Ladoga, an ancient Slavic fortress city on the Volkhov River. The history of Ladoga raises many questions. In considering which it is difficult to avoid the themes of Normanism, Rurik and the Varangians. However, these three topics are for separate study and description. But I'll have to touch on them at least in passing. Because they are inextricably linked with the history of Russia and its fortified cities.
Question number one is Creation.
The first mention in the annals dates back to 862. “And three brothers were chosen from their families and belted the whole of Russia around them, and came to the Slovenians first, and cut down the city of Ladoga. And the grayest one is Rurik, the oldest in Ladozi, and the other, Sineus, on Lake Bela, and the third, Truvor, in Izborists …"
In this passage, we are most interested in the mention that Rurik cut down (built) the city of Ladoga. According to archaeological studies of Ladoga, the dendrochronological date of its foundation has been established - the 750s.
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The difference between the known chronicle date of 862 and the real history of Ladoga is at least 100 years. A. N. Kirpichnikov speaks about this in his research "Ladoga and Ladoga Land of the VIII-XIII centuries." Consequently, Rurik could not build a fortress in any way at the confluence of two rivers - Volkhov and Ladozhka.
Then who? There is only one answer - the Slavs. Why not Finns-Chud? In the layers of the Ladoga Zemlyanoy settlement of the second half of the VIII-IX centuries. characteristic adornments stand out: ducks, trapezoidal pendants, semilunar temporal rings, a medallion - all having analogies, mainly among the finds of Krivichi Smolensk long burial mounds. Reliable monuments of Slavic burials - hills - were found in Ladoga. SN Orlov back in 1938 and 1948. in Staraya Ladoga to the south of the Zemlyanoy settlement during archaeological excavations, 9 cremations were found in ground pits. The revealed burials are dated no later than the 8th century. and are compared with the soil burials of the culture of the Novgorod-Pskov long mounds. True, on the territory of Ladoga, in the Plakun tract, one burial ground belonging to the Scandinavians was discovered. The rest of the burial grounds of Poloi Sopka, the Sopka tract, the Pobedishche tract and others containing cremations cannot be called Scandinavian. For the simple reason that the Scandinavians did not burn their dead. This rite is inherent in the Slavs, both Eastern and Western.
True, this answer does not suit the Normanists. However, this does not prevent them from asserting the Scandinavian origin of Ladoga. The same A. N. Kirpichnikov at the beginning of the book declares “The reliable foundations of the Ladoga version of the“Legend of the Varangian Calling”have been revealed. And then he refutes his claim based on the dendrochronological method. And even below he agrees that the year 750 "specifies the time of the appearance of Slavic settlers in the Neva-Ladoga region."
Strange inconsistency. A kind of throwing between Slavism and Normanism, and yours and ours.
Archaeologists also discovered houses with an area of 50-92 sq. m - the predecessors of the posad five-wall walls of the X-XV centuries. According to the excavations of the researchers of Ladoga N. I. Repikov and V. I. Large houses had common European characteristics: a pillar structure and a rectangular oven in the center of the room. But in terms of type and planning structure (a heated room and a narrow cold compartment attached to it from the entrance), these buildings can be considered the predecessors of the later Russian city houses with five walls. Common European features are also inherent in the Western Slavs - Vendam-Vagiram-cheer. For such a statement, the scientists lacked either the courage or the opportunity. But such a statement was made by others. True, according to the archaeological data of Novgorod, built in 950. In the context of the issue under consideration, I think it would be appropriate to cite these data. Above ground log house building, the construction of defensive structures of the Novgorod Detinets and the Polabian Slavs indicate the links between the Ilmen region and the Polish-Pomorsk region. Back in the 19th century, A. F. Hilferding, and in Soviet times D. K. Zelenin also found common elements in the planning of Novgorod and "Wendian" villages in Hanover, Mecklenburg and along the Laba River.
Which also does not fit with the Norman creation of the city.
