Despite its reputation as a country without a history, Belarus has a decent enough potential foundation myth, involving a powerful local kingdom, early status as a centre of Christianity, itinerant Vikings and a sorcerer-prince who could turn himself into a werewolf. It’s a story that ought to be easier to sell.
In one of the north-western corners of Rus lay the town of Polatsk, on the western river Dzvina. In those days, rivers made nations. They set trade and population flows; heavily forested hinterlands were much harder to penetrate. … Polatsk was first mentioned by chroniclers in 862.
Despite its reputation as a country without a history, Belarus has a decent enough potential foundation myth, involving a powerful local kingdom, early status as a centre of Christianity, itinerant Vikings and a sorcerer-prince who could turn himself into a werewolf. It’s a story that ought to be easier to sell.
In one of the north-western corners of Rus lay the town of Polatsk, on the western river Dzvina. In those days, rivers made nations. They set trade and population flows; heavily forested hinterlands were much harder to penetrate. … Polatsk was first mentioned by chroniclers in 862.