Who were the early slavs?
The Slavs’ original habitation is still a matter of debate due to lack of a historical record, however scholars believe that it was in Eastern Europe with Polesia being the most commonly accepted location. These slavs which existed before the 5th century are called Proto-Slavs. (Kobyliński 525-526).
During the Great Migration between 300-700 CE, many of these slavs migrated westward into the country between the Oder and the Elbe-Saale line, southward into Bohemia, Moravia, Hungary, and the Balkans, and northward along the upper Dnieper River.
According to the Primary Chronicle, the territories of the East Slavs in the 9th century were divided between the Varangians and the Khazars. (Magocsi 59). Varangian is the name given to the vikings who came to Rus’. the baltic states primarily from Sweden. Khazars were asiatic tribes from the east. Slavs were subjugated by the Nords in the very start, and likely they commingled with them along with Khazars.
The Northmen and Khazars controlled most of East Slavs
In 862, the Finnic and Slavic tribes in the area of Novgorod rebelled against the Varangians, driving them “back beyond the sea and, refusing them further tribute, set out to govern themselves.” The tribes had no laws, however, and soon began to make war with one another, prompting them to invite the Varangians back to rule them and bring peace to the region:
They said to themselves, “Let us seek a prince who may rule over us, and judge us according to the Law.” They accordingly went overseas to the Varangian Rus’. … The Chuds, the Slavs, the Krivichs and the Ves then said to the Rus’, “Our land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us”. They thus selected three brothers with their kinfolk, who took with them all the Rus’ and migrated. (Korolyshyn 6-7).
Rurik, Sineus and Truvor established themselves in Novgorod, Beloozero and Izborsk. (Magocsi 55, 59-60) Shortly later two of the brothers died, which made Rurik the sole ruler of the territories.. (McCray 26).
The Rurikovich started the Kievan Rus
This was the start of the great Rurikovich dynasty. Rurik ruled these territories as the Prince of Novgorod till his death in 879 On his deathbed, Rurik bequeathed his realm to Oleg, who belonged to his kin, and entrusted to Oleg’s hands his son Igor, for he was very young. (Korolyshyn)
Oleg of Novgorod gradually took control of the other Dniepr cities from Khazars and other slav princes, and ultimately took control of Kiev who were controlled by the Norse Askold and Dir at the time. Because Askold and Dir were the first known Norse rulers of Kiev, it is debated whether Kiev was originally founded by slavs or by northmen. The Primary Chronicle mentions 3 brothers named Kyi, Shchek and Khoryv from the East Slav tribe of the Polyanian tribe who are said to have formed Kiev, and ruled by Kyi. The Primary Chronicle details an attack on Kiev by the Khazars after the death of Kyi. It is certain that Askold and Dir took over Kiev at some point in the 9th century. (Korolyshyn).
Nonetheless, After Oleg of Novgorod took control over Kiev he moved the capital to Kiev which made the start of the Kievan Rus’ in 882.