Rurik is the first Russian prince, his existence is confirmed by ancient chronicles. The biography of Rurik (862-879 years of life are described in various sources) is not known for certain, and this gives rise to many versions about his origin and the events in which he participated.

chronicle information

The branching of the Rurik clan began after the death of Vladimir and intensified after Yaroslav the Wise. The princes allocated estates and allotments to their sons, and wars broke out between them for primacy and the right to the throne. In their wars and divisions, they almost lost all Russian lands during the period of the Mongol-Tatar yoke and numerous raids by neighboring states. The Rurik family gave numerous offspring, which later became the founders of high-profile noble families.

Versions of origin

There are many versions of where Prince Rurik came from. short biography and meager information enable historians, linguists to show imagination, relying on fragments of phrases, lengthy or professional interpretations of ancient sources and their own knowledge. Origin options:

• Scandinavian. In favor of the version, there is a consonance with the name of the Scandinavian ruler Rurik of Jutland, several interpretations of the inscriptions on the stones from the Shui hill, dating from the same years when Rurik ruled in Novgorod.
• According to another version, the genus of the Varangians, from which Rurik came out, is of French origin, and, therefore, the full name of the Russian ruler is Rurik Friesland.
• Baltic origin. Some scholars argue that Rurik comes from the people who inhabited the island of Ruyan (now Ryugen). In favor of the version is the story that Rurik came to Rus' through Ladoga.
• Slavic origin. When studying The Tale of Bygone Years, it becomes clear that there are no linguistic differences between the princes from the Varangians and the ancient peoples of Rus', everyone understood each other without an interpreter, the names of the ancient cities are clear even today - Beloozero, Ladoga, Novgorod, etc. Gumilyov argued that the Varangians are not an ethnic group, but a profession. In the same chronicle there is a phrase: “And from those Varangians the Russian land, Novgorodians, was nicknamed, they are the people of Novogorodtsy from the Varangian clan.” That is, it turns out that the Novgorodians are Slavs, which means that the Varangians are also Slavs.

The above list of versions of the origin of the first Russian prince is far from complete. The Swedes, Germans and other peoples of Europe claim the right to be called the country from which the ruler came. historical science did not come to a consensus about the origin of Rus' and the appearance of princes, disputes are ongoing, and, probably, will not subside even after the birth of a new document. It is not possible to follow the prescription of years with accuracy, what was the biography of Rurik, besides, many historians raise the question: was there Rurik?

Rurikoviches are the descendants of Rurik, who became the first known chronicle prince ancient Rus'. Over time, the Rurik family split into several branches.

Dynasty

The Tale of Bygone Years, written by the monk Nestor, tells the story of the calling of Rurik and his brothers to Rus'. The sons of the Novgorod prince Gostomysl died in the wars, and he married one of his daughters to a Varangian-Russian, who gave birth to three sons - Sineus, Rurik and Truvor. They were called by Gostomysl to reign in Rus'. It was with them that the Rurik dynasty began in 862, which reigned in Rus' until 1598.

First princes

In 879, the summoned Prince Rurik died, leaving his little son Igor. At the time when he was growing up, Oleg, a relative of the prince through his wife, ruled the principality. He conquered the entire Kiev principality, and also built diplomatic relations with Byzantium. After the death of Oleg in 912, Igor began to reign until he died in 945, leaving two heirs - Gleb and Svyatoslav. However, the eldest (Svyatoslav) was a three-year-old child, and therefore his mother, Princess Olga, took the reign into her own hands.

Having become the ruler, Svyatoslav was more fond of military campaigns, and in one of them he was killed in 972. Svyatoslav left three sons: Yaropolk, Oleg and Vladimir. Yaropolk killed Oleg for the sake of autocracy, while Vladimir first fled to Europe, but later returned, killed Yaropolk and became the ruler. It was he who baptized the people of Kiev in 988, built many cathedrals. He reigned until 1015 and left behind 11 sons. After Vladimir, Yaropolk began to reign, who killed his brothers, and after him Yaroslav the Wise.

