Ragnar and the Rus: Viking Warriors in Slavic Lands

In this episode, Lucas and Luna follow the legendary Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrok eastward into the lands of the Rus, exploring how the sagas and chronicles intertwine. They trace the routes from the Baltic through Staraya Ladoga, Novgorod, and Kyiv to the great markets of Constantinople and Baghdad, where Norse warriors traded furs, honey, and slaves for silver dirhams and Byzantine silk. The conversation examines the historical figures who may have inspired the legend, from Rorik of Dorestad to the shadowy Rus' leaders in the Primary Chronicle. They discuss Ibn Fadlan's famous encounter with the Rus on the Volga, the Khazar Khaganate's role, and the gradual transformation of Viking raiders into the ruling elite of a new state. Along the way, they untangle the evidence and the myths, asking what Ragnar's eastern adventures tell us about the tangled web of trade, violence, and cultural exchange that shaped the Viking Age. A fresh look at a side of Ragnar's legacy often overlooked in the western sagas.

#RagnarLothbrok #VikingAge #Rus #Varangians #PrimaryChronicle #IbnFadlan #StarayaLadoga #Novgorod #Kyiv #KhazarKhaganate #Byzantine #Baghdad #Dirhams #Rorik #TradeRoutes #NorseHistory #SlavicHistory #FexingoHistory

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