Russia: Rurik and the Grey Wolf (The World of Make-believe Stories Book 18)

In the last analysis, the etymology of the word Ruotsi-Ruf is of com- paratively slight importance. As Shakhmatov observes Izv. A certain amount of difficulty is unfortunately introduced by the Greek form 'Pug which is used as an indeclinable masculine plural ol 'Pug, tow 'Poig and which contains an oj where or would reason- Introduction 49 ably be expected.

This word has not been satisfactorily explained. Some con- siderable variation among o, to, and cm in such names is also apparent Marquart, Streifziige, p. On the other hand, as Marquart remarks ibid. The interpretation of the original significance of the term Rus is to some extent complicated by its association with the name Var- angian Varyagi, Varyazi, BdoavYot, Veering jar. The Arabic geographer A1 Blrunl also mentions the Baltic as the Varangian Sea, and specifies the Varangians as a people dwelling on its coasts.

The dme limits within which the term Varangian was in common use in Russia may be determined with relative accuracy. In the first place, it does not occur 50 The Russian Primary Chronicle in any of the treaties with Byzantium, showing that as a terminus technicus it was certainly unknown as late as The Norse equivalent Vceringjar is by no means a word of such common occurrence as to indicate that it was in everyday use even in the heyday of Scandinavian relations with the Near East. The institution of the Varangian guard was apparendy well established by , since we find an Icelander, Kolskeggr Hamundarson, com- manding it about that date.

In the main, however, the term Varangian seems very clearly to have made its first appearance, not in Scandinavia or in Russia, but in Byzantium itself, where the name was introduced to designate a function. It was therefore not brought to Russia from Scandinavia, but, from the fact that it was applied in Byzantium to Norse adventurers who took service there, was extended in Russia to apply to Scandinavian warriors journeying to and from Con- stantinople or even in the Russian service.

Let us accordingly begin this narrative. After the flood, the sons of Noah Shem, Ham, and Japheth divided the earth among them. To the lot of Shem fell the Orient, and his share extended lengthwise as far as India and breadthwise i. To the lot of Ham fell the southern region, comprising Egypt, Ethiopia facing toward India, the other 2 Ethiopia out of which the red Ethiopian river flows to the eastward, the Thebaid, Libya as far as Cyrene, Marmaris, Syrtis, and other Libya, Numidia, Massyris, and Maurentania over against Cadiz.

He likewise acquired the islands of Sardinia, Crete, and Cyprus, and the river Gihon, called the Nile. The Varangi- ans dwell on the shores of that same sea, and extend to the eastward as far as the portion of Shem. They likewise live to the west beside this sea as far as the land of the English and the French. For the following nations also are a part of the race of Japheth: Their homes are situated in the northwest, and adjoin the Hamitic tribes. There was but one spoken language, and as mankind multiplied throughout the earth, they planned, in the days of Yoktan and Peleg, to build a tower as high as heaven itself.

Thus they gathered together in the plain of Shinar to build the tower and the city of Babylon round about it. But they wrought upon the tower for forty years, and it was unfinished. After the confusion of the tongues, God overthrew the tower with a great wind, and the ruin of it lies between Assur and Babylon. In height and in breadth it is and 33 cubits, and the ruin was preserved for many years.

Among these seventy-two nations, the Slavic race is derived from the line of Japheth, since they are the Noricians, who are identical with the Slavs. Over a long period the Slavs settled beside the Danube, where the Laurentian Text 53 Hungarian and Bulgarian lands now lie. From among these Slavs, 6 parties scattered throughout the country and were known by appropri- ate names, according to the places where they settled.

Thus some came and settled by the river Morava, and were named Moravians, while others were called Czechs. For when the Vlakhs attacked the Danubian Slavs, setded among them, and did them vio- lence, the latter came and made their homes by the Vistula, and were then called Lyakhs. Certain Slavs setded also on the Dnieper, and were likewise called Polyanians. Still others were named Derevlians, because they lived in the forests.

Other tribes resided along the Dvina and were called Polodans on account of a small stream called the Polota, which flows into the Dvina. It was from this same stream that they were named Polotians. They built a city which they called Novgorod. Thus the Slavic race was divided, and its language was known as Slavic.

The river Volkhov flows out of this lake and enters the great lake Nevo. The mouth of this lake opens into the Varangian Sea. The Dnieper itself rises in the upland forest, and flows southward. The Dvina has its source in this same forest, but flows northward and empties into the Varangian Sea. The Volga rises in this same forest but flows to the east, and discharges through seventy mouths into the Caspian Sea. It is possible by this route to the eastward to reach the Bulgars and the Caspians, and thus attain the region of Shem.

