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Soviet Union [USSR] The East Slavs and the Varangians
By the ninth century, Scandinavian warriors and merchants,
called Varangians, had penetrated the East Slavic regions.
According to the earliest chronicle of Kievan Rus', a Varangian
named Rurik first established himself in Novgorod ca. 860 before
moving south and extending his authority to Kiev. The chronicle
cited Rurik as the progenitor of the Rurikid Dynasty. This princely
clan was to rule in eastern Europe until 1598. Another Varangian,
named Oleg, moved south from Novgorod, expelled the Khazars from
Kiev, and founded Kievan Rus' ca. 880. In a period of thirty-five
years, he subdued the various East Slavic tribes. In 907 he led a
campaign against Constantinople, and in 911 he signed a commercial
treaty with the Byzantine Empire on the basis of equality. The new
state prospered because it controlled the trade route stretching
from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea and because it had an abundant
supply of furs, wax, honey, and slaves for export.
Historians have debated the role of the Varangians in the
establishment of Kievan Rus'. Most Russian--and particularly
Soviet--historians have stressed the Slavic influence in the
development of the state. Although Slavic tribes had formed their
own regional entities by 860, the Varangians undoubtedly
accelerated the crystallization of Kievan Rus'.
Data as of May 1989
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