History UsefulNotes / KievanRus

* Svyatoslav. He was a {{Badass}} WarriorPrince who paid more attention to his campaigns than to running the realm. He died in battle, and the Pecheneg nomads made a cup out of his skull. He was the first prince to be named in Ruthenian, not in Old Norse. He also fought and defeated the Khazar Khaganate, something his ancestors couldn't do.

* {{Gurps}} ''Russia'' and to a lesser extent ''Vikings''.

* Common in the various viking sagas though their status as fiction is debatable as many of them were likely not consciously made up on the spot the way a modern fiction writer would(back then it mattered more whether a story was entertaining then whether or not it was true, and most storytellers would just give his own take on a story he liked without bothering to sort). The Rus lands were an exotic haunt that many adventurers went on and came back with stories. Many saga heroes and many protagonists of modern imitations of sagas spent some of their career trading down Russian rivers, or heading to the [[ByzantineEmpire Eastern Roman Empire]] to serve as PrivateMilitaryContractors.

The Mongols left most of the political system intact, but now the Grand Prince had to be formally recognized as such by his Mongol lieges, who chose the most obedient ones. The Novgorod Rus was spared of the Mongol invasion by being too far north, and its princes and council being such {{Magnificent Bastard}}s (Novgorod was a republic, its prince being only the hired military leader, who could be deposed by the parliament and the city council), but had to deal with other enemies, such as [[UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}} Swedes]] and TheTeutonicKnights.

* ''Film/AlexanderNevsky'' depicts the attempted invasion of Novgorod in the 13th century by TheTeutonicKnights of the HolyRomanEmpire and their defeat by the Russian people, led by said Alexander.

The question of who are now the "true heirs" of the Kievan Rus is often a matter of disagreement between Eastern Slavs, with Russians saying that Moscow's reunification of the northern principalities and Kiev's depopulation by the Tatars and later subjugation by Lithuania (and Novgorod, a distinctly Russian city, being the first capital of Rurik's princedom) make it clear which city inherited the title of the capital of the Rus, while Ukrainians see the Galicia-Lodomeria as the heir to original Rus, and claim that Kiev and the southern principalities stayed as the core of Ruthenian culture, unlike the colonial northern principalities, the people of which were intermingled with Ugro-Finns and Tatars (according to [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10069400 genetic]] [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520580 analyses]], interbreeding with Finno-Ugric nations did indeed happen, while the one with Tatars did not - most likely for the reason that the Tatar-Mongols rarely had direct contact with Russians, and Russians saw them as invaders with inherently alien culture). Belarusian principalities mostly stayed autonomous from Rus and, being united with Aukštaitija, formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which would later unite most of the Ruthenian territories, except for Novgorod and North-Eastern colonies that would become a basis for the future Russia. But since Russians pack the greatest punch of the three most of the time, the Russian-Ruthenian connection is the most well known. This question is complicated even more by the fact that a people called Ruthenians (or Rusyns, or Ruthens) do exist now; they are relatives of Ukrainians living in Transcarpathia (and elsewhere; Creator/AndyWarhol — birth name Andriy Varhola — was Ruthenian American).

The theory best known by lay people (usually called "Normanist") says that Kievan Rus was founded by the Scandinavian prince [[note]](At that time, Russians used one title 'Князь' or 'Knyaz`', and 'Великий' (The great) 'князь' meant ruler of Kiev. The titles were in active use to the end of Russian nobility in early 20th century[[/note]] Rurik and his Viking followers, who migrated south and conquered the backward, almost-tribal Eastern Slavs (ancestors of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians). The truth is really unknown, and is the grounds for very [[MisplacedNationalism hot and politicized debate]].[[note]]Whereas in UsefulNotes/GreatBritain, the Viking heritage was appropriated and celebrated, thanks to UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} and UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}} being silly little remote countries in the north, that posed no threat to the British after the Viking age, UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}} and UsefulNotes/{{Russia}} have been deadly enemies ever since the early middle ages to the early 19th century. Even today the relationship between the two countries is mostly formal and cool. He who can lay claim to the Rus, would win a massive propaganda victory.[[/note]] Scientific consensus is generally that the Vikings were at a similar level of development to the Slavs, and that their cultures were sufficiently similar for people and nobility to freely mix together. One of the Old Norse words for Ruthenia was "Gardariki" (Realm of [many] towns), which suggests pre-Kievan Rus was already an urbanizing culture. [[note]]Although there's nothing stopping the possibility that these towns were built by Vikings too.[[/note]]

