Podcast Summary: Real Vikings – Episode 4: The Wild East: Rise of the Rus
Host: Iain Glen (Noiser)
Date: March 30, 2026
Featured Historians: Dr. Eleanor Barraclough, Professor Elizabeth Rowe, Professor Steffen Brink, Professor Ben Rafield
Main Theme and Purpose
This episode explores the lesser-known eastern adventures of the Vikings, focusing on their journeys through the Baltic and river networks into Eastern Europe. It traces how these Norse adventurers evolved from traders and slavers into the formidable "Rus," foundational to the creation of Kievan Rus’ and later Russia. The episode weaves vivid archaeology, medieval chronicles, and colorful eyewitness testimonies to illuminate both the brutality and multicultural complexity of Viking encounters in the East.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
The Salme Boat Burials: Early Evidence of Vikings in the East
[01:20–07:20]
- Vivid Burial Scene on Ursa (Saaremaa, Estonia):
The episode opens with a dramatic reconstruction of the 8th-century boat burials discovered in 2008. A high-status group of Scandinavians, likely Vikings, are given elaborate funerary rites after an ambush, featuring feasts, grave goods, and animal sacrifices. - Historical Importance:
The Salme find pushes the recognized start of the Viking Age back to around 750 CE, earlier than the usual Lindisfarne raid. - Notable Quote:
“The significance of the Salme boat burials cannot be overstated.” – Iain Glen [07:10]
Early Viking Activity in the East
[07:20–09:36]
- Diplomatic Mission vs. Raid:
Analysis of grave goods suggests the party may have been on a diplomatic or trading mission:"It doesn't look necessarily like they were a raiding party..." – Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [07:52]
- Complex Identities:
Vikings could switch from peaceful traders to violent raiders almost overnight, complicating the picture of their activities in the East.
The Geography and Perilous Journeys of the Eastern Vikings
[09:36–15:11]
- Trade Routes:
- Detailed description of the river networks from Sweden across the Baltic, through Lake Ladoga, down the Volga or Dnieper, reaching Constantinople ("Miklagard") or even Baghdad.
- Notorious Dnieper rapids and the dangers of Pecheneg nomads.
- Asian Connections:
The eastern journeys connected the Norse to the Islamic Caliphate, India, and China, facilitating long-distance trade.
Vikings’ Motivation: Silver and Slavery
[15:11–18:24]
- Silver Dirhams:
The Caliphate minted vast quantities of nearly pure silver coins, which became highly desirable in silver-poor Scandinavia."Traveling Scandinavians discover that there are some quite valuable coins. And when they ask where these coins come from, they're pointed downstream to the Volga." – Professor Elizabeth Rowe [16:57]
- Slave Trade:
The Vikings traded in furs, ivory, and especially slaves (captured Slavs), who were brought to trading hubs like Itil.“Slavery was enormously important for the trading and the economy, bringing in huge amount of silver home to Scandinavia.” – Professor Steffen Brink [17:24]
Archaeological Gold: The Spillings Hoard
[18:54–22:05]
- Discovery of Silver:
The Spillings hoard found on Gotland in 1999 is the largest Viking silver cache ever, with over 170,000 coins, nearly all Arabic dirhams—a testament to the scale of eastern trade."Here we have found over 700 hoards with more than 170,000 silver coins, all in principle, Arabic silver dirham. And the largest one hoard weighed 67 kilos. Enormous amounts of silver." – Iain Glen [20:55]
The Rise of the Rus
[22:05–29:32]
- Emergence of the Rus:
Scandinavians settle and establish trading outposts, forming the Rus—multicultural, militarized river traders.“There's a lot of debate about who the Rus were. I personally see them as a sort of multicultural, militarized and perhaps primarily merchant group.” – Professor Ben Rafield [23:22]
- Staraya Ladoga (Old Ladoga):
Founded around 753, this strategically located Viking emporium became a melting pot for Slavs, Finns, Norse, and Arab traders.“It's almost like... a service station on a motorway. It's not a politically organized town, it's simply there to provide goods and services... to the Scandinavians who are going back and forth.” – Professor Elizabeth Rowe [26:56]
- Role in Order and Security:
The Rus provided security and order, facilitating the transformation of trade outposts into power centers.
Myth and Power: The Origins of the Kievan Rus Dynasty
[29:32–32:12]
- The Rurikid Dynasty:
According to 12th-century chronicles, Slavs invited three Norse brothers (Rurik and his siblings) to rule, establishing the Rurikid line, which endured for centuries."His dynasty is called the Rurikids, and they essentially remain powerful for centuries." – Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [31:41]
- Strategic Settlements:
Rurik founded himself in Novgorod (Holmgard), with river routes binding the north to Kyiv and beyond.
