Rurik departs for the Land of the Slavs, AD 862 (litho)

Rurik departs for the Land of the Slavs, AD 862. Dissensions amongst the Slav and Finnish tribes, who inhabited the country between Lake Ladoga and the Upper Dnieper, led them in AD 862 to invite the Swedish chieftains, Rurik and his two brothers, Princes of Rus, to come and govern them. Rurik established his capital at Novgorod, from which he conquered the surrounding territory, whilst he also opened up trade with his native land by way of the rivers. Illustration for Hutchinson's History of the Nations (Hutchinson, c.1920). Note: Image has been digitally enhanced to facilitate repro.