Yaroslavichi

Yaroslav the Wise reigned in total from 1015 to 1054 (including breaks). When he died, the unity of the principality was broken. His sons divided Kievan Rus in parts: Svyatoslav received Chernigov, Izyaslav - Kyiv and Novgorod, Vsevolod - Pereyaslavl and the Rostov-Suzdal land. The latter, and later his son Vladimir Monomakh, significantly expand the inherited lands. After the death of Vladimir Monomakh, the disintegration of the unity of the principality is finally established, in each part of which a separate dynasty rules.

Rus' specific

Feudal fragmentation is growing due to the ladder of succession to the throne, according to which power was transferred by seniority to the brothers of the prince, while the younger ones were given in cities of less significant importance. After the death of the chief prince, everyone moved by seniority from city to city. This order led to internecine wars. The most powerful princes launched a war for Kyiv. The power of Vladimir Monomakh and his descendants proved to be the most influential. Vladimir Monomakh leaves his possessions to his three sons: Mstislav, Yaropolk and Yuri Dolgoruky. The latter is considered the founder of Moscow.

Moscow's struggle with Tver

One of the famous descendants of Yuri Dolgoruky was Alexander Nevsky, under whom an independent Moscow principality arose. In an effort to elevate their influence, the descendants of Nevsky begin to fight with Tver. During the reign of a descendant of Alexander Nevsky, the Moscow principality becomes one of the main centers of the unification of Rus', but the Tver principality remains outside its influence.

Creation of the Russian state

After the death of Dmitry Donskoy, power passes to his son Vasily I, who managed to maintain the greatness of the principality. After his death, a dynastic struggle for power begins. However, under the reign of a descendant of Dmitry Donskoy, Ivan III, the Horde yoke ends and the Moscow principality plays a decisive role in this. Under Ivan III, the process of forming a unified Russian state was completed. In 1478, he appropriated the title of "sovereign of all Rus'" to himself.

The last Rurikovichs

The last representatives of the Rurik dynasty in power were Ivan the Terrible and his son Fyodor Ivanovich. The latter was not a ruler by nature, and therefore, after the death of Ivan the Terrible, the Boyar Duma essentially controls the state. In 1591 Dmitry, another son of Ivan the Terrible, dies. Dmitry was the last contender for the Russian throne, since Fyodor Ivanovich had no children. In 1598, Fedor Ivanovich also dies, with whom the dynasty of the first Russian rulers, who had been in power for 736 years, is interrupted.

The article mentions only the main and most prominent representatives of the dynasty, but in fact there were much more descendants of Rurik. The Rurikovichs made an invaluable contribution to the development of the Russian state.

Who was Rurik? By answering this question, we will also answer the question "where did the Russian land come from." Historians have been breaking spears over this issue for centuries, citing various arguments in favor of one theory or another.

Dane

According to the first version, “our” Rurik is Rorik of Jutland, a Danish king from the Skjöldung dynasty, which traces its lineage from Odin himself. Rorik is mentioned in Frankish chronicles, where he is called the ruler of Dorestad and several Frisian lands in 841-873. It is also referred to in the Xanten Annals as "the plague of Christianity".

The first version of the identity of "our" Rurik and Danish Rorik was expressed by pastor H. Hollman in his work "Rustringia, the original fatherland of the first Russian Grand Duke Rurik and his brothers. Historical experience, published in 1816. After 20 years, Friedrich Kruse, a professor at Dorpat University, also identified Rurik with Rorik of Jutland.

From Russian scientists first Nikolai Timofeevich Belyaev wrote about the identity of these historical figures in his work Rorik of Jutland and Rurik of the Primary Chronicle, published in Prague in 1929. As proof of the correctness of the theory, the scientist cites temporary gaps in the Frisian chronicles (863-870) and the corresponding references to Rurik of Novgorod in Russian chronicles.

Also, as an argument, a close correspondence of the archaeological layers of the Jutland city of Ribe and Ladoga of the Rurik time is given.
From modern Russian scientists, the Danish version of the origin of Rurik was supported by Boris Rybakov, Gleb Lebedev, Dmitry Machinsky and others.

