Editing History of Ukraine (section)

==== Origin and foundation of state ====
[[File:Laurentian Codex 01 Rus land.jpg|left|thumb|"Rus' land" from the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'', a copy of the [[Laurentian Codex]]]]
The origins of the Kievan state and the etymology of its name, Rus', continue to be subjects of scholarly debate. One theory, often called the '[[Norman theory]]', posits that the term Rus' originated from the [[Scandinavia]]n [[Varangians]], who were active in trade and military ventures across [[Eastern Europe]] in the early medieval period. Proponents of this theory argue that the Varangians, also known as the Rus', initially brought a political and military influence that shaped the emerging state structure, with the term Rus' eventually becoming synonymous with the region and its people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hosking |first=Geoffrey |title=Russia and the Russians: A History |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2001 |pages=30}}</ref>

In contrast, the '[[Anti-Normanism|anti-Norman theory]]' suggests that the term Rus' has indigenous [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] roots, developing independently of Scandinavian influence. Advocates of this theory assert that [[East Slavs|Eastern Slavic tribes]] already had established political and social frameworks before any contact with the Varangians, and that these tribes were naturally progressing toward political consolidation. According to this perspective, the name Rus' could be linked to the [[Ros (river)|Ros River]], a historically significant waterway flowing through present-day [[Ukraine]], which was home to various Slavic communities. In this view, Rus' may have referred to a collective identity tied to a specific geographic region or a union of native tribes, rather than to foreign invaders or rulers.<ref>''Encyclopedia.com'', [https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/normanist-controversy "Normanist Controversy"]</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?AddButton=pages%5CR%5CU%5CRushDA.htm|title=The name of Rus'|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Ukraine|access-date=16 December 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Царьград.jpg|thumb|The Rus' under the walls of Constantinople]]
The first reliable mention of the Rus' dates back to the year 839 in the [[Franks|Frankish]] chronicle ''[[Annals of St. Bertin]]'', where members of an embassy from the north, arriving in the [[Byzantine Empire]], referred to themselves as Rus'.<ref>{{harvtxt|Garipzanov|2006|loc=p. 7}}</ref> The second notable mention of the Rus' occurred in 860, when they launched a bold and unexpected [[Siege of Constantinople (860)|naval raid]] on [[Constantinople]]. Commanding a fleet across the [[Black Sea]], the Rus' forces struck at the very heart of the [[Byzantine Empire]], quickly reaching the city’s outskirts. According to accounts from [[Greeks|Greek]] eyewitnesses, the Rus' not only managed to pillage the suburbs of Constantinople but also instilled widespread fear among its residents. The Byzantine defenses were unprepared, allowing the Rus' to withdraw without significant resistance.<ref>''History Explained'', [https://historyexplained.org/the-viking-siege-of-constantinople-860-the-rus-first-strike-on-byzantium/ "Siege of Constantinople (860): The Rus' First Strike on Byzantium"]</ref>

The earliest source about the history of the [[Dnieper Ukraine]] region is the ''[[Tale of Bygone Years]]'' (or ''Primary Chronicle''), written no earlier than the 11th century. In its 'legendary' part, it narrates the Rus' raid on Constantinople and the formation of a state centered in [[Kiev]] during the second half of the 9th century. The Chronicle, in particular, mentions the names of the leaders of the raid on Constantinople — [[Askold and Dir]] — and calls them retainers of the Scandinavian [[Rurik dynasty]]. According to the Chronicle, a representative of this dynasty, [[Oleg the Wise]], allegedly came to Kiev from [[Novgorod]] in 882, killed Askold and Dir, and took control of the Kiev state. This narrative contains chronological errors—for example, it incorrectly dates the Constantinople raid to 867—and lacks corroboration from archaeological evidence, which suggests that Novgorod itself was only established in the 10th century. Therefore, modern historians view the Chronicle's account of the 9th century as largely speculative and likely a later construction by the Chronicle's author.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=61}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=44}}

[[File:Historic core of Rus'.png|thumb|left|''Rus' land'' in the narrow sense<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Motsia |first=Oleksandr |date=2009 |title=|script-title=uk:«Руська» термінологія в Київському та Галицько-Волинському літописних зводах |trans-title="Ruthenian" question in Kyiv and Halych-Volyn annalistic codes |url=http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/bitstream/handle/123456789/5284/02-Motsya.pdf |journal=Arkheolohiia |issue=1 |pages= |doi=10.6084/M9.FIGSHARE.1492467.V1 |issn=0235-3490 |access-date=25 January 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202101523/http://dspace.nbuv.gov.ua/bitstream/handle/123456789/5284/02-Motsya.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{legend|LightSalmon|1. After [[Petro Tolochko]]}}
{{legend|Yellow|2. After A.&nbsp;M. Nasonov}}
{{legend|LimeGreen|3. After [[Boris Rybakov]]}}]]
Scholars associate the state-building processes in the Middle Dnieper region with the emergence of the well-known trade route from Scandinavia to Constantinople, known as the '[[Route from the Varangians to the Greeks]]'. A significant section of this route ran along the [[Dnieper River]], and Kiev was an important transshipment point, allowing control over trade along the Dnieper, [[Pripyat]], and [[Desna (river)|Desna]] rivers.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Dnieper-River|title=Dnieper River|access-date=7 September 2012|encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> The Middle Dnieper region began to serve as a political, cultural, and economic center for the East Slavic world. It eventually came to be known as the ''Rus' land'' in the narrow sense of this term.<ref name=":3" /> According to ''The Tale of Bygone Years'', the East Slavic tribe of the [[Polans (eastern)|Polans]], inhabitants of the Middle Dnieper region, adopted the name ''Rus''' for their land and were regarded as the most advanced among the East Slavs. Thus, they played a central role in forming a new tribal union centered around Kiev.{{sfn|Duczko|2004|page=207}}

