1535944

[SUSANNA KEENE.FTW]

Prince of Belozerskiy and of Izborsk
Really nowadays there are two important questions needed to be
solved: the first is about identification of Rurik, the second
is whether he was true founder of the Rurikovichi House. For a
long time the problem of Ruruk's origin was rather political
than simply historical one. Have You heard anything about
"Norman theory"? It's discussion that has lasted for almost 250
years in Russia. The heart of the problem is if Rurik was the
founder of state organization in ancient Russia (Kiev Russia)
or aborigines had built it before. I am not going to dwell on
this question; I mentioned it only to say that an ideological
aspect put off the decision of Rurik problem for many years.
First of all about Rurik origin. Histotians base on the text of
the most early chronicle reached us: "The Nestor's Letopis". It
was created in the middle of XII c. by monk of Kievo-Pechorski
abbey. According to this document inhabitans of Novgorod, a
city of Northen Russia, invited Rurik to rule in this city to
defend against other Norman sea-robbers. It was happened in
862. The chronicle informs that Rurik took Ladoga, a very
small town near Novgorod. After death of his two brothers,
Sineus and Thruvor in 864, he got their possessions, Beloozero
("White lake") and Izborsk. Novgorod became Rurik's capital.
There he died in 862. The chronicle says he gave the government
to his relative Oleg as his son Igor was child. Sach way, in
accordance with Nestor chronical the beginning of Rurikovichi
shows as:

1 Ruri=EA I Pr.of Novgorod (not Kiev !!!) d. 879
Pr. of Belozerskiy and of Izborsk (864)

2 Igor I Rurikivich Pr. of Kiev d. 945
3 Svjatoslav I Igorevich Pr. of Kiev b. Jul 942 d. 972
m. Predslav=
a
of Ungarn(?)
4 Jaropolk I Svjatoslavich Pr. of Kiev b. 961 d. 980
m. ?
4 Oleg Svjatoslavich Pr.of Drevljanskiy b. 962 d. 977
4 Wladimir I Svjatoslavich Gr.Pr.of Kiev d. 15 Jul
1015

In XVIII century Russian historian Tatishev in his "History of
Russian State" named Rurik's wife, Efanda (sometimes Ingrid) of
Urman. He informed also some interesting details about first
Russian princes but unfortunately the documents which he used
didn't reached us: they were lost while Napoleon's invasion in
1812. The chronicle says that Rurik came with their brothers,
Sineus and Thruvor. Now it's proves that their names are
wrong-translated into Russian (by Nestor or any of his
predecessors) Scandinavian words "sine hus' (with his hause)
and "tru voring"(with loyal guard) [sorry for my possible
mistakes in spelling]. So Rurik was alone, without any
brothers.

In 1920s it was expressed an opinion that Rurik of Kiev is the
same Rorik of Denmark (or of Friesland). That person was one of
the three sons of Halvdan, koning of Jutland. Halvdan had to
leave his country ab. 782 and then he received Frisie enfeoff
from Charlemagne. Rorik had part in christining of his brother
Harald in Ingelheim upon Rhein, near Mainz (826). Harald came
with his family and maybe his family, and Rorik too, were
baptized. Halvdan had three sons: Harald, Rorik and Hemming and
this fact conforms to story about two brothers of Rurik of
Kiev. The time of action coincides (first half-middle of IX
c.). There are also other coincidences. At that time, in
accordance with Snorry Sturluson "Royal sagas" (begin.of XIII
c.), we have in Norway konung Halvdan and his wife Ragnhilde,
who had son Harald Finehairs. Snorry says that before Harald
was born his mother had a dream: she saw luxuriant tree
(speaking about future strong dynasty). The same legend said us
Tatishev based on the losed documents. Tatishev tells about a
certain Russian Prince Gostomysl, whose daughter Urmila was
mother of Rurik of Kiev. She also had the such dream. Probably
the Russian chronicle based on any Scandinavian one, more
earlier. Russian phililogist Sreznevskiy, an outstanding
expert of Slav languages in XIX c., considered that "Gostomysl"
is neither Russian nor Eastslav name, it was widespread where
WestBaltic Slavs lived. We even know a certain Gostomysl who
was mentioned in "Fuld annales" in 844. The same time again!
Last time Rorik of Jutland was mentioned in 882 as dead and
Russian chronicle says that he died in 879. Quite really ! The
difference is that Western annales inform he died in Frisie,
his fief received from Charles the Bald, and Russian one in
Novgorod. But we have real reasons to think that Rurik of Kiev
and Rorik of Jutland are the same. But answering another
question, if Rurik was the founder of the first Russian
dynasty, we have to say no. The story about Rurik gave his
power to Oleg is fantasy. Oleg and Igor (that time a child)
didn't even try to stay in Novgorod, their native city, and at
once moved to Kiev through Smolensk. It was unlogical step,
because Kiev and Novgorod were bitterest enemis. The most
documents of XII-XV c. didn't know Rurik, they originate
Rurikovichi from Igor of Kiev. Name Rurik wasn't widespread in
princely house, only at the close of XI c. we can see the first
prince Rurik by name. Thank You for attention,

Alexander Agamov
Moscow, Russia
agamov@@com2com.ru

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