Along the Dvina runs the route to the Varangians, whence one may reach Rome, and go from there to the race of Ham. But the Dnieper flows through various mouths into the Pontus. This sea, beside which taught St. Conceiving a desire to go to Rome, he thus journeyed to the mouth of the Dnieper. Thence he ascended the river, and by chance he halted beneath the hills upon the shore. So shall the favor of God shine upon them that on this spot a great city shall arise, and God shall erect many churches therein.

After offering his prayer to God, he descended from the hill on which Kiev was subsequendy built, and continued his journey up the Dnieper. He then reached the Slavs at the point where Novgorod is now situated. He saw these people existing according to their customs, and on observing how they bathed and scrubbed themselves, he wondered at them.

He went thence among the Varangians and came to Rome, where he recounted what he had learned and observed. They warm them to extreme heat, then undress, and after anointing themselves with an acid liquid, they take young branches and lash their bodies. They actually lash themselves so violently that they barely escape alive. Then they drench themselves with cold water, and thus are revived. They think nothing of doing this 9 every day, and though tormented by none, they actually inflict such voluntary torture upon themselves.

Indeed, they make of the act not a mere washing but a veritable torment.

But Andrew, after his stay in Rome, returned to Sinope. Kiy lived upon the hill where the Borichev trail now is, and Shchek dwelt upon the hill now named Shchekovitsa, while on the third resided Khoriv, after whom this hill is named Khorevitsa.

They built a town and named it Kiev after their oldest brother. Around the town lay a wood and a great pine-forest in which they used to catch wild beasts. These men were wise and prudent; they were called Polyanians, and there are Polyanians descended from them living in Kiev to this day. He was then the chief of his kin, and it is related what great honor he received from the Emperor in whose reign he visited the imperial court.

On his homeward journey, he arrived at the Dan- ube. The place pleased him and he built a small town, wishing to dwell there with his kinsfolk. But those who lived near by would not grant him this privilege. Yet even now the dwellers by the Danube call this town Kievets. After the deaths of these three brothers, their gens assumed the supremacy among the Polyanians. The Derevlians possessed a prin- cipality of their own, as did also the Dregovichians, while the Slavs had their own authority in Novgorod, and another principality existed on the Polota, where the Polotians dwell.

Beyond them reside the Krivichians, who live at the head waters of the Volga, the Dvina, and the Dnieper, and whose city is Smolensk. It is there that the Krivich- ians dwell, and from them are the Severians sprung. Along the river Oka which flows into the Volga , the Muroma, the Cheremisians, and the Mordva preserve their native languages. These tribes have their own languages and belong to the race of Japheth, which inhabits the lands of the north. Now while the Slavs dwelt along the Danube, as we have said, there came from among the Scythians, that is, from the Khazars, a people called Bulgars who setded on the Danube and oppressed the Slavs.

After- ward came the White Ugrians, who inherited the Slavic country. The Avars, who attacked Heraclius the Emperor, nearly capturing him, also lived at this time. When an Avar made a journey, he did not cause either a horse or a steer to be harnessed, but gave com- mand instead that three of four or five women should be yoked to his cart and be made to draw him. Even thus they harassed the Dulebians. They all perished, and not one Avar survived. The Pechenegs came after them, and the Magyars passed by Kiev later during the time of Oleg. The Derevlians, who are likewise Slavs, lived by themselves and adopted this tribal name.

But the Radimichians and the Vyatichians sprang from the Lyakhs. There were in fact among the Lyakhs two brothers, one named Radim and other Vyatko. The people there were named Vyatichians after him. There was a multitude of them, for they inhabited the banks of the Dniester almost down to the east, and to this day there are cities in that locality which still belong to them. Hence they are called Great Scythia by the Greeks.

For the Polyanians retained the mild and peaceful customs of their ancestors, and showed respect for their daughters-in-law and their sisters, as well as for their mothers and fathers. For their mothers- in-law and their brothers-in-law they also entertained great reverence. The Derevlians, on the other hand, existed in bestial fashion, and lived like cattle. They killed one another, ate every impure thing, and there was no marriage among them, but instead they seized upon maidens by capture. They lived in the forest like any wild beast, and ate every unclean thing.

They spoke obscenely 14 before their fathers and their daughters-in-law. There were no marriages among them, but simply festivals among the villages. When the peo- ple gathered together for games, for dancing, and for all other devilish amusements, the men on these occasions carried off wives for them- selves, and each took any woman with whom he had arrived at an understanding.

In fact, they even had two or three wives apiece. When- Laurentian Text 57 ever a death occurred, a feast was held over the corpse, and then a great pyre was constructed, on which the deceased was laid and burned. After the bones were collected, they were placed in a small urn and set upon a post by the roadside, even as the Vyatichians do to this day. Such customs were observed by the Krivichians and the other pagans, since they did not know the law of God, but made a law unto them- selves. To this class belong the Seres, who live at the end of the world, and apply as law the customs of their ancestors, which forbid them to commit adult- ery or incest, to steal, to bear false witness, to kill, or do any wrong whatsoever.