Trading and Changing Identities
[32:12–36:10]
- Novgorod and Kyiv:
The shifting power base from Novgorod to Kyiv marks the consolidation of the Rus state. - Cultural Evolution:
Early rulers bore Norse names, but soon their sons were given Slavic names to solidify their rule over Slavic populations."We see that in the ruling family there's a deliberate change of identity or change of culture being carried out from the first Norse generations to a subsequent generation." – Professor Elizabeth Rowe [35:38]
The Mongol Steppe Influence and the Pechenegs
[36:10–37:43]
- Shift in Military Practices:
Under Sviatoslav, the Rus adopted mounted, nomadic warfare, and Pechenegs became prized allies:"They're not the Viking style warriors, but rather his most effective fighters are horse mounted archers whom he recruits from the Pechenegs." – Professor Elizabeth Rowe [36:42]
- Legendary Demise:
Sviatoslav himself died at the hands of nomads who purportedly drank from his gilded skull—a blend of fact and Viking-style myth.
Olga of Kyiv: Ruthless Regent and Christian Saint
[39:08–43:24]
- Revenge Saga:
Olga exacts elaborate revenge on her husband's murderers, including live burials, mass burnings, and razing a city with fire-laden sparrows:"Her final act of revenge is worthy of Game of Thrones." – Iain Glen [42:28]
- Christianization:
Later, Olga converted to Christianity on a visit to Constantinople, becoming the first ruler of Kyiv to do so and eventually a saint."Despite her reputation for cruelty, Olga is eventually canonized... most certainly a Viking to be reckoned with." – Iain Glen [43:24]
Eyewitness to the Rus: Ibn Fadlan’s Account
[43:24–47:22]
- Appearance and Customs:
From detailed tattoos to ostentatious jewelry, the Rus impressed with their appearance and exotic customs, though appalled Muslim observers by their hygiene and sexual brutality."The Rus are as tall as palm trees... their complexions are fair and ruddy... covered in dark green lines forming pictures and patterns." – Ibn Fadlan paraphrased by Iain Glen [44:41]
- Funerary Rites:
Ibn Fadlan provides a vivid, unsettling description of a Viking ship burial and a sacrificed slave girl."This is a unique account and a uniquely detailed account of these funerary rites." – Professor Ben Rafield [47:22]
Lasting Legacy
[47:39–End Content]
- Linguistic Echoes:
Modern Ukraine’s currency, the "hryvnia," is named after the neck rings worn by the wives of Rus merchants—a tangible link to the Viking past. - “Rus” Lives On:
The very name of Russia descends from these river-bound Vikings, their trading empires and dynasties.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps
-
On Eastern Viking contacts:
"Viking trade, or at least contacts in the east, are the earliest evidence we have for the Viking age actually existing at all."
– Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [07:20] -
On status and objects in the Salme burials:
“…all these beautiful gaming pieces, these beautiful weapons, jewels, but also hunting birds, birds of prey, which again, there's no reason you're going to take a bird of prey on a raid.”
– Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [07:52] -
On slavery as business:
"Slavery was enormously important for the trading and the economy, bringing in huge amount of silver home to Scandinavia.”
– Professor Steffen Brink [17:24] -
On the founding of the Rus:
“His dynasty is called the Rurikids, and they essentially remain powerful for centuries.”
– Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [31:41] -
On star power:
"Olga is one of those wonderful characters from Viking age history... who really should be the heroine of her own historical novel or Hollywood film."
– Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [39:21] -
On hygiene:
"Over in Anglo Saxon England, everyone says, oh, the Vikings are so clean. And then on the waterways down the Volga, Ibn Fadlan is absolutely horrified.”
– Dr. Eleanor Barraclough [45:57]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- 01:20 – Dramatic description of the Salme boat burial
- 07:20 – Interpretation of the burial as a diplomatic or trade mission
- 15:11 – Viking motivations for traveling east
- 16:14 – Importance of Arabic silver and dirhams
- 17:51 – Slave raiding and trading
- 20:55 – Discovery of the Spillings hoard
- 22:05 – Emergence and identity of the Rus
- 23:32 – Trading settlements and descriptions of Staraya Ladoga
- 29:32 – The Rurikid origin myth and founding of Kievan Rus
- 34:54 – The cultural shift from Norse to Slavic identity within the Rus elite
- 39:08 – Olga’s saga of vengeance and saintly legacy
- 44:41 – Ibn Fadlan's memorable eyewitness report of the Rus
- 47:39 – Modern legacies of the Rus examined
Language and Tone
- Narrative Style:
Immersive, dramatic, with attention to atmospheric and emotional detail – typical Noiser storytelling. - Expert Commentary:
Analytical, clear, and often strikingly vivid, with a balance between scholarly caution and storytelling color. - Frequent Use of Vivid Imagery:
Particularly in descriptions of buried longboats, river journeys, and the violence and hybridity of eastern Viking life.
Conclusion
“The Wild East: Rise of the Rus” deftly reveals how the Vikings’ far-flung excursions eastward not only enriched Scandinavia but, through trade, conflict, and settlement, birthed a new power—the Rus—whose legacy is felt to this day. With tales of epic journeys, grisly vengeance, shifting identities, and tattooed warriors described by incredulous outsiders, the episode paints a fiercely engaging portrait of Viking adaptability and ambition.
Next Episode Preview:
The show will next follow Norse pioneers as they seek new beginnings further north and west, culminating in the founding of Iceland—a Viking utopia.