When a “grain” place becomes vacant somewhere and the team begins to lively discuss who will take it, a gloomy forecast is certainly heard: “You’ll see, they’ll send a Varangian.” It's hard to believe, but this expression goes back to the year 862.

With Scandinavian calm

An ancient literary monument, “The Tale of Bygone Years,” states: in 862, the tribes of the “Ilmen Slovenes, Meri, Chud and Vesi,” tired of internecine wars, thought and decided that it was better to invite an independent Varangian prince from overseas. The Scandinavians were then called Varangians.

Three brothers allegedly responded to the call of the Russians - Rurik, Sineus and Truvor. The eldest, Rurik, began to rule in Novgorod, Sineus - on White Lake, Truvor - in Izborsk.

In some later chronicles there is another version - that the brothers were not completely strangers to the Slavs. They could be the grandchildren of the legendary Novgorod prince-elder Gostomysl from his daughter, given in marriage to a certain Varangian prince. The same sources claim that two years later Sineus and Truvor died (perhaps not by natural causes), and Rurik took their areas for himself.

But there is also a completely different theory - that Rurik was originally an autocratic ruler, and the mention of his brothers is a consequence of an erroneous translation of the ancient text. In any case, from the moment of Rurik’s calling, the birth of the Old Russian state was noted, which was significantly strengthened another 20 years later - when, Oleg Veshem Kyiv and Novgorod united.

Such a nice historical plot with variations subsequently gave rise to a whole confrontation, supporters of the so-called Norman theory and, accordingly, their opponents. The Normanists argued: since the Slavs turned to the Varangians, it means that they themselves were completely unable to establish their own statehood. Anti-Normanists resolved the issue radically: Rurik is generally a mythical person, he never existed.

Historical research in the 19th and 20th centuries has shown that both extremes are wrong. An invitation to the reign of Rurik most likely took place. But blaming the Slavs for some weaknesses, especially in terms of having rulers for themselves, is ridiculous. State rule existed in Novgorod and in other regions of Ancient Rus' before the calling of Rurik.

Who was the last Rurik Tsar

Maybe there was no point in delving into the historical jungle, but still the Rurikovichs are the first royal dynasty in our country. Although their path to the throne was cleared by dubious methods. By the end of the X - beginning of the XI centuries. they slowly removed the local leaders from the throne or even killed them in the East Slavic lands. The Rurikovichs were confident that only representatives of their family should rule. If any city objected, it risked being blockaded.

The princes, regardless of the degree of kinship, called themselves “brothers.” But Rus' was still divided into several lands by the middle of the 12th century, and the ambitious family broke up into separate branches Olgovich, Monomakhovich, Vseslavich and other names.

The first Russian tsars came from the Rurik family - Ivan IV the Terrible and his son Fedor Ivanovich. With the death of Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich in 1598 and election to the royal throne Boris Godunov The Rurikovichs lost supreme state power. The last true Rurikovich on the Russian throne was the Tsar Vasily IV Shuisky(1606–1610)

Let’s give the floor to “The Tale of Bygone Years.”

“Per year 6367 (859). The Varangians from across the sea collected tribute from the Chuds, and from the Slovenians, and from the Meris, and from the Krivichi. And the Khazars took tribute from the glades, and from the northerners, and from the Vyatichi, a squirrel from the smoke (hearth).

Per year 6370 (862). They drove the Varangians overseas, and did not give them tribute, and began to control themselves, and there was no truth among them, and generation after generation arose, and they had strife, and began to fight with each other. And they said to themselves: “Let’s look for a prince who would rule over us and judge us by right.” And they went overseas to the Varangians, to Rus'. Those Varangians were called Rus, as others are called Swedes, and others Urmans (Norse) and the Angles, and also other Gotlanders - like these. The Chud, Slovenes, Krivichi and all said to Rus': “Our land is great and abundant, but (control) it's not in it. Come reign and rule over us." And three brothers were chosen with their clans, and they took all of Rus' with them, and they came and the eldest, Rurik, sat in Novgorod, and the other, Sineus, in 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. And he had two husbands, not his relatives, but boyars, and they asked to go to Constantinople with their family. And they set off along the Dnieper, and when they sailed past, they saw a small city on the mountain. And they asked: “Whose town is this?” They answered: “There were three brothers, Kiy, Shchek and Khoriv, ​​who built this town and disappeared, and we sit here, their descendants, and pay tribute to the Khazars.” Askold and Dir remained in this city, gathered many Varangians and began to own the land of the glades. Rurik reigned in Novgorod.”

Here it is, the famous “legend of the calling” of the Varangian princes. How many “copies were broken” because of her! The disputes began in the 18th century and have since lasted for the third hundred years. The stumbling block was the so-called “Norman theory” of the formation of the Russian state. In Soviet historiography, the founders of this theory were recognized as three completely different and little connected scientists.

Gottlieb Siegfried Bayer (1694 - 1738) in the first years of the existence of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences was invited to it as a professor of philology. He himself was a great orientalist and an expert in ancient languages, but he did not know Russian and read the chronicles in a Latin translation. The works “On the Varangians” and “On the Origin of Rus'” written by Bayer in Latin appeared in the publications of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In them he proved the Norman origin of the first Russian princes and the Old Russian state itself.

Bayer's ideas were developed by his younger colleague Gerard Friedrich Miller (Müller) (1705 - 1783). Unlike the linguist Bayer, Miller was a professional historian and was a professor of Russian history at the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. He also officially held the position of historiographer (besides Miller, only Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich Shcherbatov under Catherine the Great and Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin under Alexander I received this honor in Russia). Miller's services to Russian science are truly great. He introduced several important historical monuments into circulation. And in 1733 - 1743 Miller participated in the famous Great Northern Expedition. He was part of a detachment that explored Siberia. Miller visited many Siberian book depositories, compiled many extracts from various sources, and now this collection called “Miller's portfolios” is stored in the State Archive of Ancient Acts in Moscow. It is truly priceless for historians, because time has not spared the originals of a number of documents with which Miller worked. In 1749, Miller presented his great work “The Origin of the Name and People of Russia” to the Academy. He relied on Scandinavian sources, paying almost no attention to the Russians. As a result, the role of the Normans in the formation of the Russian state was exaggerated by him. Miller's dissertation aroused the displeasure of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna and was destroyed by order of the Chancellery of the Academy of Sciences. So “Normanism” did not at all enjoy government support.

Why was the daughter of Peter the Great outraged by Miller's conclusions? Empress Elizabeth wanted to look like the savior of Russia from “German domination.” Having overthrown Emperor Ivan Antonovich and the foreigners of German origin who surrounded him from the throne, Elizabeth took, as she wanted to present to society, a patriotic step. All these Birons, Minikhs and Ostermans went into exile, and the glory of Russia and the Russian people shone even brighter. Miller's concept did not fit into the official ideology of that time.

By order of Elizaveta Petrovna, Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711 - 1765) was assigned to write Russian history. He was more attentive to the analysis of historical evidence, but went to the other extreme. Having attacked Miller, Lomonosov not only passionately defended the originality of statehood in Russia, but also denied any significant influence on Russian history of the Normans. With Lomonosov, attempts began in historiography to present the Varangians not as Scandinavians, but as tribes of a different ethnic origin. However, even Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev (1686 - 1750), whose major work “Russian History” seemed to stand aside from the main line of controversy, put forward a version about the Finnish origin of Rurik and the Varangians who came with him.