But among the Indians, who dwell beside them, are found murderers, criminals and doers of violence beyond all nature. In the most remote portion of their country, they practice cannibalism and kill travelers and, what is worse still, they devour them like dogs. They regard every shameless deed as a virtue when they commit it, even when they are far from their own country.

But they indulge in vice to the extent of their desire, for they are by no means restrained by their husbands, nor do the latter at all concern themselves about the matter. There are among them bold women who are capable of capturing wild beasts by virtue of their strength. The women have control over their husbands, and rule them. The people carry on without jealousy or restraint the vicious customs of their ancestors. This season seems to them, as it were, a 58 The Russian Primary Chronicle time of celebration and great festival. When they give birth to children and a male is born, they kill it, but if the child is of the female sex, then they nurse it and bring it up carefully.

They marry their mothers-in-law and their sisters-in-law, and observe other usages of their ancestors. But in all countries we Christians who believe in the Holy Trinity, in one bap- tism, and in one faith, have but one law, as many of us have been baptized into Christ Lord and have put on Christ.

After this time, and subsequent to the death of the three brothers in Kiev, the Polyanians were oppressed by the Derevlians and other neighbors 17 of theirs. Then the Khazars came upon them as they lived in the hills and forests, and demanded tribute from them. We have won it with a one-edged weapon called a sabre, but the weapon of these men is sharp on both edges and is called a sword. These men shall impose tribute upon us and upon other lands. The outcome was the same in the time of Pharaoh, King of Egypt, when Moses was led before him, and the elders of Pharaoh foretold that he should subjugate Egypt.

For the Egyptians perished at the hand of Moses, though the Jews were previously their slaves. Just as the Egyptians ruled supreme, but were themselves subsequently ruled over, so it has also come to pass that the Russes rule over the Khazars even to this day. Thus from Adam to the Flood, years elapsed; from the Flood to Abra- ham, years; from Abraham to the Mosaic Exodus, years; from the Mosaic Exodus to David, years; from David and the beginning of the reign of Solomon to the captivity of Jerusalem, years; from 59 Lanrentian Text the captivity to Alexander, years; from Alexander to the birth of Christ, years; from the birth of Christ to Constantine, years; and from Constantine to Michael, years.

From the accession of Svyatoslav to that of Yaropolk, twenty-eight years passed. Yaropolk ruled eight years, Vladimir thirty- seven years, and Yaroslav forty years. Thus from the death of Svyato- slav to the death of Yaroslav eighty-five years elapsed, while sixty years separate the death of Yaroslav from that of Svyatopolk. The latter, on catching sight of his armament, offered no resistance, and asked leave to be baptized and to submit themselves to the Greeks.

The Emperor baptized their prince with all his warriors, and made peace with the Bulgarians. The tributaries of the Varangians drove them back beyond the sea and, refusing them further tribute, set out to govern themselves. There was no law among them, but tribe rose against tribe. Discord thus ensued among them, and they began to war one against another.

Come to rule and reign over us. After two years, Sineus and his brother Truvor died, and Rurik assumed the sole authority. He assigned cities to his followers, Polotsk to one, Rostov to another, and to another Beloozero. Rurik had dominion over all these districts. With Rurik there were two men who did not belong to his kin, but were boyars.

They thus sailed down the Dnieper, and in the course of their journey they saw a small city on a hill. Upon their inquiry as to whose town it was, they were informed that 21 three brothers, Kiy, Shchek, and Khoriv, had once built the city, but that since their deaths, their descendants were living there as tributaries of the Khazars. Askold and Dir remained in the city, and after gathering together many Varangians, they established their dominion over the country of the Polyanians at the same time that Rurik was ruling at Novgorod.

Askold and Dir attacked the Greeks during the fourteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Michael. The Emperor succeeded with diffi- culty in entering the city. He straightway hastened with the Patriarch Photius to the Church of Our Lady of the Blachernae, where they prayed all night.

They also sang hymns and carried the sacred vest- ment of the Virgin to dip it in the sea. The weather was still, and the sea was calm, but a storm of wind came up, and when great waves straightway rose, confusing the boats of the godless Russes, it threw them upon the shore 22 and broke them up, so that few escaped such destruction and returned to their native land. Basil began his reign. The entire nation of the Bulgarians accepted baptism.

Oleg set forth, taking with him many warriors from among the Varangians, the Chuds, the Slavs, the Merians and 61 Laurentian Text all the 23 Krivichians. He thus arrived with his Krivichians be- fore Smolensk, captured the city, and set up a garrison there. Thence he went on and captured Lyubech, where he also set up a gar- rison.

