Editing Askold and Dir (section)

== ''Primary Chronicle'' and ''Novgorod First Chronicle'' ==
Until the 19th century, the Primary Chronicle (the Nachal'naya Letopis') was habitually attributed to the monk [[Nestor the Chronicler|Nestor]]. Modern investigators have not only placed his authorship in doubt, but have also sought to establish by internal evidence that the Primary Chronicle, instead of being a homogenous work, is a compilation from several chronicle texts of greater antiquity.{{Sfn|Nestor|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=3}} Nestor the Chronicler is the undisputed author of the biographical work "The Narrative of the Life, Death and Miracles of the Holy and Blessed Martyrs Boris and Gleb" and a comparative study of two accounts presents no stylistic evidence that Nestor was in any way concerned with the composition or compilation of the Primary Chronicle, while the contradictions between the two narratives point rather in the opposite direction.{{Sfn|Nestor|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=7}} A more likely candidate as author is [[Sylvester of Kiev]], [[hegumen]] ([[abbot]]) of the [[Vydubychi Monastery|St. Michael's Monastery in Vydubychi]] (a village near [[Kyiv]]), who may have compiled several sources in the year 1116.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://hudce7.harvard.edu/~ostrowski/pvl/ |title=The Povest' vremennykh let: An Interlinear Collation and Paradosis. 3 volumes |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2003 |editor-last=Ostrowski |editor-first=Donald |location=Cambridge, MA |language=ru, en |access-date=23 March 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050309022812/http://hudce7.harvard.edu/~ostrowski/pvl/ |archive-date=9 March 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In any case, the Primary Chronicle was written approximately 250 years after the events involving Askold and Dir.

The beginning of the Synod Scroll or "Older Edition" of the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'' is missing.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|pp=36–37}} The surviving text starts in the middle of a sentence in the year 1016. The lost contents of the Synod Scroll before the year 1016 are unknown, and can only be speculated about.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|pp=36–37}}

The ''[[Laurentian Codex]]'' of the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' relates that Askold and Dir were sanctioned by Rurik to go to [[Constantinople]] ([[Old Norse|Norse]] ''[[Miklagard|Miklagård]]'', Slavic ''[[Tsargrad]]''). When travelling on the [[Dnieper]], they settled in [[Kiev]] seizing power over the [[Polans (eastern)|Polans]] who had been paying tribute to the [[Khazars]]. 
[[File:Радзивіллівський літопис Убивство Аскольда і Діра.jpg|thumb|The murder of Askold and Dir by Oleg. Miniature from the [[Radziwiłł Chronicle|Radziwill Chronicle]], late 15th century.]]

=== The murder of Askold and Dir ===
[[File:A04 Smert Askolda & Dira.jpg|thumb|Death of Askold and Dir. Engraving by [[Fyodor Bruni]], 1839]]
The chronicle also states that they were killed by [[Varangians|Varangian]] [[Prince of Novgorod|Novgorod prince]] [[Oleg the Wise]] in 882.<ref name=":0" /> Dating is tentative, as the annalistic legend was written in one and a half or two centuries after the event. Behind the annalistic story there is a real event, violent transition of authority in Kiev to new dynasty [[Rurikids|Rurikovich]]. The murder described in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' (Tale of Bygone Years) and the [[Novgorod First Chronicle]]. According to the ''Primary Chronicle'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/the-russian-primary-chronicle |title=The Russian Primary Chronicle}}</ref> Oleg set forth, taking with him many warriors from among the [[Varangians]], the [[Chud]]s, the [[East Slavs|Slavs]], the [[Meryans]], the [[Vepsians|Ves]]', the [[Krivichs|Krivichians]]. He thus arrived with his Krivichians before [[Smolensk]], captured the city, and set up a garrison there. Thence he went on and captured [[Liubech|Lyubech]], where he also set up a garrison. He then came to the hills of Kiev, and saw how Askold and Dir reigned there. Oleg came to the foot of the Hungarian hill using trickery, he hid his warriors in the boats, left some others behind, and went forward himself bearing the child [[Igor of Kiev|Igor]]’. Oleg sent messengers to Askold and Dir, representing himself as a guest (merchant) on his way to Greece on an errand for Oleg and for Igor', the prince's son, and requesting that they should come forth to greet them as members of their kinship. Askold and Dir straightway came forth. Then all the soldiery jumped out of the boats, and Oleg said to Askold and Dir, "You are not princes nor even of princely stock, but I am of princely birth."<ref name=":1" /><ref>Many scholars believe the conquest of Kiev took place a generation later; see [[Oleg of Novgorod]] for discussion of the controversy surrounding this date.</ref> Igor' was then brought forward, and Oleg announced him as a son of [[Rurik]]. They killed Askold and Dir, and after carrying them to the hill, they buried them there, on the hill known as Hungarian. After that, without resistance from the people of Kiev, Oleg settled to rule in Kiev, proclaiming it the "mother of Rus' cities" (the chronicler called Kiev "mother" rather than "father" through the prince's words, because "mother of cities" is a literal translation of the Greek word "[[metropolis]]," i.e., "capital").

