Yeah, the Rus' were basically Viking traders from Sweden who settled in Eastern Europe around the 9th century, founding Kievan Rus' – that's the roots of modern Russians and Ukrainians. Historical digs and sagas back it up. Pretty wild origin story
Vikings (specifically Varangians from Scandinavia) weren't the primary ancestors of Russians or Ukrainians, who are mostly of East Slavic descent. However, they played a key role in the 9th-century founding of Kievan Rus', the medieval state that evolved into modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Varangian leaders like Rurik established rule over Slavic tribes around Novgorod and Kiev, blending Norse, Slavic, and Finnic elements. Genetic studies show some Nordic influence in early elites, but the population remained overwhelmingly Slavic.
From historical sources: The Russian Primary Chronicle describes Varangians as invited rulers, not mass settlers. For more, see accounts from Byzantine and Arab chroniclers.
Names like Vladimir and Ivan have roots in Slavic and Norse influences from the Viking era, not purely Scandinavian origins.
Vladimir: Derived from Old East Slavic "Volodíměrъ," meaning "ruler of the world" (volod- "rule" + mirъ "peace/world"). It was widely used in Kievan Rus', with influence from Varangian (Scandinavian Viking) rulers like Vladimir the Great (c. 958–1015), who Christianized the region. The name spread across Eastern Europe but traces back to the Rurik dynasty's Norse-Slavic blend.
Ivan: Slavic form of John (from Hebrew "Yochanan," meaning "God is gracious"). Common in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus since the Middle Ages, with no direct Scandinavian origin—it's tied to Christian naming traditions post-Byzantine influence on Kievan Rus'.
While Varangians introduced some Nordic names (e.g., Ingvar to Ihor), these are primarily East Slavic adaptations, reflecting cultural mixing in early Rus'. For more, see historical sources on Kievan Rus' on Wikipedia.
Key Viking rulers in Kievan Rus' included Rurik (c. 862–879), a Varangian prince who founded the Rurik dynasty by uniting Slavic tribes around Novgorod; Oleg the Wise (r. 879–912), who conquered Kiev and made it the capital; and Igor (r. 912–945), whose expeditions expanded Rus' influence. Vladimir the Great (r. 980–1015) Christianized the realm, and his son Yaroslav the Wise (r. 1019–1054) ruled at Kievan Rus''s peak, fostering alliances across Europe.
Bjarmia was a medieval Norse term for a trading region inhabited by the Permians (Finnic people) north of the White Sea, in modern-day Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Vikings raided and traded there for furs and walrus ivory from the 9th–12th centuries, as described in sagas like the Heimskringla.
Vikings (Varangians) penetrated deep into modern Russia via rivers: from the Baltic Sea along the Volga to the Caspian Sea (reaching Baghdad by 860s), Dnieper to the Black Sea (Byzantium), and northern routes to Bjarmia and Novgorod. Their farthest eastern reaches were the Ural Mountains and Volga trade posts like Itil.
Bjarmia, a legendary Norse name for a trading region in medieval northern Russia (around the White Sea and Dvina River, near modern Arkhangelsk), wasn't conquered outright but gradually fell under Russian control during the 11th-13th centuries. Viking (Varangian) raids and expeditions for furs, walrus ivory, and silver from Bjarmians (likely Finnic or Permic peoples) peaked from the 9th-11th centuries. By the 12th century, as Kievan Rus' expanded northward under Rurikid princes, Slavic colonization and alliances absorbed the area. The Novgorod Republic's fur trade networks dominated by the 13th century, integrating it into Russian spheres without a single "fall"—more a shift from Viking to Rus' influence, as Norsemen assimilated into local elites. Archaeological finds show Viking presence faded post-1100s.
Hålogaland (modern Hålogaland, northern Norway) was a key Viking-Age region in Scandinavia, encompassing sites like Trondheim fjords. It relates to Viking history as a Norse homeland and staging ground for eastern expeditions, including to Russia via the Baltic. Norwegians from here raided Bjarmia and integrated into Varangian routes, blending with Rus' formation.