Another Norse term for Kievan Rus is ''Svitjod the Great'' or ''Svitjod the Cold.'' ''Svitjod'' is an old Norse name for UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}}. [[note]]meaning literally "the Swedish people" as this was before the existence of kingdoms and national identities in the modern sense. Compare with when the Angles and Saxons began to be referred to as the "Angelcynn"[[/note]]

The theory best known by lay people (usually called "Normanist") says that Kievan Rus was founded by the Scandinavian prince [[note]](At that time, Russians used one title 'Князь' or 'Knyaz`', and 'Великий' (The great) 'князь' meant ruler of Kiev. The titles were in active use to the end of Russian nobility in early 20th century[[/note]] Rurik and his Viking followers, who migrated south and conquered the backward, almost-tribal Eastern Slavs (ancestors of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians). The truth is really unknown, and is the grounds for very [[MisplacedNationalism hot and politicized debate]].[[note]]Whereas in UsefulNotes/GreatBritain, the Viking heritage was appropriated and celebrated, thanks to UsefulNotes/{{Norway}} and UsefulNotes/{{Denmark}} being silly little remote countries in the north, that posed no threat to the British after the Viking age, UsefulNotes/{{Sweden}} and UsefulNotes/{{Russia}} have been deadly enemies ever since the early middle ages to the early 19th century. Even today the relationship between the two countries is mostly formal and cool. He who can lay claim to the Rus, would win a massive propaganda victory.[[/note]] Scientific consensus is generally that the Vikings were at a similar level of development to the Slavs, and that their cultures were sufficiently similar for people and nobility to freely mix together. One of the Old Norse words for Ruthenia was "Gardariki" (Realm of [many] towns), which suggests pre-Kievan Rus was already an urbanizing culture.

* The second part of Literature/TheLongShips is (mistly) set here.
* Literature/EatersOfTheDead (as well as its [[Film/TheThirteenthWarrior film adaptation]]) is partially based on Ibn Fadlans account of a Rus funeral, but is otherwise pure SpeculativeFiction.

* ComicBook/{{Northlanders}}: The Plague Widow, is set in a Swedish trading settlement in 11th century Rus. It's beset by [[CrapsackWorld freezing cold, racism and mistrust between the Vikings and the Slavs, rampant galloping corruption among the warrior caste tasked with defending the settlement, and a nice little plague to top it off.]]

The theory best known by lay people (usually called "Normanist") says that Kievan Rus was founded by the Scandinavian prince [[note]](At that time, Russians used one title 'Князь' or 'Knyaz`', and 'Великий' (The great) 'князь' meant ruler of Kiev. The titles were in active use to the end of Russian nobility in early 20th century[[/note]] Rurik and his Viking followers, who migrated south and conquered the backward, almost-tribal Eastern Slavs (ancestors of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians). The truth is really unknown, and is the grounds for very [[MisplacedNationalism hot and politicized debate]]. Scientific consensus is generally that the Vikings were at a similar level of development to the Slavs, and that their cultures were sufficiently similar for people and nobility to freely mix together. One of the Old Norse words for Ruthenia was "Gardariki" (Realm of [many] towns), which suggests pre-Kievan Rus was already an urbanizing culture.

If we can return to the debate about the origin of the Rus, the clear majority of western historians believe in the Normanist theory. And truthfully, primary sources such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annales_Bertiniani#The_Rus.27 annals of St.Bertin]][[note]]Literally spells it out that the Rus were Swedes. Seriously. It says ''"eos gentis esse Sueonum"'' which means ''"These men are Swedes" or "among them are the Swedes"''[[/note]] and [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_ibn_Rustah Ahmad ibn Rustah]][[note]]clearly states that the Rus and the SLavs are two completely different peoples, the former being subservient to the former.[[/note]] seems to support this theory. Since we at TV tropes are not at liberty to discuss these things too vividly thanks to the RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement, the best thing you can do is go to the library, read up and decide for yourself. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omeljan_Pritsak Omeljan Pritsak]] and [[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/961611.W_adys_aw_Duczko Wadyszlaw Duczko]] have written at length about the theory, the former against it and the latter in favor of it.

* ComicBook/{{Northlanders}}: The Plague Widow, is set in a Swedish trading settlement in 11th century Rus, beset by [[CrapsackWorld freezing cold, racism and mistrust between the Vikings and the Slavs, rampant galloping corruption among the warrior caste tasked with defending the settlement, and a nice little plague to top it off.]]

