Rurik - the creation of the state of Falcon. To the 1150 anniversary of the vocation of the Varangians
“Zadonshchina” (a monument of ancient Russian literature of the end of the XIV - beginning of the XV centuries)
1150 years ago in 862, according to the 12th century Old Russian Chronicle of the Tale of Bygone Years, Rurik and his brothers Sineus and Truvor were called to rule in the north of the Russian land. Rurik invited several "lands" (tribes) of Slavic and Finno-Ugric origin, and he became the founder of a dynasty that continuously ruled Russia until the end of the 16 century. Its last representatives on the throne of Russia were Fedor Ivanovich and Vasily Shuisky.
Unfortunately, we know very little about the internal causes of this important event. But nevertheless, it is possible to express a completely logical opinion that Rurik’s vocation was caused not only by an internal prerequisite - to stop tribal civil strife, but also geopolitical. The elders who ruled the northern Russian lands (among them was Ghostmysl, whom some historians consider to be the representative of the ancient princely dynasty, coming from the mythical princes of Sloven and Rus - the sons of Skif) and decided to convert the union of autonomous lands into a centralized state. The reason for this fateful decision is clear - Russia was threatened with a terrible fate, death under the onslaught of external enemies. Historians know that the so-called. Novgorod Rus had closest ties with the lands of the Slavs in Central Europe. This fact is confirmed by the anthropological data, the uniformity of archaeological cultures, the trade and cultural ties of Novgorod with the future North Germany. And the administrative, priestly elite of Russia knew about the onslaught of the “crusaders” on the lands of the Slavs in Europe. The Slavs of Central Europe were losing this battle, Rome and its "tools" skillfully used the strategy of "divide and rule", pushing the militant Slavic alliances among themselves, destroying and enslaving the land in turn, one by one. Western Slavanous tribes could not create a single state and repel the onslaught of the enemy. The result was terrible, after a centuries-old bloody battle, the Slavic civilization of Central Europe was virtually destroyed.
In addition, the fact that in the south Russia underwent the expansion of the Khazar Kaganate (the "serpent" of Russian epics), which subjugated a number of Slavic lands, was taken into account. It was a terrible, parasitic formation, selling the Slavs tens of thousands to the slave markets of the East and constantly expanding its sphere of influence. In the south, the Russian land was also threatened by the Byzantine Empire (it would destroy the Slavs in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and subjugate Bulgaria) and the expansion of the Arabs, Islam.
Russia could not withstand this external threat and sooner or later would have fallen in battle with the developed powers of that time. That is why it was decided to create a state - a single state, where there is a single control center. This idea is confirmed by the actions of the first Rurikovich - they united the Slavs, the Finno-Ugrians into a single power and at the same time fought with external enemies - Khazaria, Byzantium. With the Khazar Khaganate as the most terrible and close threat, the enemies, who had already occupied part of the Russian lands, fought Rurik, Oleg and Igor. Mortal blow to the Khazars struck a brilliant Svyatoslav. Oleg, Igor and Svyatoslav struck the Byzantine Empire. Svyatoslav was supposed to complete the work - to unite with Russia the original homeland of the Slavs, the Balkans, to stand firmly on the Danube-father (it was there, according to some historians, that the first “Kiev” was located). As a result of the decision of the elders and priests unknown to us, a power was created, which withstood the struggle against the strong and aggressive states of the East and the West.
Naturally, the role of the figure, which was supposed to begin large-scale construction of the Russian state, could invite only a person who met certain criteria. First, he must be "his" for the Slavs of the north. It is not for nothing that the chronicle directly says that Rurik, being a Varangian, was neither a Norman, nor an Angle, nor a Swede, nor a Gotland. And the Vikings of his family spoke the language of the Slavic. The Joachim Chronicle, preserved in the program by V.N. Tatishchev, states that Rurik was the son of Umila, the middle daughter of the Slavic elder Gostomysl. A stranger could not be entrusted with a Case of such global significance.
Secondly, the prince should have a strategic vision of the situation and a great military experience, as well as his inner circle. Further events confirmed this. Rurik brought order to the north, united the northern lands, and began to fight with the Khazars. Oleg Veshchy united the two main centers of the Russian land - Novgorod and Kiev, continued the struggle against Khazaria, and struck at Byzantium. Igor successfully continued the unification of the Slav-Russian lands, fought the Khazars, broke the Pechenegs. Svyatoslav defeated the Khazar Kaganate, pushed the limits of the Russian state to the North Caucasus, the Volga and the Don, and conquered Bulgaria. We see that several generations of the rulers of Russia persistently carried out the Great Purpose.
