Riurik and Oleg

Riurik is named as the first leader of Russia according to Russian folk lore. He led the Varangians, a Scandinavian group who took the city of Novgorod in 862. Oleg, Riurik's successor used Novgorod as a base to extend his power southward, capturing the city of Kiev in 882. Oleg also lead a raid against Consanonple in 911 and won a trade treaty. With Oleg, for the first time, a unified dynastic state existed in the Russian area. The capital was moved from Novgorod to Kiev and the state of Kievan Rus was founded. There was a story that Oleg would die from his horse so he sent it away. Later on when he went to vist the bones a snake came out and killed him.