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.
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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”
The third son of Novgorod Rostislav Mstislavovich, Prince Rurik Rostislavovich, who became famous during the civil strife of 1196 as an opponent of the Olgovichs, was named in honor of the first Russian prince.
What have we learned?
The biography of Rurik before coming to Rus' is vague and we do not know much about him, however, the name of the first Russian prince and his political activities are beyond doubt.
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The question of who was the first prince of Varangian origin remains relevant today. The answer may be “The Tale of Bygone Years,” written by a famous chronicler.
According to the historical monument, a military leader named Rurik, together with his younger brothers, volunteered to rule the numerous eastern tribes of the Slavs around 862.
The Varangians in historiography were credited with Danish, Swedish and even Scandinavian roots. The chronicler, classifying Rurik as a Varangian, had in mind the territories south of the Baltic Sea, bordering the regions of Angeln and Holstein.
Today this is a region in northern Germany, Mecklenburg, whose peoples in ancient times were not of German origin. Who they were related to can be judged by the following names - Russov, Varin, etc.
The version that Rurik belongs to Swedish roots, which is especially popular among European researchers, is polemical. However, such a hypothesis is of a political nature and has no scientific justification.
This concept received a new round of development during the Livonian War between Russia and Sweden. According to Ivan IV, Johan III did not belong to blue blood. In response, the foreign ruler appealed to the above-mentioned version about the origin of the Old Russian princely dynasty from Swedish roots.
This concept received final approval at the beginning of the seventeenth century during another attempt by the Swedes to lay claim to the lands of Novgorod, then they again relied on the data of a historical monument testifying to the Varangian origin of Rurik.
The idea was expressed that supposedly the peoples inhabiting these territories should send messengers to Sweden, as was the case many centuries ago. The concept of “Varangians” in those days meant everyone who crossed the Baltic Sea. These lands were associated in most cases with the state of Johan III.
"Norman theory"
In the first half of the 18th century, this scientific research was transformed into the “Norman theory”.
Academicians from St. Petersburg of German blood, trying to ratify the semblance of certain stereotypes, recognized the Varangians who led the East Slavic tribes as having German origin.
Coming from Sweden, they were, of course, positioned as “foreigners”, that is, according to the ideas of that historical period, as Germans. This is how a well-known theory became established in science.
The origins of the anti-Norman theory
Naturally, such a scientific justification caused controversy in Russian science. In particular, Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov did not find any historical realities corresponding to the “Norman theory”.
In his opinion, representatives of the Swedish nationalities were not able to organize any signs of statehood in Rus', since they themselves had no idea about this form of public education. Also, in the history of the Russian language and culture there were no Scandinavian reflections.
After repeated reading of the Tale, it becomes obvious that the chronicler clearly differentiated such ethnic definitions as Varangians, Swedes, Normans, Angles and other Goths.
As a result, when concluding various types of treaties with the future Constantinople, the squad of ancient Russian princes, whose Varangian origin, according to the Normans, goes back to Swedish, glorified and honored Perun and Veles, and not at all the Scandinavian Odin and Thor.
Varangian origin of Rurik in folk legends
There are a number of other versions and concepts, in most cases untested and existing at the level of legends and tales.
Thus, a traveler originally from France, C. Marmier, connected the Varangian roots of Rurik and his bloodlines Sineus and Truvor with King Godlav.
Three brothers who crossed the Baltic Sea were called to the east and laid the foundation for a famous state with the cities of Pskov and Novgorod. Undoubtedly, this legend is not much different from the generally accepted “Norman theory”.
Old Russian chronicles and German sources about the first prince
This historical concept is not recognized as reliable by the Germans themselves, but the continuity between brief information about the first prince in Nestor’s historical work and records in German sources cannot be completely denied.
A lawyer from Mecklenburg, Johann von Chemnitz, appealed to a historical legend, according to which the first Russian prince was a descendant of the aforementioned ruler Godlav, who died in the war with the Danes in 808. It is logical to think that Rurik was born no later than 806, because he had two more junior bloodlines.
According to German historical materials, the Varangians were called from the southern Baltic lands in 840. From this we can conclude that in ancient Rus' there appeared already experienced princes who had seen life.
The same facts are evidenced by the discovered Rurik settlement, which was located in close proximity to modern Novgorod, and represented the historical center of the state, and also existed before 862.
