The history of Russia is usually taken from the "vocation of the Varangians". About the same thing that was before Rurik came to "volode us" in the textbooks is rarely said. Nevertheless, the presence of statehood in Russia and "before Rurik" confirms the abundance of facts.
When the Russians got a state
Official domestic historiography says that statehood in Russia arose in 862 after the Rurik dynasty came to power. Recently, however, many researchers have questioned this point of view. In particular, political scientist Sergei Chernyakhovsky argues that the beginning of Russian statehood should be postponed at least 200 years into history. And not without reason.
Many sources speak about the centralized Russian state before the Rurikovichs, for example, "The Joachim Chronicle", published in the 18th century by Vasily Tatishchev.
If we assume that the Varangians were "summoned to reign" in the Russian lands, then the conclusion suggests itself that there were not scattered Slavic tribes, but a people who had an idea of centralized power. However, if we accept the idea of the historian Boris Rybakov that Rurik began to reign after the conquest of Novgorod, then in this case, too, we see possessions subordinate to a single capital.
In Greek and Latin sources, large cities are called, around which the ancient Russian population was concentrated. In addition to Kiev and Novgorod, they mention the now forgotten Izborsk, Polotsk, Belozersk, Lyubech, Vyshgorod. For example, the Bavarian geographer of the 9th century counted up to 4,000 cities among the Slavs!
One of the signs of statehood is the existence of writing. It is now clear that it was in pre-Christian Russia. For example, the writer of the 10th century Ibn-Fodlan speaks about this, as an eyewitness who claimed that the Rus always indicated the name of the deceased on the grave pillar, as well as the prince to whom he obeyed. The Byzantines and Scandinavians not only mentioned that the Slavs have their own letters - the initial letter, but also called them an educated people.
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Moreover, in the Byzantine sources, when describing the life of the Rus, clear signs of their state structure were also reflected: the hierarchy of the nobility, the administrative division of lands. Minor princes are also mentioned, over whom the "kings" stood.
Who ruled Russia before Rurik
According to the generally accepted version, the first ruling dynasty in Russia was founded by Rurik. However, modern researchers suggest that the Rurikovichs overthrew or at least replaced the dynasty that already existed here. Historian Alexander Samsonov speaks of a close continuity in Russia of other developed cultures - Scythian and Sarmatian, from where the first princes of the Russian lands could have come.
The "Tale of Slovenia and Ruse" tells the story of two brothers - the sons of the Scythian, who moved up from the Black Sea lands in search of new territories. They reached the banks of the Volkhov River, where they founded the city of Slovensk, which later became known as Veliky Novgorod.
Further, as the chronicle says, “Slovenian and Rus live among themselves in love, the great, and the prince tamo, and have taken possession of many countries of the local region. Likewise, for them, their sons and grandchildren to the princes by their knees and have climbed for themselves eternal glory and riches many with their sword and bow. Also, the source mentions the close ties of the state of Slovenia and Rus both with barbarian peoples and with the developed countries of the West and East.
The evidence of the authenticity of this story can be provided by the Arab-Persian sources of the 12th century, who wrote about the Rus and Slavs, referring to the eponyms of Rus and Sloven. Byzantine Simeon Logofet in the 10th century also mentions Rus as the ancestor of the Russian people. And the Greeks, calling these lands "Great Scythia", in fact, confirm that the descendants of Scythians ruled here.
Based on the chronicles, the lands of Slovenia and Rus were repeatedly desolate, but the ruling dynasty survived. Gostomysl became a descendant of the first princes, who after the death of four sons turned out to be the last in the family. The Magi, interpreting one of Gostomysl's dreams, predicted that the new ruler in Novgorod would be the son of his daughter Umila and the Varangian prince Godoslav. This son is the legendary Rurik, who was called to replace (or continue, given the relationship) of the Novgorod dynasty.
However, historians are ambiguous about this version of dynastic succession. In particular, N. M. Karamzin and S. M. Solovyov questioned the reality of Gostomysl. Moreover, some archaeologists are not sure of the very existence of Novgorod until the 9th century. Excavations of the "Ryurik settlement" confirmed only traces of the late Scandinavian and West Slavic presence in these lands.
All roads lead to Kiev
If it is possible to question the reliability of the "Legend of Slovenia and Ruse", the fact of the existence of the "Northern Archons" is recognized by historians. So the Byzantines called the recalcitrant land-states located in the Northern Black Sea region, which in the VI and VII centuries were a serious threat to Constantinople.
Excavations in central Ukraine have confirmed the existence of formerly developed and densely populated areas here. These proto-state formations were united by the concept of "Chernyakhovsk culture". It has been established that iron-working, bronze casting, blacksmithing, stone production, as well as jewelry and minting of coins, developed on these lands.
Historians note the high level of management and active trade of representatives of "Chernyakhovskaya culture" with large ancient centers. According to Academician V. V. Sedov, the main population of these places were the Slavs-Antes and Scythian-Sarmatians.
Later, somewhere in the 5th century, it was in the center of "Chernyakhovskaya culture" that Kiev began its rise - the future capital of the Old Russian state, the founder of which, according to the "Tale of Bygone Years," was Kyi.
True, the historian N. M. Tikhomirov pushes back the time of the foundation of Kiev to the 8th century. Other researchers object and find a new date in the IV century, citing one of the medieval chronicle sources as an example: "It was founded in the year from Christ 334".
A supporter of an earlier version of the founding of Kiev, the historian M. Yu. Braichevsky, relying on the works of the Byzantine writer Nikifor Grigora, claims that Kiy, like many rulers of neighboring countries, received a symbol of power from the hands of Constantine the Great. In the text of Grigora there is a mention of the "ruler of Russia", to whom the emperor handed the title of "tsarist kravchy"
So, having received the go-ahead for reign, Kiy became at the origins of the ruling dynasty of the young state with the capital in Kiev.
In the "Veles Book" (which, of course, cannot be considered a reliable source) Kiy is described as an outstanding commander and administrator who, having united a large number of Slavic tribes under his command, created a powerful state.
Polish historian Jan Dlugosh, noting the role of Kiy in the formation of the Old Russian statehood, puts forward the thesis that the Kiev prince founded a line of dynastic succession: “After the death of Kiy, Schek and Khoryv, the heirs in a straight line, their sons and nephews ruled the Rusyns for many years until the succession passed to two brothers Askold and Dir."
As we know from The Tale of Bygone Years, in 882, Rurik's successor Oleg killed Askold and Dir and took possession of Kiev. True, in the "Tale" Askold and Dir are called Varangians.
If we rely on the version of the Polish historian, then Oleg interrupted the legitimate dynasty coming from Kyi and laid the foundations for the rule of a new dynastic branch - the Rurikovichs.
So, in an amazing way, the fate of two semi-legendary dynasties converge: the Novgorod dynasties, originating from Sloven and Rus, and the Kiev, originating from Kyi. Both versions reasonably suggest that the ancient Russian lands could have been full-fledged states long before the "vocation of the Vikings".
Evgeny Smirnov