Ragnar Lothbrok and the Rus-Varangian Guard

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the historical links between the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and the Rus, the Scandinavian warriors who traveled east along the Volga and Dnieper rivers. They examine the controversial figure of Ragnar's possible son, Ivar the Boneless, and his connections to the Rus khaganate. The conversation delves into the archaeological evidence from Staraya Ladoga, the accounts of Arab traveler Ahmad ibn Fadlan, and the formation of the Varangian Guard in Constantinople. Lucas explains how the Rus were known as 'Ruotsi' among the Finns and how they established trade routes that brought silver dirhams to Scandinavia. The episode also touches on the debate over whether the Rus were primarily traders or raiders, and how their interactions with the Khazar Khaganate and Byzantine Empire shaped early medieval Eastern Europe. Finally, Lucas and Luna discuss the legacy of the Rus in later sagas and chronicles, including the so-called 'Ragnar's sons' who may have led expeditions eastward. This episode offers a fresh perspective on the Viking Age beyond the familiar Western raids.

#Rus #VarangianGuard #VikingAge #RagnarLothbrok #IvarTheBoneless #StarayaLadoga #AhmadIbnFadlan #VolgaTradeRoute #Dnieper #KievanRus #KhazarKhaganate #ByzantineEmpire #Dirhams #Ruotsi #FexingoHistory #NorthernEurope #History #Medieval

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