arms, discipline, and renown, commanded the fear and reverence
of the natives. In their wars against the more inland savages,
the Varangians condescended to serve as friends and auxiliaries,
and gradually, by choice or conquest, obtained the dominion of
a people whom they were qualified to protect. Their tyranny
was expelled, their valour was again recalled, till at length,
Ruric,<r59> a Scandinavian chief, became the father of a dynasty
A.D. 862
which reigned above seven hundred years. His brothers ex-
tended his influence ; the example of service and usurpation was
imitated by his companions <r60> in the southern provinces of
Russia ; and their establishments, by the usual methods of war
and assassination, were cemented into the fabric of a powerful
monarchy.
The varangians of Constantinople As long as the descendants of Ruric were considered as aliens and conquerors, they ruled by the sword of the Varangians, distributed estates and subjects to their faithful captains, and supplied their numbers with fresh streams of adventurers from the Baltic coast.<r61> But, when the Scandinavian chiefs had struck a deep and permanent root into the soil, they mingled with the Russians in blood, religion, and language, and the first Waladimir had the merit of delivering his country from these foreign mercenaries. They had seated him on the throne; his riches were insufficient to satisfy their demands; but they listened to his pleasing advice that they should seek, not a more grateful, but a more wealthy master; that they should embark for Greece, where, instead of the skins of squirrels, silk
- r1 [The name is Scandinavian (old Norse Hraerikr). Riuric founded Novgorod
(Nestor, c. 15) ; died m 879.]
- r2 [This refers to the story of Oskold and Dir, boyars of Riuric, and their establishment at Kiev ; see Nestor, c. 15, 16, 18. Oleg, who succeeded Riuric at Novgorod, is stated in this chronicle to have marched against Kiev and put Oskold and Dir to death {..V>. 83i). It was doubtless Oleg who united Novgorod and Kiev, but it has been questioned whether Oskold and Dir were real personages. The Arabic writer Masudi mentions " Dir " as a powerful Slav king.]
- r3 Yet, as late at the year 1018, Kiow and Russia were still guarded ex fugitivorum servorum robore confluentium, et maxima Danorum. Bayer, who quotes
(p. 292) the Chronicle of Dithmar [ThietmarJ of Merseburg, observes that it was
unusual for the Germans to enlist in a foreign service.
Finns); but all these attempts were eminently unsuccessful. The geographical meaning of Varangia has been brought out most clearly in a passage in the Book of Advice which is annexed to the Strategicon of Cecaumenos (see above, vol. 5, p. 505). In § 246 (p. 97, ed. Vasilievski and Jernstodt) Harold Hardrada is called the "son of the king of Varangia" i.e. Norway. The formation of the Varangian guard at Constantinople, and the inclusion in it of other Teutons (Danes, English, &c. ), led to an extension of the meaning of Varangian from its original limitation to Norwegians or Scandinavians. Schafarik (ii. 72) derives the name from vara, vaere, a compact ; the meaning would be faderati.]