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;
|+{{nowrap|In [[Primary Chronicle]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Повесть временных лет (Нестор)/1997 (ДО) — Викитека |url=https://ru.wikisource.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C_%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D1%85_%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82_(%D0%9D%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80)/1997_(%D0%94%D0%9E) |access-date=29 August 2023 |website=ru.wikisource.org |language=ru}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |url=http://history.org.ua/LiberUA/e_dzherela_Pol_Sobr_Rus_let_t2_1908/e_dzherela_Pol_Sobr_Rus_let_t2_1908.pdf |title=ПОЛНОЕ СОБРАНІЕ РУССКИХЪ ЛѢТОПИСЕЙ Изданное по Высочайшему повелѣнію Императорскою Археографическою Коммиссіею Томъ второй |publisher=Типографія М.А.Александрова |year=1908 |isbn=5-7859-0057-2 |edition=2nd |location=С.-ПЕТЕРБУРГЪ |pages=13 |language=ru |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327093014/http://history.org.ua/LiberUA/e_dzherela_Pol_Sobr_Rus_let_t2_1908/e_dzherela_Pol_Sobr_Rus_let_t2_1908.pdf |archive-format=Wayback Machine |archive-date=27 March 2022}}</ref>}}
|'''Original text in Old East Slavic''':
|Variants
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|В лѣто . ҂s҃ . т҃ . ч҃ <small>[6390 (882)]</small> Поиде Ѡлгъ поємъ вои свои <sup>32</sup> многы . Варѧгы Чюдь. Словѣны . Мѣрю . Весь <sup>Д</sup> . Кривичи <sup>33</sup> . и приӕ городъ <sup>Е</sup> и посади в нє<sup>м̑</sup> мужь свои . ѿтуда поиде внизъ . и пришєдъ <sup>34</sup> взѧ Любечь . и посади мужь свои . и пр<sup>и̑</sup>доста къ горамъ Києвьскымъ . и оувидѣ Ѡлгъ . ӕко Ѡсколдъ и Дир<sup>д̑</sup>ъ <sup>35</sup> <sup>Ж</sup> кн<sup>ѧ̑</sup>жита . и похорони вои въ лодьӕхъ . а другыӕ назади ѡстави . а самъ <sup>З</sup> при<sup>д̑</sup> . носѧ Игорѧ молод(а) <sup>36</sup> и приступль . по<sup>д̑</sup> Оугорьскоє . похоронивъ вои свои . и посла къ Асколду . и Диру <sup>37</sup>гл҃ѧ . ӕко гостьє єсмы . идемъ въ Грѣкы ѿ Ѡлга . и ѿ Игор<sup>ѧ̑</sup> кнѧжича <sup>И</sup>. да приид(е)та <sup>38</sup> к роду своєму к нам(ъ.) Асколдъ же и Дир<sup>д̑</sup>ъ <sup>39</sup> прид(о)ста <sup>40</sup>. и выскакаша вси <sup>41</sup> из лодѣи . и ре<sup>ч̑</sup> Ѡлгъ къ <sup>42</sup> Асколодови <sup>І</sup>. и Дирови . в(ы) <sup>43</sup>неста кнѧзѧ ни роду к(н<sup>ѧ̑</sup>)жѧ . но азъ єсмь роду к(н<sup>ѧ̑</sup>)жа . и вынесоша Игорѧ <sup>К</sup>. сь <sup>44</sup> сн҃ъ Рюриковъ . и оубиша Асколода <sup>І</sup> <sup>45</sup>. и Дир<sup>д̑</sup>а <sup>46</sup> <sup>Г</sup>. и несоша на гору <sup>47</sup> .