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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. 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.

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 943, the Rus plundered the region of the Caspian Sea. During the latter expedition, they rowed up the Kura River, deep into Azerbaijan, defeated the forces of Mazurban ibn Muhammad, and captured Barda, 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 Arab 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 dysentery among the Rus, who had to row away under the cover of darkness. 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 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.

References

1. 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.
2. Logan, Donald F. (1992). The Vikings in History 2nd ed., pp. 201–202. Routledge. ISBN 0-4150-8396-6

Template:Succession

• 945 deaths
• Rulers of Kievan Rus