The Varangian Guards

[Sigurd]

I do not question what you say about trade in the north of Norway and eastwards. But to call it new insight is not true. Why? Because it is described in several of the Icelandic sagas - so in fact its old news.

If you read my statement more closely I said there is new insight based on archaeological evidence. There has been some digging in Russia in the late 90’s by Russian and Norwegian archaeologists that is indeed new insight. The location of Holmgård the stronghold of the Rus nobility, Norse tools and artefacts with older dating than any of those found in Scandinavia etc… all pointing to the fact that the migration came through Russia and followed the coast of Norway.

On the other hand you give some new information on other things. Rurik being the son of Harald Hårfagre was news to me; please tell me where I can read evidence of this or at least some respected historian/archaeologist saying it.

Well, the Nestor chronicle (the oldest Russian piece of history text) claims that Rus invited three Varangian brothers to come and rule them in 860AD. Traditionally the Swedes were blamed for fostering this Rurik (one of the three brothers), because of a sloppy homework done by the three historians that postulated this thesis (1918; R.Beazley, N.Forbes and G.A.Birhett: Russia, From the Varangians to the Bolsjeviks).
The Slavic tribe that invited the Varangians was the Chuds. They lived furthest north in the White Sea and dominated the Kola peninsula.The Slavic tribes they spoke on behalf of never ruled as far as the Baltic ocean (there was no connection to the Baltic!).
The historians just assumed they came from Uppsala when logic says otherwise.
The Slavic tribes had already encountered the sons of Harald Hårfagre as they fought many battles by Dvinas outlet. One of them was called Rørek and was the oldest son of Harald Hårfagre (he had many sons).
The chronicle tells us that Rurik was the eldest of the three Varangian brothers.
Nothing is mentioned in the sagas as to what became of Rørek, he did not succeed Harald on the throne.
The Slavic tribes wanted a king and he had to be of noble birth and they had contact with the princes of the Northmen.

Per Lillieström (Swede) agrees,
Thor Heyerdahl (Norwegian) agrees,
Omeljan Pritsak (Russian) criticises the three historians for their lack of insight but makes no assumtion to where Rurik hailed from.

And making Odin a real historical figure might be going too far and if indeed he was a historical figure he was Swedish (or from the start from Troy) and that would make Harald Swedish and it would make the traders/fighters in northern Norway Swedish.

Come on, you claim to have read the Icelandic sagas and it is quite clear that Odin came to Sweden and was given a large piece of land from the king in Sveariket.
Yes, he lived and died in Uppsala but was never a Swede.
One of his sons Sæmund conquered lands in what is today furthest east in Norway and it is thru that line Harald Hårfagre came to rule that area.
Besides, Rørek came from two lines of nobility. Odin’s line and Nor’s line. Rørek's mother was Gyda the daughter of a King in Hordaland. The same that told Harald that she wouldn’t marry him until he ruled all of Norway.


Oh, Odin was as real as any historical man.
It is trough the bad historical material of the 18th century that he becomes a mythical figure.