The third founder of “Normanism” - August Ludwig Schlozer (1735 - 1809) did not remain in Russian academic service for long. But even after returning to his homeland, he did not abandon his scientific studies in the field of Russian antiquities. The result of his research was the fundamental work “Nestor,” in which Schletser conducted a thorough source analysis of “The Tale of Bygone Years.” From this time, in fact, scientific chronicling began. Schletser did not doubt the significant role of the Normans in the formation of the state in Rus', but he treated many Scandinavian sources with exaggerated distrust. So, for example, this sworn Normanist, as defined by Soviet historians, considered the Scandinavian sagas “stupid inventions” and proposed “throwing out these Icelandic nonsense from all of Russian ancient history.” A very strange position for an inveterate Normanist.

But scientific thought is developing. What was acceptable in the 18th century can hardly be productive at the beginning of the 21st. But even now, in spite of everything, the near-Norman polemic is periodically revived, regaining its former severity. The decline began at the beginning of the 19th century, thanks to a completely new level of research set by Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin (1766 - 1826). Thoughtful work with sources, calm, rather dispassionate presentation and well-reasoned conclusions put his “History of the Russian State” among the great achievements of Russian scientific thought. The authority of Karamzin, and then of academician Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin (1800 - 1875), temporarily dampened the Normanist discussions. Both Karamzin and Pogodin preferred to follow the Russian chronicles, supporting their data with foreign sources, and formed the official historical doctrine, according to which both Rurik and other early Russian princes were Normans by origin.

But from the middle of the 19th century, Lomonosov’s ideas were revived. In 1876, the major work “Varangians and Rus'” was published. Its author is Stepan Aleksandrovich Gedeonov (1815 - 1878). The son of the director of the Imperial Theaters, an honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, he served as director of the Imperial Hermitage from 1863. The Hermitage at that time was the largest repository of Russian antiquities, and the scientific school of this institution was at a great height. S. A. Gedeonov left no stone unturned from the “Norman theory”. His main thesis was the identity of the Varangians and the Baltic Slavs. It turned out that statehood and dynasty in Rus' were, although foreign, still Slavic.

“The Varangians and Rus'” became a turning point in the study of the Norman problem. In the second half of the 19th century, and subsequently, disputes moved to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe origin of the Varangians themselves. Some historians (academician A. A. Kunik (who also worked at the Hermitage), Scandinavist K. F. Tiander, Danish orientalist Wilhelm Thomsen, academician and rector of Moscow University S. M. Solovyov) considered the Varangians to be Normans, others (for example, the author of the five-volume " History of Russia" and the most popular gymnasium textbooks D.I. Ilovaisky) - by the Baltic Slavs. Dmitry Ivanovich Ilovaisky in his generalizing works on Russian history did not even mention Rurik at all, as if he did not exist. By the way, other versions about the origin of the Varangians were put forward, but they did not become widespread.

Where was the main line between the two sides, why, it would seem, so many spears were broken around a purely scientific problem? It was all about understanding patriotism. This idea became dominant when resolving the issue of the origin of Rus' in Soviet times, and it still exists today. For some reason, they believed, and many still believe, that foreign influence at the beginning of Russian history, the presence of foreigners in Rus' and the non-Slavic origin of the ruling dynasty infringed on the sense of national dignity of Russians and showed their inability to independently organize themselves. This understanding of patriotism looks very strange. After all, Ancient Rus' was not some kind of rigid, “closed” system into which no foreign trends should have penetrated. Our Motherland was not like this in the future. Let us remember what mark the Mongols or the same Germans left in Russian history under Peter I. What can we say about ancient times, when the borders were so vague that it was difficult to outline the boundaries of the state in the 9th century. Rus' was at the intersection of different paths, ethnic and cultural influences, and it is at least absurd to be ashamed of this. The British, for example, are proud that both the Romans and the Normans left a mark on their history, but for some reason this is humiliating for us. As an argument, they often put forward the famous chronicle phrase “our land is great and abundant, but there is no order in it,” understanding it completely incorrectly. The chronicle is not talking about order, but about “order,” that is, management. A prince was needed, and they called him.

This ultra-patriotic attitude was especially characteristic of Soviet historical science in the 1930s - 1950s. And even later his intensity did not decrease. Then it was impossible to talk not only about the influence of the Scandinavians, but even about their presence in Rus' in the ancient period. And the terrible label of “Normanist” could negate the entire activity of the scientist. At the same time, the history of the Old Russian state continuously became more ancient. In general, the desire to “add” one or two, or even a dozen centuries to one’s history is a very common phenomenon, but in Soviet times it manifested itself very strongly. The apotheosis was the celebration in 1982 of the 1500th anniversary of the city of Kyiv. It turned out that Kyiv arose at the end of the 5th century, under the Byzantine emperor Anastasia, whose name was associated with the appearance in Constantinople of the founder of Kyiv, Prince Kiy (we’ll talk about Kiy himself later). The date 862, as mentioned above, has completely disappeared from the pages of history textbooks. Rurik was considered a purely legendary figure. But serious historical research was also carried out, which made it possible to take a more careful look at the problem.

It should be noted that the controversy over Normanism made sense only when it was believed that the origin of the dynasty was directly related to the formation of the state. This tradition is more typical of medieval thinking. But even the author of The Tale of Bygone Years separated these phenomena. Even at the beginning of his narrative, he seemed to pose three questions, to which the chronicle provides an answer. The first - “where did the Russian land come from” - is connected with the origin of Rus', that is, the peoples inhabiting it, primarily the Slavic ones. The second - “who was first in Kyiv before the princedom” - concerned the origin of the princely family. The answer was stories about Kiy and his brothers, Rurik (although Rurik himself did not reign in Kyiv, but his descendants reigned there), Askold and Dir, Oleg, Igor and Olga. And the description of the very process of state formation answered the third question: “and where did the Russian land come from,” that is, “how it was created.” Thus, first the chronicler talked about the origin of the people, then about the origin of the dynasty, which extended its power from Kyiv to other tribes, and the answer to the third question was obtained after combining the first two - ethnic, basic, and dynastic, “superimposed” on ethnic. Only after this did it become clear (according to the chronicler’s ideas) that the Old Russian state was formed thanks to the actions of the first princes among these peoples.

At the modern level of development of historical science, it is absolutely clear that the process of state formation itself does not depend on the nationality of the ruling family. The formation of a state occurs as a result of long historical development. Therefore, at present, near-Norman debates have simply lost all meaning. The Old Russian state arose among the Eastern Slavs in the 9th century. The two centers where it began were Kyiv in the south and Novgorod land in the north. The Varangians, although they played a significant role in early Russian history, of course, were not the creators of our state, and therefore the origin of the Rurik dynasty cannot in any way detract from the “national pride of the Great Russians.”

Thanks to the research of many scientists - historians, source scientists, archaeologists, linguists, the complex nature of the chronicle story about the calling of the Varangians has been determined. It seems to intertwine real, historical, and legendary features. It is difficult to separate one from the other, but this is a feature of medieval historical consciousness, when reality and myth were combined in it and formed an inseparable whole. And yet we can note several realities in the chronicle narrative.

