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| ] of Igor the Old'', by ] (1845-1902).]] | ] of Igor the Old'', by ] (1845-1902).]] | ||
| '''Igor''' (]: ''Игорь'', ]: ''Ingvar'') was a ] ruler of ] from ] to ]. | '''Igor''' (]: ''Игорь'', ]: ''Ingvar'') was a ] ruler of ] from ] to ]. Very little is known about him from the ]. It has been speculated that the chroniclers chose not to enlarge on his reign, as the region was dominated by ] at that time. That he was ]'s son is also questioned on chronological grounds. | ||
| He twice besieged ], in ] and ], and in spite of his fleet being destroyed by ], concluded with the Emperor a favourable treaty whose text is preserved in the chronicle. In ] and ], the ] plundered the Arabs in the ] during the ], but it's not clear whether Igor had anything to do with these campaigns. Igor was killed while collecting tribute from the ] in ] and revenged by his wife, ]. The ] blames his death on his own excessive greed, indicating that he was attempting to collect tribute a second time in a month. | |||
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| ⚫ | Drastically revising the chronology of the Primary Chronicle, ] argues that Igor actually reigned for three years, between summer ] and his death in early 945. He explains the epic 33-year span of his reign in the chronicle by its author's faulty interpretation of Byzantine sources.<ref>Zuckerman, Constantine. ''On the Date of the Khazars' Conversion to Judaism and the Chronology of the Kings of the Rus Oleg and Igor. A Study of the Anonymous Khazar Letter from the Genizah of Cairo''. // Revue des études byzantines. - 1995. - 53. - P. 237-270.</ref> Indeed, no Igor's activity is recorded in the chronicle prior to 941. | ||
| He twice besieged ], in ] and ], and in spite of his fleet being destroyed by ], concluded with the Emperor a favourable treaty whose text is preserved in the chronicle. In ] and ], the ] plundered the region of the ]. During the latter expedition, they rowed up the ], deep into ], defeated the forces of ], and captured ], the capital of the region. The Varangians allowed the local people to retain their religion in exchange for recognition of the Varangian overlordship. According to the ] sources, the local people broke the peace by stone-throwing and other abuse directed against the Rus, who then demanded that the inhabitants evacuate the city. This ultimatum was rejected, and the Varangians began killing people and holding many for ransom. The slaughter was briefly interrupted for negotiations, which soon broke down. The city was saved by an outbreak of ] among the Rus, who had to row away under the cover of darkness.<ref>Logan, Donald F. (1992). ''The Vikings in History'' 2nd ed., pp. 201–202. Routledge. ISBN 0-4150-8396-6</ref> It is not clear whether Igor had anything to do with this campaign, or it may have been an independent group of Varangians. | |||
| Igor was killed while collecting tribute from the ] in ] and revenged by his wife, ]. The ] blames his death on his own excessive greed, indicating that he was attempting to collect tribute a second time in a month. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 11:45, 18 October 2006
Igor (Old East Slavic: Игорь, Old Norse: Ingvar) was a Varangian ruler of Kievan Rus from 912 to 945. Very little is known about him from the Primary Chronicle. It has been speculated that the chroniclers chose not to enlarge on his reign, as the region was dominated by Khazaria at that time. That he was Rurik's son is also questioned on chronological grounds.
He twice besieged Constantinople, in 941 and 944, and in spite of his fleet being destroyed by Greek fire, concluded with the Emperor a favourable treaty whose text is preserved in the chronicle. In 913 and 944, the Rus plundered the Arabs in the Caspian Sea during the Caspian expeditions of the Rus, but it's not clear whether Igor had anything to do with these campaigns. Igor was killed while collecting tribute from the Drevlians in 945 and revenged by his wife, Olga of Kiev. The Primary Chronicle blames his death on his own excessive greed, indicating that he was attempting to collect tribute a second time in a month.
Drastically revising the chronology of the Primary Chronicle, Constantine Zuckerman argues that Igor actually reigned for three years, between summer 941 and his death in early 945. He explains the epic 33-year span of his reign in the chronicle by its author's faulty interpretation of Byzantine sources. Indeed, no Igor's activity is recorded in the chronicle prior to 941.
References
- Zuckerman, Constantine. On the Date of the Khazars' Conversion to Judaism and the Chronology of the Kings of the Rus Oleg and Igor. A Study of the Anonymous Khazar Letter from the Genizah of Cairo. // Revue des études byzantines. - 1995. - 53. - P. 237-270.