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Person Info

• Name: Rurik, Danish Viking Grand Prince Of Kiev
• Sex: M
• Death: 879 ^d


Parents:

• Father:
  
• Halfdan Margrave Of Frisia Death: 831

Family:
Marriage:

• Alfrind .^m1
  
• Alfrind

Children:

1. Igor Grand Prince Of Kiev Birth: Abt 875 Death: Abt 945

Bibliography

Sources for birth and parent Information

father:

[Ref: Moncreiffe RoyalAnc p103, Moriarty Plantagenet p52]

Sources for death Information

date:

[Ref: Moriarty Plantagenet p52, Watney WALLOP #853, Weis AR7 #241]

873-882 [Ref: Stewart Baldwin SGM 9/9/2002-001131]

occ (862/79) [Ref: ES II #128]

Sources with Information about marriage to Alfrind

child:

[Ref: Moriarty Plantagenet p52]

Research Notes:
Grand Prince of Kiev [Ref: Weis AR7 #241]

two separate people merged here; both named Rurik, one the brother of Harald and one "nepos" of Harald. "I regard Belaiew's theory that the Danish/Frisian Rorik was the same man as the famous Russian Rurik to be unconvincing." [Ref: Stewart Baldwin SGM 9/9/2002-001131]

a Scandinavian; founder of the Russian empire [Ref: Watney WALLOP #853]
prob a Viking [Ref: Weis AR7 #241]

after 855: expelled from Frisia; Rurick the norse ruler of Novogorad was probably identical with Roric of Fresia, son of Halfdan the Norseman who was made Margrave of Frisia and died in 831. This Rorick was deprived after the death of the Emperor Lothar (855) and probably turned Viking and going to Russia established himself at Novgorod. [Ref: Moriarty Plantagenet p52]

as "nepos" of King Harald (who d.852), held Dorestad and other parts of Frisia for many years, and joined Godefrid in 855 for unsuccessful bid for Danish throne [Ref: Stewart Baldwin SGM 9/9/2002-001131]

c862: invaded Russia, and made Novogorod his capital [Ref: Watney WALLOP #853]

862: invited by the arangians to Rus to become first Prince of Novgorod [Ref: Moncreiffe RoyalAnc p103]

For a long time the problem of Ruruk's origin was rather political than simply historical one. Have you heard anything about "Norman theory?" It's a discussion that has lasted for almost 250 years in Russia. The heart of the probloem is if Rurik was the founder of state organization in ancient Russia (Kiev Russia) or aborigines had built it before. I mention this only to say that an ideological aspect put off the decision of Rurik problem for many years.
First of all about Rurik origin. Historians base on the text of the most early chrinicle reached us: "The Nestor's Letopis." It was created in the middle of 12th century by monk of Kievo-Pechorski abbey. According to this document inhabitants of Novgorod, a city of Northern Russia, invited Rurik to rule in this city to defend against other Norman sea-robbers. It happened in 862.
The chronicle informas that Rurik took Ladoga, a very small town near Novgorod. After death of his two brothers, Sineus and Thruvor in 864, he got their possessions, Beloozero ("White lake") and Izborsk. Novgorod became Rurik's capital. There he died in 879. The chronicle says he gave the government to his relative Oleg as his son Igor was child. Such way, in accordance with Nestor chronical the beginning of Rurikovichi shows as: Rurik, father of Igor (d 945) father of Svjatoslav (b Jul 942 d 972 m Predslava of Ungarn) father of Jaropolk (b 961 d 980) Oleg (b 962 d 977) and Wladimir (d Jul 15 1015).
In 18th century Russian historian Tatishev in his "History of Russian State" named Rurik's wife, Efanda (sometimes Ingrid) of Urman. He informed also some interesting details about first Russian princes but unfortunately the documents which he used didn't reached us: they were lost while Napolean's invasion in 1812.
The chronicle says that Rurik came with his brothers, Sineus and Thuvor. Now it's proven that their names are wrong-translated into Russian (by Nestor or any of his predecessors). Scandinaian words "sine hus" (with his hause) and "truy voring" (with loyal guard). So Rurik was alone, without any brothers.
In 1920s it was expressed an opinion that Rurik of Kiev is the same Rorik of Denmark (or of Friesland). That person was one of three sons of Halvdan, konig of Jutland. Halvdan had to leave his country ab. 782 and then he received Frisie enfeoff from Charlemagne. Rorik had part in christining of his brother Harald in Ingelheim upon Rhein, near Mainz (826). Harald came with his family, and maybe his family, and Rorik too, were baptized. Halvdan had three sons: Harald ,Rorik, and Hemming, and this fact conforms to story about two brothers of Rurik of Kiev. The time of action coincides (first half-middle of 9th century). There are also other coincidences. At that time, in accordance with Snorry Sturluson "Royal sagas" (begin of 13th century) we have in Norway konung Halvdan and his wife Ragnhilde, who had son Harald Finehairs. Snorry says that before Harald was born his mother had a dream: she saw luxuriant tree (speaking about future strong dynasty). The same legend said us Tatishev based on the losed documents. Tatishev tells about a certain Russian Prince Gostomysl, whose daughter Urmila was mother of Rurik of Kiev. She also had the such dream. Probably the Russian chronicle based on any Scandinavian one, more earlier. Russian phililogist Srezevskiy, an outstanding expert of Slav languages in 19th century, considered that "Gostomysl" is neither Russian nor Eastslav name, it was widespread where WestBaltic Slavs lived. We even know a certain Gostomysl who was mentioned in "Fuld annales" in 844. The same time again! Last time Rorik of Jutland was mentioned in 882 as dead and Russian chronicle says that he died in 879. The difference is that Western annales inform he died in Frisie, his fief received from Charles the Bald, and Russian one in Novgorod. But we have real reasons to think that Rurik of Kiev and Rorik of Jutland are the same.
But answering another question, if Rurik was the founder of the first Russian dynasty, we have to say no. The story about Rurik gave his power to Oleg is fantasy. Oleg and Igor (that time a child) didn't even try to stay in Novgorod, their native city, and at once moved to Kiev through Smolensk. It was unlogical step, because Kiev and Novgorod were bitterest enemies. The most documents of 12-15th centuries didn't know Rurik, they originate Rurikovichi from Igor of Kiev. Name Rurik wasn't widespread in princely house, only at the close of 11th century we can see the first prince Rurik by name. [Ref: Alexander Agamov SGM 11/28/1996]



Pedigree of Rurik, Danish Viking Grand Prince Of Kiev
                   /-----Roric Slingeband King Of Denmark And Sweden
          /-----Harald Hildetand King At Lethra
         |        |         /-----Ivar Vidfadma King Of Denmark And Sweden
         |         \-----Aud
 /-----Halfdan Margrave Of Frisia
Rurik, Danish Viking Grand Prince Of Kiev



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