Ladoga also presented one more surprise to scientists. On the site of the existing stone fortress of the end of the 15th century. two stone predecessors of the late 9th and early 12th centuries were discovered. Ladoga was a building achievement of that time. A construction on a promontory formed by the Ladozhka and Volkhov rivers, a bypass stone wall with a tower (or towers). There is nothing surprising here. Fortress Izborsk, the patrimony of Rurik's brother Truvor, in the X-XI was surrounded by a stone wall with a tower on the cape.
A stone stronghold was erected, based on the chronicle, not on the initiative of Prince Rurik, but on the initiative of Oleg the Prophet, who in 882 "began to build cities." But whoever of them started such a construction, both of them are of the Varangian kind. By the way, in Scandinavia, stone fortresses began to be built in the 12th century. Before that, the Scandinavians did not create anything like this.
Question number two. Where does your name come from, Ladoga?
Three names are known: Ladoga - Aldegya - Aldeygyuborg. Historians are divided over the origin of the name of the fortified city. Some believe that the name of the city was given by the Ladozhka River. But excuse me, then the city would not be called Ladoga, but Ladozhka. Most likely, the river was named after the city. Ladozhka - at Ladoga.
In the history of Russia, cities derived from the names and names of rivers are known. But these names tend to lengthen by adding syllables rather than subtracting them. Izborsk, according to legend, from Prince Izbor. Kiev - from Prince Kyi. And the tradition is preserved in the Russian language. An example of this is Volgograd.
If the name of Ladoga is from the river, then the name of the city should be Volkhov. The phrase "gray-haired Volkhov" is often used in legends and epics. In comparison with Volkhov, Ladozhka loses. If we assume that the Ladozhka River was originally called Ladoga, then when did the name change? The fact that the name of the river is not permanent is proved by its third name, Elena. The river was consecrated by the clergy in the 19th century in honor of the first wife of Peter I, Evdokia Lopukhina, who was exiled to the monastery and received the monastic name Elena. But the name did not catch on. Ladoga and remained.
In Old Finnish, Aladjogi is the lower river. It is hard to believe that the Slavs who built their city would have given it the name of the ancient Finns. Why then did the Scandinavians, according to the Norman theory, give their names to the Slavs? Because they, according to the same theory, were higher in development than the Slavs. This means that the Scandinavians are allowed, but the Slavs are not. They should take the Finnish name. Most likely, the Chud Finns named the city Aladegya. Due to the fact that for trade with the Slavs, the Chud were rafted along the Ladozhka.
“Most likely, the original hydronym is Finnish. Alode-jogi (joki) - "Lower river" ", says T. N. Jackson in the article "ALDEIGUBORG: ARCHEOLOGY AND TOPONYMICS". If we admit this, then Ladoga was founded and inhabited mainly by Finns-chud. And prevailed over the Slavic population. Here's just one catch. Chud did not build fortified cities, and even more so stone ones.
It is even more interesting further. T. N. Jackson deduces "The emergence of the Old Russian name Ladoga not directly from the substratum name (Old Finn. Alode-jogi), but through the Scandinavian Aldeigja". So this is how it is. It turns out that not only the Slavs were absent from the Ladoga settlement, but Chud-Finns too. Some Scandinavians, everything went from them. Through them both the formation of the city and the name came to the Slavs.
But the Swedes did not know the name of Ladoga, and the Danes had not even heard of it at all. According to the description of the siege of Birka by the Danes in 852, described by Rimbert in the "Life of Saint Ansgaria". The Swedish king Anund managed to persuade the Danes, who had captured the outskirts of Birka, to leave Sweden. And go to some city (ad urbem), located far from there, within the land belonging to the Slavs (in finibus Slavorum). Note that the Swedes did not include any of the three names. The Danes, retreating from Birka, and on 21 ships set off, where Anund indicated to them. "Having unexpectedly attacked its inhabitants, who lived in peace and silence, they seized it by force of arms and, taking great booty and treasures, returned home." Historians argue about which city they are talking about. According to A. N. Kirpichnikov: “During excavations at the Zemlyanoy settlement in Staraya Ladoga, the horizon E2, dated 842-855, was identified. The buildings of the horizon perished in a total fire, which can be dated not to the internecine strife among the Slavs and Finns described in the Legend of the calling of the Varangians, but to the Danish attack in 852”.