First of all, the ethnic situation that then developed in the north of Russian lands is confirmed archaeologically. These territories were a zone of active contacts between different peoples. Archaeologists have discovered many Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Baltic and Scandinavian antiquities in the region mentioned in the chronicle. Probably, there was also a union of several tribes that called Rurik to reign. This is Chud, Slovene, Krivichi and all. It is important to note that these are Finno-Ugric and Slavic tribes, and the Finno-Ugric Chud even comes first in the chronicle story. This may indicate that the fact of the late (about 6th - 7th centuries AD) arrival of the Slavic population to the north of Rus', to the Novgorod region, where the Finno-Ugrians originally lived, was preserved in historical memory for a long time.

The chronicle story also mentions a “row,” that is, a kind of agreement concluded by local tribes with visiting princes. The “Ryad” determined the rights and obligations of the Varangian princes on foreign territory and placed them in a certain dependence on the local population. The practice of such agreements is also known in other regions of Europe, for example, in England.

Finally, it is necessary to recognize the reality of the figure of Rurik himself. After all, his name is not mythical and is not artificially created. It does not explain certain geographical names, such as, for example, the names of the founders of Kyiv Kiya and his brothers, the ancestors of the Vyatichi and Radimichi - Vyatko and Radim - present in the chronicle. Historians derived the name Rurik from different languages, and there are several versions on this matter.

The very fact of inviting a foreign ruler to Rus' is also not surprising. Indeed, when resolving inter-tribal conflicts, which are mentioned quite definitely in the same “Tale of Bygone Years” under the year 859, turning to a third, seemingly independent ethnic force was quite natural. An analogy can be drawn from the history of the Western Slavs, who elected as their king a foreigner, apparently a Frank, Samo. The Jutlander (Dane) Rorik and the encourager (Baltic Slav) Rerik could act as such a force (these are the main interpretations of Rurik’s personality, which will be discussed later). Neither one nor the other were ethnically connected either with the Varangians - the Swedes, who collected tribute from the Northern Russian regions, or with the population of these territories themselves.

At the same time, some legendary and folklore motifs were embodied in the chronicle story. Already pre-revolutionary historians A. A. Kunik and K. F. Tiander drew attention to the similarity of Russian legends with foreign legends about the founders of the state. So, the Anglo-Saxons also had a similar legend. There, two Saxon brothers Hengist and Horsa arrived in England with their fellow tribesmen, they created their own state and founded a dynasty. This is known from the work “The Acts of the Saxons,” written by the medieval author Widukind of Corvey. Historians even called such legends “migration tales.” K. F. Tiander believed that not one, but three “migration legends” were preserved in the “Tale of Bygone Years” - in reports about Kiy, Rurik and Askold and Dir.

Equally legendary is probably the motif of the trinity of brother-princes. It can be assumed that the chronicler was building a single genealogy of Russian princes. That is why Sineus and Truvor could “turn” into Rurik’s brothers. But it is interesting that the trinity is generally reflected in a variety of cultural traditions, and not only in relation to the history of Rus' (suffice it to recall the Christian dogma of the Holy Trinity). In The Tale of Bygone Years the trinity is also present repeatedly. Kiy founded Kyiv with two brothers Shchek and Khoriv. Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich divides his possessions into three parts for his three sons - Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. After the death of Yaroslav the Wise, his three sons remained the eldest in Rus' - Izyaslav, Svyatoslav and Vsevolod, so historians even talk about a kind of “triumvirate”. Arab scientists, talking about Rus', talk about three centers of the Rus - Kuyab (Kyiv), Slavia (Novgorod) and Ars (?). Even the European chronicler Thietmar of Merseburg, describing Russian events after the death of Prince Vladimir, says that he left three sons-heirs, although in fact Vladimir had many more sons. And the Scythian legend about the ancestors of the people - the three brothers Lipoksai, Arpoksai and Kolaksai? This is the tradition of thinking, manifested in different monuments and among different peoples. Perhaps the deep “archetype” left its mark here too?

Finally, the chronicler’s historical ideas were also embodied in the story about the calling of the princes. First of all, the idea of ​​unity of the princely family. In accordance with it, the author of the chronicle creates a single genealogy of the dynasty, connecting all figures with family and functional relationships: Sineus and Truvor are Rurik’s brothers, Oleg is his relative, and Askold and Dir are his comrades-in-arms. This idea was especially clearly reflected in the chronicles of a much later time and in the works of historians of the 18th century. Here even Askold and Olga “turned out” to be genealogically connected with the Rurik family. However, the presence of this idea in the chronicle does not in itself give historians the right to deny the entire early genealogy of the Russian princes.

With the help of voluntary calling, the power of a foreign dynasty over Russia was justified. Legalization took place, or, in scientific terms, legitimization of the Rurikovichs in Rus'. It was not capture or invasion, not forced subjugation, but an invitation to the throne that served to justify the power of the Varangian princes in the Old Russian state.

But the calling of the Varangians also included Rus' in the context of the pan-European and, more broadly, world historical process. In The Tale of Bygone Years, in general, a lot of attention is paid to this context, which is why the chronicler begins his story about the origin and settlement of peoples, relying, of course, on the Bible. Slavic peoples, including the Russians, occupy their own special and important place among them. And finally, the calling emphasized the idea of ​​​​“granting” Rus' a certain dynasty and a corresponding form of government. The calling was akin to the legal acquisition of a princely dynasty, and the power of the prince from the Rurik House was considered a necessary element of the state system throughout the entire territory of the Old Russian state. Even in Novgorod, traditionally called a “boyar republic” by historians, the Rurik princes formally ruled. Rurik's invitation could become the basis of the Novgorod tradition of inviting the prince to the table, or, on the contrary, the chronicle story could be seen as a historical justification for this tradition.

It is worth paying attention to some other aspects of the legend. The very fact of the emergence of a dynasty and the ruling elite (the Varangian brothers came “from their birth”) from the outside was already a significant factor in legitimization. The princes and their entourage, therefore, did not come from the local, “their” environment; they are fundamentally “different”, as if from another system, another world - and this alone justified their high position. Thus, foreign origin did not at all deprive the dynasty and elite of their rights, but, on the contrary, justified their power and leading position in society.

In this regard, one can, following Kunik and Tiander, compare the Russian legend with similar legends of other European traditions. Foreign legends also contain motives for the arrival of the founder of the dynasty with his entourage, who make up the ruling stratum, to the lands of some local tribes. In general, several motifs can be distinguished in European genealogical legends.

The ancestor, the first ruler is of local origin. He turns out to be either generated by the earth, like the Greek Erichthonius - half-man, half-snake, or connected with the earth by the nature of his occupation, like the Polish plowman Piast, the founder of the ancient royal dynasty in Poland. In this case, the ancestor bears the features of a “cultural” hero, “cultivating”, “cultivating” his homeland. One can also recall the Roman legend about the plowman Cicinnatus, who at the moment of a threat assumed power and then returned to his work.

The ancestor is of divine origin, that is, genetically related to the gods. This alone ensures its legitimacy in the eyes of its subjects. Such legends were very widespread. The Greek ruling dynasties elevated themselves to the Olympian gods, and the Scandinavian and British ones to the gods of the Northern European pantheon. The founders of the Ancient Roman state, Romulus and Remus, were considered the sons of the god of war, Mars. The Roman emperors of the Julian dynasty were descendants of Venus. Even the great ancient scientists Plato, Aristotle, and Hippocrates counted gods among their ancestors. This emphasized their uniqueness.

