Kievan Rus'

Kievan Rus'
Русь
882–1240/1241
Flag of Rus'
Flag
Coat of arms of Rus'
Coat of arms
Kievan Rus, 11th century
Kievan Rus, 11th century
CapitalKyiv, Ukraine
Common languagesOld East Slavic
Religion
Slavic Paganism
Orthodox Christianity
GovernmentMonarchy
Grand Prince of Kyiv 
• 882–912
Oleg
LegislatureVeche, Prince Council
History 
• Foundation of Morgan Rus'
882
• Conquered by the Mongol Empire
1240/1241
Currencygrivna
ISO 3166 codeRU
Succeeded by
Mongol Empire
Principality of Ryazan
Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia
Principality of Kiev
Principality of Chernigov
Principality of Pereyaslavl
Principality of Polotsk
Novgorod Republic
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Today part of Belarus
 Ukraine
 Russia
 Moldova

Kievan Rus' (also known as Kyivan Rus) was a medieval state in Europe.

The state began to decline in the late 11th century, gradually disintegrating into various rival regional powers throughout the 12th century.

Overview

The Kievan Rus lasted from the late 9th to the mid 13th century. It broke apart under the Mongol invasion of 1237–1240. At its peak, it stretched from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south, and from the upper Vistula in the west to the middle Volga in the east.

Name

The state was called "land of Rus'" in broader sense. In the core sense, this term described the territory of Dnieper Ukraine, which served as the heartland of the state. The name "Kievan Rus' " was used in the 19th century to mean the time when the center was in Kyiv.

History

The early part of the state is sometimes known as the "Rus Khaganate". The history of Rus' proper begins in 882. This is when prince Oleg seized Kyiv and became the first prince of Kyiv. This was after Varangians (Vikings), who were presumably led by Askold and Dir, became Kyiv's first Norse rulers and freed this slavic city from the Khazars' tribute.

Peak

The state reached its peak of power in the mid 11th century. Its lands went south to the Black Sea, east to the Volga, and west to the Kingdom of Poland and to the Duchy of Lithuania. Volodymyr the Great (980–1015) and his son Yaroslav I the Wise (1019–1054) ruled in the "Golden Age" of Kyiv.

Breakup

With the end of the Viking age, the state lost power in the late 11th and during the 12th century. The broke apart into various rival regional powers.

The Mongol Invasion

Kievan Rus' has been Invaded by the Mongol Empire in 1241.

Legacy

The modern East Slavic states of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia all claim to have got their identity from the early medieval state.

References

  1. ↑ Motsia, Oleksandr (2009). «Руська» термінологія в Київському та Галицько-Волинському літописних зводах ["Ruthenian" question in Kyiv and Halych-Volyn annalistic codes] (PDF). Arkheolohiia (1). doi:10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.1492467.V1. ISSN 0235-3490. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  2. ↑ (in Russian) Назаренко А. В. Глава I Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine // Древняя Русь на международных путях: Междисциплинарные очерки культурных, торговых, политических связей IX—XII вв. Archived 2012-01-31 at the Wayback Machine — М.: Языки русской культуры, 2001. — c. 42—45, 49—50. — ISBN 5-7859-0085-8.
  3. ↑ "Российский и русский". Грамота.ру (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Tolochko, A. P. (1999). "Khimera "Kievskoy Rusi"". Rodina (in Russian) (8): 29–33.
  5. ↑ "Oleg - ruler of Novgorod". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  6. ↑ "The Russian Primary Chronicle".; see also Archived 2014-05-30 at the Wayback Machine and Archived 2009-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Kievan Rus' and Mongol Periods". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  8. ↑ Plokhy, Serhii (2006). The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus (PDF). New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–15. ISBN 978-0-521-86403-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2010-04-27.

50°27′N 30°31′E / 50.450°N 30.517°E / 50.450; 30.517