During the 800s the Vikings seized the power along large parts of modern European part of Russian territory – from Volkhov and Dnieper rivers and from cities of Staraya Ladoga of Novgorod to Kiev. In this way the Vikings came to play a crucial role in the formation of the first Russian state. At the beginning Novgorod (Holmgaard) was the capital of their new province.

Vikings were the Scandinavian seafarers who raided and traded from their Scandinavian homelands across wide areas of northern and central Europe from Baltic sea to Caspian Sea and North Africa during the late 8th to late 11th centuries (see the map of vikings' routes).

Swedish Vikings have traveled to the east and appeared in the ancient Byzantine and Arabic sources under the name of Rus. Rus meant both “Swedes” and “rowers”.

Norwegian and Danish Vikings were moving for the most part to the west and are known by the Latin sources named Norman (lat. Normanni).

As a rule, in the Scandinavian chronicles the term “Viking” in its present sense was not used, and characterized rather a social phenomenon, when landless bonds (freemen) were forced to seek a better life outside the country.

Vikings were skilled shipbuilders to create the most advanced ships of its era. Viking fleet consisted mainly of warships, which were called Drakkar and of merchant vessels Knorr. Warships and merchant ships allowed men to visit overseas countries and settlers and explorers crossed the sea in search of new lands and wealth.

Numerous rivers, lakes and other waterways of Scandinavia gave the Vikings a simple and convenient way to travel. In Eastern Europe, in the face of many portages were common boat carved from a tree trunk that were designed to sunset in shallow rivers and berth to the sloping bank which allowed the Vikings to move very quickly and attack the enemies unexpectedly.

Journey to Lake Empire

At the end of the 700s the first Vikings ships had reached a land “Gardariet” which means Lake Empire in old Scandinavian. The city Staraya Ladoga was the Vikings' entrance to Lake Empire. If you visit the city today, you see the Viking burial mounds along the river Volkhov. The commercial town Ladoga emerged in the late 700s.

In early Russian sources Vikings also described as "varanger" or "varager". And the Baltic Sea is called exactly “Varaeg sea”. In the city of present Novgorod - Viking Holmgaard - was both a Varaeg chirch and Varaeg street, and in Staraya Ladoga was also a Varaeg street. In Byzantium, we know from the 1000s the word “Varangoi”, used to describe the Byzantine emperor's guard of Viking men from the Nordic countries.

Archaeological evidence also shows the presence of Vikings in European part of Russia. Along the Russian rivers there have been found several Viking Age objects in graves and hoards, especially the Viking women's distinctive oval buckles. At first they were limited to the town of Staraya Ladoga, but from about the year 900 was the prevalent way into the inner Russia. Also rune stones testify to the travelers who never came home. We know of no less than 96 rune stones, which refers to people who had traveled east to Lake Empire and beyond to Byzantium and the Caliphate.

During the 800s the Vikings seized the power along large parts of modern Russia territory – from Volkhov and Dnieper rivers and from cities of Staraya Ladoga of  Novgorod to Kiev. In this way the Vikings came to play a crucial role in the formation of the first Russian state. At the beginning Novgorod (Holmgaard) was the capital of new state.

In Nestor Chronicles of that time the earliest governors of Novgorod had Scandinavian names. Later on the capital of the state became Kiev thus giving a name to state of Kievan Rus. The existence of a Scandinavian government in Kiev and Novgorod is also confirmed by both Byzantine and Arab reports. According to Norman theory the symbiosis of the Scandinavian Rus with Slavic population born state Kievan Rus led by Ruric - descendants of Norse Prince (konung) Rurik.

In the IX century, the Vikings provided the trade with the Khazars on the Volga by means of proto-structure Khazar Khanate.

By the mid-900s the rulers of Kiev adopted Orthodox Christianity from Constantinople thus changing Scandinavian names and pagan traditions.

Translated and adapted from source of information:

http://natmus.dk/historisk-viden/danmark/oldtid-indtil-aar-1050/vikingetiden-800-1050/togter/farefuld-faerd-til-oesteuropa-og-rusland/

http://natmus.dk/historisk-viden/danmark/oldtid-indtil-aar-1050/vikingetiden-800-1050/togter/rusernes-land-togter-oestover/

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B8

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings

http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/Norge_og_Sverige/Vikingetiden/vikingetiden