Figure 1.--THe famed Russian artist Nicholas Roerich painted this depiction of the coming of the Vikings in 1901. It is one of the most famous Russian historical paintings. Roerich's title was "Overseas Guests".

The history of Russia begins in the 9th century AD as part of the outburst of the Norsemen from Scandanavia that so affected England and Western Europe. Norsemen also moved east. While Danish and Norwegian Vikings struck west and south, Swedish Vikings moved east and played a major role in the development of Russia. These Vikings are know as the Rus and it is from this name that the name of Russia has been derived. Actually the Rus were Swedish Vikings meaning the northern Germanic tribes which setteled in Sweden. The Term Rus was not what they called themselves, but the name given them by the Finns. The Varangians from modern Sweden crossed the Baltic Sea and landed in Eastern Europe. The Varangians leader was the warrior Rurik. He was an actual historical figure, although most of what we know about him comes from legend. He led a band of Varangians to Novgorod on the Volkhov River (862). He became the ruler of the city, although we are not sure he actually conquered the city. Legend suggests that the Sebs invited him. That may or may not be true. It rather sounds like Rurik's descendents legitimizing the dynasty. Based on the Western experience, the Vikings were not the sort of people one invited nor did they require invitations.

Swedish Vikings: The Rus

"Viking" is a Western term, probably derived from the the Swedish word for bay--"vik". Early medieval Scandinavians were a farming people with a close connection with the sea in large measure for trade. Some of these trading expedirions descended into looting and Scandinavians gradually began to see the potential for raiding rather than trading.The history of Russia begins in the 9th century AD as part of the outburst of the Norsemen from Scandanavia that so affected England and Western Europe. The "Swedish" and "Danish/Norwegian" Vikings were similar, but geography dictated that the Danes and Norwegians raid west, attacking Western Europe and the British Isles. The Swedes raided east, dominated much of the Baltic and into what is now Russia. Swedish Vikings moved east and played a major role in the development of Russia. These Vikings are know as the Rus and it is from this name that the name of Russia has been derived. Actually the Rus were Swedish Vikings meaning the northern Germanic tribes which setteled in Sweden. The Term Rus was not what they called themselves, but the name given them by the Finns. Viking expeditions were often organized started from trade centres like "Birka", located on an island in Lake Mälaren--close to modern-day Stockholm.

Rurik

The Varangians from modern Sweden crossed the Baltic Sea and landed in Eastern Europe. The Varangians leader was the warrior Rurik. He was an actual historical figure, although most of what we know about him comes from legend. He led a band of Varangians to Novgorod on the Volkhov River (862). He became the ruler of the city, although we are not sure he actually conquered the city. Legend suggests that the Sebs invited him. That may or may not be true. It rather sounds like Rurik's descendents legitimizing the dynasty. Based on the Western experience, the Vikings were not the sort of people one invited nor did they require invitations. Much of what we know about this period of Russian history is more legend than history, but we do know that Rurik was an actual historical figure.

Legend

Both the Vijkings and Slavs at the time were pre-literate people. Thus the accounts of the coming of the Rus was written by Rusian Orthodox monks over a century later. Various Slavic tribes inhabited what is now northeastern Russia, the area along the Neva and the Volkhov rivers and around lakes Ladoga and Ilmen. The great Russian plain included both forest and grassland, offering rich agricultural land as well huntung and fishing in the rivers. In addition to the boutiful land and rivers, the area also was a connecgting point between European traders in the Baltic Basin and the southern flowing rivers leading to the Black Sea and Byzantium. For this reason, Novgorod grew as an important trading town and capital of the first state in northern Russia. The Slavic tribes in norther Russia engaged in unrelenting inter-tribal wars. No tribe would acceot rule from a leader of another tribe. The SlAVS Made an offer to the Rus, "Our country is rich and immense, but it is rent by disorder. Come and govern us and reign over us." (862) This occurred at almost the same time that the western Vikings began to raid the British isles. Three Swedish Vikings accepted the offer and moved east.

Trade

Following the great rivers, Swedish Vikings/the Rus eventuakly reached Byzantium. Runestones and other archaeological artefacts found in eastern Sweden and on the island of Gotland confirm that trade relations existed between eastern Sweden and the Near East.

Novgorad

Swedish Vikings settled in Novgorod, which they called "Holmgård". It emerged as the first center of the Russian nation. Rurik became ruler of Novgorod, Sineus settled down in Beloozerg and Truvor in Izborsk. Rurik from his base in Novgorad in only a short period extended his rule over the Slavic tribes in northern Russia.

Kiev

Rurikdispatched a group south commanded by two of his men. They conquered Kiev, giving Rurik in the space of only a few years, command of a huge expanse if Eastern Europe. Oleg succeeded Rurik and shifted his capital to Kieb (882). Oleg grearly strengthened control over the tribes and nacent towns in his domain, the new Russian state. Kiev developed as one of the richest in Europe at the time. From Kiev they both fought and traded with Byzantium.

The Ruriks

The successors of Rurik and Oleg came a dynasty tht would rule Russia for more than 700 years. Oleh/Oleg during the mid-8th century became the first prince of Kiev and founded the Rurick Dynasty. Oleh employed mercenary troops to unite the Eastern Slavs for the first time. He introduced a complex system combining tribute and military democracy. Oleh also led impressive military operations against Khozzars, a nation of Jewish origin residing on Volga. Oleh led and even larger army against Byzantium and assaulted Constantinople. This was the first Western introduction to a Slavic power in the East--the Kievian Rus. After Oleh's death, his relative Ihor became the Great Prince of Kiev. Thor's greed and cruelty led to his downfall. His wife, Olga, replaced him as the Great Princess. She accepted Christianity and this becan the Christianization of the Eastern Slavs. Olga also sought to establish more cooperative relations with Byzantium. Olga's son Svyatoslav, was a superb military leader. He fought predatory nomadic tribes like Pechenigy and conquered Bulgaria. SvyatoslavHe was killed by a group of Pechenigy after his victory over Byzantium. Kiev declined as a result of a debilatating feud among his sons. This period of instability was finally ended when Vladimir the Red Sun, seized Kiev and became the fifth Great Prince. He baptised the Rus' into Christianity (988) and repulsed a Byzantine army. His son, Yaroslav the Wise, enacted the first legal code which made up the first set of laws in Russia, came to be known as Rus's Truths. An internl power stuggle and an invasion by the Cumans followed.