He then came to the hills of Kiev, and saw how Askold and Dir reigned there. Askold and Dir straightway came forth. The Varang- ians, Slavs, and others who accompanied him, were called Russes. Oleg began to build stockaded towns, and 24 imposed tribute on the Slavs, the Krivichians, and the Merians. He commanded that Nov- gorod should pay the Varangians tribute to the amount of grivny a year for the preservation of peace. Oleg began military operations against the Derevlians, and after conquering them he imposed upon them the tribute of a black marten-skin apiece.

Oleg attacked the Severians, and conquered them. He imposed a light tribute upon them and forbade their further payment of tribute to the Khazars, on the ground that there was no reason for them to pay it as long as the Khazars were his enemies. Oleg sent messengers to the Radimichians to inquire to whom they paid tribute. Upon their reply that they paid tribute to the Khazars, he directed them to render it to himself instead, and they accordingly paid him a shilling 20 apiece, the same amount that they had paid the Khazars.

Thus Oleg established his authority over the Polyanians, the Derevlians, the Severians, and the Radimichians, but he waged war with the Ulichians and the Tivercians. He called to the throne his brother Alexander, and they ruled together twenty-six years. The Magyars passed by Kiev over the hill now called Hungarian, and on arriving at the Dnieper, they pitched camp. Coming out of the east, they struggled across the great mountains, and began to fight against the neighboring Vlakhs and Slavs.

For the Slavs had settled there first, but the Vlakhs had seized the territory of the Slavs. The Magyars subsequendy expelled the Vlakhs, took their land, and setded among the Slavs, whom they reduced to submission. The Magyars made war upon the Greeks, and seized the Thracian and Macedonian territory as far as Salonika. They also attacked the Moravians and the Czechs. There was at the time but one Slavic race including the Slavs who setded along the Danube and were subjugated by the Magyars, as well as the Moravians, the Czechs, the Lyakhs, and the Polyanians, 26 the last of whom are now called Russes.

We understand neither Greek nor Latin. Some teach us one thing and some another. Furthermore, we do not understand written characters nor their meaning. Therefore send us teachers who can make known to us the words of the scriptures and their sense. The scholars suggested that there was a man in Salonika, by name Leo, who had two sons familiar with the Slavic tongue, being learned men as well. When the Emperor was thus in- formed, he immediately summoned the sons of Leo from Salonika, directing him to send to court forthwith his sons Methodius and Con- stantine. Upon receipt of this message, Leo quickly sent forth his sons.

When they came before the Emperor, he made known to them that the Slavs had communicated to him their desire for teachers who could interpret the holy scriptures to them. The Emperor prevailed 27 upon them to undertake the mission, and sent them into the Slavic country to Rostislav, Svyatopolk, and Kotsel. When they arrived, they under- took to compose a Slavic alphabet, and translated the Acts and the 63 Laurentian Text Gospel. The Slavs rejoiced to hear the greatness of God extolled in their native tongue.

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Whosoever condemns the Slavic writing shall be excluded from the Church until he mend his ways. For such men are not sheep but wolves; by their fruits ye shall know them and guard against them. Children of God, hearken unto his teachings, and depart not from the ecclesiastical rule which Methodius your teacher has appointed unto you. Andronicus, one of the Seventy, a disciple of the holy Apostle Paul. Methodius chose two priests who were very rapid writers, and translated the whole Scriptures in full from Greek into Slavic in six months between March and the twenty-sixth day of October.

After completing the task, he appropriately rendered praise and honor to God, who had bestowed such a blessing upon Bishop Methodius, the suc- cessor of Andronicus. Now Andronicus is the apostle of the Slavic race. He traveled among the Moravians, and the Apostle Paul taught there likewise. For in that region is Illyricum, whither Paul first repaired and where the Slavs originally lived. Since Paul is the teacher of the Slavic race, from which we Russians too are sprung, even so the Apostle Paul is the teacher of us Russians, for he preached to the Slavic nation, and appointed Andronicus as Bishop and successor to himself among them.

While some Slavs were termed Polyanians, their speech was still Slavic, for they were known as Polyanians 29 because they lived in the fields. But they had the same Slavic language. The Emperor Leo incited the Magyars against the Bulgarians, so that they attacked and subjugated the whole Bul- garian country. When Symeon heard this news, he turned upon the 64 The Russian Primary Chronicle Magyars who attacked him and conquered the Bulgarians so that Symeon took refuge in Silistria. A wife, Olga by name, was brought to him from Pskov.

All these tribes are known as Great Scythia by the Greeks. With this entire force, Oleg sallied forth by horse and by ship, and the number of his vessels was two thousand. Oleg disembarked upon the shore, and ordered his soldiery to beach the ships. They waged war around the city, and accomplished much slaughter of the Greeks.

