Vikings / Famous Vikings / Igor of Kiev
Igor of Kiev
Prince of Kiev
- In Old Norse
- Ingvarr
- Lived
- c. 877 – 945
- Role
- Prince of Kiev
Igor ruled Kiev from the death of Oleg until 945. In 941 he led a large fleet against Constantinople, which was destroyed by Byzantine Greek fire; a second expedition in 944 ended in a new trade treaty whose text survives. He also sent raiders to the Caspian. In 945 he was killed by the Drevlians at Iskorosten when he returned to collect tribute a second time, reportedly torn apart between bent trees. His widow Olga ruled for their son Sviatoslav.
Known for
- Attacks on Constantinople, 941 and 944
- Rus'–Byzantine treaty of 944/945
- Killed by the Drevlians while collecting tribute
In the story
On the timeline
Events that name Igor of Kiev
6 events. Each opens in the timeline.
- c. 879 CE Rurik Dies; Oleg Becomes Regent The Primary Chronicle states that Rurik dies in 879, entrusting his realm and his young son Igor to his kinsman Oleg. The date… Disputed by historians
- c. 882 CE Oleg Takes Kiev According to the Primary Chronicle, Oleg leads an army of Varangians, Slavs and Finns south from Novgorod, taking Smolensk and… Date or details approximate
- c. 912 CE Death of Oleg the Wise The Primary Chronicle places Oleg's death in 912 and tells that soothsayers had warned his favourite horse would kill him. He… Legend, not record
- 941 CE Igor's Fleet Burned by Greek Fire While the Byzantine navy is away fighting the Arabs, Prince Igor of Kiev appears before Constantinople in early summer 941 with a…
- c. 945 CE Rus'–Byzantine Treaty of 945 After Igor leads a second expedition that the Byzantines buy off at the Danube, a new treaty is concluded in 944 or 945. Its…
- 945 CE Igor Killed; Olga's Revenge Prince Igor is captured and killed by the Drevlians near Iskorosten when he returns to demand tribute a second time. The… Date or details approximate
Picture: Igor_the_Old, Anonymous (Tsarsky titulyarnik, 1672) · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.