However, it is pertinent to note that the Finnish name of Ladoga is Aldeigja, similar to the Scandinavian Aldeigjuborg. Yes, the title does indeed have the same Aldeigj part. But this only proves the connection between Chudi and the Scandinavians.
But how did the word come to the Scandinavian language? The Scandinavians borrowed Aldeigja. the Finns are chudi. How? Before reaching Ladoga, the Norman robbers had to sail through the lands of Chudi, Vodi.
The settlements of these tribes did not promise big booty, it was profitable to take tribute from them with furs. And there is nothing to rob. Perhaps one of the Chud tribe pointed to the city of Ladoga. Calling him Aldeigja. And the Scandinavians have taken care to adjust the word for their language. And if the Swedish king allowed himself to redirect the troops of the Norman robbers to a distant Slavic city, then why the Chud could not do the same. By sending the attacked Vikings to the Slavic city of Aldeigj - Ladoga. Chud communicated closely with the Slavs from Ladoga, exchanging for furs the weapons they needed so much, and not only. So they knew this city very well and even called it in their own way. Unlike the king of the Swedes, who did not even know the name of Ladoga. One may disagree with such a statement, but it is also extremely difficult to dispute it.
The Scandinavians named Ladoga after Aldeygyuborg. The earliest name of the toponym Aldeygyuborg is in the Saga about Olav Tryggvason of the monk Odda (late 12th century). By this time, Ladoga was already a powerful stone stronghold. According to T. N. Jackson, "The composite Aldeigjuborg used by the sagas is built using the borg root, and this is noteworthy, since this root is used to form the Old Scandinavian toponymy of Western Europe and is not typical for the designation of the cities of Ancient Russia." Western Europe, where the Slavs lived, is emerging again. Probably the root "borg" could have appeared when the Scandinavians faced the Ladians. And they recognized them as the thunderstorm of the seas of the Vendian-Vagirs. However, the Normanists stubbornly keep silent about the Vendian-Obodritian principle. It is understandable, because then Rurik is not a Scandinavian either.
According to the same T. N. Jackson and G. V. Glazyrina, the name of Ladoga Aldeygyuborg is associated, firstly, with the stages of acquaintance of the Varangians with Russian cities, and secondly, it conveys an impression, atypical for Russian settlements, of Ladoga, equipped with a non-wooden, but a stone fortress. That's the conclusion. And where did they manage to see enough Russian settlements? An ancient Russian chronicler called Ladoga a Slovenian city - the first on the way "from across the sea" into the depths of Russia. And besides, in the XII century, both Pskov and Izborsk dressed in stone. According to the Norman theory, Rurik is a Scandinavian Varangian. How does it work? The Scandinavians came with Rurik, cut down the city of Ladoga. Note, Ladoga, not Aldeigyuborg. And then other Scandinavians came, the city was named differently and marveled at the stone cities in Russia. It turns out that Rurik spoke a different language, since they called the same city differently. And although the dating of the formation of Ladoga and its construction by Rurik differ, there is something to think about.
The largest Scandinavist E. A. Rydzevskaya noted, "that none of the large Old Russian cities has a name that is explained from the Scandinavian." Historian M. N. Tikhomirov back in 1962 expressed himself more clearly: “In all ancient Russia there was not a single city that would go back to the times of the first Russian princes and would bear a Scandinavian name” (according to him, “even the name Ladoga cannot be without a stretch derived from Scandinavian roots "). The linguist S. Rospond fully agreed with him, pointing out the complete absence among the names of ancient Russian cities of the 9th-10th centuries. "Scandinavian names …"
Flaw, Citizens Normanists.