They also destroyed many palaces and burned the churches. Of the prisoners they captured, some they beheaded, some they tortured, some they shot, and still others they cast into the sea. The Russes inflicted many other woes upon the Greeks after the usual manner of soldiers. Oleg com- manded his warriors to make wheels which they attached to the ships, and when the wind was favorable, they spread the sails and bore down upon the city from the open country.

When the Greeks beheld this, they were afraid, and sending messengers to Oleg, they implored him not to destroy the city and offered to submit to such tribute as he should desire. Thus Oleg halted his troops. The Greeks then brought out to him food and wine, but he would not accept it, for it was mixed with poison. Demetrius, whom God has sent upon us. The Greeks assented to these terms and prayed for peace lest Oleg should conquer the land of Greece.

Retiring thus a short distance from the city, Oleg concluded a peace with the Greek Emperors Leo and Alexander, and sent into the city to them 31 Karl, Farulf, Vermund, Hrollaf, and Steinvith, with instructions to receive the tribute. The Greeks promised to satisfy their requirements. Oleg demanded that they should give to the troops on the two thousand ships twelve grivny per bench, and pay in addition the sums required for the various Russian cities: In these cities lived great princes subject to Oleg.

Whosoever come as merchants shall receive supplies for six months, including bread, wine, meat, fish, and fruit. Baths shall be prepared for them in any volume they require. When the Russes return homeward, they shall receive from your Emperor food, anchors, cordage, and sails and whatever else is needed for the journey. Your prince shall personally lay injunction upon such Russes as journey hither that they shall do no violence in the towns and throughout our territory. Such Russes as arrive here shall dwell in the St. They shall not enter the city save through one gate, unarmed and fifty at a time, escorted by an agent of the Emperor.

They may conduct business according to their requirements without payment of taxes. According to the religion of the Russes, the latter swore by their weapons and by their god Perun, as well as by Volos, the god of cattle, and thus confirmed the treaty. The Russes unfurled their sails of brocade and the Slavs their sails of silk, but the wind tore them. A great star appeared in the west in the form of a spear. Oleg despatched his vassals to make peace and to draw up a treaty between the Greeks and the Russes.

His envoys thus made declaration: Rather shall we exert ourselves as far as possible to maintain as irrevocable and immutable henceforth and forever the amity thus proclaimed by our agreement with you Greeks and ratified by signature and oath. But if this declaration is contested, the dissenting party shall take oath to this effect, and after he shall have taken oath according to his faith, a penalty shall be assessed in proportion to the apparent tres- pass committed. But if the defendant is poor and has escaped, he shall be under distress until he returns, when he shall be executed.

If the defendant is poor, he shall pay as much as he is able, and be deprived even of the very clothes he wears, and he shall also declare upon oath that he has no one to aid him. Thereafter the case against him shall be discontinued. The vicdm of the loss shall recover the stolen property. If the thief surrenders, he shall be taken and bound by the one upon whom the theft was committed, and the culprit shall return whatever he has dared to appropriate, making at the same dme threefold restitudon for it.

We will pilot it through every dangerous passage until it arrives at a place of safety. But if any such ship thus detained by storm or by some terrestrial obstacle cannot pos- sibly reach its destinadon, we Russes will extend aid to the crew of this ship, and conduct them with their merchandise in all security, in case such an event takes place near Greek territory.

Then, when we proceed to Greece with merchandise or upon an embassy to your Emperor, we shall render up honorably the price of the sold 36 cargo of the ship. But if anyone on that ship is killed or maltreated by us Russes, or if any object is stolen, then those who have committed such acts shall be subject to the previously pro- vided penalty.

If a merchant loses a slave and institutes a complaint, he shall search for this slave until he is found, but if any person refuses to allow him to make this search, the local officer shall forfeit his right of perquisition. But if he makes some disposition of his goods, the person whom he has designated in writing as his heir shall receive the property of which he thus disposed.

Such shall be the due process of inheritance in the cases of Russes engaging in trade, of casual travelers in Greece, and of those having debts out- standing there. The Russes shall perform the same service for the Greeks whenever the occasion arises. In the name of the Holy Cross and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity of your one true God, your Emperor has confirmed it by his signature and handed it to our envoys. According to our own faith and the custom of our nation, we have sworn to your Emperor, who rules over you by the grace of God, that we will neither violate ourselves, nor allow any of our subjects to violate the peace and amity assured by the articles thus concluded between us.

We have transmitted this document for the ratification of your Majesty in order to confirm and promulgate the treaty thus concluded between us this second of September, in the year of Creation , fifteenth of the indiction. They also instructed the Russes in their faith, and expounded to them the true belief.

Thus the Emperor dismissed them to their native land with great honor. The envoys sent by Oleg returned to Kiev, and reported to him all the utterances of both Emperors. Thus Oleg ruled in Kiev, and dwelt at peace with all nations. Now autumn came, and Oleg bethought him of his horse that he had caused to be well fed, yet had never mounted.