While allowing themselves some chronological inaccuracies, the authors of German sources more accurately determine the place of arrival than Russian ones. Most likely, this meant not Novgorod (as assumed in the above-mentioned historical documents), but Ladoga, founded by the Varangians in the mid-8th century.
As such, Novgorod, that is, the Rurik settlement, was united by the ancient Russian prince later, including the territories that belonged to the dead brothers. This is what the city's naming demonstrates.
Family tree of the ancestor of the Russian princely dynasty
Mecklenburg researchers attributed to the family tree of the Varangian prince a relationship with King Witslav, the main military ally of the Frankish leader Charlemagne in the fight against the Saxons.
Rurik’s family ties also go back to the legendary elder of the Ilmen Slovenes, Gostomysl, as evidenced by North German genealogies and historical documents in which the latter is mentioned as an enemy of Louis the German.
Reasons for the migration of the Varangians to the east
The following logical question arises: what are the reasons behind the migration of the Varangian prince and his brothers to the east? In fact, the whole problem lay in the traditional system of inheritance, which ancient Rus' later adopted.
All rights to the throne were transferred only to the eldest representative of the glorious family. At the same time, all the younger offspring were left with nothing. As a result of this priority queue for the elders, Rurik and his brothers had no choice but to leave the southern Baltic coast and follow to the east.
Thus, it is very difficult to imagine the first Varangian prince as a foreign ruler, which everyone who positions the history of Russia under foreign rule wants to see.
Today, there are many medieval myths about the German roots of the Grand Duke, supported by European pseudo-researchers and analysts.
But there are even more historical facts about the real ruler Rurik, who was born into a famous and influential dynasty in the Russian Baltic states 1200 years ago.
summary of other presentations“The period of formation of the Old Russian state” - Merchants. The glades paid tribute to the Khazars. Trade. Formation of government centers. Territories of the Northerners and Radimichi. The emergence of princely power. Formation of the Old Russian state. Villages. Kings. Tribes. Prerequisites for the creation of the Old Russian state. Grand Prince of Kyiv. Rurik's calling. Formation of the Old Russian state. State. The power of the Kyiv prince. Invited princes. Notable warriors of Rurik.
“History of the formation of the Old Russian state” - Kyiv. Conditions. Polyudye. State. Formation of the Old Russian state. Calling of the Varangians. Prerequisites for the creation of the state. Historians. Uniting North and South. Can the Varangians be called the creators of the Old Russian state? Prerequisites. Prince of Kyiv. Management of the Old Russian state.
“Economic development of the Old Russian state” - Economic development of the Old Russian state. Trade routes of Ancient Rus'. Patrimony. Kin and neighborhood community. Feudalization of the land. Taxes in Ancient Rus'. Three-field system. Kremlin. International trade. Old Russian city. Economy of Kievan Rus. Money in Ancient Rus'. Craft. Novgorod hryvnia. Activities of the ancient Slavs. Causes of feudal fragmentation. Prince. The first Russian princes. Mongol-Tatar yoke.
“Rus 9-13 centuries” - Reasons for the formation of the state in Rus'. State. Rus' in the 9th - 13th centuries. Build a logical chain. Systematize. Frontal survey. Historical warm-up. Yaroslav the Wise. A group of warriors. Independent work. Historical dictation. Characteristics of a historical figure. Definition of the problem. Get to know a historical figure.
“Old Russian State and Society” - Olga’s Reform. Cathedral of Prince Vladimir. Old Russian state and society. The rural community is a “rope”. Lesson objectives. Prerequisites for the emergence of the state among the Slavs. Entrance to the Cathedral of Prince Vladimir. Polyudye. Oleg (879-912). Basic concepts. Igor was immoderate in his demands on the defeated tribes. The beginning of Rus'. Main directions of domestic and foreign policy. Vladimir (980-1015). Polyudye of Russian princes in the 10th century.
“Formation of the state among the Eastern Slavs” - Polyudye. The state of Slavic society. Formation of Kievan Rus. Signs of the state in Rus'. Formation of the state among the Eastern Slavs. What explains the rise of Kyiv? Varangians in Rus'. State. Improving tools. Slavic society by the 9th century.