єже с(ѧ) нн҃ѣ зоветь Оугорьско(є) <sup>1</sup> . Ѡлминъ дворъ . на то(и) <sup>2</sup> могилѣ поставилъ божницю <sup>А</sup> ст҃го Николы . а Дир<sup>д̑</sup>ова <sup>3</sup> <sup>Д</sup> могила за ст҃(о)ю Ѡриною . и сѣде Ѡлегъ . кнѧжа в Кыєвѣ . и ре<sup>ч̑</sup>Ѡлегъ . се буди мт҃(и) городо<sup>м̑</sup> <sup>4</sup>Ру<sup>с̑</sup>скымъ . и бѣша оу него Словѣни . и В(а)рѧзи . и прочии прозвашасѧ Русью . се <sup>5</sup> же Ѡлегъ нача городы стави<sup>т̑</sup> . и оустави дани Словѣн<sup>м̑</sup>(о) <sup>6</sup> <small>/л.10/</small> и Кривичемъ . и Мерѧмъ . и оустави Варѧго<sup>м̑</sup> дань даӕти . ѿ Новагорода . т҃ . гр<sup>и̑</sup>венъ на лѣ<sup>т̑</sup> . мира дѣлѧ єже до см҃рти Ӕрославлѧ даӕше <sup>7</sup> Варѧго<sup>м̑</sup> 
|''Варіанты'': <sup>32</sup> Х. ''опущено''. <sup>33</sup> Х. ''приб.'' и пріиде къ смоленскоу и с кривичи. <sup>34</sup> Х. ''опущено.'' <sup>35</sup> Х. дирь. <sup>36</sup> Х. молода. <sup>37</sup> Х. дироу. <sup>38</sup> Х. пріидита. <sup>39</sup> Х. дирь. <sup>40</sup> Х. пріидоста''.'' <sup>41</sup> Х. ''приб''. прочіи. <sup>42</sup> Х. ''опущено.''<sup>43</sup> Х. вы. <sup>44</sup> Х. а се. <sup>45</sup> Х. аско''л''да. <sup>46</sup> Х. дира. <sup>47</sup> Х. ''приб''. и погребоша на горѣ. <sup>1</sup> Х. оугорское идеже ннѣ. <sup>2</sup> Х. тои. <sup>3</sup> Х. дирова. <sup>4</sup> Х. градово''м''. <sup>5</sup> Х. сеи. <sup>6</sup> Х. словено''м''. <sup>7</sup> Х. дааху.
|-
| colspan="2" |Notes to the original text, 1908<ref name=":2" />
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| colspan="2" |<sup>Д</sup> Въ словѣ ''весь'' буква ''е'' вставлена надъ строкой. <sup>Е</sup> На правомъ полѣ приписано ''смольнескъ''. <sup>Ж</sup> Вторая буква ''д'' въ ''Дирдъ'' новою рукою, потомъ соскоблена. <sup>З</sup> Правый край страницы заклеенъ и потому концы строкъ пропадаютъ; дополненныя буквы заключены здѣсь въ скобки. <sup>И</sup> Послѣ ''жи'' въ ''княжича'' стерты двѣ буквы ''чи.'' <sup>І</sup> Въ ''асколодови, асколода о'' переправлено въ ''ъ.'' <sup>К</sup> Въ ''игоря я'' передѣлано изъ ''а''. <sup>Л</sup> Буква ''ж'' передѣлана изъ ''з.''<sup>М</sup> Здѣсь буква ''В'' оторвана съ краемъ листа.
<sup>А</sup> Слово божницю зачеркнуто и надъ нимъ написано: олма црквь. <sup>Д</sup> Буква ''д'' въ ''дир''д''ова'' надписана другой рукой. 
