By the twelfth century, Bulgaria had become the regional power on the Volga. Conflict with the emerging and ambitious Suzdalia was inevitable, but the Bulgars proved quite capable of holding their own.

In this episode, we catch up on the Bulgars and see how life on the Volga compares to Rus.

Northwest of Rus live the Baltic peoples. After centuries of relative isolation, they are attracting unwanted attention from their neighbours.

We have already met the Qipchaks as the Polovtsi, the steppe enemies of the Rus. But they are more than just that.

In this episode, we look at what we know about how the ordinary people of Rus lived.

A special fiftieth episode answering questions from listeners. What was the Rus army like, what languages were spoken in Rus, marriages and diplomacy, and more.

As the next generation of rulers begins to contest the throne of Kyiv, one of them has a different idea.

Concluding this series, the youngest of the sons of Vladimir Monomakh, Yuri Dolgoruky of Suzdalia, gets his time in Kyiv.

Vyacheslav, the man who never wishes to leave Turov, takes the throne in Kyiv. But for how long?

Vladimir Monomakh’s long and eventful life has ended. As he intended, the throne of Kyiv passes to his son Mstislav, but that does not mean that the path of succession is settled.

Vsevolod’s son, Vladimir Monomakh, finally accepts the people of Kyiv’s call to take the throne.

As the ruling family expands, Rus faces another succession. Will there be war? Or a new agreement?

The sons of Yaroslav divide Rus among themselves. How long will they live in peace?

As Yaroslav reaches the end of his life, an attempt is made to set the rules of succession in Rus.

Christian Raffensperger is Professor of History and Chair of the Department, Kenneth E. Wray Chair in the Humanities, and Director, Emarth Institute for the Public Humanities at Wittenberg University covering Medieval Europe, Russia, and Ukraine. His works include ‘Reimagining Europe: Kievan Rus in the Medieval World, 988-1146’, ’Ties of Kinship: R…

As the last brother standing, Yaroslav has finally become the sole ruler of Rus. What will he do now?

Vladimir’s death plunges Rus into chaos as his sons fight over the succession.

This episode looks at Vladimir’s reign from the baptism of Rus until his death. Did he manage to do anything else noteworthy?

What happened at the baptism of Rus, and inventing St. Vladimir/Volodymyr from the Tale of Bygone Years to Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir continues to expand his territory and to consider the role of religion in his kingdom.

The death of Svyatoslav found Rus unprepared for the succession. The three sons he left in charge of Kyiv, the Drevlians, and Novgorod, soon turn to fighting among themselves.

In the late Soviet period and in post-Soviet Russia, Lev Gumilev’s passionary theory of ethnogenesis and pseudo-historical ideas of a Jewish-Khazar chimera gained enormous popularity, leading to elaborate conspiracy theories of shadowy forces behind contemporary events. Read the blog post at: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/133-135-…

Vladimir Putin says he believes in the “passionary theory”. What does he mean, and where do the Khazars come in?

Part I of a short series looking at the Khazars after the fall of Khazaria. Was there a connection between the Khazars and East European Jews?

In this episode, we look at the first Rus ruler with a Slavic name, but a not so Slavic personal style. If it wasn’t for those treacherous Byzantines, things could have turned out very differently...

In this episode, we continue our introduction to Volga Bulgaria with a look at the ruling dynasty, the capital city, and their conversion to Islam.

In this episode, we begin exploring the formation of Volga Bulgaria, a major medieval European kingdom that will play a significant role in our story. Subscribe for exclusive member episodes via Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

In this special episode, I discuss how Byzantium viewed Rus and aspects of their relationship with Dr Monica White of the University of Nottingham.

Olga of Kyiv has been venerated as a saint and gained popularity in modern times as a vengeful warrior queen, but how true are those stories? Listen to this episode to find out the true story of Olga. https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/129-olga-of-kyiv Subscribe on Patreon, Apple Podcasts, or Anchor for Spotify to access exclusive memb…

In this episode, we look at what the Tale of Bygone Years tells us about Rurik’s successors, Oleg and Igor, and try to figure out what actually might have happened. Read the blogpost: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/128-oleg-the-seer-and-igor-rurikovich

In this episode we look at the traditional founder of the ruling dynasty of Rus, discuss what the Rus chronicles were and how they were created, and cover the mistranslation of Rus titles. Read the blog post: therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/127-rurik-and-what-was-the-tale-of-bygone-years-anyway For exclusive episodes, support on Patreon, subscri…

This episode concludes our introduction to the Rus with a look at their move into the Dnieper valley and the trade routes to Byzantium and Western Europe. Sign up with Patreon, subscribe through Apple Podcasts, or on Anchor for Spotify listeners to get access to exclusive episodes and support the show. Support the Plant and Hire Alliance campaign t…

In Part II, we look at Scandinavian and Rus encounters with the Bulgars and Khazars.