* Common in the various viking sagas though their status as fiction is debateable as many of them were likely not consciously made up on the spot the way a modern fiction writer would(back then it mattered more whether a story was entertaining then whether or not it was true, and most storytellers would just give his own take on a story he liked without bothering to sort). The Rus lands were an exotic haunt that many adventurers went on and came back with stories. Many saga heroes and many protaganists of modern imitations of sagas spent some of their career trading down Russian rivers, or heading to the [[ByzantineEmpire Eastern Roman Empire]] to serve as PrivateMilitaryContractors.

* ''The Strongbow Saga part 4: The Long Hunt'' features an Irish warrior travelling with his Danish comrades to Birka in Sweden and meeting up with Rurik, who is unambiguously portrayed as being Swedish. Book 5 will presumably be set in Kievan Rus, but it has been stuck in DevelopmentHell for 3 years now.

* Unsurprisinngly, Literature/CascaTheEternalMercenary has been here many times, sometimes fighting against the Rus and sometimes with them.

* The 2008 Russian film ''Aleksandr. Nevskaya bitva'' concerns [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Neva the battle of the Neva.]]

* ''The Strongbow Saga part 4: The Long Hunt'' features an Irish warrior travelling with his Danish comrades to Birka in Sweden and meeting up with Rurik. Book 5 will presumably be set in Kievan Rus, but it has been stuck in DevelopmentHell for 3 years now.
* A frequent location in Literature/TheOathsworn books.

* Rurik. The (presumably Swedish[[note]]genetic research performed by courtesy of modern descendants of the Rurikids implies he was of Finnish stock, although by all means he was fully integrated into Swedish society, which trope-wise might make him count as a mild example of BlackVikings[[/note]]) founder of the BigScrewedUpFamily that was the Rurikid dynasty, and of the realm itself.

* Series of Russian animated features based on lives of [[RussianMythologyAndTales three bogatyrs]] by studio Melnitsa mix folklore characters with real life historical characters like prince Vladimir The Bright Sun.

The theory best known by lay people (usually called "Normanist") says that Kievan Rus was founded by the Scandinavian prince [[note]](At that time, Russians used one title 'Князь' or 'Knyaz`', and 'Великий' (The great) 'князь' meant ruler of Kiev. The titles were in active use to the end of Russian nobility in early XXth century[[/note]] Rurik and his Viking followers, who migrated south and conquered the backward, almost-tribal Eastern Slavs (ancestors of Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians). The truth is really unknown, and is the grounds for very [[MisplacedNationalism hot and politicized debate]]. Scientific consensus is generally that the Vikings were at a similar level of development to the Slavs, and that their cultures were sufficiently similar for people and nobility to freely mix together. One of the Old Norse words for Ruthenia was "Gardariki" (Realm of [many] towns), which suggests pre-Kievan Rus was already an urbanizing culture.

The question of who are now the "true heirs" of the Kievan Rus is often a matter of disagreement between Eastern Slavs, with Russians saying that Moscow's reunification of the northern principalities and Kiev's depopulation by the Tatars and later subjugation by Lithuania (and Novgorod, a distinctly Russian city, being the first capital of Rurik's princedom) make it clear which city inherited the title of the capital of the Rus, while Ukrainians see the Galicia-Lodomeria as the heir to original Rus, and claim that Kiev and the southern principalities stayed as the core of Ruthenian culture, unlike the colonial northern principalities, the people of which were intermingled with Ugro-Finns and Tatars (according to [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10069400 genetic]] [[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520580 analyses]], interbreeding with Finno-Ugric nations did indeed happen, while the one with Tatars did not - most likely for the reason that the Tatar-Mongols rarely had direct contact with Russians and were seen as occupants by them). Belarusian principalities mostly stayed autonomous from Rus and, being united with Aukštaitija, formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which would later unite most of the Ruthenian territories, except for Novgorod and North-Eastern colonies that would become a basis for the future Russia. But since Russians pack the greatest punch of the three most of the time, the Russian-Ruthenian connection is the most well known. This question is complicated even more by the fact that a people called Ruthenians (or Rusyns, or Ruthens) do exist now; they are relatives of Ukrainians living in Transcarpathia (and elsewhere; Creator/AndyWarhol — birth name Andriy Varhola — was Ruthenian American).

