#rurikids

Sviatoslav I Igorevich (943-972) was Prince of Kiev from 945 until his death in 972.

Alexandra Velyaminova was the grand princess consort of Moscow as the second wife of Ivan II of Moscow from 1345.

The Kazan Crown, once owned by Ivan the Terrible.

Russia, 1533

Medium: Gold with pearls, turquoise, and garnet stones.

Collection: Kremlin Museums

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The Kazan Crown was dated by 1553. It was first mentioned in the treasury of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, whose reign was signed by a series of eminent events in the Russian history.

Among them is the capture of Kazan in October 1552 and annexation of the Kazan khanate to the Russian state.

The precious crown might have been executed by Kremlin jewelers on the successful solution of "The Eastern problem," so it was important for Muscovy.

Its name might have immortalized the memory of the glorious victory of Russian warriors.

The crown's look combine national and eastern artistic traditions. Some elements remind dйcor traditions of Russian churches of the epoch.

At the same time, combination of stones (e.g. red tourmalines and rubies with blue turquoise and carved ornament of knitting herbs on niello background), represents Oriental artistic influence.

stoppppp it girlies omg I'm gonna cry fr

Prince Rurik, the first ruler in Russian history

Rurik (died 879)(years of reign: 862-879)

According to Russian annals Rurik was a Varangian chieftain,  and one of the Rus', a Varangian tribe likened by the chronicles to Swedes, Normans, Angles, and Gotlanders. The Varangians was the name given by Greeks and East Slavs to Vikings.

It’s believed that the name of the country “Russia” originates from the name of those Rus’ Varangians as they were relocating as merchants and warriors from the Baltic Sea region and settling on some of the lands of present-day Russia. With them the name has transferred to the lands and state, which came to be known as  Rus’  or the land of Rus’. In  Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire), which had a considerable influence on culture of Rus' since Rus' received Christianity  from Byzantine Empire, Rus' was referred to as Russia and eventually this Byzantine version would  be adopted, replacing early name Rus’ and remaining as the name of the country.

Around 859 Varangians  imposed tribute upon various Slavic and non-Slavic tribes, but the tributaries of the Varangians drove them back beyond the sea and, refusing them further tribute, set out to govern themselves. Yet discord ensued among them and  the tribes started fighting each other. In order to finish the fighting tribes decided to invite the Varangians to reestablish order. They accordingly went overseas to the Varangians and said: "Our land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us." This event is known as "Invitation of the Varangians".

In 862 this call was answered by Rurik (Old Norse: Hrøríkʀ), he came along with his brothers Truvor and Sineus, his  kinsfolk and a large retinue (druzhina). Rurik settled first in Ladoga (Scandinavian name: Aldeigju or Aldeigjuborg; now known as Staraya Ladoga),  located on the Volkhov River, which flows into Lake Ladoga (largest lake entirely in Europe), while  Truvor established himself in Izborsk (though it has been suggested that his residence was in Pskov) and Sineus in Beloozero. Rurik then moved his seat of power to Novgorod (Scandinavian name: Holmgård; now known as Novgorod the Great or Veliky Novgorod), which lies along the Volkhov River just downstream from its outflow from Lake Ilmen. Volkhov River connects Lake Ilmen and Lake Ladoga and belongs to the basin of the Neva River. These locations were  integral parts of important trading route, where merchant vessels sailed from the Baltic Sea through Ladoga to Novgorod and then through other numerous locations to Constantinople. This route is known as the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks.

By assuming the rule Rurik became Prince (knyaz) and is known as Prince of Novgorod. After two years  Sineus and Truvor died, and Rurik assumed the sole authority, consolidating the territories of his brothers and assigning cities to his followers, while having domain over all of them. He ruled until his death in 879 and had at least one known surviving son and heir  named Igor (Old Norse: Ingvar). The identity of his wife and mother of Igor is less known, it's believed by historians she was either of Scandinavian or Slavic stock. One source identifies her as Efanda of Urman (Efanda of Norway). As a wife of Rurik  and mother of his heir  Efanda became his consort  as Princess of Novgorod. On his deathbed, Rurik bequeathed his realm to Oleg (Old Norse: Helgi), who came with him and was his relative (belonged to his kin), and entrusted to Oleg's hands his son Igor, for he  still was very young. Oleg would  rule after Rurik's death, expanding the realm, while taking care of Igor, and after Oleg's death Igor would assume the rule. In history Oleg is known as Oleg the Prophet or Oleg of Novgorod.

Though the coming of Rurik and his kin might appear at first sight  as a minor event,  it had  in fact quite a meaningful impact. Rurik's arrival is traditionally taken as a starting point of the history of Russian statehood, while Staraya  Ladoga and Novgorod became cradles of Russian statehood. Although history of Russia begins with that of the Eastern Slavs, their numerous tribes and settlements long before the coming of Varangians, and there are discussions among historians about earlier possible existing polity on those territories that predates arrival of  Rurik and his kin, Rurik is considered to be the first identifiable ruler in Russian history, whose rule represents the first unbroken line of rulers. Rurik was the founder and the first ruler of Rurik dynasty, the first ruling dynasty in Russian history. House of Rurik or Rurik dynasty (Russian: Rurikovichi /Ryurikovichi, English: Rurikids,  literal meaning: "sons of Rurik") ruled for more than 700 years (from 862 till 1598) in direct male-line succession through various complex and important  periods of history, the last rulers of the dynasty were Tsars,  who established Tsardom of Russia. With the death of heirless Feodor I in 1598  the dynasty ended, though it had a semi-comeback in XVII century  during the Time of Troubles with a short  reign of  Vasily IV, who was  a Rurikid descendant, but did not have  Rurikid name anymore as he was a member of House of Shuysky, cadet branch of Rurik dynasty. Three years after the end of Vasily IV's reign  Romanov dynasty ascended the Russian throne and ruled for another 300 years. Descendants of Rurik and his dynasty have also entered several major European houses.

Rurik has been duly commemorated in Russia. The Millennium of Russia, a bronze monument, was  erected in 1862 in Novgorod under authorization of the Emperor Alexander II to celebrate the millennium of  Russian statehood, with a statue of Rurik among other significant historical figures. The anniversary of Russian statehood is traditionally celebrated in Novgorod. There is also a monument to Rurik and Oleg the Prophet in Staraya Ladoga.