arran Barda and returned to their land r. Kur and the Caspian Sea. Another eastern historian, Abulfarag, attributes this attack to the Alans, Lezgins and Slavs. As for the establishment under Igor of Russian dominance on the banks of the Cimmerian Bosphorus and the more decisive subordination of the Black Bulgarians to the Russian princes, this issue still requires more detailed research.

Thus, he was the first Prince Rurikovich on the Kiev throne. Igor's reign was marked by several major military campaigns, not only in the southern, but also in the eastern directions. In addition to Byzantium, the Rus were attracted by the shores of the Caspian Sea, which beckoned with its riches, because the famous trade route that connected Rus' with the countries of the Arab East passed through the Volga across the sea. On the coast of the Caspian Sea there are rich lands and cities, drowning in luxury and prosperity.