<P> In 862, the Finnic and Slavic tribes rebelled against the Varangian Rus, driving them overseas back to Scandinavia, but soon started to conflict with each other . The disorder prompted the tribes to invite back the Varangian Rus "to come and rule them" and bring peace to the region . This was a somewhat bilateral relation with the Varagians defending the cities that they ruled . Led by Rurik and his brothers Truvor and Sineus, the invited Varangians (called Rus') settled around the town of Novgorod (Holmgard). </P> <P> In the 9th century, the Rus' operated the Volga trade route, which connected Northern Russia (Gardariki) with the Middle East (Serkland). As the Volga route declined by the end of the century, the Trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks rapidly overtook it in popularity . Apart from Ladoga and Novgorod, Gnezdovo and Gotland were major centres for Varangian trade . </P> <P> Western historians tend to agree with the Primary Chronicle that these Scandinavians founded Kievan Rus' in the 880s and gave their name to the land . Many Slavic scholars are opposed to this theory of Germanic influence on the Rus' and have suggested alternative scenarios for this part of Eastern European history . </P> <P> In contrast to the intense Scandinavian influence in Normandy and the British Isles, Varangian culture did not survive to a great extent in the East . Instead, the Varangian ruling classes of the two powerful city - states of Novgorod and Kiev were thoroughly Slavicised by the end of the 10th century . Old Norse was spoken in one district of Novgorod, however, until the 13th century . </P>

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