The second version: Rurik was a Swede. This hypothesis has no more evidence than the previous one. According to her, Rurik is the Swedish king Eirik Emundarson. He is mentioned by the Icelandic skald Snorri Sturluson in The Circle of the Earth.

Skald describes the ting (national gathering) in 1018, held in Uppsalla. One of its participants recalls King Eirik, saying that every summer he went on campaigns and conquered different lands: Finland, Kirjalaland, Eistlaind, Kurland and many lands in Austrland.

In the sagas, Finland was called Finland, Kirjalaland - Karelia, Eistland - Estonia, Kurland - Courland, Austrweg - the Eastern Way ("from the Varangians to the Greeks"), Austrland was called the lands that later became Russian.

However, according to the Russian chronicles, Rurik was called to rule, and did not come with an aggressive campaign. Secondly, in The Tale of Bygone Years, the Swedes are not considered Varangians. "Varyazi" and "Svei" are considered different nations: "Afetovo bo and that tribe: Varyazi, Svei, Urman, Gotha, Rus ...".

Thirdly, Eirik and Rurik are still different names. They are translated differently. Eirik (Eric, Erik) means in translation from ancient German "rich in honor", Rurik (Ro / rik) - "glorious nobility".

Slav

According to the anti-Norman theory, Rurik is "from ours, from the Slavs." There are two versions Slavic origin founder of Russian statehood.

According to the first version, Rurik was the leader of the Obodrite Slavs (Polabian Slavs), the son of Gotleib, the Obodrite prince, who died in 808. This hypothesis explains the origin of the coat of arms of Rurik - a tribal tamga with a diving falcon, since the falcon was the tribal symbol of the encouraging Slavs (in West Slavonic - “rereg / rarog”).

According to the genealogy of Friedrich Chemnitz (XVII century), Rurik and his brothers were also considered the sons of the already mentioned Gotleib. The Rurik brothers are named Sivar and Truar there. Significantly, the memory of Rurik, the son of Gotleib, was preserved in those places (north-east of Germany) for a long time. The Frenchman Xavier Marmier, who traveled in those places in the middle of the 19th century, wrote about Prince Rurik.

The second Slavic version speaks of the origin of Rurik from the Baltic island of Ruyan, which today is called Rugen. The origin of Rurik from here can be explained by the very name "Rus" (the version with obodrites does not explain this). In the same Mercator in "Cosmography" the island of Ruyan is called nothing more than "Ruscia".

Historian Nikolai Trukhachev also noted that in Western sources, the inhabitants of Ruyan are repeatedly referred to as Rusyns or Ruthenians.
Also typical for the island of Ruyan was the cult of the white horse, its traces are preserved in Russian folklore, as well as in the tradition of installing "skates" on the roofs of the huts.

In 2007, the newspaper "Chechen Society" was published under the authorship of the historian Murtazaliev. It tells that the Anglo-Saxons, Goths, Normans and Rus' are one people.

“The Rus were not just anyone, but Chechens. It turns out that Rurik and his squad, if they really are from the Varangian tribe of Rus, then they are purebred Chechens, moreover, from the royal family and speaking their native Chechen language.

Murtazaliev ends the article as follows: “But still, I would like Chechen scientists not to stop there, but to develop in this direction, given that “warm hands” on Chechen history many want against logic, ignoring all moral barriers. All this throws our people back year after year, for decades, and maybe even hundreds of years.”

Mikhail Lomonosov then made a sharp criticism of this theory. In 1761, he wrote a note to the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences, where he wrote that there was no evidence that Rurik and his retinue came from Scandinavia, and not from other regions adjacent to Novgorod.

The people-tribe Rus, according to Lomonosov, could not come from Scandinavia under the influence of the expansion of the Norman Vikings. First of all, Lomonosov opposed the thesis about the backwardness of the Slavs and their inability to independently form a state.