What do we know about Rurik
Supporters of the Norman version of the calling of the Vikings to Russia, believe that Rurik was Rurik (Rorik) Jutland. It was a Danish king who served the Frankish Carolingian dynasty. He is mentioned in the Frankish chronicles as the ruler of Dorestad and a number of Frisian lands in 841 - 873 years. This version was first put forward by priest H. Hallman, who published in 1816 in Bremen the work “Rustringia, the original fatherland of the first Russian Grand Duke Rurik and his brothers. Historical an experience". Little is known about Rorik. It is believed that he was from the Skjoldung family (the legendary royal Dan dynasty) who ruled in Hedeby. His uncle (or brother) was the Jutland ruler Harald Klack. In their youth they were both expelled from Jutland, and they served Lothar, participating in the internecine struggle of the descendants of Charlemagne. Lothar rewarded them with destinies in the Frisian land. But happiness did not last long with the brothers - in 843, Friesland was included in the empire under the Verdun Agreement. Norman mercenaries no longer needed Lothar. Rorik and Harald were arrested on charges of treason and imprisoned. Harald died in prison (according to another version he was killed at a later time), Rorik was able to escape and became a homeless adventurer. He was a member of the Norman raids on England and the coast of the Frankish Empire. Rorik gained quite wide popularity in pirate circles - in 845 he raided up the Elbe River and attacked Northern France. In 850, under his command there was a fleet of 350 ships, with which he attacked the shores of England. He was nicknamed the "ulcer of Christianity." In the same year, Rorik won Dorestad and Utrecht from Lothar. Lothar was even forced to make peace with Rörik, with the proviso that the king would protect his northern lands from raids by the Danes, which he did quite successfully.
In 854, Lothar again took away his vassal Friesland with the help of Danes, but bestowed new flax in Jutland. Roric confronts Godfried for supremacy in Jutland. In 869, Rorik, after the death of Lothar, negotiated with Carl who succeeded him. The last message about Ryorik refers to the 873 year - he took the oath of allegiance to Louis the German. The fact that Ryorik died before the 882 year can be judged by the fact that this year Frisia was placed under the control of Godfried Frisian.
As a result, apart from a consonant name and one era, this historical figure is clearly not connected with the founder of the Russian princely dynasty. First, Rorik was active, almost all his life, fighting for a piece of land - Friesland. He simply had no time to rule in Ladoga and solve the internal and external problems of a huge state. Secondly, why did the lord of Northern Russia, under whom was Ladoga, Izborsk, Beloozero, whose governors were in Polotsk, Rostov, Murom, Suzdal and other cities, a small possession in northern Europe. Third, the Vikings even with small forces terrified Western Europe, and Rurik could put in an army that would easily seize Friesland. Fourthly, why did Rurik become a vassal of a number of representatives of the Carolingian dynasty, if he was the lord of a vast land.
There are other serious inconsistencies. Roric is a dan (the ancestors of the modern Danes) who could not speak the same language as the Slavs. The king of the Danes had only one brother, and the eldest (or uncle). Rurik had two brothers, and he was the eldest. It is impossible to disregard the consideration that the northern Slavs and the Finno-Ugrians wanted to find a prince who would "own us and rank us by right". This is very important, an outcast, a hired warrior Roric had no rights to Northern Russia.
Another group of researchers puts forward the opinion that it did not exist at all. Like, since we can’t prove that Rurik is Scandinavian, let’s say that this is generally a myth, a legend. For example, D. S. Likhachev suggested that Rurik, Sineus, and Truvor should, according to the plan of the chronicler, become “mystical ancestors” of Novgorod, like Kiy, Schek and Khoriv for Kiev. But if we follow the path of such researchers, then in place of history in general there will be no stone on stone. It is possible to declare a significant number of annals of the times of the early Middle Ages a myth, not to mention the history of antiquity, the Ancient World.
