VARANGIANS

The Varangians have the Power of Prestige.

National bonuses

• Disciples of Kiril and Mefody : -75% Settlement construction cost.
• Great Migration : May build one more Settlement beyond the normal City Limit once the 1st Civics level is achieved.
• Tribal Confederates : Double Population Limit per military technology, up to 25% above maximum game limit.
• Indomitable :Barracks units and Peasants move 25% faster

Units and structures

UU gallery:

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Structures:

Church	Peasant Commune	City Watch	Nobles' Court	Mercenary Quarters
	(upgrades to) Chapterhouse

Wonders:

Palace District	Abbey	Grand Cathedral	Detinets	Standing Stones	Necropolis Complex

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Leaders

Rurik; Svyatoslav; Oleg; Asleik Björnson; Igor of Kyiv; Olga of Kyiv; Jaroslav the Lawgiver; Vladimir

Settlements

History

Although human experience on the territory of modern Russia and Ukraine dates back to Paleolithic times, the first lineal predecessor of the modern Russian and Ukrainian nations was founded in 862 CE by a tribe of Norsemen known today as the Varangians. They would eventually migrate further south to found a kingdom known today as Kyivan Rus', centred around the present day city of Kyiv in 962 CE and which would until the 12th century CE. 

In the 10th century, Christianity became the state religion under Volodymyr the Great of Kyiv, who adopted Greek Orthodox rites. Consequently, Byzantine culture predominated, as is evident in much of the architectural, musical, and artistic heritage of both Russia and Ukraine even to this very day.

From East to Further East

The Varangians (or Varyagy as they are called today in Russia) were Norse tribes who moved east from Scandinavia who, like the Bulgars further south, eventually be culturally assimilated by local Slavic populations, forming a new people known as the Rus (or Ruthenians or Russians). In doing so, the Varangians developed a culture that was unique and distinct from their Scandinavian cousins, influencing what are today the modern nations of Russia and Ukraine.

From the 7th century onward, Varangians began to establish trade settlements, known as vars along the Neva River and Lake Ladoga. They did not only build trading posts to conduct commerce with the local Slavic tribes, but also fortifications to protect these settlements. Over time, the term "varyag" or "varangian" must have emerged to refer to their inhabitants, who were local or foreign workers who served the merchants in the vars as guards, mercenaries, compradors, etc. These people were usually professionals ready to serve anyone who needed their skills and could pay for their services.

The Rurikids

Different accounts on how the Russians got their demonym, or the word "Rus" is a subject still hotly debated today. Generally in the West, most assume that it was Rurik who lent his name to the country; others insist it was derived from the Finnish word ruotsi, which means oarsmen. 

Whichever one was true, what was most certain was that in the 8th and 9th centuries, the Varangians had expanded their trade and colonies across Europe. So eventually in 862CE a Varangian by the name of Rurik made himself ruler of the Slavic principaliy in Novgorod, and founded a dynasty - the Rurikids.

How Rurik came about to become Prince of Novgorod remains a mystery - historians speculate that he defeated the Slavs in battle, conquering them; oral sources and Russophiles however assert that the Slavic Novgorodians originally defeated the Varangians, but then called them back when the Slavs started to bicker amongst themselves. What is clear however was that by 880 Oleh, Rurik's successor, turned his attention towards Southern Russia and unified the region under one King, establishing the State of Rus centred around present-day Kiev.

From the Forest to the Steppe: Prince Oleh and the Founding of Kyiv

Migrating from north to south along the Volga river, the Rus would eventually seize the northern lands of the Turkic Khazars for themselves and found a new Russian nation, centred around a city-state and principality at what is today Kyiv, the capital of the contemporary republic of Ukraine. This principality - called Kievan Rus, since it had its capital at Kyiv - began as a loose confederation with Varangians at its head, and would exercise great influence over the rest of the Rus during the greater part of its existence as a distinct polity.

According to the Primary Chronicle, the first ruler to start uniting East Slavic lands into what would become Kievan Rus' was Prince Oleg (879–912). He extended his control from Novgorod south along the Dnieper river valley to protect trade from Khazar incursions from the east, and moved his capital to the more strategic Kiev. 

Rurik led the Rus' until his death in about 879, bequeathing his kingdom to his kinsman, Prince Oleg, as regent for his young son, Igor. In 880–82, Oleg led a military force south along the Dnieper river, capturing Smolensk and Lyubech before reaching Kiev, where he deposed and killed Askold and Dir, proclaimed himself prince, and declared Kiev the "mother of Rus' cities." 

Oleg set about consolidating his power over the surrounding region and the riverways north to Novgorod, imposing tribute on the East Slav tribes. In 883, he conquered the Drevlians, imposing a fur tribute on them. By 885 he had subjugated the Poliane, Severiane, Vyatichi, and Radimichs, forbidding them to pay further tribute to the Khazars. Oleg continued to develop and expand a network of Rus' forts in Slav lands, begun by Rurik in the north. Sviatoslav I (943–972) achieved the first major expansion of Kievan Rus' territorial control, fighting a war of conquest against the Khazar Turks.

The Kievan Rus

The city of Kiev became the center of trade route between Scandinavia and the Byzantine Empire. This relationship benefited the Russian state greatly. In 989, Vladimir I decided to strengthen his rule by establishing a state religion. He considered a number of different religions. Allegedly Vladimir rejected Islam purportedly because he believed his people could not live under a religion that prohibited strong drink — but was impressed with the opulence of the Byzantines:

"We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendour or such beauty, and we are at a loss to describe it."

Modern scholarship however has another story underpinned by materialistic pragmatism, and suggests that it was the prospect of lucrative trade links with Constantinople — then known as Miklagadr or "Golden City" to the Vikings — which weighed on Vladimir's decision to convert. Be it gold, God or strong drink, Orthodox Christianity's position as the official religion of the Russian peoples was all but assured. Russian association with the Byzantines also brought along its rich culture, architecture and the Cyrillic alphabet.

Fall of the Kievan State

For a while, the Principality of Kiev was one of the world's richest and most cultured nations but by 1054, however, due to internal power struggles and raids by a nomadic tribe known as the Cumans, the Russian state began to fragment into regional principalities again. It is at this time that Moscow began to emerge and grow in importance as Prince Yuri Dolgoruky established the Rostov-Suzdal principality in 1124 in northern Russia to strengthen his rule over the region. Into the 13th century, Russia faced its greatest threat, when the Mongols began their conquest across Asia and Europe.

References

• One Dead Angel, Rise of Nations: Russians — A Guide, Rise of Nations Heaven.
• Pritsak O, "The Origin of 'Rus'"; (July 1977) The Russian Review
• Wallace R, & Krieger L (ed); Rise of Russia; (1967) Time and Life Books, New York