Textbook of Russian history Platonov Sergey Fedorovich
§ 7. Varangian princes
§ 7. Varangian princes
Almost no legends have survived about the activities of the semi-fairytale Rurik (in Old Scandinavian Hroerekr) in Novgorod. They said that he initially lived not in Novgorod, but in Ladoga, at the mouth of the river. Volkhov moved to Novgorod after the death of his brothers. His rule allegedly aroused displeasure and even caused a rebellion under the leadership of some Vadim the Brave; but Rurik killed Vadim and defeated the rebels. Those dissatisfied with him fled to Kyiv, where the Varangian warriors Askold and Dir were already sitting, having left Rurik’s squad and founded their principality in Kyiv. It is difficult, of course, to say how true all these legends are.
After the death of Rurik (879), his relative Oleg (in Old Scandinavian Helgi) began to reign in Novgorod. He enjoyed power as the guardian of Rurik's young son Igor (in Old Norse Ingvarr). Oleg did not stay in Novgorod: together with Igor, he moved south along the great path “from the Varangians to the Greeks,” conquered Smolensk and Lyubech on the Dnieper and approached Kiev. By deception, he captured and destroyed Askold and Dir here on the grounds that they “are not princes and not of a princely family,” while he himself is a prince, and Igor is a Rurik prince. Having occupied Kyiv, Oleg settled in it and made it the capital of his principality, saying that Kyiv would be “the mother of Russian cities.” This is how Oleg managed to unite in his hands all the main cities along the great waterway. This was his first goal. From Kyiv he continued his unification activities: he went against the Drevlyans, then against the northerners and conquered them, then he subjugated the Radimichi. Thus, all the main tribes of the Russian Slavs, except for the outlying ones, and all the most important Russian cities gathered under his hand. Kyiv became the center of a large state and freed the Russian tribes from Khazar dependence. Having thrown off the Khazar yoke, Oleg tried to strengthen his country with fortresses from the eastern nomads (both Khazars and Pechenegs) and built cities along the border of the steppe.
But Oleg did not limit himself to uniting the Slavs. Following the example of his Kyiv predecessors, Askold and Dir, who raided Byzantium, Oleg conceived a campaign against the Greeks. With a large army “on horses and ships” he approached Constantinople (907), devastated its surroundings and besieged the city. The Greeks started negotiations, gave Oleg a “tribute”, that is, they bought off ruin, and concluded an agreement with Russia, which was confirmed a second time in 912. Oleg’s luck made a deep impression on Rus': Oleg was sung in songs, and his exploits were embellished with fabulous features. From the songs, the chronicler entered into his chronicle the story of how Oleg put his ships on wheels and went on dry land with sails “across the fields” to Constantinople. From the song, of course, the detail was taken into the chronicle that Oleg, “showing victory,” hung his shield at the gates of Tsaryagrad. Oleg was given the nickname “prophetic” (wise, knowing what others are not given to know). Oleg’s activities were indeed of exceptional importance: Oleg created a large state from disunited cities and tribes, brought the Slavs out of subordination to the Khazars and, through treaties, established correct trade relations between Rus' and Byzantium; in a word, he was the creator of Russian-Slavic independence and strength.
After the death of Oleg (912) he came into power Igor, apparently, who did not have the talent of a warrior and ruler. He made two raids into Greek possessions: into Asia Minor and into Constantinople. The first time he suffered a severe defeat in a naval battle, in which the Greeks used special vessels with fire and fired “fire at the Russian boats with pipes.” The second time, Igor did not reach Constantinople and made peace with the Greeks on the terms set out in the treaty of 945. This treaty is considered less beneficial for Rus' than Oleg’s treaties. In Igor’s campaign against the Greeks they also took part Pechenegs(§ 2), for the first time under Igor they attacked the Russian land, and then made peace with Igor. Igor ended his life sadly: he died in the country of the Drevlyans, from whom he wanted to collect double tribute. His death, the matchmaking of the Drevlyan prince Mal, who wanted to marry Igor’s widow Olga, and Olga’s revenge on the Drevlyans for the death of her husband form the subject of a poetic legend, described in detail in the chronicle.