For on one occasion he had made inquiry of the wonder-working magicians as to the ulti- mate cause of his death. So he gave command that the horse should be properly fed, but never led into his presence. He thus let several years pass until he had attacked the Greeks. After he re- turned to Kiev, four years elapsed, but in the fifth he thought of the horse through which the magicians had foretold that he should meet his death.

He thus summoned his senior squire and inquired as to the whereabouts of the horse which he had ordered to be fed and well cared for. This horse is dead, but I am still alive. He rode to the place where the bare bones and skull lay. But a serpent crawled forth from it and bit him in the foot, so that in consequence he sickened and died. All the people mourned for him in great grief. They bore him away and buried him upon the hill which is called Shchekovitsa. His tomb stands there to this day, and it is called the Tomb of Oleg.

It is remarkable what may be accomplished through witchcraft and enchantment. He attained celebrity, and journeyed about performing infernal marvels throughout the cities and towns. From Rome he came to Byzantium, and on being besought of the inhabitants to accomplish this wonder, he drove out a multitude of serpents and scorpions from the city, so that no man should be wounded by them. He also tamed horses of violent temper before the assembled nobles.

He came likewise to Antioch, and on being besought by the in- habitants since Antioch was tormented with scorpions 40 and gnats , he made a brass scorpion and buried it in the earth. Thou shalt be much shaken by an earthquake and fall a prey to flame, and this river Orontes shall bewail thee by its shores. What shall we say of those who perform worlds of magic? For a certain man was so skilled in magical deception that he ridiculed Apollonius the Sage on the ground that he did not cultivate true 41 philosophical knowledge.

Some have even prophesied in the name of the Lord, life Balaam and Saul and Caiaphas, and have driven out the devil life Jude and the sons of Sceva Acts, xix, For the Lord often gives grace to the 71 Laurentian Text unworthy that it may benefit others. Thus Balaam was jar from both life and faith, yet in him the Lord gave evidence of grace that others might see.

Such was Pharaoh, but to him the Lord showed the future. There was Nebuchadnezzar also, who sinned against the law. To him the Lord revealed what was to occur after many generations, thus showing that. Such were Simon the Magician and 42 Menander. At the same time began the reign of Constantine, son of Leo and son-in-law of Romanus. At this time, Symeon subjugated Thrace, and the Greeks summoned the Pechenegs to aid them. When the Pechenegs arrived and wished to attack Symeon, the Greek generals quarreled. The Peche- negs, on seeing how they were quarreling among themselves, returned homeward, but the Bulgarians came to blows with the Greeks, and the Greeks were cut to pieces.

Symeon took Adrianople, 43 which was first called the city of Orestes, son of Agamemnon, who in ancient times was cured of a disease by bathing in three rivers, and then named the city after himself on this account. Subsequendy the Emperor Hadrian restored 43 it, and named it Adrianople for himself, but we call it Adriangrad. Romanus was set up as Emperor in Greece. He then made peace with the Emperor Romanus, and re- turned into his own country 45 Romanus made peace with them. They waged war along the Pontus as far as Heraclea and Paphlagonia, and laid waste the entire region of Nicomedia, burning everything along the gulf.

Of the people they captured, some they butchered, others they set up as targets and shot at, some they seized upon, and after binding their hands behind their backs, they drove iron nails through their heads. Many sacred churches they gave to the flames, while they burned many monasteries and vil- lages, and took no little booty on both sides of the sea.

Then, when the army came out of the east, Pantherius the Domestic with forty thous- and men, Phocas the Patrician with the Macedonians, and Theodore the General with the Thracians, supported by other illustrious nobles, surrounded the Russes. After taking counsel, the latter threw them- selves upon the Greeks, and as the conflict between them was desperate, the Greeks experienced difficulty in winning the upper hand.

The Russes returned at evening to their companions, embarked at night upon their vessels, and fled away. Theophanes pursued them in boats with Greek fire, and dropped it through pipes upon the Russian ships, so that a strange miracle was offered to view. Upon seeing the flames, the Russians cast themselves into the sea- water, being anxious to escape, 45 , but the survivors returned home.

When they came once more to their native land, where each one re- counted to his kinsfolk the course of events and described the fire launched from the ships, they related that the Greeks had in their possession the lightning from heaven, and had set them on fire by pouring it forth, so that the Russes could not conquer them.

Symeon attacked the Croats and was beaten by them. He then died, leaving Peter, his son, as Prince of the Bulgarians. Likewise the Bulgarians sent tidings to the effect that the Russes were on the way, and that they had won the Pechenegs for their allies. He likewise sent palls and much gold to the Pechenegs.