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| colspan="2" |Translation of notes
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| colspan="2" |<sup>Д</sup> In the word ''весь'' letter ''е'' is inserted above the line <sup>Е</sup> On the right margin is inscribed ''смольнескъ'' (Smolensk, city). <sup>Ж</sup> Second letter ''д'' in ''Дирдъ'' (Dir) written by a new hand, then scratched off. <sup>З</sup> The right edge of the page is taped and therefore the ends of the lines are missing; the augmented letters are enclosed here in brackets. <sup>И</sup> After ''жи'' in ''княжича'' two letters ''чи'' are erased''.'' <sup>І</sup> In ''асколодови, асколода letter о'' has been changed to ''ъ.'' <sup>К</sup> In ''игоря'' letter ''я'' is made from ''а''. <sup>Л</sup> Letter ''ж'' is made from ''з.''<sup>М</sup> Here the letter ''В'' is torn off with the edge of the sheet. 
<sup>А</sup> The word божницю is crossed out and above it written: олма црквь. <sup>Д</sup> The letter ''д'' in ''дир''д''ова'' (Dir's) is written by another hand.
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| colspan="2" |'''Translation to English''':<ref name=":0" />
|-
| colspan="2" |In the summer (year) of 6390 (year 882) Oleg set forth, taking with him many warriors from among the Varangians, the Chuds, the Slavs, the Merians and all<sup>A</sup> the (23) Krivichians. He thus arrived with his Krivichians before Smolensk, captured the city, and set up a garrison there. Thence he went on and captured Lyubech, where he also set up a garrison. He then came to the hills of Kiev and saw how Askold and Dir reigned there. He hid his warriors in the boats, left some others behind, and went forward himself bearing the child Igor'. He thus came to the foot of the Hungarian hill, and after concealing his troops, he sent messengers to Askold and Dir, representing himself as a stranger<sup>B</sup> on his way to Greece on an errand for Oleg and for Igor the prince's son, and requesting that they should come forth to greet them as members of their race<sup>C</sup>. Askold and Dir straightway came forth. Then all the soldiery jumped out of the boats, and Oleg said to Askold and Dir, "You are not princes nor even of princely stock, but I am of princely birth." [[Igor of Kiev|Igor]]' was then brought forward, and Oleg announced that he was the son of Rurik<sup>D</sup>. They killed Askold and Dir, and after carrying them to the hill, they buried them there, on the hill now known as Hungarian, where the castle of Ol'ma (likely [[Álmos]]) now stands. Over that tomb, Ol'ma built a church dedicated to St. Nicholas, but Dir's tomb is behind St. Irene's. Oleg set himself up as [[Grand Prince of Kiev|prince in Kiev]], and declared that it should be the mother of Russian<sup>Е</sup> cities. The Varangjans, Slavs, and others who accompanied him were called [[Rus' people|Russes]]. Oleg began to build stockaded towns, and (24) imposed tribute on the Slavs, the Krivichians, and the Merians. He commanded that Novgorod should pay the Varangians tribute to the amount of 300 [[Grivna|grivnÿ]] a year for the preservation of peace. This tribute was paid to the Varangians until the death of [[Yaroslav the Wise|Yaroslav]].
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| colspan="2" |Notes to The Primary Chronicle{{Sfn|Nestor|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953|p=234}}
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| colspan="2" |23. The Hungarian ''hill (Uhorska Hora'') at Kiev is traditionally located on the west bank of the [[Dnieper]] just north of the Crypt Monastery and beyond Berestovo, some two kilometers south of the [[Podil|Podol]], or riverside section of the city; cf. N. Zakrevsky, ''Opisanie Kieva'' (Moscow, 1868), pp.&nbsp;191–198.
24. St. Irene's, constructed by Yaroslav the Wise ''ca.'' 1040, was situated slightly southwest of the extant Cathedral of St. Sophia. Its ground plan has been established ''by'' excavation; cf. Alpatov-Brunov, ''Altrussische Kunst'' (Augsburg, 1932), p.&nbsp;17, with literature.
