Кievan Rus was founded in the 9th century. From the earliest days of its history it was associated with the heroic exploits and conquests, boldness, courage and strength of its princes. Kievan Rus, as most countries at that time was established by uniting of the tribes the conquest of one tribe by others. Unfortunately, there is not much reliable information about the history of this period, about the many events and even individuals we can’t say with certainty that they existed.

Talking about the princes of Kiev, we firstly have to tell you about the legendary princes Askold and Dir. Until now, it is not known whether they were two different rulers, or Dir is the second name of Askold. They are known for their campaign against the Byzantine Empire, signing contracts with it. Probably Askold accepted Christianity about 860, and then the first Christian church in Kiev was opened.
Officially, the first ruler of Kievan Rus was Rurik, who ruled from 849 to 859 year. According to the legend and the later chronicles, he was the Varangian, who was invited to rule with his two brothers Sineus and Truvor. And they began reign in the cities Novgorod, Biloozersk and Izborsk, gradually extending the area of the country and the area of its effect. After the death of the brothers Rurik continued progressive integration the lands.
The next ruler of Kievan Rus, Oleg, turned his attention to the economic development. The economic and trade negotiations were conducted conquered new territories for the country in the campaigns. A major achievement of his reign was the recognition of the strength and the power of Kievan Rus by Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire, the conclusion of mutually beneficial trade agreements between these countries. The Legend about the death of Prince Oleg is well-known and seems interesting. It is believed that once it was predicted that he will take the death from his favorite war horse. Oleg, who loved the horse, but also believed the prediction, gave his horse to one of the friends. Returning from a campaign learned that a horse died because of the anguish. Prince wanted to visit the grave of his horse, and that’s where he was bitten by a poisonous snake. It is the surprising fact that every schoolchild knows this story in the country, but the historical acknowledgment of it was never found.

Prince Igor ruled from 912 to 945 year. “The Tale of Bygone Years” calls him the son of Rurik, but other historical evidence of this fact was not found. His military campaigns brought him greater glory during his lifetime, as it created a legend not only in Rus, but also far beyond its borders. The Prince Igor’s campaign with an army of 40,000 soldiers to Constantinople is well known. The campaign was not fortunate. The Greek army was armed with a “greek fire” (a sticky mixture, similar to napalm, burning even in water). The result of the defeat was the conclusion of a trade agreement, which greatly infringe upon the rights of Kievan Rus to the international trade. The next campaign crowned with success, Igor took a great part of Karabakh, and moved inland, but had to retreat because of the epidemic among the troops. But he showed the world that time, the growing power of the young country.

The history of the first princes of Kievan Rus has long been transferred to our days in the legends and stories. It is difficult to say how much truth is in one or another story. But such a large number of legends prove the love of the people to them. The undoubted is the fact that these rulers have opened a period of active increasing the State, its formation in the global arena. They were brave and courageous heroes.