If we make a morphemic analysis of the word "Russia", it turns out that spelling it with two "s" is absolutely wrong. So, "ros" is the root, and the ending is "ia". Therefore, the second "c" here is definitely superfluous. Where did it come from?
Rus and Russians
Everyone knows that Russia used to be called Rus. The inhabitants of Russia were called Rus, later Rus, as well as Rusyns or Rusks. Notice, all words - with one "s". Such a spelling is also found in the ancient literary text "The Lay of Igor's Campaign."
Everything that in one way or another related to Russia, foreigners called "Rus". Perhaps this is how two "s" appeared in the word "Russian". In general, the double letters present in the roots of words are not at all typical for the Russian language. As a rule, they are all borrowed from other languages.
Russia and Russia
The word "Rosiya" is of Byzantine origin. This is exactly how - in the Greek manner - the Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus began to call Russia. The spread of this name is associated with the adoption of the Greek religion - Christianity. However, the word "Russia" was then written with one "s". By the way, this word is also written today by the inhabitants of Ukraine and Belarus.
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In our country, the double "c" stuck. Scientists associate its appearance and rooting in the language with the reign of Peter the Great and Catherine. Peter was subject to foreign influence in everything, and foreigners wrote the word "Russia" with two "s". However, Catherine did not disdain such writing. According to some reports, the word "Russia" with a double "s" was used by the French writer Voltaire in his letters to the Empress.
However, scientists believe that the spelling of a double consonant in this case could have been in Byzantium, because in some chronicles (although rarely) the word "Russian" with two "s" is found.
In general, there are many versions of the appearance of a double "c" in the name of our country. For example, there is an opinion that such a spelling originates from the phrase "Russia this". If you say it quickly and together, you get two "s". In addition, the stress in this case is similar to the modern one. Earlier, when "Russia" had one "s", the stress fell on the first syllable.
It is also assumed that the word "Russia" in the form in which we know it now comes from the verb "scatter", where just the double "s" is present and is true for the Russian language, since "races" is a prefix, and the next "c" is already the beginning of the root. This is exactly how, according to historians, various Slavic tribes inhabited the Russian lands - they scattered like seeds.
