Person

Askold and Dir

d. 882 · 9th century · Also known as Askold, Dir

Askold and Dir were rulers of Kiev in the 9th century, described in the Primary Chronicle as Varangians who took the city from the Khazars' tributaries and led a raid on Constantinople in 860. According to the chronicle, Oleg of Novgorod lured them out of the city in 882 and killed them, making Kiev his capital and so founding the united state of Kievan Rus'.

Askold and Dir
Image: Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 2 profiles

Kievan Rus'FoundationKievan Rus'Foundation

Mentioned in 1 state history

Polans (East Slavs)

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Askold and Dir. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/askold-and-dir
MLA
“Askold and Dir.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/askold-and-dir. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Askold and Dir.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/askold-and-dir.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Askold and Dir’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/askold-and-dir (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