Was Rurik Swedish? I know the Varangians were Swedes who ventured through the Baltic and then into Russia to rule them and settle down (Varjager in Swedish).
Some tales of their battles in the Baltic: https://latvianhistory.com/2009/07/09/curonians-aggaist-vikings-the-tales-of-battles-and-raids/
"Rus and Swedes" from Swedish Wikipedia:
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varjager
Rus meaning 'Row' (people who came in boats).
The original source is the Nordic Family Book from the late 1800. It also mentions Runestones in Sweden that tells of the journey East.
Source (in Swedish): http://runeberg.org/nfck/0363.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordisk_familjebok
Svear = Swedes (tribe)
But the man called Rurik, was he Swedish? Can't see any other explanation, are there any bodies to take DNA tests from, perhaps the Tzar of Russia or some older descendant along his lineage?
According to "Primary Chronicle", he was from that general area.
>>131177374
I see, thanks.
>>131177469
It's actually funny, Eastern Slavs almost never ruled themselves.
Before Rus', Eastern Slavs were vassals of Khazars. Then Varangians founded Rus' and Rurikids ruled it. Then after the Mongol invasion, southern part fell under Lithuanian/Polish rule and Rurikids continued to rule the north. Eventually Rurik dynasty ended and Germans took over.
And now after the Civil War, Jews run everything.