The ancestor could also appear “from outside.” Sometimes it’s unknown from where at all - like a kind of “gift from the gods.” For example, the founder of the Danish royal family Skild (Skjeld), according to the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, was found as a baby in a boat moored to the Danish coast. How can one not recall here the biblical story about Moses, who was found as a baby by the Egyptian queen off the banks of the Nile. Or the founder of a state, a people, a dynasty appeared from another, distant, and sometimes even mythical country. For example, English chroniclers of the 12th century wrote that the founder of Britain was Brutus, a representative of an ancient Roman family. In this way they connected their history with the world (in this case through antiquity). Other peoples also invented an ancient homeland for themselves. And in medieval Scandinavia a legend arose about the origin of the supreme Scandinavian deities. They were called Ases and, based on their consonance, it was assumed that they came from Asia.

It is obvious that the legend about Rurik and his brothers is similar to the last set of legends. Although in the same “Tale of Bygone Years” we see another legend about our ancestors, dating back to an undated, as if “prehistoric” period. This is a story about Kya and his brothers and sister. Judging by the origin of the name of the prince himself, he is apparently close to the first layer. The cue appears in the mythologized image of a hero-blacksmith, who acquired the features of a “cultural hero” of local origin. He is the first ancestor of the Polans, their first prince, almost equal in importance to the emperor of Byzantium himself.

In the chronicle story about vocation, it is important to note the motive of uncertainty of the origin of the princes. There are no clear geographical (“from across the sea” - from which country?), social (brothers - who?) and ethnic (Varyags - which?) localizations. This uncertainty is enhanced by the absence in the chronicle of any information about the princes themselves before the moment of their calling. And their biographies are surprisingly short. He came and died: Rurik, Sineus, Truvor, partly Askold, Dir. In general, more or less detailed biographies of the Rurik princes begin in The Tale of Bygone Years only with the third generation of the dynasty, that is, with Svyatoslav Igorevich. Of course, the chronicler simply could not have known specific facts about the life and deeds of the first Russian princes. Therefore, in this case, it may be more correct to talk not about the meaning that was originally inherent in the chronicle, but about the one that was formed in the process of further development of medieval historical consciousness.

Nevertheless, it is important to emphasize the features of the work of the ancient Russian chronicler. Indeed, at the time of the creation of The Tale of Bygone Years, book writing was the work of a very narrow layer of people, mainly belonging to the clergy. The process of writing, slow and careful, and the attitude towards writing as some kind of important and significant action determined the attitude of the chronicler himself to his work. He perceived writing as a kind of sacred act, obedience, even asceticism. Under these conditions, the creator of the chronicle sought to reflect as much historical information as possible and to do this as objectively as possible, rather than distorting the historical truth through subjective editorial work, as historians often assumed. Naturally, the chronicler’s subjective attitude to certain events was manifested, among other things, through the use of biblical analogies. However, personal opinion did not radically reduce the level of objectivity of the author. Subsequently, chronicles of the 16th - 17th centuries, for example Nikon's, tried to highlight the reigns of the first princes with some details. But this, again, does not mean conjecture of events in absolutely all cases: later sources could also reflect information not recorded in early monuments.

Legendary motives in the news of the appearance of Rurik in Rus' precisely as the founder of the princely family could contribute to some “sacralization” of this name itself. Researchers have been more than once surprised by the very rare use of the name Rurik in the further history of the dynasty. But in principle, this is the fate of a significant part of the names of the ancestors of other early medieval dynasties. Examples include the founders of the French dynasty Merovei (as well as Hugo Capet), the Polish dynasty Piast, the Hungarian dynasty Arpad, and the Danish dynasty Skjeld. As a rule, the names of such ancestors do not become generic precisely because of the mythologized significance of their bearers. And the name Rurik in this case is no exception. It appeared again only in the middle of the 11th century with one of the sons of the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise - Prince Rostislav Vladimirovich. It should be noted that this branch of the family was “outcast”, “fell out” of the general system of succession to the throne. Perhaps that is why Rostislav named his three sons after the founder of the Rurik dynasty and the founder of its Christian “part”, Saint Vladimir (baptized Vasily) - Rurik, Vasilko, Volodar. So he sought to emphasize his continuity from a common princely root. Among the descendants of Rostislav, this tradition continued to exist: princes Vladimirko Volodarevich, Yaroslav Osmomysl, Vladimir Yaroslavich. In the middle of the 12th century, the name Rurik appeared two more times. It was worn by Rurik Rostislavich, the grandson of Mstislav the Great, and Rurik Olgovich from the Chernigov branch of the Rurikovichs (also a descendant of Mstislav on the female line).

The origin of the ruler from the outside, from a different cultural or ethnic environment, in itself, I repeat, contributed to the strengthening of the rights of his descendants to power. I believe that it is from this point of view that the genealogical legends of the Russian aristocracy can be viewed. The fact is that most of the ancient Russian noble families also had legends about the foreign origin of their ancestors. These legends were formed in the 16th-17th centuries, and perhaps earlier. In historical science, such legends are called “legends about departures.” There were two directions of “excursions”: Europe and the Horde. Moreover, Europe was “covered” with the word “Germans”, and then sometimes a clarification followed, for example, “from the Germans, from the Svei (that is, Swedish) land”, “from the Germans, from the Fryazhsky (Italian - Varangian) land”, etc. The Romanovs were descended from Glanda Kambila, a native of Prussia, the Pushkins - from the Prussian Ratsha, the Tolstoys - from the Lithuanian Indris, the Lermontovs - from the Scotsman Lermont, the Godunovs - from the Tatar Murza Chet, etc. So almost the entire Russian aristocracy, it turns out, had foreign roots.

Later, the “legends about trips” began to turn more and more into fantastic tales. The inventions of their authors, as a rule, representatives of the clans themselves, knew no boundaries. The Russian surname Kozodavlevs looked for ancestors in Germany - Kos von Daven, the Kolmnins traced themselves to the Italian family of Colonna, the Bestuzhevs came up with the ancestor of the Scotsman Best, and the Suponevs (a purely Russian surname) “discovered” the ancestors of the Spanish king Soup (!). Against this background, legends about the noble origins of the rootless Menshikov or the small landed nobleman Potemkin look like innocent fables. And the Rimsky-Korsakovs, at the end of the 17th century, put forward the idea of ​​​​the origin of their family from the times of the Roman Empire and began to bear a double surname!

Historians have always had a critical attitude towards these legends. One of the founders of Russian scientific genealogy, Leonid Mikhailovich Savelov, considered all these stories to have absolutely nothing to do with reality. But behind the criticism, other voices began to be heard. Historians in Russia and in exile analyzed some of these legends, the most ancient, and discovered individual historical realities reflected in them. Such studies were carried out on the ancestor of the Pushkins - Ratshe, on the ancestor of the Romanovs - Glanda Kambile. And emigrant genealogist N.P. Mikhailov even discovered in the Vatican archives documents about the arrival in Rus' of a certain Italian Savelli, who became the ancestor of the Russian family of the Savelovs and, consequently, of Leonid Mikhailovich Savelov himself. In Italy, the Savellis occupied not the last place among the nobles, and two popes - Honorius III and Honorius IV - belonged to this family. In Russia, the representative of the Savelov family was also the highest clergyman - only of the Russian Orthodox Church - the ninth Moscow Patriarch Joachim (patriarch in 1674-1690). Such is the irony of history!

