DBA Armies

The Rus or Rhos were the result of an amalgamation of Vikings and Slavs when Rurik of Jutland gave up a career raiding the coasts of Germany, France and England to move first to Ladoga and then to Novgorod. In 855, two of his chieftains, Askold and Dir obtained permission to travel to Constantinople. Sailing down the Dnieper, they came to Kiev and remained there, gathering many Varangians (Norse mercenaries) and establishing their rule over the surrounding area. They ruled this as the first Rus state until Rurik’s successor, “Oleg the Wizard” killed them and took over. Kiev and Novgorod expanded further, were united by Oleg in 880 as the principality of Russia and expanded even faster. The Rus were just as aggressive as the Vikings and attacked Byzantines, Khazars, Danube and Volga Bulgars, Pechenegs, Poles, Croats, Estonians and Cumans among others. Rus were primarily armed with the long spears previously used by Vikings on ship-board and axes as a secondary weapon. They replaced the traditional Scandinavian round shields with heavy wooden rectangular shields. Their ferocity is commented on, but so are their close formation, steadiness and levelled spears. Rus javelinmen were employed by the Byzantines. Clothing is described as white. Druzhina were initially Varangian mercenary bodyguards but later evolved into nobility. They occasionally fought mounted. Other troops were provided by townsmen, peasants having no role in war. The list starts with Askold and Dir’s raid on Constantinople in 860 and ends with the breakup of the Kievan state into competing principalities. Reference: Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath.