Kievan Rus' - History

History

In the early 9th century, the Rus, a group of Vikings from the modern-day area of Sweden, became loosely organized under the Rus' Khaganate. The ruler of the Rus during their Anatolian expedition in 839 was called chaganus (i.e. khaqan). In 860, the Rus invaded the Byzantine Empire, and subsequently launched several wars with the Byzantine Empire and expeditions to the Caspian Sea. The early leaders of Rus' were most likely a Norse elite that ruled a majority of Slavic subjects.

According to the Primary Chronicle, the earliest chronicle of Rus', the territory of the future Kievan state was divided between Varangians and Khazars. The Laurentian Codex says:

In the year 6367 (859): Varangians from over the sea imposed tribute upon the Chuds, the Slavs, the Merias, the Veses and Krivichs, but the Khazars imposed it upon the Polians, the Sieverians and Vyatichs.

However, in 6368-6370 (860-862),

"The tributaries of the Varangians drove them back beyond the sea and, refusing them further tribute, set out to govern themselves. There was no law among them, but tribe rose against tribe. Discord thus ensued among them, and they began to war one against the other. They said to themselves, "Let us seek a prince who may rule over us, and judge us according to the Law." They accordingly went overseas to the Varangian Russes. These particular Varangians were known as Russes, just as some are called Swedes, and others Normans, English and Gotlanders, for they were thus named. The Chuds, the Slavs, the Krivichs and the Ves then said to the Rus, "Our land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us". They thus selected three brothers with their kinfolk, who took with them all the Rus and migrated.

The three brothers—Rurik (the oldest), Sineus, and Truvor—established themselves in Novgorod, Beloozero and Izborsk, respectively. After two years, two of Rurik's brothers died leaving Rurik the sole ruler. He in turn installed his nakhodniks to assist him in governing the land. The principals' cities became Novgorod (capital) ruling over Ilmen Slavs, Polotsk – Krivichi, Rostov – Merya, Beloozero – Veps, and Murom – Muroma. The chronicle names him as the progenitor of the Rurik Dynasty. The Primary Chronicle says:

Two of Riurik's boyars, Askold and Dir who were not blood-related to Riurik, asked him to go with their families to Tsargrad. Going down the Dnieper River they noticed settlement named Kiev which they liberated from the Khazars' tribute and settled there, eventually conquering the rest of the Polians' land.