Olga(in Old Norse and Greek Helga) remained after Igor with his young son Svyatoslav and took over the rule of the principality. According to ancient Slavic custom, widows enjoyed civil independence and full rights, and in general the position of women among the Slavs was better than among other European peoples. Therefore, it is not surprising that Princess Olga became a ruler. The chronicler’s attitude towards her is the most sympathetic: he considers her “the wisest of all people” and attributes to her great concerns about the structure of the earth. Traveling around her possessions, she established order everywhere and left behind a good memory everywhere. Her main business was the adoption of the Christian faith and a pious journey to Constantinople (957). According to the chronicle, Olga was baptized “by the king and the patriarch” in Constantinople, although it is more likely that she was baptized at home, in Rus', before her trip to Greece. Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who honorably received Olga in his palace and described her reception (in the essay “On the Rituals of the Byzantine Court”), talks about the Russian princess with restraint and calm. The legend that has developed in Rus' about the princess’s journey says that the emperor was so struck by Olga’s beauty and intelligence that he even wanted to marry her; however, Olga declined this honor. She behaved respectfully towards the patriarch, but quite independently towards the emperor. The chronicler is even sure that she managed to outwit the emperor twice: firstly, she cleverly managed to refuse his matchmaking, and secondly, she refused him tribute or gifts, which he supposedly gullibly counted on. Such was the naive legend that taught Olga exceptional wisdom and cunning. With the triumph of Christianity in Rus', the memory of Princess Olga, in the holy baptism of Helen, began to be revered by the Orthodox Church and Princess Olga was canonized.
Olga’s son Svyatoslav already bore a Slavic name, but his character was that of a typical Varangian warrior and warrior. As soon as he had time to mature, he formed a large and brave squad for himself and with it began to seek glory and booty for himself. He left the influence of his mother early and “was angry with his mother” when she urged him to be baptized. “How can I change my faith alone? The squad will start laughing at me,” he said. He got along well with his squad, led a harsh marching life with them, and therefore moved with unusual ease: “walking easily, like a pardus (leopard),” as the chronicle puts it.
While his mother was still alive, leaving the Principality of Kiev in Olga’s care, Svyatoslav made his first brilliant campaigns. He went to the Oka and subjugated the Vyatichi, who then paid tribute to the Khazars; then he turned to the Khazars and defeated the Khazar kingdom, taking the main cities of the Khazars (Sarkel and Itil). At the same time, Svyatoslav defeated the Yasov and Kasog (Circassian) tribes on the river. Kuban and captured the area near the Sea of Azov called Tamatarkha (later Tmutarakan, and now Taman). Finally, Svyatoslav, having penetrated the Volga, ravaged the land of the Kama Bulgarians and took their city of Bolgar. In a word, Svyatoslav defeated and ruined all the eastern neighbors of Rus', which were part of the Khazar state. Rus' was now becoming the main power in the Black Sea region. But the fall of the Khazar state strengthened the nomadic Pechenegs. All the southern Russian steppes, previously occupied by the Khazars, now fell at their disposal; and Rus' itself soon had to experience great troubles from these nomads.
Returning to Kyiv after his conquests in the east, Svyatoslav received an invitation from the Greeks to help Byzantium in its fight against the Danube Bulgarians. Gathering a large army, he conquered Bulgaria and remained there to live in the city of Pereyaslavets on the Danube, since he considered Bulgaria his property. “I want to live in Pereyaslavets Danube,” he said, “there is the middle of my land, all sorts of blessings are collected there: from the Greeks gold, fabrics, wines and fruits, from the Czechs and Ugrians - silver and horses, from Rus' - furs, wax and honey and slaves." But he had to return from Bulgaria to Kyiv for a while, because in his absence the Pechenegs attacked Rus' and besieged Kyiv. The people of Kiev with Princess Olga and Svyatoslav’s children barely escaped the formidable enemy and sent to Svyatoslav with reproaches and a request for help. Svyatoslav came and drove the Pechenegs into the steppe, but did not stay in Kyiv. The dying Olga asked him to wait in Rus' until her death. He granted her wish; but, having buried his mother, he immediately left for Bulgaria, leaving his sons as princes in Rus'. However, the Greeks did not want to allow Russian domination over the Bulgarians and demanded the removal of Svyatoslav back to Rus'. Svyatoslav refused to leave the banks of the Danube. The war began, and the Byzantine emperor John Tzimiskes defeated Svyatoslav. After a series of difficult efforts, he locked the Russians in the fortress of Doristol (now Silistria) and forced Svyatoslav to make peace and cleanse Bulgaria. Svyatoslav's army, exhausted by the war, on the way home was captured in the Dnieper rapids by the Pechenegs and scattered, and Svyatoslav himself was killed (972). Thus the Pechenegs completed the defeat of the Russian prince, begun by the Greeks.
