Changes

The city of Kiev, which is now the capital of the modern nation-state of Ukraine, was the most important of all the Rus’/Russ cities in the Middle Ages. Located on the Dnieper River about halfway between Constantinople and Scandinavia, Kiev became a great trading post and cultural center, where Slavs, Scandinavians, Greeks, and others merged to create medieval Russian culture. As kingdoms began emerging in Western Europe during the late ninth and early tenth centuries that would comprise the major states of the Middle Ages, the people of Eastern Europe also consolidated their cities in order to battle the Magyars and Turkish hordes that threatened them from the nearby steppe.

In the midst of this often turbulent period, the principality of Kiev became the most powerful of all the Rus’ states. According to <i>The Russian Primary Chronicle</i>, Kiev was founded by Varangians (the Slavic term for Vikings) from Novgorod. The legendary Rurik is credited with being the progenitor of a dynasty that ruled Kiev, who are often thought to have “brought civilization” to southern Russia. The reality is that the formation of the Kievan Rus’ state came about through a hybridization of Scandinavian warrior merchants and native Slavs, who by all accounts were already quite civilized. The groups contributed to create one of the most stable, powerful, and economically prosperous states in Eastern Europe through a combination of aggressive military action, diplomacy, and commerce.

The medieval Rus’ gave their name to modern Russia, but their origins are a bit enigmatic. In the past, modern scholars either argued that the Rus’ were almost entirely Scandinavian in their origins, or they were almost all Slavic. Both sides have made compelling arguments, and in the case of the pro-Slavic stance there was even official recognition by Soviet officials. The pro-Slavic advocates do not deny that Scandinavians were part of the Rus’ states, only that they played a very minor role as merchants and emissaries. <ref> Pritsak, Omeljan. “The Origin of the Rus’.” <i>Russian Review</i> 36 (1977) p. 252</ref> Other scholars have pointed out that unlike the British Isles, which were heavily influenced by the Norse/Vikings, few places in Russia have Norse derived names. Pro-Slavic advocates also argue that “Viking/Varangian” was more of a title or job description in the Middle Ages than it was an ethnic marker: Slavs, Germans, Finns, and others could and did engage in Viking activities. <ref> Harris, Zena, and Nonna Ryan. “The Inconsistencies of History: Vikings and Rurik.” <i>New Zealand Slavonic Journal</i> 38 (2004) p. 87</ref>

As the Rus’ cities grew in stature, the unique elements of the people’s culture, especially in government, became standardized. The rulers of the Rus’ cities were princes, and later grand princes, not kings or emperors, and the structure of their society was very different than that of Western Europe. Instead of imposing a feudal society over their dominions as the kings of Western Europe did, the princes of the Rus’ ruled over a society that was very Slavic with some Norse influence. The princes and their families were at the top of the political and social hierarchy and just below them was the upper class, known as the <i>muzhi</i>. An important merchant class called the <i>liudi</i> comprised the “middle class,” while the <i>smerdy</i> were free peasants who worked the land. <ref> Riasonaovsky, p. 49</ref> The composition of the Rus’ system was very Slavic, but the princes had many of the same responsibilities as Norse jarls and kings. Rus’ princes were expected to be wise and brave and to lead their men in Viking raids yearly and to defend their cities and any cost.

[[File: Oleg_of_Novgorod.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Modern Depiction of Prince Oleg]]

According to <i>The Russian Primary Chronicle</i>, Kiev was anarchic and in total disarray in 862. In response to the problems in their principality, the Slavs of Kiev approached the Vikings of Novgorod to give them a king and order.

It is likely that Oleg knew his force could never hope to penetrate the walls of Constantinople and that his true intention was to be recognized by the Byzantine Empire. The peace with Byzantium was renewed in 911, which left Igor (reigned 914-945) in a strong position when he finally assumed the throne.

[[File: IgortheOld.jpg|300px|thumbnail|left|Mosaic of Igor of Kiev]]

[[File: 1000_Sviatoslav.jpg|300px|thumbnail|right|Prince Sviatoslav]]

“The ‘monoxyla’ which come down from outer Russia to Constantinople are from Novgorod, where Sviatoslav, son of Igor, prince of Russia, had his seat, and others from the city of Smolensk and from Telituza and Chernigov and from Vyshegrad. All these come down the river Dnieper, and are collected together at the city of Kiev, also called Sambatas. . . And since these lakes debouch into the river Dnieper, they enter thence on to this same river, and come down to Kiev, and draw the ships along to be finished and sell them to the Russians. <ref> Porphyrogenitus, Constantine. <i> De Administrando Imperio.</i> Edited by Gyula Moravcsik. Translated by Romilly J. H. Jenkins. Revised Edition. (Washington: Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies, 2016), IX, 1-15 </ref>

The principality of Kiev was one of the most important Eastern European states during the Middle Ages. It would become a center of commerce and high culture and later spread Orthodox Christianity north to Moscow and other Russian cities. Kiev became important when Viking raiders and Slavic natives combined to form the Rus’ ethnic group in the ninth century and then built a powerful, stable political dynasty. The early Kiev princes established their reputation and foothold in Eastern Europe by carefully balancing warfare, diplomacy, and commerce with the older and more powerful Byzantine Empire.

[[Category: Eastern European History]]