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| colspan="2" |Comments to the English translation
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| colspan="2" |This translation is based on the English version published by the late Professor Samuel Hazzard Cross in Volume XII (1930) of the Harvard Studies and Notes in Philology and Literature.{{Sfn|Nestor|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|1953}}
The translation may also have some inaccuracies or points that should be clarified

<sup>A</sup> – The Old Slavonic text uses the word Весь while listing the tribes who participated with Oleg on his journey to Kiev from Novgorod. The word весь (ves') translates as "all" and "whole". But in the context of the enumeration of ancient Slavic and Finno-Ugric tribes, it most likely meant the tribe Ves' ([[Vepsians]]), which is spelled exactly the same.

<sup>B</sup> – The original text says "гостьє єсмы" which translates as "we are guests". The interpretation of the word "guests" differs among translations, some English sources interpret it as "strangers" while some Slavic sources interpret it as "merchants".

<sup>C</sup> – The word "race" does not accurately convey the meaning of the word "род". A closer translation would be "kinsfolk" or "kin". Askold, Dir and Oleg were all Norse.

<sup>D</sup> – We can't say for certain if Igor was a son of Rurik or just of his kin. Rurik is a legendary personality, the founder of the Rurikid dynasty, the first known prince of Novgorod, there are a lot of unknowns and a lot of theories around him. Some historians go as far as suggesting that the author of Primary Chronicle wrote a politically biased work to legitimize the rule of the Rurikid dynasty and create a legend for them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Nikolaev |first=Dmitry |date=2012 |title=Fír Flathemon in the Russian Primary Chronicle? The Legend of the Summoning of the Varangians and the Prefatory Matter to Audacht Morainn |url=https://www.academia.edu/771377 |journal=Studia Celto-Slavica |volume=6 |pages=113–126 |doi=10.54586/BXAB9752 |issn=2058-9050}}</ref> This is possible because who is the author of the Primary Chronicle is also a matter of dispute.

<sup>Е</sup> – The modern word "Russian" didn't exist at the time, it was developed much later on. The sources that use the word "Russian" instead of the historical terms Russes, Rhos, Rusiches or Rus' when working with annals are politically biased. Equating all ancient eastern Slavs with Russians is incorrect, the people of Rus' were a big ethnic mix.
|}
[[File:Убийство Аскольда и Дира князем Олегом.jpg|thumb|The murder of Askold and Dir (Painting by [[Klavdy Lebedev|Klavdiy Lebedev]], late 19th century)]]
[[Vasily Tatishchev]], [[Boris Rybakov]] and some other Russian and Ukrainian historians interpreted the 882 coup d'état in Kiev as the reaction of the pagan [[Varangians]] to Askold's baptism. Tatishchev went so far as to style Askold "the first Rus' [[martyr]]".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ew7UAAAAMAAJ&q=tatishchev+martyr+askold|title=The Ukrainian Review|volume=10|page=47|publisher=Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain|year=1962}}</ref> Igor was still "very young", and Oleg was "carrying" him to Kiev.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=39–40}}

In the ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'', it was not Oleg, but Igor who initiated the actions: telling Askold that he, unlike Igor himself, was not a prince or of a princely clan, Igor and his soldiers killed Askold and Dir, and then Igor rather than Oleg became prince in Kiev.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=39–40}} There is also no mention of Kiev being proclaimed as the "mother of Rus' cities". Igor went on to impose tributes on various tribes, and brought himself a wife named [[Olga of Kiev|Olga]] from Pleskov ([[Pskov]]), with whom he had a son called [[Sviatoslav I|Sviatoslav]].{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}} Ostrowski (2018) noted that this is rather different from the narrative in the ''Primary Chronicle'', where Oleg is in charge while Igor is passive and not mentioned again until 23 later: "As Igor’ grew up, he followed after Oleg, and obeyed his instructions", and Olga "was brought to him from Pskov" to be his bride.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=40}} In the subsequent [[Rusʹ–Byzantine War (907)]] (absent in Byzantine sources), the ''Novgorod First Chronicle'' again narrates that it was Igor leading the attack ({{langx|orv|Посла князь Игорь на ГрЂкы вои В Русь скыдеи тысящь.{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}}} "Prince Igor went against the Greeks with thousands of Rus' warriors."), yet the ''Primary Chronicle'' once more claims: "Oleg went against the Greeks, leaving Igor’ in Kiev."{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=40}}<gallery mode="nolines" widths="220" heights="150">
File:Убиение Аскольда и Дира Олегом.jpg|Author unknown. 19th century.