After the death of Svyatoslav in Rus', bloody civil strife occurred between his sons (Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir), in which the brothers of Prince Vladimir died, and he remained the sole sovereign. Shocked by strife, the Principality of Kiev showed signs of internal decay, and Vladimir had to spend a lot of effort to pacify the Varangians who served him and subjugate the renegade tribes (Vyatichi, Radimichi). After the failures of Svyatoslav, the external power of Rus' was also shaken. Vladimir waged many wars with various neighbors over border volosts; He also fought with the Volga Bulgarians. He also became involved in a war with the Greeks, as a result of which he converted to Christianity according to the Greek rite. This most important event ended the first period of power of the Varangian dynasty in Rus'.
This text is an introductory fragment.The beginning of Russia is a great mystery
Stolypin Petr Arkadevich
The history of Rurik is full of contradictions and inaccuracies. This is mainly due to the fact that there are practically no reliable written sources indicating what Russia actually was like before Prince Rurik. The main source of such knowledge can only be considered numerous chronicles. The main chronicler, Nester, wrote that the beginning of the reign of the first prince dates back to 862. It was in this year that Prince Rurik (Varangian) took the princely throne in Novgorod. The total time of his reign is from 862 to 879. It should be noted that the reign was initially carried out not from Novgorod, but from Ladoga; it was in this city that Prince Rurik stayed, and it was from there that Novgorod ruled. This fact did not overshadow the beginning of the reign, because the city of Ladoga was a kind of gateway to the famous sea route from the Varangians to the Greeks. His brothers also ruled together with the first Varangian: Sinius occupied the city of Beloozero, Trovor occupied the city of Izvorsk. After the death of Sinius and Trovor in 864, the Novgorod ruler annexed their lands to his possession. It was from this time, according to the chronicler, that the Russian monarchy began.
Governance of the country
Rurik's foreign policy at the time of his coming to power boils down to strengthening statehood, seizing new territories and fighting internal enemies. So, in the first two years, from 862 to 864, he annexed the cities of Murom, Rostov and Smolensk to his lands. Such a successful foreign policy was accompanied by growing discontent in Novgorod itself. The main culprit of these events was Vadim Brave. The successful beginning of the Varangian reign haunted him. It was Vadim the Brave in 864, with the support of the Novgorod boyars, merchants and wise men, who raised a rebellion, which was brutally suppressed by Rurik. Nester (the chronicler) testifies to this in his works. Since 864, Rus''s foreign policy has not undergone any changes. This time, he moved south, to the Dnieper steppes, where he plundered local tribes. In this way they managed to reach Kyiv itself, where Askold and Dir ruled.
Rurik's foreign policy
Foreign policy at that time required securing its southern borders, in connection with which a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod, ruled by Prince Rurik, and Kiev, ruled by Askold and Dir. But this world was not destined to last long. Already in 866, Askold began a campaign to the north, to the lands that were part of the possession of Novgorod. This campaign lasted until 870, but ultimately Prince Rurik defeated Askold's army. At the same time, there are a number of oddities in the development of events after this victory, as in other years of the reign of the first Varangian - the victorious army did not capture Kyiv. Rurik limited himself to ransom only. It is almost impossible to explain what caused such generosity of the prince, who never disdained to expand his possessions. The only reasonable explanation for this fact can be considered only that at the same time the Novgorod squad fought with the Khazars and constantly expected aggression from the Baltic. The reasonableness of this argument is confirmed by the fact that further rule was aimed at finally capturing Kyiv. Beginning in 873 and until its death, the main efforts of Novgorod were aimed at concluding an alliance with Western countries against Kyiv. But these plans were not destined to come true. The history of Rurik ended in 879. The further implementation of these plans was undertaken by Prince Oleg, who was popularly nicknamed the Prophetic.
Prince Rurik and his life are a success story. The story of how an ordinary person managed not only to seize power, but also to retain it and successfully rule his state. Of course, Russia existed before 862, but it was Prince Rurik who laid the foundation for the great state that Russia is to this day.