Vikings in Russia

While the Vikings of Norway and Denmark were making raids in Western Europe, Swedish Vikings were attacking Russia.

The Slavs and Finns who lived in Russia came to look on the Swedes as protectors and paid them tribute.

The Varangians, one of the tribes of Swedish Vikings, were called "Rus" by the Finns, and some experts think this is how Russia got its name.

In 862, the Rus chieftain Rurik arrived in Novgorod, north of Lake Ilmen, and established a center of commerce there.

Rurik was succeeded by Oleg who, in 882, captured the city of Kiev on the Dniepr River.

In 914, 16 Rus ships sailed down the Volga, through the territory of the Khazars, and ravaged the Persian coast of the Caspian Sea. They were defeated at the mouth of the Volga they were defeated. The very few survivors were finally exterminated by the Khazars.