I

can give you the perfect, one word explanation why I decided to set The Pagan’s Prize in medieval Russia. Vikings!

I absolutely love Vikings. I’m of proud Norwegian descent and I like to think that there were Viking warriors in my family tree.  My grandmother emigrated from Norway at a young age and I had the opportunity to return with her to that ruggedly beautiful land when I was seventeen.

Why Russia for the setting of The Pagan’s Prize? There were a number of foreign lands from which to choose, because, as you know, the Vikings were a daring, adventuresome lot and journeyed from North America to the Middle East. To go “a-viking”, or adventuring in search of wealth, was a favorite pastime of these fierce Norsemen. It wasn't until I began my research and learned that the land known as Rus to its medieval inhabitants had actually been founded by Vikings or Varangians as the Rus people called them, that I knew I had found my special setting.

Kievan Rus, so called because Kiev was the capitol city of Rus Land long before Moscow, came into existence when warring Slav tribes sought Varangians in governing their chaotic land…  “Our whole land is great and rich, but there is no order in it. Come to rule and reign over us.”

How could any ambitious Varangian refuse? The bold leader, Rurik, answered the call and in his honor. I gave the same name to the warrior hero of The Pagan's Prize. Thus a proud dynasty was founded which would rule Rus Land for almost four centuries.

Rurik’s descendants held the Kievan throne. The eldest son became the Grand Prince while any younger sons became brother princes in outlying cities. Loyal Varangian mercenaries made up the druzhina (powerful military retinue). Completing the upper class were the boyars (native aristocracy), while beneath them were the merchants and tradesmen, then the peasants and lastly, slaves.

Rurik Sigurdson, my hero, was one of these Varangian mercenaries who left Norway to seek his fortune in Rus Land. Much wealth and honor could be won by those who faithfully served a ruling prince and Rurik's liege lord was the Grand Prince himself, Prince Yaroslav the Wise, an actual historical figure.This brief background of The Pagan’s Prize leads me to one of the things I found so fascinating about medieval Rus—its trade network with foreign lands. Particularly Byzantium and its fabled capitol city, Constantinople. The Greeks were only too eager to buy honey, wax, furs and especially slaves from the Rus while the Rus hungered for the luxurious wares (wine, silks, jewelry, spices, fruits, perfumes and glassware) of one of the world's wealthiest cities.

 

As this prosperous trading relationship strengthened, the social ties between the two lands grew stronger. A pagan Rus not only adopted the faith of the Greeks (Orthodox Christianity) but built churches and palaces rivaling those in Constantinople with their cupolas (colorful frescoes and intricate mosaics). The semi-barbaric Rus also adopted the more sophisticated Byzantine fashions and refined taste in food and mimicked the Byzantine love of luxury.

I could go on and on about medieval Rus, its varied peoples and its traditions as my research encompassed over forty volumes of history and social customs. But I’ll leave that to any of you who decide to set your own historical romance in this fascinating and exotic period.  After all, half the fun of writing is in the exploring!

 

Vikings-in-Russia

Vikings in Medieval Russia

 

 

Miriam Minger’s first novel Twin Passions was called a “fabulous debut” by Romantic Times. Since then, she has swept readers into her unforgettable romances with her strong, forceful heroes and fiery heroines. She is the winner of several Reviewer’s Choice Awards and a two-time RITA Award finalist from Romance Writer’s of America.  All of her books are now on Kindle and you can find them along with The Pagan's Prize by clicking on its title. For information about Miriam Minger’s historical romances do visit her at www.walkerpublishing.net 

 

 

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