General Notes

REFN: 6005AN
Rurik is a legendary figure, but rather less legendary than many early
Swedis h and Danish kings. The chronology seems relatively unproblematic,
and Rurik could well have been a contemporary of Ragnar Lodbrok (on the
most likely dat ing for him, 860-865). He ruled from, and reportedly
founded, the city of Nov gorod. In his time Kiev was also founded, in the
course of an expedition to C onstantinople, where Varangians are said to
have arrived as early as 839. In short order the center of Russian power
moved to Kiev, and further attempts o n Constantinople were made. As these
were usually rebuffed, sometimes with he avy losses (e.g. 971), a new
modus vivendi was struck -- peaceful trade. When Rurik's own
daughter-in-law, Helga, or Olga as it would become in Russian, v isited
Constantinople and converted to Christianity, the way of the future be gan
to open up. Although the Russian Varangians were assimilating with the
Slavs quickly, as late as Mstislav I the rulers are still well aware of
their Norse origins and have Scandinavian names as well as Slavic ones --
in his c ase Harald (which also happened to be the name of his English
grandfather).
Rurik, Grand Prince of Kiev
Born circa 800
Died in 879
Rurik, the Viking lea der who is traditionally credited with founding
the Russian state, was born i n Friesland, a region in present-day
Holland, which his father controlled. Af ter leading raids in France,
England, and Germany, Rurik gained control of a large tract of land in
Jutland. However, he soon abandoned his claim under pr essure from rival
chieftains.
In the 850s, Rurik and his brothers Sineus and Truvor led a band of
Vikings into northwestern Russia where they established a settlement near
Lake Ladoga in what is now northeastern Russia very near t he border with
Finland. Rurik soon moved part of the settlement to nearby Nov gorod,
according to legend, at the invitation of the local Slavs. There he
established the seat of his power and built a fortress from which he
could ru le the Russian lands. His rule extended as far south as Kiev
where his succes sors founded the powerful Kievan state, which lasted
until the 1200s.
From R urik came the house of Rurikovitch which ruled Russia until the
end of the 16 th century.