The Normanists try not to consider the name Ladoga from the Slavic goddess Lada. “This version cannot cause anything but a smile,” noted A. S. Vlasov and G. N. Elkin in the book "Old Russian Fortresses of the North-West". This means that the name of the city in honor of the Slavic deity causes laughter among the Normanists. But what about Kiev, Lvov or Vladimir? Doesn't it cause laughter? The cities were not named after gods, but princes. So was the prince revered in Russia more than the gods? From whom did the pagans Slavs ask for help and protection, if not from their gods? To whom should we dedicate cities with a bright name, if not their gods? Lada - Ladoga, the Slavic root is clean and straight. And the name from the name is lengthened.
The third question is, did the Scandinavians rule Ladoga?
This fact took place. Only this happened under Yaroslav the Wise. The prince gave Ladoga and its region in flax to his wife Ingigerd. But how did it all turn out? N. A. Kirpichnikov writes “The activity of the Norman rulers of Ladoga, far from the urgent state tasks, who spent their time in endless strife and rivalry, absorbing a significant share of tribute, obviously not always performing the functions of a military barrier from the Baltic, eventually ceased to satisfy the central government … Attempts to divide the Ladoga region into different, sometimes random owners also aroused dissatisfaction."
Where is the Norman theory about the creation of the Scandinavian order in Russia? Not that they did not manage to organize the state, they even failed to manage the city. Only to appropriate, to take away by force, to tear to shreds, each piece. Do not agree? Reread again what A. N. Kirpichnikov writes.
“All these circumstances eventually led to the fact that in the last quarter of the 11th or the beginning of the 12th century, apparently, during the reign of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich during his first (1088-1094) or second (1096-1116) stay on The Novgorod reign in Ladoga was replaced by a foreign one with its own Russian administration”.
This is a truly Norman attitude towards the Russian city and its territory. Where can we draw a parallel with Rurik or Oleg the Prophet, who was concerned about the strength, power and glory of Russia and its fortress-cities? Yes, they had some kind of non-Scandinavian policy - the unification of Russia.
Ladoga, a stone stronghold, ensured the safety of shipping and trade. The city-fortress stood as a faithful guardian, blocking Russia from the Normans-discoveries, in case of their approach to the city with robber and pirate purposes. And how they were eager to mend ruin.
1164 Ladoga residents repulsed the attack of the Swedes. "You burned your own mansions, and you yourself shut yourself up in the city with the mayor and Nezhata." After an unsuccessful attack, the Swedes retreat by ships to the Vorona-Voronega River (flows into Lake Ladoga between the Pasha and Syasya rivers), where they are finally defeated by Novgorod troops.
1228 Yem fights along the shores of Lake Ladoga "on Isadekh and Olons". The Ladoga fleet pursues the attackers off the coast of the Obonezh land and the Ladoga city volost. On the banks of the Neva, at its source, where Orekhovy Island was located, the emirate was finally destroyed.
1240 The Swedes and their allies are defeated on the Neva River by the troops of Prince Alexander, the Novgorodians and Ladoga residents took part in the battle.
1283 BCResponding to the robber raid of the Swedes in Lake Ladoga, Ladoga residents are sent to intercept the robbers "the Ladoga residents go to the Neva and fight with them."
1293 A joint army of Novgorodians and Ladoga residents fights at the source of the Neva against the Swedes, "even though they can take tribute at the root."
1301 As part of the Novgorod army, Ladozhians, as well as the Suzdal people, storm the "Sveiskaya" Landskrona on the river. Okhta in the Neva delta.
1348 In Ladoga - a gathering of general Novgorod troops for the arrival and liberation of Oreshk, captured by the Swedes.
And now Ladoga stands, reflected by the fortress walls and towers in the waters of Vokhov and Ladozhka. And while she is standing, the name of the Slavic goddess Lada will not be forgotten. Ladoga stood guard over the lands of Russia from the greedy Scandinavians. And for a long time it will remain a bone in the throat of the Normanists.
