In other words, these brilliant, masterful intruders were _Northmen_, and can undoubtedly be identified with those roving sea-kings who terrorized Western Europe for a long and dreary period.
The disheartened Slavs of Novgorod came to a momentous decision.

They invited these Varangians--as they are called--to come and administer their government.

They said: "Our land is great and fruitful, but it lacks order and justice.

Come--take possession, and govern us." With the arrival from Sweden of the three Vikings, Rurik and his two brothers Sineus and Truvor, the true history of Russia begins, and the one thousandth anniversary of that event was commemorated at Novgorod in the year 1862.
Rurik was the Clovis of Russia.

When with his band of followers he was established at Novgorod the name of Russia came into existence, supposedly from the Finnish word _ruotsi_, meaning rowers or sea-farers.