File:Смерть Аскольда и Дира на берегу Днепра.jpg|Drawing by V. Toporkov
File:Смерть Аскольда.jpg|Death of Askold. Unknown artist of the late 19th century.
</gallery>
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;
|+{{nowrap|In [[Novgorod First Chronicle]] of the younger edition<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tikhomirov |first=M. N. |url=http://krotov.info/acts/12/pvl/novg10.htm |title=Novgorod First Chronicle of Elder and Younger Redactions |publisher=Academy of Sciences of USSR, Institute of History |year=1950 |editor-last=Nasonov |editor-first=A. N. |pages=101–116 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416152858/http://krotov.info/acts/12/pvl/novg10.htm |archive-format=Wayback Machine |archive-date=16 April 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
|'''Original text in Old East Slavic'''
|Variants
|-
|По двою же л<small>Ђ</small>ту умре <sup>1</sup> Синеусъ и брат его Труворъ, и прия <sup>2</sup>власть единъ Рюрикъ, обою брату власть, и нача <sup>3</sup> влад<small>Ђ</small>ти единъ. И роди сынъ, и нарече имя ему Игорь. И възрастъшю <sup>4</sup> же ему, Игорю, и бысть храборъ и мудръ. И бысть <sup>5</sup> у него воевода, именемъ Олегъ, муж мудръ и храборъ. И начаста воевати, и нал<small>Ђ</small>зоста Дн<small>Ђ</small>прь р<small>Ђ</small>ку и Смолнескъ град <sup>6</sup>. И оттол<small>Ђ</small> <sup>7</sup> поидоша <sup>8</sup>внизъ по Дн<small>Ђ</small>пру <sup>9</sup>, <small>/л.30./</small> и приидоша къ горам кыевъскым <sup>10</sup>, и узр<small>Ђ</small>ста городъ <sup>11</sup> Кыевъ <sup>12</sup>, и испыташа <sup>13</sup>, кто в немъ княжить; и р<small>Ђ</small>ша: «два брата, Асколдъ <sup>14</sup> и Диръ». Игорь же и Олегъ, творящася мимоидуща, и потаистася въ лодьях, и с малою дружиною изл<small>Ђ</small>зоста на брегъ, творящася <sup>15</sup> подугорьскыми <sup>15</sup>гостьми, и съзваста <sup>16</sup> Асколда и Дира. Сл<small>Ђ</small>зъшима <sup>17</sup> же има, выскакаша <sup>18</sup> прочии воины з <sup>19</sup> лод<small>Ђ</small>и <sup>19</sup>, Игоревы, на брегъ; и рече Игорь ко <sup>20</sup> Асколду: «вы н<small>Ђ</small>ста князя, ни роду княжа, нь <sup>21</sup>азъ есмь князь, и мн<small>Ђ</small> достоить <sup>22</sup> княжити». И убиша Асколда и Дира; и абие <sup>23</sup> несъше <sup>24</sup> на гору, и <sup>25</sup> погребоша и <sup>26</sup> Асколда на гор<small>Ђ</small>, еже ся нын<small>Ђ</small> <sup>А</sup> &nbsp;<sup>27</sup> Угорьское <sup>28</sup> наричеть <sup>29</sup>, идеже <sup>30</sup> есть дворъ Олминъ <sup>31</sup>; на тои могыл<small>Ђ</small> постави Олма <sup>32</sup> церковь святого Николу, а Дирева могыла <sup>33</sup> за святою Ириною. И с<small>Ђ</small>де Игорь, княжа <sup>34</sup>, в Кыев<small>Ђ</small> <sup>35</sup>; и б<small>Ђ</small>ша у него Варязи <sup>36</sup> мужи <sup>36</sup>Словен<small>Ђ</small> <sup>37</sup>, и оттол<small>Ђ</small> <sup>38</sup> прочии <sup>Б</sup> прозвашася <sup>39</sup> Русью. Сеи же Игорь нача грады ставити, и дани <sup>40</sup> устави <sup>40</sup> Словеномъ <sup>41</sup> и Варягомъ даяти <sup>41</sup>, и Кривичемъ и Мерямъ дань даяти Варягомъ, а от Новагорода <sup>42</sup> 300 <sup>43</sup> гривенъ <sup>43</sup> на л<small>Ђ</small>то мира д<small>Ђ</small>ля, еже не дають.