The question of who are now the "true heirs" of the Kievan Rus is often a matter of disagreement between Eastern Slavs, with Russians saying that Moscow's reunification of the northern principalities and Kiev's depopulation by the Tatars and later subjugation by Lithuania (and Novgorod, a distinctly Russian city, being the first capital of Rurik's princedom) make it clear which city inherited the title of the capital of the Rus, while Ukrainians see the Galicia-Lodomeria as the heir to original Rus, and claim that Kiev and the southern principalities stayed as the core of Ruthenian culture, unlike the colonial northern principalities, the people of which were intermingled with Ugro-Finns and Tatars (according to [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10069400 genetic] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22520580 analyses], interbreeding with Finno-Ugric nations did indeed happen, while the one with Tatars did not - most likely for the reason that the Tatar-Mongols rarely had direct contact with Russians and were seen as occupants by them). Belarusian principalities mostly stayed autonomous from Rus and, being united with Aukštaitija, formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which would later unite most of the Ruthenian territories, except for Novgorod and North-Eastern colonies that would become a basis for the future Russia. But since Russians pack the greatest punch of the three most of the time, the Russian-Ruthenian connection is the most well known. This question is complicated even more by the fact that a people called Ruthenians (or Rusyns, or Ruthens) do exist now; they are relatives of Ukrainians living in Transcarpathia (and elsewhere; Creator/AndyWarhol — birth name Andriy Varhola — was Ruthenian American).

The question of who are now the "true heirs" of the Kievan Rus is often a matter of disagreement between Eastern Slavs, with Russians saying that Moscow's reunification of the northern principalities and Kiev's depopulation by the Tatars and later subjugation by Lithuania (and Novgorod, a distinctly Russian city, being the first capital of Rurik's princedom) make it clear which city inherited the title of the capital of the Rus, while Ukrainians see the Galicia-Lodomeria as the heir to original Rus, and claim that Kiev and the southern principalities stayed as the core of Ruthenian culture, unlike the colonial northern principalities, the people of which were intermingled with Ugro-Finns and Tatars. Belarusian principalities mostly stayed autonomous from Rus and, being united with Aukštaitija, formed the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which would later unite most of the Ruthenian territories, except for Novgorod and North-Eastern colonies that would become a basis for the future Russia. But since Russians pack the greatest punch of the three most of the time, the Russian-Ruthenian connection is the most well known. This question is complicated even more by the fact that a people called Ruthenians (or Rusyns, or Ruthens) do exist now; they are relatives of Ukrainians living in Transcarpathia (and elsewhere; Creator/AndyWarhol — birth name Andriy Varhola — was Ruthenian American).

* Series of Russian animated features based on lives of [[RussianMythologyAndTales three bogatyrs]] by studio Melnitsa.

* The ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'' games include the rulers of Novgorod and Kiev (among others) as playable characters. The DLC pack ''The Old Gods'' for the second game even pushes the timeline back to Rurik himself.

** The same debatable state of fiction can be applied to the medieval Swedish [[Literature/TheChronicleOfDukeEric Chronicle of Duke Eric]] wherein the Novgorodians feature prominently as enemies to the Swedish knights, jarls and kings.

The original Kievan Rus was pagan, with the Viking-descended nobility worshiping [[Myth/NorseMythology the Norse gods]] and the common Slavs [[Myth/SlavicMythology their own pantheon]], which was somewhat similar, but distinct. There was also a significant and influential Christian minority, as well as Jewish and Muslim ones. Christians, however, were much better placed, as they generally were Christianized Vikings who served at the Eastern Roman court as mercenaries, and were often relatives of Russian nobility. In 988, Prince Vladimir I, who was dissatisfied with paganism, and wished to establish a state religion, converted Rus into OrthodoxChristianity.

* Vladimir I (Vladimir the Saint, Vladimir the Bright Sun). The guy who made Rus Christian. He was an illegitimate child, and captured the throne by force. He had several wives, then he received the baptism and forced it on all Rus. A saint of the [[OrthodoxChristianity Orthodox Church]]. He's also a recurring character in [[Myth/RussianMythology Slavic epics]], his court in Kiev often served as background for knights' tales, like Camelot in [[Myth/KingArthur Arthurian mythos]].

* Alexander Nevsky, a prince of the Novgorod Rus. Novgorod was a republic, and its prince was more a general than anything else. Alexander Nevsky is famous as a really good general who won two wars, with the Swedes and with the Teutonic Knights. Also a saint of the [[OrthodoxChristianity Orthodox Church]].

* The ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'' games include the rulers of Novgorod and Kiev (among others) as playable characters. The DLC pack ''The Old Gods'' for the second game even pushes the timeline back to Rurik himself.
* In ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' Kiev is overrun by Evos and sealed in a shield dome. Its then called the Bug Jar.