From the first half of the 10th century, the first confirmed ruler of the Kievan state, as documented in foreign sources, was [[Igor the Old]], whom the ''Primary Chronicle'' identifies as a prince. Information in the Chronicle regarding governance during this period is considered relatively reliable. The princely retinue played a significant role in governance, accompanying rulers on campaigns and collecting tribute from subjugated local [[Slavic tribes]]. The collected tribute (such as [[furs]], [[honey]], [[Hide (skin)|hides]], [[wax]], and [[Slavery|slaves]]) was mainly [[slavery in the Byzantine Empire|exported to Byzantium]], with the proceeds used to purchase [[weapon]]s, [[luxury goods]], and [[wine]]—constituting the core of imports. When trade conditions no longer met the prince's expectations, he led an unsuccessful campaign against Constantinople in 941, which eventually resulted in a new [[Rus'–Byzantine Treaty (945)|Rus-Byzantine trade treaty]] in 944. The ''Tale of Bygone Years'' recounts Igor's attempt to levy additional tribute from the subdued Slavs, which led to a rebellion by the [[Drevlians]], who killed him in 945.<ref name="korosten">
{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/korostencity/iskorosten.htm |title=Korosten (Iskorosten): A small town with a great history |publisher=geocities.com |date=27 February 2008 |access-date=16 February 2014 |last=Tarasenko |first=Leonid |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026051916/http://geocities.com/korostencity/iskorosten.htm |archive-date=26 October 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Radzivill Olga in Konstantinopol.jpg|thumb|The baptism of [[Olga of Kiev|Olga]] in [[Constantinople]]]]
Following Igor's death in 945, his widow, [[Princess Olga]], assumed the role of regent for their young son, [[Sviatoslav I|Sviatoslav]], who was still too young to rule. Olga is best known for her calculated and fierce retaliation against the Drevlians, a campaign that culminated in the annexation of their lands into the expanding Kievan Rus'. Olga also implemented significant reforms, particularly by restructuring the tribute collection system known as ''[[poliudie]]''. This new system made revenue collection more systematic and centralized, reducing the likelihood of rebellion by ensuring a more balanced distribution of power. In a landmark decision, Olga became the first ruler of Kievan Rus' to embrace [[Christianity]] around 957 during a diplomatic visit to Constantinople. However, despite her conversion, the state under her rule remained predominantly pagan, with Christianity gaining influence only later under her descendants.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|pp=79–80}}{{sfn|Gasparov|Raevsky-Hughes|2018|pp=77–81}}

When Sviatoslav assumed rule over Kievan Rus', he launched an ambitious military expansion. His most notable achievement was the decisive defeat of the [[Khazar Khaganate]], a once-dominant regional power that had controlled key trade routes for centuries. The fall of the Khazars opened opportunities for Kievan Rus' to extend its influence into the Caucasus and beyond. In addition to his campaigns in the east, Sviatoslav waged numerous battles against the [[Byzantine Empire]], seeking to establish Kievan Rus' as a formidable power in the [[Balkans]]. His primary goal was to create a lasting base in [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]], strengthening his strategic position in southeastern Europe. However, his ambitions in the Balkans were thwarted after a Byzantine counterattack. In 972, while returning from his Balkan campaign, Sviatoslav was ambushed and killed by the [[Pechenegs]] near the Dnieper River.{{sfn|Stephenson|2000|p=56}}{{sfn|Curta|2019|p=296}}

[[File:Оплакивание и погребение Олега Святославича у города Овруча.jpg|left|thumb|Death of Oleg in [[Ovruch]]]]
After Sviatoslav's death, a power struggle ensued among his sons. [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk]], Sviatoslav's eldest son, assumed the title of [[Grand Prince of Kiev]] and worked to consolidate power across the vast territory, leading to conflicts with his brothers. [[Oleg of Drelinia|Oleg]], Sviatoslav's second son, governed the Drevlian lands, and rivalry between him and Yaropolk escalated into open warfare. During one of their clashes around 977, Oleg was killed, further intensifying the conflict. Initially, [[Vladimir the Great|Vladimir]], Sviatoslav's youngest son, fled to avoid being entangled in the conflict. However, after Oleg's death, he returned with a Varangian army. By 980, Vladimir had defeated Yaropolk and consolidated power, becoming the sole ruler of Kievan Rus'.<ref name="Hanak">{{cite book |last1=Hanak |first1=Walter K. |title=The Nature and the Image of Princely Power in Kievan Rus', 980-1054: A Study of Sources |date=10 October 2013 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-26022-1 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfV0AQAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>