Yeah, the Rus' were basically Viking traders from Sweden who settled in Eastern Europe around the 9th century, founding Kievan Rus' – that's the roots of modern Russians and Ukrainians. Historical digs and sagas back it up. Pretty wild origin story
Vikings (specifically Varangians from Scandinavia) weren't the primary ancestors of Russians or Ukrainians, who are mostly of East Slavic descent. However, they played a key role in the 9th-century founding of Kievan Rus', the medieval state that evolved into modern Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Varangian leaders like Rurik established rule over Slavic tribes around Novgorod and Kiev, blending Norse, Slavic, and Finnic elements. Genetic studies show some Nordic influence in early elites, but the population remained overwhelmingly Slavic.
From historical sources: The Russian Primary Chronicle describes Varangians as invited rulers, not mass settlers. For more, see accounts from Byzantine and Arab chroniclers.
So name like Vladimir, Ivan e.g. are they from scandinavia?
Names like Vladimir and Ivan have roots in Slavic and Norse influences from the Viking era, not purely Scandinavian origins.
Vladimir: Derived from Old East Slavic "Volodíměrъ," meaning "ruler of the world" (volod- "rule" + mirъ "peace/world"). It was widely used in Kievan Rus', with influence from Varangian (Scandinavian Viking) rulers like Vladimir the Great (c. 958–1015), who Christianized the region. The name spread across Eastern Europe but traces back to the Rurik dynasty's Norse-Slavic blend.
Ivan: Slavic form of John (from Hebrew "Yochanan," meaning "God is gracious"). Common in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus since the Middle Ages, with no direct Scandinavian origin—it's tied to Christian naming traditions post-Byzantine influence on Kievan Rus'.
While Varangians introduced some Nordic names (e.g., Ingvar to Ihor), these are primarily East Slavic adaptations, reflecting cultural mixing in early Rus'. For more, see historical sources on Kievan Rus' on Wikipedia.
Tell me more about the viking rulers.
What is Bjarmia? How far did the vikings go in modern day russia?
Key Viking rulers in Kievan Rus' included Rurik (c. 862–879), a Varangian prince who founded the Rurik dynasty by uniting Slavic tribes around Novgorod; Oleg the Wise (r. 879–912), who conquered Kiev and made it the capital; and Igor (r. 912–945), whose expeditions expanded Rus' influence. Vladimir the Great (r. 980–1015) Christianized the realm, and his son Yaroslav the Wise (r. 1019–1054) ruled at Kievan Rus''s peak, fostering alliances across Europe.
Bjarmia was a medieval Norse term for a trading region inhabited by the Permians (Finnic people) north of the White Sea, in modern-day Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia. Vikings raided and traded there for furs and walrus ivory from the 9th–12th centuries, as described in sagas like the Heimskringla.
Vikings (Varangians) penetrated deep into modern Russia via rivers: from the Baltic Sea along the Volga to the Caspian Sea (reaching Baghdad by 860s), Dnieper to the Black Sea (Byzantium), and northern routes to Bjarmia and Novgorod. Their farthest eastern reaches were the Ural Mountains and Volga trade posts like Itil.
Why did Bjarmia fall into russians hands?
What is Hålogaland?
Bjarmia, a legendary Norse name for a trading region in medieval northern Russia (around the White Sea and Dvina River, near modern Arkhangelsk), wasn't conquered outright but gradually fell under Russian control during the 11th-13th centuries. Viking (Varangian) raids and expeditions for furs, walrus ivory, and silver from Bjarmians (likely Finnic or Permic peoples) peaked from the 9th-11th centuries. By the 12th century, as Kievan Rus' expanded northward under Rurikid princes, Slavic colonization and alliances absorbed the area. The Novgorod Republic's fur trade networks dominated by the 13th century, integrating it into Russian spheres without a single "fall"—more a shift from Viking to Rus' influence, as Norsemen assimilated into local elites. Archaeological finds show Viking presence faded post-1100s.
Hålogaland (modern Hålogaland, northern Norway) was a key Viking-Age region in Scandinavia, encompassing sites like Trondheim fjords. It relates to Viking history as a Norse homeland and staging ground for eastern expeditions, including to Russia via the Baltic. Norwegians from here raided Bjarmia and integrated into Varangian routes, blending with Rus' formation.