Rurik
c. 830 – 879 · 49 years · Novgorod · Eastern Europe & Russia
Reign: 862 – 879 (Rus and Russia)
A Varangian chieftain who, according to the Primary Chronicle, was invited to rule Novgorod in 862. All the princes of Rus and the Muscovite tsars until 1598 traced their descent from him.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 9th century
Portrait: collective · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Contemporaries around the world
Europe
- Charles the Bald — first king of West Francia, the future France, 7 years older
- Alfred the Great — King of Wessex who held off the Vikings, 19 years younger
- Louis the Pious — Charlemagne's son, under whom his empire began to break up, 52 years older
Eastern Europe & Russia
- Oleg the Wise — prince who united Novgorod and Kiev and campaigned against Constantinople, 15 years younger
Middle East
- Al-Khwarizmi — mathematician and astronomer, 50 years older
The world in their lifetime
- 843 Treaty of Verdun — aged 13, Europe
- 859 Fatima al-Fihri founds al-Qarawiyyin — aged 29, Africa
- c. 862 Calling of the Varangians — aged 32, Eastern Europe & Russia
- 868 The Diamond Sutra is printed — aged 38, Asia