old east slavic old norse prince ruled people early 10th century credited moving capital great laid foundation powerful state launched attack constantinople capital byzantine_empire according east slavic chronicles supreme ruler traditional dating challenged historians point inconsistent sources letter mentions activities certain late reign byzantine emperor nature relationship ruling family specifically successor matter controversy historians russian chronicles according relative likely brother law ruler entrusted care kingdom young son gradually took control cities captured previously held finally moved capital new capital convenient place launch raid constantinople according chronicle byzantines attempted poison leader demonstrated powers refusing drink cup poisoned wine having fixed shield gate imperial capital won favourable trade treaty eventually great benefit nations byzantine sources record hostilities text treaty survives chronicle brief account life contrasts early sources specifically states related scandinavian client prince served army commander date commencement reign dates death scholars contrasted dating scheme epic reigns roughly thirty years primary chronicle sources place grave sources identify final resting place legend death prophet known prophet epithet sacred meaning norse priest according legend ballad song wise pagan priests death stallion sent horse away years later asked horse told died asked remains taken place bones lay touched horse skull boot snake skull bit died fulfilling prophecy death interpreted distorted variant death theme european myth legend prophecy snake horse representing functions prophecy associated sovereignty horse warriors reproduction scandinavian traditions legend lived saga letter according died successor ruled assassination letter document written contemporary describes activities named hebrew usually years scholars disregarded discounted letter account referred interpreted late recently scholars suggested letter account russian chronicles suggests struggle early factions loyal struggle ultimately lost early chronology determined light sources beliefs analyzed sources lose early 10th century traditional date son distant descendant immediately follow lost generation legendary lord documented successors particular interest fact letter account death fled raided tentatively identified persia slain bears remarkable parallels account arab historians described similar attack muslim state year attempts reconcile accounts contrast version later place grave seen time compilation documents furthermore scholars pointed succeeded east slavic chronicles assert hardly active years later life span medieval annals solve difficulties proposed pagan monarch priests hereditary title standing holy norse language held title suggested waged war distinct successors fair great princes recorded russo byzantine treaties mentioned specify relations minor princes active period names recorded century 11th century identified letter anonymous eldest son widow mentioned russo byzantine treaty alternatively speculated vernacular princes ruling dynasty maintained especially close contacts findings large royal excavated near testify academic mainstream endorsed theories
Oleg of Novgorod