The Tale of Bygone Years

Quotes

• Here begins the tale of bygone years, from whence the Russian land came to be, who first began to rule in Kyiv, and from where the Russian land originated.
• In the year 6370 (862). The Varangians were driven across the sea, and they were not given tribute, and they began to rule themselves, but there was no justice among them, and clan rose against clan, and there were feuds among them, and they began to fight among themselves.
• In the year 6453 (945). Olga went to the Drevlians, intending to avenge her husband, and devised such a cunning plan.
• In the year 6479 (971). Svyatoslav went to Pereyaslavets, wishing to live there, saying: "I do not like living in Kyiv, I want to live in Pereyaslavets on the Danube, for it is the center of my land, as all good things converge there: from the Greeks, gold, silks, wines, and various fruits, from the Czechs and Hungarians, silver and horses, from Rus', furs, wax, honey, and slaves."