The name Rurik is clearly of Slavic origin. So called in the Slavic languages Falcon: Polish. "Raróg", Czech. "Rarašek", Slovak. "Raroh", in Ukrainian. "Rag". Similar names were met in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, in the lands of the union of the tribes of encouragement. Another interesting fact is that the medieval union of the Slavic tribes of the wake-hearted, who lived along the lower reaches of the Elbe River, was also called rarogami or rerigami. In the name of the Slavorus, the falcon was the animal symbol of the all-Slavic god, the creator of all life and existence, Rod, and the center of encouragement was the city of Rerik. Falconry is generally characteristic of the Slavs, so called the city, castles, rivers. Bylinas are called glorious knights and princes falcons. The coat of arms of Rurikovich and modern Ukraine, which “privatized” a common history, depicts a hunting falcon. Falcon symbolism is filled with "The Word of Igor's Regiment". Igor is walking along the steppe to Tmutarakan: “The falcon flew already far away ...”. The boyars say to Svyatoslav of Kiev about the two brothers Igor and Vsevolod: "two falcons of sletest from taking away the golden table of the search of the city of Tmtorakan." Igor from the Polovtsian captivity "falcon flight". The Polovtsian khans, pursuing the prince, speak of him as a “falcon,” and of his son as a “falcon”. Thus, it is clear that the falcon is called a prince, a descendant of Falcon-Rurik.
Therefore, the West Slavic hypothesis that Rurik and his brothers came from among the West Slavic tribes, vagr or ruyan, who belonged to the union of supporters (rarog), seems quite logical. M. Lomonosov also wrote about this. This version is confirmed by the common language of the Vikings-Rus with the Ilmen Slavs, cultural, archaeological, anthropological ties of encouragement with the “Novgorod”. In addition, the tribal legends and genealogies of the German aristocracy retained the information that the sons of Godlib-Godlaw (a representative of the princely dynasty of encouragement), Rurik, Siwar (Sineus in Russian annals) and Truvor, went to Novgorod in 840 year. True, the dating of events does not coincide, but historians know that the dating of Old Russian chronicles approximately to the middle of the 10 century is approximate. The folk legend about Rurik and his two brothers, which was published in the 30-s of the 19 century by the French traveler and writer Xavier Marmier in the book Northern Letters, also survived. The French writer wrote down a legend in Northern Germany among the Mecklenburg peasants who lived in the former lands of the Wise Slavs, who were almost completely Germanized by that time. According to legend, in the 8 century, Prince Godlav reigned in the land of encouraging rheisks. He had three sons: Rurik the Peaceable, Sivar the Victorious, Truvar the Faithful. The brothers set off in search of glory to the East, where they distinguished themselves in many battles. In Russia, they overthrew “tyranny” and restored peace and order in the country. When they decided to return home, the grateful people persuaded them to stay and rule them. Rurik received Novgorod land (Nowoghorod), Sivar - Pskov land (Pleskow), Truvar - Belozerskaya (Bile-Jezoro). After the death of Sivar and Truvara, their lands became part of the united state, and Rurik became the founder of the princely dynasty.
It is clear that the legend largely embellished real events. The brothers were not noble knights fighting evil, but refugees seeking a new home. Their grandfather - the king of encouragement Witslav and his father died in battle, the house was captured by enemies. But the interesting message about the "tyranny", which dominated the lands of the Eastern Slavs. Written sources - ibn Fadlan, Masoudi, “Letter from Tsar Joseph”, “The Cambridge Document”, data from archeology, epics, researches by M.I. Artamonov (“History of the Khazars”) and other historians report about the terrible yoke of the Khazars. Many Slavic lands fell under the power of the “wonder-yuda”, which exterminated the princely clans, bled the Slavic-Russian lands. Princes-falcons began to fight with the Khazar kaganat and as a result he was destroyed.
It is necessary to mention the mother of Falcon-Rurik. According to the Ioakimovskaya chronicle, the prince’s mother was the daughter of the Novgorod elder-prince Gostomysl, Umila. According to the Novgorod tradition, Gostomysl dreamed that a large apple tree grew from the womb of his daughter, overshadowing all the Slavic lands with its branches, and people came to take shelter from its shadow everywhere and taste the sweet fruits. The wise men of the veduny predicted that the descendants of Gostomysl’s daughter would own the north of Russia and many other lands, becoming the founders of a mighty power. Here we see that the Russian priesthood also took part in the “vocation” of falcon princes.
An unfinished directorial version of Illustrated History of the Russian State. The film will never come to the screens. Saved several directorial series.
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