Ragnar Lothbrok and the Rus: Vikings in the East

When we think of Vikings, we usually picture longships raiding England or France. But in this episode, Lucas and Luna turn east, following the Swedish Rus down the rivers of what is now Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. We explore how these Norse trader-raiders—known in the chronicles as the Rus—used the Dnieper and Volga to reach Constantinople, Baghdad, and the markets of the Abbasid Caliphate. The episode digs into the Primary Chronicle, Ibn Fadlan's account of a Rus ship burial, and the controversial identification of the Rus with the Swedes. We discuss key figures like Rurik, Oleg the Wise, and Askold and Dir, and examine the founding of Novgorod and Kyiv. The listener will learn about the slave trade, the fur routes, and the diplomatic tensions with the Byzantine Empire. Did the Rus really have a leader named Ragnar? Or is the connection legendary? This episode offers a fresh angle on the Viking world. #Rus #Vikings #KyivanRus #IbnFadlan #PrimaryChronicle #Rurik #OlegTheWise #Constantinople #Byzantine #AbbasidCaliphate #Novgorod #Kyiv #SlaveTrade #FurTrade #Dnieper #Volga #History #FexingoHistory #RagnarLothbrok #VikingAge Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo