Can anyone give me a definitive source for information on the Vikings who ruled in southern Russia?

Question

looking for information for a Scadian persona

Answer 1

First check out some of the tried and true SCAdian sources:

Mistress Gunnora in Ansteorra:
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com

Mistress Thora Sharptooth in the East:
http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/vikresource.html

And of course, the Ospery Books. My husband has the newer compendeum "Vikings: Voyages of Discovery and Plunder" which has a section on the Rus.


From there I'd go to:
Gwen Jones, "A History of the Vikings" (Oxford University Press, 1968, 1984) it's a classic for a reason, and she has a chapter on "The Movement East: The Baltic Lands, Russia, Byzantium".

If you're doing persona reserach, I'll assume part of what you are looking for is what to wear. Find Thor Ewing's new book "Viking Clothing" (Tempus Publishing, 2006). He includes quite a bit of information about the Rus and the Norse in Russia.

Finally, this looks like a decent site:
http://www.unc.edu/~smyre/rus/index.html

Cheers!

Answer 2

Scandanavian history is basically not taught in most colleges and universities. However you can probably find information on what you want from the University of Minnesota and some other adjacent states as well as from Cornell, Harvard and Yale. Email the librarians at the main libraries. They are very cooperative.

This is a dig and delve project.

Most of the scandanavians tht went into Russia were Swedes and the name for Russia is from a Swedish tribe called the Rus.

Unlike the vikings that went down the west coasts of Europe, the Swedish Vikings went into the river systems of what is now Russia and founded cities and towns. Some, however, who would have gone down to the Mediterranean, ended up in Byzantium and worked as sea mercenaries for the Byzantine Govt. Many got into Russia that way.

When you get references from the libraries, go to y our public library and Inter-Library Loan the books, it will take time.

20 years studying Viking History.

Answer 3

vikings ruled the regon of norway and scandinaviaThe Vikings came from Scandinavia, an area in northern Europe that now includes the countries of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. The climate there is harsh, with bitter winters and short summers. Viking families struggled to survive. They grew oats and barley during the short growing season. They also hunted deer, bear, and wolves in the woods and caught fish, seals, and whales from the ocean.

RAIDERS AND SETTLERS

Viking warriors sailed in fast, sleek drakkar (dragon ships). They had a single sail but the warriors also rowed them with oars.

The Vikings sailed south to attack villages and churches around the coasts of Europe. They seized valuables and kidnapped men, women, and children to sell as slaves. The Vikings demanded danegeld (money for protection) from towns and threatened to attack again if they weren’t paid. Boatloads of Vikings landed in Scotland, Ireland, England, and France. They killed local rulers and set up their own kingdoms. Vikings also took control of parts of Russia and the Ukraine.

Brave Viking adventurers headed west across the Atlantic to settle in Iceland and Greenland. About ad 1000, they became the first Europeans to land in North America. They called the new land Vinland and built a settlement there, but the settlement did not survive.

SKILLED AND CIVILIZED

Wherever they traveled, the Vikings brought violence. But they also brought their own rich culture. They were expert craftspeople, carving wood, stone, bone, and antlers into useful everyday objects. They forged sharp iron axes, swords, and spears. They made the best ships in Europe, and the best jewelry. They were also shrewd traders. They traveled long distances to sell amber, furs, and slaves in such cities as Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) and Baghdad (in Iraq).

Viking people were proud of their highly developed society. They held community meetings, called things, to punish criminals and make laws. They set up carved memorial stones to honor respected leaders. Viking poets memorized stories and histories of brave deeds.

Viking traditions survive throughout northern Europe, and Viking tales of gods, heroes, and monsters still inspire stirring works of art
n peninsula

Answer 4

well they were vikings and they ruled southern Russia