Silk for the Vikings (Ancient Textiles Series) by Marianne Vedeler

Author:Marianne Vedeler [Vedeler, Marianne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: HISTORY / Medieval
ISBN: 9781782972167
Publisher: Oxbow Books
Published: 2014-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

To Miklagard along the River Dnjepr

Archaeological excavations show that a line of strongholds was established along the Dnjepr in the Kiev area during the last two decades of the 9th century. One of the largest settlement sites of Viking Russia is situated near the modern city of Smolensk, on the right bank of the river Dnjepr. The complex, called Gnëzdovo, stretches between two tributaries of the river, with several settlement sites, eight cemetery groups and hillforts at the estuaries. Archaeological excavations in the area revealed a large quantity of artefacts related to Scandinavia.321 Three mounds in the central cemetery group have revealed fragments of silk. Two lines of narrow silk strips were found in a man’s grave, together with 24 bronze buttons.322 The find has been interpreted as a man’s kaftan. The second and third grave containing silks were women’s graves. In one of them, red-gold worked silk, interpreted as a garment, as well as loose strips of silk, were found. The rich grave goods included two oval brooches,323 as well as dirhams minted between c. AD 960 and 970.324

Taxation of trade could have been a motivation for establishing these strongholds.325 It has been argued that the establishment of taxation posts along the Dnjepr blocked the trade from Scandinavia from the last decades of the 9th till the mid-10th century.326 But there is no reason to believe that the Kiev realm would have been interested in hindering Scandinavian trade by a tax overload. On the contrary, the keepers of Kiev strongholds were probably interested in encouraging trade along the Dnjepr. Strong connections between Kiev and Scandinavia combined with more organized tax collection could thus have made it easier for Scandinavian merchants to travel along the Dnjepr. An account of a peace agreement between the Rus and the Emperor of Byzantium in the Primary Chronicle provides interesting insights. According to the Chronicle, the agreement was made in c. 907. Prince Oleg of Kiev had brought his army of mixed descent to attack Constantinople. Retiring to areas outside the city, Oleg sent some of his men to make peace with the Emperor and to collect tribute. Among them were men with names of Scandinavian origin like Vemund and Hrollaf . The subsequent peace agreement secured the Rus as much grain as they required, and also gave Rus merchants supplies for six months, enough for their journey back up the River Dnjepr. The Chronicle also tells a story about sails of brocade that were made for the Rus and sails of silk made for Oleg’s Slavic men:

The Russes unfurled their sails of brocade and the Slavs their sails of silk, but the wind tore them. Then the Slavs said, “Let us keep our canvas ones; silken sails are not made for the Slavs.” So Oleg came to Kiev, bearing palls, gold, fruit, and wine, along with every sort of adornment.327

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