Kyi dynasty
Kyi dynasty, also known as the Kyivites (Ukrainian: Києвичі, romanized: Kyievychi) are a dynasty of early medieval Polans rulers of Kyiv. Historically, Kyivites ruled the glades from c. 435, turning it to the Rus Khaganate by 838. The first representatives of this dynasty in Polians were the legendary founders of Kyiv Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid. The name of the family came from the name of the eldest of the brothers.
| Kyi dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Current region | Rus |
| Founded | 5th century |
| Founder | Kyi |
| Final ruler | Askold and Dir |
Several hypotheses have been made about Kyi and the dynasty he founded. According to the most common Kyi was a Slavic prince of the 5th to 6th centuries, and his descendants are the leaders of the East Slavic tribe Polyany.
The last documented direct blood representative of the Kyi dynasty, Askold-Mykola, was killed in 882 by Vikings led by Oleg. In addition to the aforementioned Askold, his predecessor or contemporary, Dir, also belonged to the Kyivan dynasty. Currently, the limited extant sources do not give an abundance of firm archeological or documentary sources as grounds of the dynasty's historicity, and belonging to it as Prince Askold and his possible predecessor Dir.