It is a common misunderstanding that Vikings only sail and threatened our west coasts. The ferocious sailors from Scandinavia sailed with their ships not only to Western Europe but also to the east via the Gulf of Finland and then to the south over the major Russian rivers such as the Don and the Dnieper, all the way to the shores of the Black Sea.

Swedish Vikings in particular robbed along the coasts of present-day Finland, Estonia and eventually Poland. In the middle of the 8th century, they had penetrated Russia where, at the invitation of the Slavs, they helped solve the constant tribal wars. From then on, they would be known as Varjagen or Varangians, which meant patron or rowman.

In these areas, the Varhunts were often hired as a companion to protect other enemies. Once the Swedes would have even withdrawn to their homeland, where the Slavs came back into conflict and asked the Vikings to come back to restore order. The leader of the Swedish Vikings, Prince Rurik, settled in Lagoda where he took over the administration. More and more Vikings settled between the Finnish and Slavic tribes, eventually creating the Kanate of Rues.

vikingen

Along the way, they plundered and traded with local Slavic tribes, eventually selling the cargo of their ships via the Eastern European waterways in the rich city of Constantinople. The first mention of Vikings who arrived in Constantinople on this route dates back to the year 860. Attracted by the wealth of the Byzantine Empire, Rurik managed to unite many of the settlements to invade the city.

However, these and other attempts remained without result. Some Varhunts then performed their services with the byzantines and were housed as bodyguards of the emperor. Their name, Varjagen, also became the name of the military elite corps.

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