A ruszok 860. évi támadása Konstantinápoly ellen

The Rus’ raid on Constantinople in 860: The attack on Constantinople in 860 was a milestone of the early history of Rus’, however, it cannot be considered to be a solemn episode of Russian history but as an event of the Viking attacks devastating different parts of Europe at this time. The people of Rus’ trading in Eastern Europe were mainly Scandinavian by origin and we know very little about their relations with the Byzantine Empire before 860. We may suppose peaceful relations between Byzantium and the Rus’ in the first half of the 9th century. The background of the raid is rather obscure. The Primary Chronicle (PVL) tells the story of the so-called „calling-in of the Varangians”: Rurik, Sineus and Truvor in the year of 862. It is important to emphasize the untrustworthiness of the early chronology of PVL. On the basis of dendrochronology, Staraja Ladoga and Rurikovo Gorodische were heavily damaged in the 860’s. We can assume that new warlike Norse groups arrived in the Rus’. The motive of the attack, presumably, was the desire for booty. The military action could not be launched from Kiev, nor from Tmutorokan’ but from the region of lakes Ladoga and Ilmen’. The route of the army is uncertain as well. but there are arguments in favour of the Dnieper. According to the PVL, the two semi-legendary Varangians, Askold and Dir headed the expedition against Constantinople. In my view, they were real persons but they were not able to lead the attack. The Rus’ army plundered the surroundings of the city. The result of the action is very debatable because of two reasons. First, the attackers were not able to capture the city itself and I think it was not their main goal because the surroundings were rich enough for them. Second, according to some later sources, the Rus’ fleet were destroyed by the will of Holy Virgin but the contemporary patriarch Photios mentioned nothing that would refer to it. The sources do not give any rational reason at all. In my opinion, the raid was successful. After the attack a Rus’ embassy came to Constantinople to be baptized. The reason of this is also questionable but the normalization of relationship was in the interest of both. Presumably, the aim of ConstantineCyril’s mission was to persuade the Khazars and Magyars to disallow the Rus’ army to pass through their territories into the Empire