Who knows who will be victorious, we or he? Who has the sea for his ally? For we are not marching by land, but through the depths of the sea. Death lies in wait for us all. He himself, after receiving from the Greeks gold and palls sufficient for his whole army, returned again and came to Kiev in his native land. The Russian envoys were introduced and bidden to speak, and it was commanded that the remarks of both parties should be inscribed upon parchment. A copy of the agreement concluded under the most Chrisdan princes Romanus, Constantine, and Stephen follows: If any of these transgressors be not baptized, may they receive help neither from God nor from Perun: The agents hitherto carried gold seals, and the merchants silver ones.

But your Prince has now made known that he will forward a certificate to our government, and any agents or merchants thus sent by the Russians shall be provided with such a certificate to the effect that a given number of ships has been dispatched. By this means we shall be assured that they come with peaceful intent.

If they do not surrender, but offer resistance, they shall be killed, and indemnity for their death shall not be exacted by your Prince. Your Prince shall moreover prohibit his agents and such other Russes as come hither from the commission of violence in our villages and territory.

Such Russes as come hither shall dwell by St. Our authorities shall note their names, and they shall then receive their monthly allowance, 49 the agents the amount proper to their position, and the merchants the usual amount; first, those from Kiev, then those from Chernigov and PereyaslavP. They shall enter the city through one gate in groups of 75 Laurentian Text fifty without weapons, and shall dispose of their merchandise as they require, after which they shall depart. An officer of our government shall guard them, in order that, if any Russ or Greek does wrong, he may redress it.

Whoever purchases such silks shall exhibit them to the imperial officer, who will stamp and return them. When the Russes depart hence, they shall receive from us as many provisions as they require for the journey, and what they need for their ships as has been previously determined , and they shall return home in safety. They shall not have the privilege of wintering in the St. Mamas quarter, he shall be apprehended if found in Greek territory. If he is not found, the Christian Russes shall so swear according to their faith, and the non- Christians after their custom, and they shall then receive from us their due, two pieces of silk per slave, according to previous stipulations.

If, among the people of our Empire, whether from our city or elsewhere, any slave of ours escapes 50 among you and takes anything with him, the Russes shall send him back again. If what he has appropriated is intact, the finders shall receive two bezants from its value. If a Greek so transgress against a Russ, he shall receive the same punishment that the latter would suffer for a like offence.

If a Russ commits a theft upon a Greek, or a Greek upon a Russ, he must return not only the stolen ardcle, but also its value. If the stolen article is found to have been sold, he shall return double the price, and also shall be punished both by Greek law and statute and by the law of the Russes.

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If the latter are of middle age, the Greeks shall recover them on payment of eight bezants each. But in the case that the capuves are old persons or young chil- dren, the ransom shall be five bezants. If any Russes are found laboring as slaves in Greece, providing they are prisoners of war, the Russes shall ransom them for ten bezants each.

But if a Greek has actually purchased any such prisoner, and so declares under oath, he shall receive in return the full purchase price paid for the prisoner. If Russian subjects meet with Khersonian fishermen at the mouth of Dnieper, they shall not harm them in any wise. The Russes shall, moreover, not have the right to winter at the mouth of Dnieper, either at Belobereg or by St. Eleutherius, but when autumn comes, they shall return home to Rus. But if the escaped culprit is poor, he shall be pursued 52 till found, and when he is found, he shall be executed.

Finally he shall swear upon his faith that he has no possessions, and then he shall be released. From this fact, other countries shall learn what amity the Greeks and the Russes enter- tain toward each other. Upon receipt of this document, they shall then bind themselves by oath to observe the truth as agreed upon between us and inscribed upon this parchment, wherein our names are written. Elias, upon the Holy Cross set before us, and upon this parchment, to abide by all that is written herein, and not to violate 53 any of its stipulations.

May whosoever of our compatriots. Prince or common, baptized or unbap- tized, who does so violate them, have no succor from God, but may he be slave in this life and in the life to come, and may he perish by his own arms. If any of the princes or any Russian subject, whether Christian or non- Christian, violates the terms of this instrument, he shall merit death by his own weapons, and be accursed of God and of Perun because he violated his oath. Your envoys have received the pledge of our Emperors, and they have sent us to receive your oath and that of your followers.

Elias, which is above the creek, in the vicinity of the Pasyncha square and the quarter of the Khazars. This was, in fact, a parish church, since many of the Varangians were Christians. But when autumn came, he thought of the Derevlians, and wished to collect from them a still larger tribute. Go forth with us, oh Prince, after tribute, that both you and we may profit thereby. He sought to increase the previous tribute and col- lected it by violence from the people with the assistance of his followers.

