For the third century now, since the time of Lomonosov’s squabble with the “Normanists”, the legendary PRINCE RURIK remains a “bone of contention” for historians who do not have a single clear answer to the mass of questions about the personality and origin of the founder of the Old Russian state, and many “inconvenient “Facts and “politically incorrect” hypotheses are still unofficially banned. Who was the founder of the dynasty that ruled Russia for more than half a thousand years? What kind of tribe is he? What language did you speak? Where did you come to the Slavic lands from? AND WAS HE AT ALL? Or is this a mythical character invented “retroactively”? In his new book, the popular historian puts forward and substantiates a sensational version of the “calling of the Varangians,” giving unexpected answers to the most difficult questions and unraveling the main mystery of our past.