How the first Scandinavians appeared in Russia long before Rurik, and what influence they had on history

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

If you believe the "Tale of Bygone Years", then the first Varangians to the Novgorod lands "came from across the sea" in 859. The indigenous people allegedly drove them away immediately. However, just a few years later, they themselves called the Scandinavian king Rurik to reign in these lands. Typically, these events are considered the beginning of active relations between the Varangians and the Slavs. And yet there is a lot of mentions that the Vikings were in Russia long before Rurik, while leaving a significant mark on the local historical twists and turns.

Russia in the history of the Scandinavian peoples

Medieval northern authors of various sagas and epics were confident that the Eastern European territories from ancient times were originally "Scandinavian". One of the Danish historians and chroniclers of the 12th century, Saxon Grammaticus, in his writings often calls the "Scandinavian kings" of Ancient Russia. In one of his historical works, Saxon describes how the legendary ruler of the Varangians Frodo I, around the 5th century, invaded Russia, capturing several large settlements.

The Danish king Frodo allegedly defeated the local residents of the "Ruthenes", after which he returned to his homeland in triumph. However, soon the defeated killed the governors of Frodo, and he had to return with troops. The king arrived and laid siege to one of the cities of the Ruthenes, called Rotala. At the same time, the Danes were not the only Scandinavian people who voiced their claims about the Eastern European territories.

The Swedes also claimed the lands of Russia. And they also tried to "documentarily substantiate" their claims, proving their long-standing connection with these territories. So, for example, the legendary discoverer of the path "from the Varangians to the Greeks", the Swedish ruler (king) Ivar "Broad Embrace" in the 7th century had a very vast kingdom. It (according to medieval Swedish chroniclers) included most of the northern lands of Russia.

Naturally, all these stories can be attributed more to the folklore epic of the Varangian peoples, rather than to the true historical facts. However, it is they who indicate that the Russian lands have always been not only interesting, but also strategically important for the Scandinavian rulers.

Mention of Russia in Icelandic sagas

In the 13th-15th centuries, almost all Icelandic chronicle sagas describe the struggle of the Varangian tribes for control over the East European trade routes. In some cases, the heroes of these epics can be compared with real historical figures. The Saga of Halfdan tells the story of the adventures of the Scandinavian sea chief, the Sekong Eystein. According to legend, having invaded the northern lands of the Slavs, he killed the local ruler Hergeir, thereby usurping power in this territory of Russia.

The saga describes the decisive battle of Eystein against Heigeir near the large settlement of Aldeigyuborg. Further, the epic narrates that Eystein could not rule over the captured land for a long time, since he was meanly killed by people who remained loyal to the late Heyrgeir. However, after Eystein's death, his son, Haldwan, ruled Aldeigüborg for a time.

A very similar story is described in another Icelandic saga about Horolf the Pedestrian. It describes how King Hreggweed, ruling in Holmgard, was attacked from the sea by the troops of the Sekong Erik. In a bloody battle, Hreggwyd was killed, and all his possessions passed to the Vikings. However, Horolf's army conquered the kingdom from the Varangians. Returning the throne to its rightful heir - the son of Hreggwid.

If we “adapt” all the names and names to real events, then Aldergyuborg is the village of Staraya Ladoga in the Leningrad region of Russia, and Holmgrad is modern Veliky Novgorod. The prototypes of Hreggvid and his son were the ancient Slavic princes. According to historians, the events described in this saga could really take place in the 9th century.

Russia and the Scandinavian king Ragnar Lodbrok

Almost every family dynasty of Scandinavians tried to deduce a story of a kind from Ragnar Lodbrok - the legendary Varangian king, who, according to most historians, was still a fictional figure, or simply a collective one. And yet, some Scandinavian sagas describe Khvitserk, one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, as the ruler of Russia.

He became so after the Austrverg - a military campaign in Eastern European lands. The epics indicate that in his campaign Khvitserk passed Holmgarðr (Novgorod), Koenugarðr (Kiev), and reached Miklagardr itself - Constantinople.

The saga describes how the Varangians, having killed the local king Diana, proclaimed the ruler of Khvitserk. The king of the "Ruthenians" (Rusyns) was forced to retreat under pressure from the Scandinavians. Further, Khvitserk was either killed by ill-wishers, or he was expelled from these lands. However, researchers have found parallels of the events described in the saga with real historical facts.

In their opinion, the chronicle Khvitserk is none other than the Kiev prince Askold. Dian could well have been another prince - Dir. However, if you believe the Varangian sagas, then Dir ruled before Askold, and not with him. As for the murder or expulsion of the Scandinavian king Khvitserk, the story is very similar to the capture of Kiev by Oleg.

All this gives reason to seriously assert that even before the appearance of King Rurik in Russia, at the very beginning of the 9th century, the Scandinavians, under the leadership of their leader, conquered a large Slavic city for some time. It is quite possible that it was the capital of Russia - Kiev.

Traces of the ancient Vikings in Russia

Not only the ancient Scandinavian sagas, but also later European sources indicate the active actions of the Varangians in Eastern Europe during the VIII-IX centuries. The chronicle work "The Life of Saint Ansgar" - a bishop who lived and preached in Sweden at the beginning of the 9th century, mentions the military campaigns of the Vikings to the Baltic lands and further to the Slavic tribes.

Another proof of such "sorties" of the Varangians is the large number of runestones erected in memory of the soldiers who died in Austr í Görðum (in the East and in Gardy) - on the lands of Russia. Researchers who worked on excavations in northern cities (Ladoga, Pechora) indicate that in some periods of time the percentage of Scandinavians among their population even exceeded the local.

Historians confirm the fact that by the beginning of the 9th century, Eastern European lands had become one of the centers of trade between the Old World, Byzantium and the Middle East. The Vikings, having the opportunity to sail deep into the European continent on their ships along navigable rivers, reached all the richest states of that time. Thus, the Scandinavians were full-fledged "players" in the European trade market.

It was the profitability of the territories of Russia that made it a very "tasty morsel" for the Scandinavian kings and Varangian pirates, who were trying to conquer new, profitable from the point of view of the economy and trade, lands. All this proves that the northern ruling dynasties really tried to establish their power in Russia. Scientists are confident that even before the 830s, the Scandinavians not only knew these territories well, but also took part in the wars of the Slavic tribes with the Scythians and Khazars.

Thus, Rurik really could be far from the first Viking to visit the territory of Russia. However, it was with him that the new history of these lands began. The centralized power of the Rurikovichs grew stronger every year, which forced the Scandinavians to end their encroachments on these territories over time. In subsequent years, the Vikings have always been the most reliable allies of the Russian princes.