But regardless of whether the “legends about departures” contained historical grain or not, they were of great importance for the Russian nobility. These were also a kind of “migration” legends, although they appeared quite late, essentially similar to the legend of Rurik. Just as the founder of the most important, first dynasty of rulers of Rus' turned out to be a foreigner, so the ancestors of the second dynasty - the Romanovs - came from Prussia, and other families in the late Middle Ages began to record the same motif of a foreign ancestor. The elite’s peculiar ethnic distancing placed it, as it were, “above” the rest of society and thereby justified its leading social position.

But let's return to Rurik. If he was a real historical figure, then what do we know about him? “The Tale of Bygone Years” testifies to Rurik’s calling to reign in Novgorod. At the same time, other chronicles, including the First Novgorod and Ipatiev, speak of the initial reign of Rurik in Ladoga and only then in Novgorod. Apparently, Rurik actually first became the ruler of Ladoga, which some modern archaeologists call “the first capital of Rus'.” Then, perhaps, the settlement near Novgorod became the center of Rurik’s reign. Then gradually Rurik’s power spread to other surrounding territories (Izborsk, Beloozero, Rostov, Murom), where his brothers Sineus and Truvor and Rurik’s “husbands” reigned. But the main question remains: what is the origin of the first Russian prince, and therefore of the dynasty that he founded?

The cycle has already briefly touched upon the question of the origin of the founder of the grand ducal (and later royal) Russian dynasty - Rurik. True, the characters there were mainly interested in the question of whether he was a Swede or not. The Swedes themselves, and after them the Germans, of course, liked this option, but in the 18th century. You never know who liked it. In the Tale of Bygone Years, for example, it is separately stated that there are Swedes, and there is Rus', and the only thing that unites them is that they are Varangians. However, not only “The Tale...” - we can always turn to other European chronicles and clarify what happened to the Rurik people during the reporting period.

Rurik

And, frankly speaking, it’s not very good with them. None of the Swedish, Danish or Norwegian sources mention anyone like this. The Icelanders, who at some point turned out to be chroniclers for continental Scandinavia, also do not mention any remotely suitable Rurik. This gives rise to certain thoughts for anyone familiar with the saga tradition.

The fact is that nothing was more important than genealogy for the authors of the sagas. Often, information about who came from whom and who gave birth to whom takes up up to half of the eventful text. And if there is some kind of ruler in the ancestors or descendants of the character, or even just in distant relatives, then this will certainly be mentioned. So we can, if not draw a direct conclusion, then at least suspect that Rurik’s relatives did not live on the territory of medieval Scandinavia.

Page of the Bertin Annals, where the people “Rus” (ros) are mentioned

However, it depends on which side you look at. A certain Rorik (and the ancient northern Rorik in medieval local Latin will look exactly like this) appears in the Bertin Annals, also known as the Annals of Prudentius, which were already mentioned in the previous article. This chronicle was compiled in the Saint-Bertin monastery and describes the history of the Frankish kingdom for the years 830–882.

From our point of view, this is, of course, a mockery, and not a chronicle: it contains the very first mention of the people “Rus” and it also contains a certain Rorik, who, consider, Rurik - and at the same time in the text they have no relation to each other no relation! Actually, they are mentioned with a difference of 11 years - “Rus” in the entry for 839, and Rorik for the first time in 850. But (how bizarrely the deck is shuffled) he came from the dynasty of Danish kings who ruled in Hedeby. Well, if he’s not a Swede, he’s at least a Dane, which is also not bad.

Hedeby, reconstruction

Naturally, the idea of ​​declaring this Rurik “that” Rurik was inevitable. It arose back in the 19th century, and German historians again became pioneers here. This version was first expressed by Pastor G. Hollmann (Hermann Friedrich Hollmann) in the essay “Rustringia, the original fatherland of the first Russian Grand Duke Rurik and his brothers. Historical Experience,” published in 1816. Twenty years later, it was picked up by Friedrich Kruse, a professor at the University of Dorpat, and in Soviet times it found a second life.

It is clear that Rorik the Danish (aka Jutland, aka Friesland) fell in love with scientists not only for his name. In general, he was a rather interesting comrade, and in many respects he was quite suitable for the Ruriki.

On the one hand, his story is quite typical for those years, and even in some ways typical. Well, perhaps not all Norman robbers came from royal dynasties. According to available information, Rorik was born into the family of the Jutland king Harald Klak and, together with him, was expelled from the country after another bloody fight for the throne. For some time they lived by plundering the Frisian coast, after which they entered the service of Lothair, the Frankish emperor, who was constantly at war with his father and his brothers. Normans are Normans - after the first victories, Harald and Rorik were rewarded with land holdings in Frisian territories. The largest settlement in the new lands was the city of Dorestad - and our Rorik is also called Dorestad.

Rurik on the monument “Millennium of Russia”. Velikiy Novgorod. Sculptors Mikhail Mikeshin, Ivan Schroeder and architect Victor Hartman

And then an unexpected thing happens. The chronicles report that Rorik was forced to leave his lands, and after this there is silence in the texts. About a decade later, chronicles record his return and alliance with Charles the Bald, another Frankish emperor. And this gap in the chronicles, when no one knows (and no one is particularly interested) what our Dane did and what happened to him, quite accurately and beautifully coincides with the time of Rurik’s reign, indicated by the author of “The Tale of Bygone Years.” And the temptation to declare that the legendary Varangian has been found is, of course, almost irresistible. But…

Still, there are discrepant details, and quite a lot of them. It is striking that Rurik from The Tale of Bygone Years did not disappear anywhere and did not hang out with Karl the Bald, but died honestly, having denied his own. In addition, the Danes are mentioned in “The Tale...”. Remember: “Those Varangians were called Rus, just as others are called Swedes, and others are Normans and Angles, and still others are Gotlanders.” Now it looks a little strange, but the Angles are, in general, the Danes at that time. And it is said about Rurik that he is not one of them. The “Rus” people in Friesland are also not mentioned anywhere.

“The Arrival of Rurik in Ladoga”, V. M. Vasnetsov

Finally, there are mentions that Rorik of Denmark was baptized back in 826, but in Staraya Ladoga, no matter how much archaeologists excavated it, there are no traces of Christianity during the supposed times of Rurik’s reign. However, this is a rather dubious argument: the Normans, as we remember, were baptized en masse, willingly and often more than once - just business, nothing personal. In the new place, they could well not remember any Christianity.

In general, to date, researchers have not come to a consensus about Rorik of Denmark. Some are one hundred percent sure that this is Rurik from Russian state legends, while others are convinced that the version is far-fetched and should be rejected with indignation. There were several more attempts to identify Rurik with historical characters - for example, with the Dane Hrorek - the Ring Thrower, but these versions are coming apart at the seams even from a close look.

City of Rerik, today

If you look not at the texts of medieval chronicles, but at a geographical map, you can find another interesting option. On the territory of modern Germany, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, there is the city of Rerik, the former fishing village of Alt-Haarz. It was no coincidence that this village received its modern name: somewhere in these parts was the ancient capital of the Slavic Obodrites, which was called Rerik.