Novgorod principality

Rurik's history is full of contradictions and inaccuracies. This is mainly due to the fact that there are practically no reliable written sources testifying to what Russia actually was before Prince Rurik. The main source of such knowledge can only be considered not numerous chronicles. The main chronicler, Nester, wrote that the beginning of the reign of the first prince dates back to 862. It was in this year that Prince Rurik (Varangian) occupied the princely throne in Novgorod. The total time of his reign is from 862 to 879. It should be noted that initially the reign was conducted not from Novgorod, but from Ladoga, it was in this city that Prince Rurik stopped, and it was from there that he ruled Novgorod. This fact did not overshadow the beginning of the reign, because the nominal city of Ladoga was a kind of gate in the famous sea route from the Varangians to the Greeks. Together with the first Varangian, his brothers also ruled: Sinius occupied the city of Beloozero, Trovor occupied the city of Izvorsk. After the death of Sinius and Trovor in 864, the ruler of Novgorod annexed their lands to his possession. It was from this time, according to the chronicler, that the Russian monarchy originated.

Country governance

Rurik's foreign policy at the time of his coming to power is reduced to strengthening statehood, seizing new territories and fighting internal enemies. So, the first two years, from 862 to 864, he annexed the cities of Murom, Rostov and Smolensk to his lands. So successful foreign policy was accompanied by growing discontent in Novgorod itself. The main culprit of these events was Vadim the Brave. The successful beginning of the reign of the Varangian did not give him rest. It was Vadim the Brave in 864, with the support of the Novgorod boyars, merchants and sorcerers, who raised a rebellion, which was brutally suppressed by Rurik. This is evidenced by Nester (chronicler) in his writings. Since 864, the foreign policy of Rus' has not changed. This time, he moved south to the Dnieper steppes, where he plundered the local tribes. Thus, it was possible to reach Kyiv itself, in which Askold and Dir ruled.

Rurik's foreign policy

Foreign policy at that time demanded to secure its southern borders, in connection with which a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod, ruled by Prince Rurik, and Kiev, ruled by Askold and Dir. But this world was not destined to last long. Already in 866, Askold began a campaign to the north, to the lands that were part of the possession of Novgorod. This campaign continued until 870, but in the end, Prince Rurik defeated Askold's army. At the same time, in the development of events after this victory there are a number of oddities, as in other matters and in all the years of the reign of the first Varangian, the victorious army did not capture Kyiv. Rurik was limited only to ransom. What is the reason for such generosity of the prince, who never shunned the expansion of his possessions, is almost impossible to explain. The only reasonable explanation for this fact can only be considered that at the same time the Novgorod squad fought with the Khazars and constantly expected aggression from the Baltic. The reasonableness of this argument is confirmed by the fact that further rule was aimed at capturing Kyiv after all. Starting from 873 and up to its death, the main efforts of Novgorod were aimed at concluding an alliance with Western countries against Kyiv. But these plans were not destined to come true. The history of Rurik ended in 879. The further implementation of these plans was taken up by Prince Oleg, who was nicknamed the Prophet by the people.

Prince Rurik and his life is a success story. The story of how a simple man managed not only to seize power, but also to keep it and successfully rule his state. Of course, Russia existed until 862, but it was Prince Rurik who laid the foundation for that great camp, which Russia is to this day.

Rurik Varangian
Founder of the Russian State. Prince of Novgorod
Years of life: about 817-879
Reign: 862-879

Supposed to be from Old Norse Hroerikr (Hroðrekr), literally "glorious in power". According to another version - Rurik - a generic Slavic name meaning "falcon", which among the Slavs was also called rarog.

About the origin Prince Rurik there are many versions, the main ones being Norman and West Slavic.

Born presumably in 817 (according to other sources in 806-807), in the family of a representative of the Danish royal family Skjoldung Halfdan (prince of the Rarog Slavs) and middle daughter Novgorod elder Gostomysl Umila.

Before the birth of Rurik, Halfdan was expelled from Jutland and found shelter with Emperor Charlemagne. Charles' heir, Emperor Louis I the Pious, in 826 became Rurik's godfather and gave him a province in the Netherlands (land in Friesland).
Matured Rurik avenged his father. Conquered almost all of Denmark and conquered Jutland, but after the death of Louis I lost the rights to Friesland. From that moment on, he, with his retinue and other Norman tribes, began to raid many European states. His military talent made him the uncrowned king of the Normans.

