or Rorik
died 879
Semilegendary founder of the Rurik dynasty of Kievan Rus .
He was a Viking (Varangian) prince. According to one 12th-century Russian chronicle, the people of Novgorod invited him to take over their strife-ridden government (с 862). Other historians think that he conquered Novgorod or that he and his army were rebellious mercenaries. Igor, probably his son, is held to be the real founder of the Russian princely house.