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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1996-11 > 0849175504


From: Alexander Agamov < >
Subject: Re: RURIK, PRINCE OF KIEV
Date: Thu, 28 Nov 1996 13:05:04 +0300


> Do you happen to know the identification of the parents of Rurik,
> Prince of Kiev [c.800-879)? I am hoping there is some new Russian
scholarship
> on this issue.
>
> I hope your winter in Moscow is shaping up as a mild one.
>
> Za Mir e Druzhbu [To Peace and Friendship]
>
> Spencer Hines
> Kailua, Hawaii

Hi !

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 Ruriê 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. Predslava
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

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