Some of the parallels in the history of ancient Russia and the Baltic Slavs

Loginov Dmitry Sergeyevich

The work is devoted to one of the aspects of the so-called Norman problem - the question of the origin of the Varangians. The dominant hypothesis in modern historical science is the one of the Scandinavian origin of the Varangians. However, it faces difficulties both of a philological and historical nature. The second hypothesis is the relationship of the Varangians with the Baltic Slavs, in particular, with the tribe of Wagras. In the early Russian history there are obvious parallels with the history of the Baltic Slavs. These include, on the one hand, the anti-Christian uprisings in the Baltic States in 983 and 1066, and on the other – information about the human sacrifice in Kiev in 983 and pagan movements in Kiev, Novgorod and Beloozero in the late 1060 – early 1070s. They can be observed as an additional argument in favor of the West Slavic origin of the Varangians.

Keywords:the Norman problem, Ancient Rus, the Varangians, the Scandinavians, the Baltic Slavs, Slavic paganism, pagan uprisings