Kievan Rus (862-1242) was a medieval political federation located in modern-day Belarus, Ukraine, and part of Russia (the latter named for the Rus, a Scandinavian people). The name Kievan Rus is a modern-day (19th century) designation but has the same meaning as 'land of the Rus,' which is how the region was known in the Middle Ages.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 750Scandinavian settlement of Staraja Ladoga founded as trade center.
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862 - 879Reign of Varangian King Rurik, founder of the Rurikid Dynasty of Kievan Rus.
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862 - 1242Federation of Kievan Rus controls areas of modern-day Belarus, Russia, and the Ukraine.
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879 - 912Reign of Oleg of Novgorod, also known as Oleg the Prophet, in Kievan Rus.
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c. 882Oleg the Prophet moves capital of Kievan Rus from Novgorod to Kiev.
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912 - 945Reign of Igor of Kiev in Kievan Rus.
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945Assassination of Igor of Kiev by Drevlians.
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945 - c. 963Olga, wife of Igor, reigns as regent for their son Sviatoslav I.
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c. 945 - c. 950Olga seeks revenge on Drevlians for Igor's death.
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c. 963 - 972Reign of Sviatoslav I (Sviatoslav the Brave), who expands and enriches Kievan Rus through military campaigns.
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972 - 980Reign of Yaropolk I in Kievan Rus.
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980 - 1015Reign of Vladimir I (the Great) in Kievan Rus; converts region to Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
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c. 987Vladimir I sends Varangian forces to help Basil II of Constantinople; creation of the Varangian Guard.
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1015 - 1019Reign of Sviatopolk I in Kievan Rus.
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1019 - 1054Reign of Yaroslav I (the Wise) in Kievan Rus; height of the federation in every respect.
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c. 1054 - c. 1078Yaroslav I's sons fight each other for control; Kievan Rus splinters.
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c. 1078 - c. 1337Kievan Rus broken into separate districts and polities. .
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1237 - 1242The Mongol Invasion; Kievan Rus conquered. .