|<sup>1</sup> умр<small>Ђ</small> <sup>2</sup> приа &nbsp;<sup>3</sup> начаша <sup>4</sup> възрастъшу <sup>5</sup> бысь <sup>6</sup> городъ &nbsp;<sup>7</sup> оттуду <sup>8</sup> поидоста <sup>9</sup> днепру <sup>10</sup> киевъским &nbsp;<sup>11</sup> град <sup>12</sup> киевъ сущъ <sup>13</sup> испытавъ <sup>14</sup> аскоад <sup>15</sup>—<sup>15</sup> под угорьскими, творящеся <sup>16</sup> сзваста &nbsp;<sup>17</sup> сл<small>Ђ</small>зшима ''с'' з ''над строкой'' &nbsp;<sup>18</sup> выскакаху <sup>18</sup>—<sup>18</sup> из лодии <sup>20</sup> ''Нет'' &nbsp;<sup>21</sup> нъ <sup>22</sup> достоитъ <sup>23</sup> ''Нет'' &nbsp;<sup>24</sup> несоша <sup>25</sup> ''Нет'' &nbsp;<sup>26</sup> ''Нет'' &nbsp;<sup>27</sup> ''Нет'' &nbsp;<sup>28</sup> уское, ''причем между'' у ''и'' с ''оставлено чистое место'' &nbsp;<sup>29</sup> наричеться <sup>30</sup> ид<small>Ђ</small>же &nbsp;<sup>31</sup> ольмин <sup>32</sup> ольма <sup>33</sup> могила <sup>34</sup> къняжа &nbsp;<sup>35</sup> киев<small>Ђ</small> <sup>36</sup>—<sup>36</sup> мужи варяз<small>Ђ</small> <sup>37</sup> словени &nbsp;<sup>38</sup> отол<small>Ђ</small> <sup>39</sup> назвашася <sup>40</sup> —<sup>40</sup> устави дани <sup>41</sup>—<sup>41</sup> даати словеном и варягом <sup>42</sup> новаграда <sup>&nbsp;43</sup>—<sup>43</sup> гривенъ триста
|-
| colspan="2" |Notes to the text
|-
| colspan="2" |<sup>А</sup> В ''рукописи'' нн<small>Ђ</small> ''и знак'' ̀ ̀ ''над строкой.''
<sup>Б</sup> ''Написано на полях справа с выносным знаком тем же почерком и более светлыми чернилами.''
|-
| colspan="2" |Translation of notes to English
|-
| colspan="2" |<sup>А</sup> In the manuscript нн<small>Ђ</small> ''and'' sigh ̀ ̀ are above the line''.''
<sup>Б</sup> Written on the right margin with a diacritic mark in the same handwriting and in lighter ink.
|-
| colspan="2" |'''Translation of text to English'''
|-
| colspan="2" |Two years later (in 862), [[Sineus and Truvor|Sineus and his brother Truvor]] died, and a man named [[Rurik]] took power, power of two brothers, and began to rule alone. He had a son, and named him Igor. As Igor grew up, he became brave and wise. He had a commander named Oleg, a wise and brave man. They began to wage wars, attacking the Dnieper River and the city of Smolensk. From there, they went down the Dnieper and reached the hills of Kiev, and behold the city of Kiev, and asked who ruled it; They found out it was ruled by two brothers, Askold and Dir. Igor and Oleg, pretending to be passing through, quietly hid their boats, and with a small squad landed on the shore, pretending to be Hungarian<sup>А</sup>  guests, and called for Askold and Dir. When they came down, other Igor's warriors leaped out of the boats to the shore; and Igor said to Askold, 'You are not a prince, nor of princely lineage, but I am the prince, and it is fitting for me to rule.' And they killed Askold and Dir, and carrying [them] up the hill, they buried Askold on the hill which is now called as Hungarian, where the Olma's court is; on that mound (grave) placed Olma the church to Saint Nicholas, and Dir's grave is behind Saint Irene's. And settled Igor to rule in Kiev; and he had Varangian men with him, Slavs, and the others who from then on called themselves as [[Rus' people|Rus']]. Igor began establishing cities, and imposing tribute to be paid to the Slavs and Varangians<sup>B</sup>, and he imposed tribute on the Krivichi and Meryans to be paid to the Varangians, and from Novgorod they received 300 hryvnias per year for peace, if they do not give.