Lomonosov also claimed that Rurik comes from the Polabian (living on the Labe River, that is, Elbe) Slavs, that is, from here. It is around the Obodrite onomastics that assumptions are made that the name Rurik means “falcon” and is more of a generic nickname than a proper name. However, the Slavic inhabitants did not call their capital Rerik, but, according to some information, Veligrad, which spoils the idyllic picture that had developed.

Sineus and Truvor

In general, with Rurik it is clear that nothing is clear, and therefore for now we can return with a clear conscience to “The Tale...”.

“And three brothers were chosen with their clans, and they took all of Rus' with them, and they came and the eldest, Rurik, sat in Novgorod, and the other, Sineus, in Beloozero, and the third, Truvor, in Izborsk.”

If Rurik still sounds back and forth and evokes associations at least with the Danish kings, then with the Obodrite capital, Sineus and Truvor cause persistent bewilderment among the readers of The Tale of Bygone Years (and sometimes even among researchers). Some people with strange names who died suddenly and left behind no heirs or anything at all. And, of course, there are also a variety of considerations about them.

Scandinavian fibula of the 9th–11th centuries, found in Lake Ladoga

The most radical (but also the most widespread) point of view says that Rurik did not have any brothers. Well, at least these ones. But they explain it differently. For example, the common Indo-European tradition requires that in such stories there must be three brothers, and if they are not there, then folklore will add it itself. Or (as B. A. Rybakov insisted) the chroniclers simply misunderstood the words sine hus (your home) and thru waring (faithful warriors). Such a twist is quite possible, however, only if there is the original text, which was translated by Slavic chroniclers, in some ancient northern language. But nothing like this has reached us, although, of course, this does not mean that it did not exist.

It is now generally accepted that Sineus and Truvor are personal names, going back to the Scandinavian Signjótr and Þórvar[ð]r. But even this does not make the legend any more convincing. Sineus could not reign in Beloozero, because this city was founded only in the 10th century. (at least, archaeological evidence of its earlier existence has not yet been found), and Novgorod (also according to archaeological data) - even later, that is, Rurik, in an amicable way, also had nowhere to rule. Well, at least Izborsk already existed at that time.

By the way, Rurik could not “cut down Ladoga,” which by that time had already existed for at least a hundred years and, obviously, was already the capital.

Askold, Dir and Oleg

But, besides the mysterious Sineus and Truvor, the legend speaks of two more associates of Rurik. Askold and Dir. And their names, for a change, do not raise much doubt.

“The Tale...” says that these two were not relatives either to Rurik or to each other, but were, rather, noble warriors. They did not linger in the north, but set off on a campaign to Constantinople (Constantinople), but on the way they came across Kyiv. Well, what kind of self-respecting Varangian would pass by in their place?

Rurik allows Askold and Dir to go on a campaign to Constantinople, Radziwill Chronicle

Later, of course, they reached Constantinople, but they were unlucky there. The army was defeated, either in a naval battle, or simply due to an unfortunate storm. The storm, as one would expect in such a case, was declared a miracle of the Mother of God, and soon after the defeat Askold and Dir were baptized in Kyiv. For Kyiv itself, traditionally, this baptism had no religious consequences.

However, who knows how things would have turned out if not for the successor of Rurik, who had died by that time, Oleg. Oleg was just very busy expanding the former Ruriks, and now his own possessions, and he also could not pass by such prey as Kyiv. The “Tale...” describes quite interestingly how he justified his attack on Askold and Dir. They say that they did not come from a princely family and do not have the right to power, but Oleg and his ward Igor (Rurik’s young son) do.

Archaeological finds of cult silver objects of Scandinavian origin at the Rurik settlement near Novgorod

On the one hand, such a statement looks a little strange: among the Normans, the rights belonged to the one who was able to take them, and only a completely peasant origin could prevent this. On the other hand, Oleg’s words contain indirect information that Rurik was not just a noble commander, but also belonged to some kind of royal family. Well, that’s if you trust the text of “The Tale...”, of course, but this definitely shouldn’t be done recklessly.

Having killed Askold and Dir, Oleg also became the prince of Kyiv, and, as you know, he did not rest on this.

Death of Askold. Unknown artist of the late 19th century.

Actually, we are now talking about that same Prophetic Oleg. There are also very interesting considerations regarding his personality. He was probably a relative and close associate of Rurik, perhaps a compatriot. Some researchers associate Oleg with Odd Orvar (Arrow), the hero of several Norwegian-Icelandic sagas. This association, of course, simply suggests itself - the “Saga of Odd the Arrow” describes a plot well known to us from the “Song of the Prophetic Oleg” (and to some from the “Tale of Bygone Years”) with prophecy and death from the bite of a snake crawling out of a horse’s skull .

Odd Orvar was a Norwegian from Halogaland (an area on the west coast of Norway). It is with this region that the proper name Helgi is associated, the Russified form of which is considered Oleg. The Joachim Chronicle believes that Oleg was related to Rurik through family ties through the latter’s wife - his own sister. Whether this is true or not is impossible to verify; in general, we know nothing about Rurik’s wife. The chronicle names her name - Efanda (possibly Alfvind) and says that she was a Norwegian princess. This is another thread from the Prophetic Oleg to Odd Strela, although in the “Saga of Odd” the latter does not have any sister, and although he is of good family, he is still not the king’s.

Excavations in Staraya Ladoga. Cultural layer of the 10th century, fragment of a Scandinavian large house

Most likely, we will never know exactly who all these people were, and what is true about what they say about them. After Oleg, Rurik’s son Igor became the prince, and this, in some way, is a completely different story, much better documented. Therefore, it is already possible to understand in general who is related to whom. In general, completely, completely different.

Forbidden Rurik. The truth about the “calling of the Varangians” Andrey Mikhailovich Burovsky

So where does Rurik come from?

So where does Rurik come from?

Reader! I cannot answer the question in this sub-chapter. I do not have the ultimate truth, even scientific truth is unknown to me. Sources... but I wrote in detail about the sources telling about Rurik.

Science does not have the same immutable data about the origin of Rurik as the sphericity of the Earth or the infinity of the Universe. You can only build a series of assumptions and hypotheses, each of which will be more or less probable. But only.

One can, of course, discuss the Prussian, Rosomon and Roksolan hypotheses... in the order of nonsense. In the end, they are not even discussing anything yet. Is it worth it?

In reality, three versions can be considered:

Rerik of Jutland. This is the most likely version.

One of the kings of the Rus-Varangians who settled in the Ladoga region or in Finland. Or a group of successive kings, the last of whom became the prince of Rus'. This is also quite possible.

Obodritsky prince or Varangian, in whom the blood of Western Slavs flowed. This is less likely, but life has many faces... Who knows?

And most likely, there was some kind of “mixed” option. I already assumed that Rerik could be connected with Russia both by marriage and the origin of at least part of his squad. And to be Russia in the eyes of the Krivichi, Slovenians, Vesi and Chud. We know nothing about the mother and grandmother of Rerik of Jutland. Why couldn't she be the daughter of a Slavic elder or leader? It totally could.

There is so little data that you can easily come up with any number of completely convincing versions... Including versions of the Slavic origin of Rerik of Jutland. Do you definitely want a Slav? Please! Let him be an encouragement from Veligrad, which was destroyed in 808... They brought children to Denmark... In 820, a boy was born among the Slavs resettled in Denmark, who was taken into the squad of Harald Klak, and the guy behaved so heroically that Harald adopted him. The hero's name is Falcon, in the Varangian squad he is Rorog or Rereg... Rerik.

