It is well known that the main prerequisites for the formation of state power have always been factors such as the concentration of we alth and power in the hands of tribal and tribal leaders, who relied on loyal squads, the emergence of property inequality and the transformation of kinship communities into territorial ones. While maintaining this general principle, the process of formation of each individual state had its own characteristics, in the definition of which disputes sometimes arise between scientists. This is exactly what happened with the theory of the emergence of Ancient Russia.
Norman theory and its supporters
There are several theories about how the Old Russian state and its vertical of power were formed. Three of them are best known: Norman, anti-Norman and, as a result, the centrist theory that follows from it, which today has many authoritative supporters.
The first of these theories ─ the Norman one - was put forward in the 30s of the 18th century by two Russian scientists of German origin, Miller and Bayer. leaningon an entry in the oldest chronicle known as the Tale of Bygone Years, the author of which is considered to be the Kyiv monk Nestor, they argued that the foundations of statehood in Russia were laid by the Scandinavians (Varangians) led by Prince Rurik. His old image is given in the article.
The same historical monument says that our state owes its name to the Varangian tribe "Rus", whose leader, Rurik, was called to reign by the Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes. This theory became widespread, because, in addition to the written monument mentioned above, it was based on numerous archaeological finds, which will be discussed below.
Opponents of the Norman theory
The most famous opponent and founder of the anti-Norman theory was Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov, who argued that statehood cannot be brought in from outside, and that it is inevitably formed within society itself. His point of view was shared by such famous Russian historians as V. Tatishchev, N. Kostomarov, D. Bagaliy and V. Antonovich. It was they who laid the foundations of the centrist theory of the origin of the Old Russian state, which was formed at a later stage.
Internal prerequisites for the creation of the state
In the modern scientific world, the most active supporters of the centrist theory are the historians Katsva and Yurggantsev. They indicate that the significant social and economic changes that took place among the Eastern Slavs in the 9th century gave impetus to the internal development of society.
Under these conditions, there was an urgent need to establish mechanisms to regulate relations between people who inhabited a particular territory. In addition, without the formation of the foundations of statehood, it was impossible to ensure reliable protection of the lands from external enemies. Thus, the process under consideration originated and developed within society itself.
Russian statehood before the Varangians
Supporters of the centrist theory of the origin of the Old Russian state with good reason point to the fact that the Varangians called to reign at that time did not have statehood, but lived in scattered tribes. This statement is not in doubt, as it is confirmed by numerous historical documents.
Moreover, the authors of the centrist theory argue that the very fact of calling the Varangians as future rulers can be considered evidence that the process of statehood formation in Russia began even before their appearance. This is quite logical, because if leaders were needed, then there was something to manage. The calling of Rurik to reign confirms that such a form of power was already known to the ancient Russians.
In addition, the founders of the centrist theory argue that the problems associated with issues related to the formation of the Old Russian state have nothing to do with whether Rurik should be considered a real historical figure. The fact is that for a long time in scientific circles it was suggested that in the Tale of temporaryyears”this name does not mean a specific person, but a certain tribe of Scandinavians who came to Russia.
Was the Varangians invited?
It is worth noting that the very fact of their voluntary calling was repeatedly called into question. In particular, V. O. Klyuchevsky suggested that such a version of the events could have been presented by the chronicler only in order not to infringe on the national pride of the Russians.
It is quite possible that in fact the Varangians (with or without Rurik) seized the Slavic lands by force and established their rule there in the form in which it existed before. The next ruler, who, according to the chronicle, after Rurik was his nephew Prince Oleg, having captured the most important sections of the trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks", only created an additional economic base for the state that began to take shape even before him.
Debunked Statement
Considering the strengths and weaknesses of the centrist theory, some of its opponents try to argue their point of view by the fact that, in their opinion, in the 9th century the Scandinavians were at a higher stage of development than the Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples who fell under their rule tribes. However, only a list of their conquests is cited as evidence. Supporters of the theory object to this, saying that scattered tribes that lived exclusively by robbery cannot be considered a highly organized society, even taking into account their military victories.
Where did Scandinavians and Russians come from?
BAs one of the proofs of the centrist theory, the statements of M. V. Lomonosov are cited, who was one of the first to suggest that the Scandinavians themselves, referred to in the annals as the Varangians, descended from the tribes that once inhabited the territory of the West Slavic lands. Subsequently, this hypothesis gained many supporters among leading Russian historians. If their statement is true, then the influence of the Varangians on the formation of the Old Russian state should be considered not an external factor, but one of the elements of the internal process.
As for the historical homeland of the Slavic and partly Finno-Ugric tribes themselves, from which the people called the Rusichs subsequently formed, there are several points of view on this issue. The most common of them is the official version, which was established in Soviet historiography. Its supporters call the Middle Dnieper region, inhabited in ancient times by glades, the birthplace of future Rus. In refutation of this theory, the modern Russian historian V. V. Sedov put forward a hypothesis according to which the Rus tribes originate from the interfluve formed by the Dnieper and Don. There, according to him, there was a certain Slavic koganate.
Are the Vikings the only people?
In support of the centrist theory, one more quite interesting argument is often given. It is built on the basis of a historical document, the author of which is Patriarch Photius of Constantinople ─ an outstanding religious figure of the 9th century. In his "District Epistle" certain tribes are mentionedWagrs, who lived in the north-west of the future Old Russian state. M. V. Lomonosov identifies them with the Varangians, and since the patriarchal epistle says that they worshiped Perun and other pagan gods of the ancient Slavs, he concludes that they themselves were Slavs.
Thus, the term "Varangian" should be understood as two different peoples, one of which is of Scandinavian origin, and the other is Slavic. In this case, supporters of the centrist theory are ready to admit the role of the Varangians in the formation of Russian statehood, but only those who had Slavic roots.
Archaeological finds
In turn, their opponents, trying to find the weaknesses of the theory, point to a number of archaeological finds, which, in their opinion, refute it. For example, it is pointed out that the burials of the 9th century, discovered in the areas adjacent to Ladoga, exactly correspond to those that were unearthed on the Aland Islands and in Sweden.
In addition, during the excavations carried out there in 2008, many artifacts were recovered from the ground, which had a brand in the form of a falcon, which is a generic sign of the Rurikovich. However, it should be recognized that these finds only confirm the presence of the Varangians in the lands that belonged to the Rus, and, perhaps, even their dominant position, however, they hardly allow us to conclude that foreigners played a decisive role in the formation of the Old Russian state.
That is why the centrist theory, summarized in this article, has the largest number of supporters today. Exceptit, there are a number of other hypotheses, on the basis of which historians are trying to explain the emergence of statehood among the ancient Slavs. The most common among them are the Iranian-Slavic, Celtic-Slavic, and Indo-Iranian theory.