After thus gathering the tribute, he returned to his city. I shall turn back, and rejoin you later. If we do not thus kill him now, he will destroy us all. But Olga was in Kiev with her son, the boy Svyatoslav. His tutor was Asmund, and the troop commander was Sveinald, the father of Mstikha. Let us take his wife Olga for our Prince Mai, 55 and then we shall obtain possession of Svyatoslav, and work our will upon him. At that time, the water flowed below the heights of Kiev, and the inhabitants did not live in the valley, but upon the heights.

Without the city stood another palace, where the palace of the Cantors is now situated, behind the Church of the Holy Virgin upon the heights. This was a palace with a stone hall. When the Derevlians had thus announced their arrival, Olga replied with an inquiry as to the reason of their coming. The Derevlians 56 then announced that their tribe had sent them to report that they had slain her husband, because he was like a wolf, crafty and ravening, but that their princes, who had thus preserved the land of Dereva, were good, and that Olga should come and marry their Prince Mai.

For the name of the Prince of Dereva was Mai. But I desire to honor you tomorrow in the presence of my people. Return now to your boat, and remain there with an aspect of arrogance. Now Olga gave command that a large deep ditch should be dug in the castle with the hall, outside the city. Our Prince is killed, and our Princess intends to marry their prince. The latter sat on the cross-benches in great robes, puffed up with pride.

They thus were borne into the court before Olga, and when the men had brought the Derevlians in, they dropped them into the trench along with the boat. Olga bent over and inquired whether they found the honor to their taste. She then commanded that they should be buried alive, and they were thus buried. Olga then sent messages to the Derevlians to the effect that, if they really required her presence, they should send after her their distin- guished men, so that she might go 57 to their Prince with due honor, for otherwise her people in Kiev would not let her go.

When the Derevlians heard this message, they gathered together the best men who governed the land of Dereva, and sent them to her. When the Derevlians arrived, Olga commanded that a bath should be made ready, and invited them to appear before her after they had bathed. The bath- house was then heated, and the Derevlians entered in to bathe. She bade her followers pile up a great mound and when they had piled it up, she also gave command that a funeral feast should be held.

Thereupon the Derevlians sat down to drink, and Olga bade her followers wait upon them. The Derevlians inquired of Olga where the retinue was which they had sent to meet her. When the Derevlians were drunk, she bade her followers fall upon them, and went about herself egging on her retinue to the massacre of the Derevlians. So they cut down five thousand of them; but Olga returned to Kiev and prepared an army to attack the survivors. Olga, together with her son 58 Svyatoslav, gathered a large and valiant army, and proceeded to attack the land of the Derevlians. The latter came out to meet her troops, and when both forces were ready for combat, Svyatoslav cast his spear against the Derevlians.

The Derevlians barricaded themselves within the city, and fought valiantly from it, for they realized that they had killed the prince, and to what fate they would in consequence surrender.

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Olga remained there a year without being able to take the city, and then she thought out this plan. She sent into the town the following message: All your cities have surrendered to me and submitted to tribute, so that the inhabitants now cultivate their fields and their lands in peace. But you had rather die of hunger, without submitting to tribute. After I have made peace with you, I shall return home again. Olga retorted that at the moment they had neither honey nor furs, 59 but that she had one small request to make.

I do not desire to impose a heavy tribute, like my husband, but I require only this small gift from you, for you are impoverished by the siege. Olga then instructed them, in view of their submission, to return to their city, promising that on the mor- row she would depart and return to her own capital. The Derevlians re-entered their city with gladness, and when they reported to the in- habitants, the people of the town rejoiced. Now Olga gave to each soldier in her army a pigeon or a sparrow, and ordered them to attach by a thread to each pigeon and sparrow a piece of sulphur bound with small pieces of cloth.

When night fell, Olga bade her soldiers release the pigeons and the sparrows. So the birds flew to their nests, the pigeons to the cotes, and the sparrows under the eaves. Thus the dove-cotes, the coops, the porches, and the haymows were set on fire. There was not a house that was not con- sumed, and it was impossible to extinguish the flames, because all the houses caught fire at once.

The people fled from the city, and Olga ordered her soldiers to catch them. Thus she took the city and burned it, and captured the elders of the city. Some of the other captives she killed, while she gave others as slaves to her followers. The remnant she left to pay 60 tribute. Her trading posts and hunting-preserves are there still.

Then she returned with her son to Kiev, her city, where she remained one year. Olga went to Novgorod, and along die Msta she estab- lished trading-posts and collected tribute. She also collected imposts and tribute along the Luga. After making these dispositions, she returned to her city of Kiev, and dwelt at peace with it.

The reigning Emperor was named Constantine, son of Leo. He conversed with her and remarked that she was worthy to reign with him in his city. This is what an American Icon looks like. The red wolf is one of the few large carnivore species endemic to the United States — this keystone predator has never been found anywhere else in the world Jala and the Wolves http: The coat of foxes provides them with excellent camouflage.

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