But, of course, Sokolenok, or Rerik in Danish, retains ties with the Slavic world, with the Slavic community of Hedeby and his real father and mother. That is why he is eager to conquer Jutland in order to free the Slavs and return them to their homeland, to the land of the Obodrites. And to see dad and mom and a small crowd of less heroic sisters and brothers once again.

And his wife, of course, was Umila, Gostomysl’s daughter. And they invited Sokol-Rerik to Ladoga because they knew how strong he was in his Slavic heritage, he adores the Slavs and glorifies them in every possible way.

A baseless fiction? Not quite... There is some basis for this fiction, and therefore it is not so much nonsense as a hypothesis. This kind of construction, of course, no longer belongs to science, but to fiction, but why not?! The most incredible thing is that this could very well be the case...

Of course, you can go even further! Want to have some fun? Come up with a secret union of pagan priest-magi, which will learn from secret signs and the movement of the constellations that Rerik-Rurik will become the founder of a great dynasty. After eating fly agarics and drinking a decoction of toadstools, the wise men prophesy that only Rerik can create a great Slavic state. They come to Dorestad, which was promptly destroyed by Dazhdbog and Svyatovit, so that Rurik would have no other choice but to go to Ladoga. The Magi present Rerik with the Great Plan, written on birch bark with scribbles and cuts. The essence of the plan: how to use the Varangians, assimilate them and build a great Russia. This plan has been carried out by the Rurik dynasty for centuries.

Madness? No more so than Eisenstein’s film “Alexander Nevsky” and than “Wolfhound” by Maria Semenova.

However, each of us can come up with “our own” Rurik. The state of historical sources allows for almost unlimited flights of fancy.

From the book History of Russia from Rurik to Putin. People. Events. Dates author Anisimov Evgeniy Viktorovich

Rurik and his brothers King Rurik and his brothers (or more distant relatives) agreed to the conditions of the Slavic leaders, and soon Rurik arrived in Ladoga - the first known city in Rus', and “sat down” to “own” it. Sineus settled in the north, in Beloozero, and Truvor - in the west, in

From the book Faces of the Epoch. From origins to the Mongol invasion [anthology] author Akunin Boris

Rurik The Russian princely dynasty, according to the chronicle (“The Tale of Bygone Years”), originates in Novgorod. From the same chronicle we learn that the Dnieper Slavs were forced, starting in the 8th century. obey the Khazars, and the northern Slavic and some Finnish

From the book History, myths and gods of the ancient Slavs author Pigulevskaya Irina Stanislavovna

Rurik Everyone knows that the Novgorodians summoned Rurik. There are two dark places in this knowledge: the presence of Novgorod at that time and the personality of Rurik. In the Tale of Bygone Years, Rurik’s calling dates back to 862. But at that time Novgorod as a fortified settlement on the site of Detinets was not yet

From the book Rurikovich. Gatherers of the Russian Land author Burovsky Andrey Mikhailovich

Chapter 1 Who is Rurik and where did he come from? Rurik is one of the most mysterious personalities in world history. He mysteriously emerges from the abyss of time and disappears just as without a trace. Actually, what do we even know about him and where from? The only source of knowledge about Rurik is

From the book Khan Rurik: the initial history of Rus' author Penzev Konstantin Alexandrovich

Rurik The PVL message from 862 is the main argument in the scant list of Norman “evidence”. Let's see what various lists of Russian chronicles say about this. It would be possible to get by with just one message, but alas, not everything is so simple, and about that

From the book Complete Course of Russian History: in one book [in modern presentation] author Soloviev Sergey Mikhailovich

Rurik (862–879) Now our prince remained the sole ruler of the Russian Novgorod land. He had a lot of things to do. So, when the Varangians raised the logical question of the plunder of Constantinople, he avoided the decision, but allowed the Varangians to try. In the chronicle this

From the book From Byzantium to the Horde. History of Rus' and the Russian Word author Kozhinov Vadim Valerianovich

author

Rurik With magnificent celebrations, with a religious procession and a military parade, under a cannon salute, in the presence of the entire imperial family, on September 8, 1862, one of the most beautiful and significant monuments of our country was unveiled in Novgorod. It is surprisingly harmonious and is probably

From the book Rurikovich. Historical portraits author Kurganov Valery Maksimovich

Rurik Rostislavich One of the great-grandsons of Vladimir Monomakh was Rurik Rostislavich. Like his great-grandfather, he happened to reign in Kyiv. But this prince is interesting not only for this, but also for other circumstances of his fate. The name belonging to him is very common among Russian princes.

From the book History of Rus' author author unknown

Rurik (862–879) Rurik’s brothers died two years later, Rurik became the sole ruler of the country. He handed over the surrounding towns and villages to his confidants, who themselves carried out justice and reprisals. At the same time, two brothers, not from the Rurik clan, Askold and Dir, occupied

From the book Lies and Truth of Russian History author Baimukhametov Sergey Temirbulatovich

Rurik - namesake Contradictions and inconsistencies in the chronicle led even major historians to unconvincing hypotheses. Indeed, at first they paid tribute to the Varangians, then they expelled the Varangians, but immediately after this they asked them to “own us”? It's an obvious nonsense. And therefore V.O.

From the book Heroic Rus'. Heroic Age author Kozhinov Vadim Valerianovich

Gostomysl and Rurik Let us now turn to Northern Rus'. The city of Ladoga (otherwise Nevogorod) at the mouth of the Volkhov, near Lake Nevo (Ladoga) arose earlier than Kyiv, probably in the middle of the 8th century, but began to play a “state-building” role later; at first it was a hub

From the book Pre-Petrine Rus'. Historical portraits. author Fedorova Olga Petrovna

RURIK The Russian princely (1) dynasty, according to the chronicle (2) (“The Tale of Bygone Years” (3)), originates in Novgorod. From the same chronicle we learn that the Dnieper Slavs were forced, starting in the 8th century. obey the Khazars(4), and the northern Slavic and some Finnish

From the book The Age of Rurikovich. From ancient princes to Ivan the Terrible author Deinichenko Petr Gennadievich

Rurik In the year 6370 (862) Very little is known about the founder of the first Russian grand-ducal dynasty. Some scholars believe that this is the famous pirate Rorik of Jutland, a vassal of Emperor Lothair and ruler of Southern Jutland and Friesland (modern Denmark and Holland).

From the book Russian History in Persons author Fortunatov Vladimir Valentinovich

1.1.1. Was there Rurik? In the small cozy Priozersk, a city on the shores of Lake Ladoga in the Leningrad region, no one doubts that the first Russian autocrat found his last refuge somewhere in the vicinity. In Staraya Ladoga, in the first stone fortress and

From the book On the ancient history of the Northern Slavs before the time of Rurik, and where Rurik and his Varangians came from author Vasiliev Alexander Alexandrovich

Chapter Two My research and evidence, where Rurik came from and who his Varangians were Non ex vulgi opinione, sed judice rationis Senae. Bacon Having given due thanks to the holy monks, who preserved for us, distant descendants, the deeds of their times, and although with careless words, they showed the way

In 862, a delegation of stern and warlike men arrived by sea in the northern lands occupied by the tribal unions of Slovenes, Krivichi, Chud and Meri. The eldest, looking around at the aborigines waiting for him and taking a closer look at the surroundings, came to the conclusion: he can live!