This episode starts a short series considering the early Rus with a look at where Rus began.

The final part of this mini-series looks at the first tentative steps of Scandinavian travelers into the East. Read the blog post here: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/episode-123-before-the-rus-part-iii-scandinavians-in-the-northern-forest Sign up for our Patreon, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, or support on Anchor (for Spotify listeners)…

An introduction to one of the biggest controversies in Russian and Ukrainian history - who were the Rus?

Continuing our survey before the Rus with a look at the eastern part of the region. The Bulgars reach the central Volga, Magyars move south, Khazar power preventing new incursions from the steppe starts to crumble. Read the episode blog post: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-121-before-the-rus-part-ii-bulgars-chuvash-pecheneg…

This episode begins a look across the region as it transitions from antiquity to the early medieval period. Read the episode blog post: https://therusianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-20-before-the-rus-part-i Support the podcast on Patreon or Anchor, or subscribe through Apple Podcasts for exclusive Member Episodes.…

The Khazars began as Byzantium’s closest allies, sealed with the marriage of the khagan’s daughter to the emperor’s son. But one decision by the Khazars turned them into enemies. Read the episode blog post: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-119-from-friends-to-enemies

I’m joined in this episode by Russian historian Alexander Etkind, author of the 2013 book Internal Colonisation to discuss whether the Russian Federation actually could, or, indeed, should break up. Read the episode blog post here: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/special-episode-4-the-russian-federation-could-it-will-it-should-it-br…

The Khazar Khaganate was the first steppe empire in the west that had an economy capable of self-sufficiency. In this episode, we look at the development of agriculture by Slavs and steppe settlers in the black earth region of the forest-steppe belt, and other regional economies of Khazaria. Read the episode blog post at https://therussianempirehis…

Get exclusive content and support the podcast by signing up with Patreon or an Anchor subscription. Find our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/russianempirehistorypodcast Or subscribe through Anchor here: https://anchor.fm/russianempirehistory

With the collapse of the Western Turk Empire, a new Khaganate appears. Soon they will face the might of the expanding Caliphate. Read the episode blog post here: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-117-the-rise-of-the-khazars-and-the-arab-khazar-wars

In this episode, we look at the origin of the Slavs, something we know remarkably little about. What do linguistic reconstructions, archeology and the written sources tell us? Read the episode blogpost at https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-116-the-mysterious-slavs

This episode introduces the Finno-Ugrians, the original inhabitants of the forests of Northeastern Europe, whose descendants continue to maintain a distinct culture in modern Russia. Read the blog post here: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-115-the-finno-ugrians

In this episode, we look at the origins of the Bulgars, claimed as ancestors by several peoples of the Russian Empire from the Volga Bulgars to the Gagauz in modern day Moldova, and also, through Bulgaria, the source of the Cyrillic alphabet. Read the episode blog post at: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/episode-114-bulgars-of-the-w…

In this special episode, the podcast is joined by Oleksa Drachewych to discuss Putin’s claims regarding Ukrainian statehood and nationhood. Episode blog post: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/special-episode-3-putins-ukrainian-delusions-with-oleksa-drachewych

Dr. Robert N. Spengler is an archeobotanist specialising in the domestication of plants and how they were spread across Eurasia. He joins me today to discuss the role of the steppe in spreading many of the important foods, from grains to fruit and spices, that we all enjoy today. You can learn much more about this subject in his award winning book …

Iranic dominance of the steppe is ending, a new force has arrived. In this episode we take a brief look at the origins of the Turkic peoples and the first Türk Qaganate ahead of a series of episodes on the Turkic migrations into the Western steppe that would lead to the Khazars and Volga Bulgaria. Read the show blog post here: https://therussianemp…

In this episode, we look at the impact of the Scythians in their time and in later Russian history. Read the show blog post here: https://therussianempirehistorypodcast.com/blog/the-scythian-legacy