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Kiev is a stunning historical city in Eastern Europe with a rich history which sits on both sides of the Dneiper river. But, before the establishment of modern-day city limits, it sat on the west bank. So, how old is Kiev?
The city of Kiev in Ukraine is over 1500 years old. The official year of its founding is 482 CE. But the exact date is unknown, although some say it was founded in the spring of the same year. Legend has it that Kiev was founded by four siblings: three brothers named Kyi, Khoryv, and Scheck, and their sister Lybid.
A Brief Summary of Kiev’s Past
The city’s name has two spellings: Kiev and Kyiv. Kiev was the spelling used until Ukraine gained independence in 1991. After Ukraine declared independence from the USSR, the Ukranian government changed the spelling to Kyiv. The reason will become apparent later in the article.
In 1982, Kievans joined together to celebrate the city’s 1500th anniversary.
The Khazars and the Polyanians
The land that became Kiev was settled intermittently by semi-nomadic tribes such as the Khazars. Some historians credit them with the foundation of Kiev, which was not settled officially until 482 C.E. by a Slavic tribe called the Polyanians.
Who Settled Kiev?
Legend has it that Kiev was settled by four siblings: Kyi, Scheck, Khoryv, and Lybid. Kyi was the leader of the East-Slavic Polyanian tribe. According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, the Polyanians weren’t the first to notice the land’s beauty.
Nestor was a Russian monk who wrote the Russian Primary Chronicle, and he said St. Andrew saw the beauty of Kiev. According to Nestor, St. Andrew was traveling to Rome when he came upon the land where Kiev was built. Though he didn’t settle the land, Nestor says he gave it his blessing.
The Polyanian tribe settled along the Dneiper river before moving on to Kiev. The Dneiper was directly along the trade route which connected the Byzantian Empire with Scandinavia. The Russian Primary Chronicle alleges the Polynians, led by Kyi, were traveling along the trade route that ran along the Dneiper river (also called the Varangian Route) when they came upon the site.
The tribe travelled along the west bank of the river, to the point where they built Kiev on the rolling hills and fertile agricultural land. And because it was on the Varangian Route, it was a perfect choice as a trade centre.
The four siblings settled in the area. Each brother had a hill to rule from, and they gave Lybid a stream in her name. They called the city Kyiv, named after Kyi.
Kyiv Day (the anniversary celebration) happens on the last Sunday of every May. Though we don’t know for certain, it is said that Kiev was full of flowers and kashtan trees when it was discovered by Kyi and his siblings. Kashtan (horse chestnut) trees are in bloom in May. So, it is assumed they must have been there at that time of year.
The Russian Primary Chronicle’s Christian Influence
Nestor wrote The Russian Primary Chronicle in 1113, six centuries after the foundation of Kyiv. Nestor had to rely on several sources of information, and their biases could have skewed his research. Unfortunately, there are no, first-hand accounts of the settlement, so The Russian Primary Chronicle is the best available source.
The Chronicle paints a pretty picture of Kiev’s foundation. Beginning with a story about Saint Andrew’s travels, Nestor goes on to make Kiev sound mystical.
“See ye these hills? So shall the favour of God shine upon them that on this spot a great city shall arise, and God shall erect many churches therein.”
Nestor – The Russian Primary Chronicle
Kievan-Rus and the Khazars
Kiev adopted Christianity during a period when it was part of Kievan-Rus (882-1240) – a small group of states within Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. Kievan-Rus was founded to protect the participating states from the Khazars, and the capital city was Kiev.
Kievan-Rus was created to stop the Turkic tribe interfering with trade relations. And Nestor states in the Chronicle that the Khazars expected tribute from the Kievan leaders.
According to Nestor, the Khazars were living in the area surrounding Kiev. Some historians argue that the Khazars are the true founders of Kiev, based on three premises:
- The Khazars were Turkic, and there was a Turkish tribe called Koui, which is a similar word to Kyi/Kyiv.
- Though the Russian Primary Chronicle says the four founding siblings were East Slavs, it may not be true. The reason being, the names Kyi, Khoryv, and Scheck do not have Slavic roots.
- In the Chronicle, Nestor says, “there were three brothers, Kyi, Shchek, and Khoriv, who founded this city; and they perished, and we remain, paying tribute to their Khazar clans.” This implies they were Khazars.
The idea the Khazars founded Kiev has fallen by the wayside, and you won’t find many Kievans who believe it. This could be because there’s little evidence to support it. Or it could be because the Chronicle tells a Christian tale, and the Khazars were not Christian. So people find it to be less relatable.
The Russian Primary Chronicle’s Credibility was questioned by Kiev’s Christians
The Russian Primary Chronicle gives the impression a Christian prophecy was fulfilled when Kiev was founded. While that may go down well in modern Kyiv, as the Ukraine has a 78% Christian population, it was not that way when Kiev was settled.
In the year 988, the ruler, Vladimir the Great introduced Orthodox Christianity to his subjects in Kievan-Rus. Allegedly, he encouraged the city’s residents to be baptised in the Dneiper river. It was part of a deal where he and the people became Orthodox Christians. In exchange, the Byzantine Emperor, Basil II, married Vladimir’s sister, Anne.
Other Byzantian Emperors had attempted to Christianise the city before that, but they were unsuccessful, only converting a small number of Kievans. Most residents were Pagan, and after the city-wide baptism, some remained so.
The Christianised beginning of the Chronicle’s story is a reason why some people do not believe the events described are accurate, and that Nestor fabricated the story.
Final Thoughts
In 2022, Kiev was 1540 years old according to Nestor’s Chronicle. The Chronicle says Kiev’s legendary founders were three brothers and one sister. But there aren’t many Kievans who believe it today. So, how old is Kiev? And, did the Khazars found the city?
My guess is, the mystery remains unsolved.