"Come reign and rule over us"

The civilized world of that time did not pay attention to this event, which occurred somewhere in the godforsaken outskirts of Europe. But in vain: after all, with the arrival of this man, the great history of the state now known as Russia began.

To the reformer of the Russian Empire Petra Stolypin The following words are attributed: “The beginning of Russia is a great mystery.” It is difficult to argue with this - and to this day there is no consensus on what actually happened in 862 and who, in fact, arrived on the lands of the northern Slavic tribes.

The main and almost the only source of information about those events, the famous “Tale of Bygone Years”, says: “In the year 6370 (862 - AiF.ru note) the Varangians were driven overseas, and did not give them tribute, and began on their own to rule, and there was no truth among them, and generation after generation arose, and they had strife, and began to fight with each other. And they said to themselves: “Let’s look for a prince who would rule over us and judge us by right.” And they went overseas to the Varangians, to Rus'. Those Varangians were called Rus, just as others are called Swedes, and some Normans and Angles, and still others Gotlanders, just like these. The Chud, the Slovenians, the Krivichi and all said to the Russians: “Our land is great and abundant, but there is no order in it. Come reign and rule over us." And three brothers were chosen with their clans, and they took all of Rus' with them, and they came, and the eldest sat down, Rurik, in Novgorod, and the other, Sineus, - on Beloozero, and the third, Truvor, - in Izborsk. And from those Varangians the Russian land was nicknamed.”

“Legionnaires” on the throne are normal

Today experts are ready to dispute every word here, and even the very fact of the authenticity of this document. But in order not to plunge into such jungle, let's assume that Rurik and his brothers were really invited by the tribes for the needs of governance.

There was nothing unusual in such a practice not only in the 9th century, but also many centuries later. If a particular state could not choose a prince or monarch, in order to avoid strife, they began to look for a candidate abroad.

A classic example of the Russian Troubles of the early 17th century - then Russia was very close to inviting the Polish throne Prince Vladislav. So close that the prince himself considered himself a Russian monarch for half his life and fought for the “lost crown.”

During the “Glorious Revolution” in 1689, the British invited Ruler of the Netherlands William of Orange. In 1714, when the childless woman died Queen Anne, the British found a new monarch in Hanover, persuading him to take the throne Elector George, an absolute German, who was the great-grandson of the English King James I. Likewise French Prince Philip of Anjou became king of Spain, taking the throne after his great-uncle.

There was something to share

It was decided that there was nothing strange in this practice. Now about where Rurik came. The main phrase: “Our land is great and abundant, but there is no order in it.”

Obviously, Rurik did not come out of nowhere. The fact that literally a few decades later the power he founded would declare itself loudly and begin to threaten Byzantium itself indicates that, figuratively speaking, the foundation had already been laid. That is, a certain basis for statehood on these lands already existed. The divisions that led to the need to look for a leader on the side indicate that there was something to share.

The most pressing and painful question: who was Rurik?

The “Normanists” explained everything...

In the 18th century, when the study of Russian history first reached the state level, it ended up in the hands of German scientists. This happened not due to malicious intent, but as a result of the lack of our own personnel.

Exactly then Gottlieb Bayer and his followers laid the foundations of what is now known as the "Norman theory". In its simplest form, its essence boils down to the fact that the founders of Russian statehood are the Normans, that is, representatives of the warlike Scandinavian tribes.

In the first agreements between the Russians and Byzantium the following names can be found: Inegeld, Farlaf, Veremud, Rulav, Goods, Ruald, Karn, Frelove, Ruar, Aktev, Truan, Ingvar. Even famous Duchess Olga was originally known to the Byzantines as Helga.

Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus in the treatise “On the Administration of the Empire,” he indicated the names of the rapids on the Dnieper, citing their variants in both “Russian” and Slavic languages. Russian names were extremely close to Scandinavian ones.

...but Lomonosov was against it

The Norman theory seemed harmonious, but then, to the horror of its adherents, a stern man appeared on the scene, who was not afraid even of walking from the White Sea to Moscow as part of a fish train - Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov.

The first Russian scientist became the founder of “anti-Normanism” - a historical concept that denies “external interference” in the emergence of Russian statehood. Lomonosov divided the Varangian Scandinavians and the Varangian Rus. The latter lived on the shores of the Baltic, and were the same Slavs as those who invited Rurik.

The battle of “Normanists” and “anti-Normanists” has lasted more than 250 years, and there is no end in sight. Moderate historians believe that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

The problem is also that by the time of writing “The Tale of Bygone Years” (the beginning of the 12th century), the chronicler had incomplete information about the events of the 9th century, and could have come up with something on his own.

True, there is also a “political component” in Lomonosov’s actions. The theory of the origin of Russian statehood from the Scandinavians was extremely unpopular at court Empress Elizabeth. We do not know (and, most likely, we will never know) whether Lomonosov really considered the “Norman theory” to be a delusion. But it is absolutely certain that Mikhail Vasilyevich, being not only a great scientist - a chemist, was also known as a “party apparatchik from science” and seriously influenced which scientific inventions would take off and be conveyed to the “highest ears”, and which would not.

Capital in Ladoga

So, in 862, a warrior of noble birth named Rurik appeared in the lands of the northern Slavic tribes. Together with him were his two brothers - Truvor and Sineus.

The version that Rurik immediately became the prince of Novgorod is unlikely. According to archaeological data, the assumption that the first capital of Rurik was the settlement of Ladoga, now known as Staraya Ladoga, seems more reliable. At the time of the appearance of Rurik, the first wooden fortress was built there.

Two years later, Rurik's brothers die, and he himself becomes the prince of Novgorod. Here the sources give flight to the imagination - according to one version, Novgorod was founded by Rurik, according to another, he was invited to reign in an already existing city.

Monument to Rurik and the Prophetic Oleg in Staraya Ladoga. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Harveyqs

"Renegades" Askold and Dir

What could a stern warrior prince of the 9th century do? If we put aside feasts and women, of which Rurik was undoubtedly a great hunter, the prince solved two problems - protecting existing lands from attacks by neighbors, as well as expanding his possessions. Rurik did this quite actively, but soon his warriors wanted more.

Two of them Askold And Dir, obtained permission from Rurik to go south in order to make a campaign against Constantinople, also known as Constantinople. On the way to this goal, they occupied the city of Kyiv, settling in it and turning it into their own possession.

This arbitrariness will end in 882, when Oleg, who served as regent for Rurik’s young son Igor, will get to Kyiv, lay claim to the city and deal with Askold and Dir.

Founder of the dynasty

Having gained a foothold in the new lands, Rurik, following the example of others invited to reign, had no intention of leaving them. Little is known about his family. According to some reports, he had several wives and children, but the name of only one is known - Efands, a Norwegian princess who bore him a son in 878 Igor.

Russian historian Vasily Tatishchev considered Efanda the sister of Oleg, Rurik’s close associate. This was the reason why Rurik, who died in 879, entrusted the regency of his one-year-old son to Oleg.

Oleg's regency would last more than 30 years, and his efforts to expand his power allow some researchers to give the palm in the real foundation of the Old Russian state to him.

But the dynasty that would rule the Russian lands until the end of the 16th century did not come from Oleg, but from Rurik.