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Founding of Kievan Rus’

Also called: Kyivan Rus’

The Rus’, a branch of the Norsemen, settled at Novgorod around 862, and in 882 Oleg moved their centre to Kyiv, founding Kievan Rus’, a state of the Eastern Slavs.

The Invitation of the Varangians: Rurik and his brothers arrive at Ladoga — Viktor Vasnetsov, early 20th century
The Invitation of the Varangians: Rurik and his brothers arrive at Ladoga — Viktor Vasnetsov, early 20th century

Viktor Vasnetsov · Public domain · Source

Norsemen from Scandinavia (Varangians) travelled a trade route from the Baltic down the Dnipro to the Black Sea and Byzantium. The Primary Chronicle relates that Rurik became ruler of Novgorod in 862 and that his kinsman Oleg seized Kyiv in the south in 882 and made it his capital. Kievan Rus’, which they founded as rulers of the Eastern Slavs, is the root of today’s Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. Soon afterwards, in Silla, the revolt of Wonjong and Aeno broke out under Queen Jinseong (889).

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States at the time
Kievan Rus' · founded
Places
Kyiv

Before and after

Later
AD 911 Founding of the Duchy of Normandy

Themes that include this event

  • Medieval Europe and ByzantiumAD 476 – 1077

    From the fall of Rome in the West to Canossa — the feudal West built by the Franks and the papacy, Byzantium as heir of Rome, and a church divided east and west