The Varangian Way

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The Varangian Way

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The Varangian Way

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Development and augmentation by Sementawy Horemheb.

A lone white sail shows for an instant
Where gleams the sea, an azure streak.
What left it in its homeland distant?
In alien parts what does it seek?
The billows play, the mast bends creaking,
The wind, impatient, moans and sighs...
It is not joy that it is seeking,
Nor is it happiness it flies.

The grey waves dance, they sigh and tremble,
The mist white rays caress the seas.
And yet for storm it begs, the rebel,
As if in storm lurked calm and peace...
The seekers do come, their storm toss'd boats
The challange to earth in fire and fur,
Ashore do they stride, their shouts, their boasts
Our domain herself has bowed smiling, concurred.

(1832. Michail Lermontov - Translation by Sem H).

Eastwards and southwards, 'The Varangian Way' is the progression of a people, a sequence of adventures, an exploration, the beginings of a quest for land, riches and glory and the rise of an empire.

At it's root lies a group of tenacious marauders and raiders, merchants and craftmen, unyelding and purposeful, who in their travels created a rich and powerful realm and whose history is full of vast landscapes, vibriant life and compellingly stark contrasts. It is the chronicle of the 'Austrvegr,' or the 'Great Waterway.' It is a narrative of warriors, of chieftains of special strength, courage and ability and of the steadfast people who followed in their wake. It is a tale of men of distinguished courage, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. Engaging in trade, piracy and mercenary activities, they roamed the river systems and portages of the lands of Garðaríki, reaching the Caspian Sea and Constantinople.

The Varangian Way is their story and your journey...

Destinations on the Varangian Way

Visit the city of Holmgardr.
Visit Holmgardr's district of Sofijskaja storona
Visit Holmgardr's district of Torgovaja storona.

What is The Varangian Way? It is a Dark Ages and Medieval trade route extending from Scandinavia through Kyivan Rus to the Byzantine Empire, mentioned in Norse Sagas and in the Russian Primary Chronicles as the route ‘from the Varangians to the Greeks.’ The major trade routes consisted of a series of waterways and portages covering nearly 3,000 km from the Baltic (‘Varangian’) Sea to the Black Sea, and into the The Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Caspian Sea. It began near present-day Stockholm and crossed the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, followed the Neva River, Lake Ladoga, the Volkhov River, Lake Ilmen, and the Lovat River, and connected with the Dnieper River by way of the Western Dvina River. The route continued all the way along the Dnieper directly to the Black Sea and then followed its western coast to Constantinople.

The Varangian Way was first used in the early 9th century. It played a major role not only in the development of trade in the Varangian 'Kyivan Rus' territories but also in the cultural and political transformation of East Slavic tribes into the Rus’ state with its center in Kyiv. Amongst the many cities founded or settled by the Varangian along the Varangian route were Aldeigjuborg (Ladoga), Holmgardr (Novgorod the Great), Smolensk, Liubech, Vyshhorod, Konugardr (Kiev), and Kaniv. Voyaging in the southern Ukrainian portion of the route was difficult owing to raids by nomadic tribes in the region, and by the early 12th century an alternate trade route into western Europe was being used that followed the Prypiat River, the Buh River, and the Vistula River. The Varangian Way is described in the Primary Chronicle and is mentioned by Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus in his De Administrando Imperio (948–52).

The Articles of The Varangian Way:

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The Black Sea Feb 12, 2012

The Bulgars: a Brief History Feb 12, 2012

The Ghost Ship Feb 12, 2012

Midsummer in Holmgardr Feb 12, 2012

The Varangian Way Plaques Feb 12, 2012

De Administrando Imperio Feb 12, 2012

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