Until now, the image of Prince Rurik serves as a source of inspiration for writers and artists

At the time of the beginning of the Russian statehood in Rus', two tribal unions stood out among the Slavic tribes: headed by Novgorod - the North, and led by Kyiv - the South. The Slavs lived in tribes and communities according to the laws of popular government. They did not have a ruler and were ruled by elders, which led to disagreements and frequent wars. The two alliances, which were divided by trading interests, had to compete with each other. This weakened the Slavs and they did not have the strength to fight external enemies. The enemies took advantage of it. In 859, "some brave conquerors who came from across the Baltic Sea" imposed tribute on the Slavs. Two years later, the Slavs expelled the Varangians, but they could not live in peace among themselves. Disagreements, strife and wars began again.

Calling Rurik

The Slavs thought for a long time how to save the Fatherland from destruction and, on the advice of the Novgorod elder Gostomysl, they decided to abandon popular rule and appoint a single prince over themselves, a reliable guardian of their borders, who administered justice and reprisals to the fullest extent. And so that there was discipline, and there were no offenses, they began to look for the prince in foreign lands. And the Slavs went across the sea to the Varangians and said: “Our land is great and plentiful, but there is no order in it. Come reign and rule over us."

In 862, the brothers Rurik, Sineus and Truvor agreed to become the first Rulers in the Ancient Fatherland. The country in which they settled became known as Rus', and from that time the Russian statehood originated. The brothers with their retinue settled: Sineus - between the Chud and the whole on Beloozero; Truvor - at the Krivichi in Izborsk; Rurik among the Slavs of Ilmen. Although historians do not agree on the specific city of the settlement of Rurik. Some say in Ladoga, others in Novgorod. This is how it started Rurik rule in Rus'.

Soon the Slavs regretted the "entry" of the Varangians into the Slavic world and a certain Vadim "the Brave" raised his fellow tribesmen against the alien rulers. There is a version that Rurik's brothers died in this battle, but he managed to execute Vadim and suppress the rebellion. He annexed the lands belonging to the brothers to his own and established autocracy. Some Finnish tribes also joined the Slavic people, adopting their language, faith and customs.

Rurik had dissatisfied people in his entourage Askold and Dir. Dissatisfied with the prince, in search of happiness, they went from Novgorod to Constantinople and founded their autocratic region in Rus'. Askold and Dir in the south, Rurik in the north.

Having gathered a large squad, Askold and Dir decided to attack Byzantium. The Greek emperor was in Asia with an army, the attack was unexpected. According to the Byzantines, horror gripped everyone, no one had ever seen such a thing. There was no mercy for anyone, neither old nor young. Constantinople was in a critical situation, but the Greeks were saved by a miracle: “the robe of the Mother of God lowered into the water by Patriarch Photius caused a storm, scattered the Russian boats. The rest of the squad with their princes returned to Kyiv. The Russian pagans, frightened by the wrath of Heaven, turned to the clergy of Constantinople with a request for holy baptism. According to historians, cases of the adoption of Christianity were known even before the attack of Askold and Dir.

According to the customs of the pagans, who Rurik was, he could have several wives and concubines. According to legend, one of his wives, Efanda, gave birth to a son, Igor, but it is also known that Rurik had a daughter and stepson Askold.

Board of Ruriks

According to the chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years", Rurik, after the death of his brothers in Novgorod, reigned for another 15 years and died in 879, leaving the reign and son Igor to his relative Oleg.

For more than 600 years, the era of the reign of the descendants of the Novgorod prince Rurik continued in Rus'. The last representative of the dynasty became the first Russian tsar.

To our time, little is known about the life of Rurik, but the memory of the founding ruler great dynasty Rurikovich, who raised the dignity and authority of sovereign Russia, remained immortal.
And it’s not for nothing that the Gallery of Bas-reliefs of the Great Russians, on the monument “Millennium of Russia” in Veliky Novgorod, is opened by the figure of Prince Rurik, “from whom Great Rus came”