 |
| A Varangian reenactment in 2019. Image source: Silar |
In the 10th century Olga was married to Igor, Prince of the Rus, who at this time were Pagan. The origin of the Rus is disputed, though the most widely accepted view is that the Rus rulers were originally Scandinavians (mostly from eastern Sweden), also known as Varangians, who came to rule over Slavs in what is now NW Russia, and then over generations interbred and assimilated so as to became fully Slavic. The first Rus ruler, in the 9th century CE, was Prince Rurik, who was succeeded by his kinsman Oleg, who conquered Kiev in 882 CE, as well as much other territory. Oleg attacked Constantinople in 907, forcing the Byzantines to sue for peace in exchange for payment of a large sum. In 911 Oleg negotiated a favourable trade agreement with Constantinople, but died shortly after.
Oleg was succeeded by Igor in 912, who expanded Rus rule over the Pechenegs (a Turkic people) and the Drevlians (a Slavic people), and led expeditions against the Byzantines in the 940s, which failed due to the destruction of his ships by legendary “Greek fire”. Olga gave birth to Igor’s son Sviatoslav around this time. Igor was murdered by the Drevlians in 945, while collecting tribute. At this time Sviatoslav, Igor’s heir, was very young.
