The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-05-13
PROBLEMS FACING
A STRICKEN WORLD
BY FRANK coMERFoRD.

The history of Russia begins with a
legend. Nestor of Kiev, an old monk
ish chronicler, tells the story. Kiev is
the mother of Russian cities. In the
ninth century Slavs and Firms lived in
tribal state in the forest region near
Lake linen, between Lake LadOga and
the upper waters of the Dnieper river.
Bands of military adventures from
the land of Rus, which is supposed TO
have been a part of Sweden, exacted
tribute from the tribes. In the year
$50 the tribes threw off the yoke Of
the Norsemen and drove them out Of
the country. 1t was Russia's first revO-
luton, so the old chronicler relates,
and 1t was successful. Freed from the
tyranny of the tribute takers the tribes
began to quarrel among themselves.
Their land was large and fertile, but
civil war destroyed order. Then as
now, order was the first essential TO
peace and happiness. 1t is told that
after three years of tribal war they
confessed their inability to manage
their own affairs and they sent mis-
sion to Rus to invite their old masters
to come and rule over them.
According to the legend, three broth
ers. princes of Rus, Rurik, Sfneus and
Truvor. accepted the call and founded
a dynasty, from which many of the
Russian princes of the present day
claim descent.
While much discussion has been pro-
vOked as TO the identity of the war
riorS from the land Of Rus, the found
ers of the Russian empire, 1t is gen.
orally believed that they were the
hardy Norsemen, who I'm the ninth CEN
tury roamed through various countries
of Europe. These rowing bands in
vaded and conquered territory and
lived as the dominant military caste
until they were gradually absorbed by
the native population.
Novgerod First Capital.
Prince Rurik built his capital on the
banks OF the River Volkhov. which
with Lake linen formed part of the
great waterway connecting the Baltic
and Black seas. BY this route. the
tall, blonde NOrSemen, who composed
the famous Varangian bodyguard of
the Byzantine emperors, travelled from
Scandinavia to COnstantinople. Rus
sia's first capital was Novgorod.
These new rulers from the land of
Rus brought with them the spirit of
adventure of the Norsemen. They
were not contented to rule the tribes
who had invited them. They set out
to conquer the surrounding country in
all directions, and before two hundred
years had passed they had invaded
Byzantine territory, established them
selves at Kiev. threatened CONSTANT
nople with fleet, secured as a consort
for Vladimir /. one of their princes. a
sister of the Byzantine emperor.
adopted Christianity for themselves
and their subjects. learned to hold in
check the nOmadic hOrdes of the
steppe. and formed matrimonial al
liances with the reigning families of
Poland. Hungary, Norway and France.
They became great power in eastern
Europe.
They had great appetite for con-
quest, but they lacked the power to
organize the territory they conquered
The political future of the new state
was destroyed when the princes of the
Rurik dynasty divided the state into a
number Of Independent principalities
For n time these were weakly and
loosely held together by the patri-
archal authority Of the senior mem
Der OF the family, the grand prince
who ruled in Kiev. Family quarrels
became frequent. These princes were
strong men. They wanted power. They
strove to enlarge their territories al
the expense of their rivals, The tradi-
tional authority Of the grand prince
| declined. Yaroslav the Great was the
last Of the grand princes. With his