|-
| colspan="2" |Comments to the English translation
|-
| colspan="2" |<sup>А</sup>– the literal translation of "подугорьскыми гостьми" is "underhungarian guests" which could be interpreted as "guests from the lands near to Hungarians " or "guest from the lands under the rule of Hungarians"  
<sup>B</sup> – "и дани устави Словеномъ и Варягомъ даяти" could also be translated as "and imposing tributes on the Slavs and Varangians"
|}
{| class="wikitable" align="left" width="100%"
! Act
! colspan="3" | ''[[Novgorod First Chronicle]]'' (NPL)
! colspan="3" | ''[[Laurentian Codex]]'' (Lav)
|- style="background-color:lightgrey;" valign="top"
|
| Old East Slavic
| Romanization
| Modern English
| Old East Slavic
| Romanization
| Modern English
|- style="background-color:OldLace;" valign="top"
| Lineage<br />23:14–16
| и рече Игорь ко Асколду: "вы нЂста князя, ни роду княжа, нь азъ есмь князь, и мнЂ достоить  княжити".{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}
| i reče Igorǐ ko Askoldu: "vy nđsta knjazja, ni rodu knjaža, nǐ azǔ esmǐ knjazǐ, i mnđ dostoitǐ knjažiti".
| And Igor said to Askold: "Thou art not a prince, nor of a clan of princes, but I am a prince, and I am worthy to reign as prince."{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=39}}
| и рече ѡлегъ асколду и дирови. вы нѣста кнѧзѧ. ни рода кнѧжа. но азъ есмь. роду кнѧжа.{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=23, 14–16}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=40}}<ref name=":2" />
| i peče ôlegǔ askoldu insiroci. vy něsta knęzę. ni roda knęža. no azǔ esmǐ. rodu knęža.
| and Oleg said to Askold and Dir, "You are not princes nor even of princely stock, but I am of princely birth."{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|2013|p=8}}
|- valign="top" style="background-color:Ivory;"
| Killing<br />23:17–18
| И убиша Асколда и Дира; и абие несъше на гору, и погребоша и Асколда на горЂ{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}
| I ubiša Askolda i Dira; i abie nesǔše na godu, i pogreboša i Askolda na gorđ
| And they killed Askold and Dir; and he was taken to the mountain, and Askold was buried on the mountain{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}
| И убиша Асколда и Дира, несоша на гору и погребша и на горѣ.{{sfn|Ostrowski|Birnbaum|2014|loc=23, 17–18}}
| I ubiša Askolda i Dira, nesoša na goru i pogrebša i na gorě.
| And they killed Askold and Dir, and after carrying them to the hill, they buried them there{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|2013|p=8}}
|- valign="top" style="background-color:MintCream;"
| Prince<br />in Kyev<br />23:22–23
| И сЂде Игорь, княжа, в КыевЂ.{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}
| I sđde Igorǐ, knjaža, v Kyevđ.
| And Igor, the prince, went to Kyevđ.{{sfn|Izbornyk|2001}}
| сѣде ѡлегъ кнѧжа въ киевѣ. и реч ѡлегъ се буди м҃ти градомъ руским.<ref name=":2" />
| sěde ôlegǔ knęža vǔ kievě. i reč ôlegǔ se budi m'ti gradomǔ ruskim.
| Oleg set himself up as prince in Kyiv, and declared that it should be the mother of Rus' cities.{{sfn|Cross|Sherbowitz-Wetzor|2013|p=8}}
|}
{{Clear}}