(862 — 879)
On the beginning of the state chronicle tells the following.
Novgorod Slavs and Krivichs were under the rule of the Varangians and they were paying toll to them. Derived from the patience of the rule of the Varangians, they drove them out and began to be governed by ancient generic customs.
But soon among them intestine wars began, and then, on the advice of the Novgorod elder Gostomysl, they sent ambassadors across the sea to the Varangian tribe Rus.
And the ambassadors said: “Our land is large and abundant, but there is no order in it. Come and reign and own us. ”
Three Varangian princes, brothers, Rurik, Sineus and Truvor, came to the Slavic land. Rurik settled in Novgorod, Sineus – on Belozero, Truvor – in Izborsk.
With the vocation of princes, from 862, the history of the Russian State begins.
Since these princes were from the Slavic tribe of Rus, then from them the land of the Slavs and Krivich was nicknamed Rus.
After the death of the brothers, Rurik alone became the owner of the Novgorod region. He distributed towns to the noblest warriors for trial and collection of tribute from the subordinate tribes.
Rurik’s volunteers Askold and Dir, who did not receive the cities, asked to go to Constantinople with his retinue. When they sailed along the Dnieper, they saw the town and asked who it belongs to.
Residents said that the city was founded by three brothers, Kiy, Shchek and Horeb, who ruled it until they died. Now Kiev and the meadow are subordinated to the Khazars and pay tribute to them.
Askold and Dir occupied Kiev and freed the meadows from the tribute paid to the Khazars.
Hence they made an unsuccessful campaign against Constantinople, after which they adopted Christianity from the Greek preachers in 865.