Even their understanding of the Vikings is incredibly western, most barely know about how prominent the Varangians were in Eastern Rome because they only read Latin sources. It begins and ends with Ragnar and some Marvel superheroes (and the Nazis, obviously).
“Based vikings ruling over the Russian savages” is often accompanied by “and then the savages took the worst from Mongols and became an asiatic horde and that’s how Russia was born” which also don’t prevent them from praising Mongols themselves.
Common opinion in polish internet and not only, i once heard that even from actual medieval history professor ex cathedra in university, just without the loud said slurs, those were only implied in his case.
Do these people also claim Vladimir chose orthodox Christianity because other religions forbid alcohol?
Some of them do, although even polish history books (and said professor) have more sober look on it, probably because it mirrors reasons Poland (and most other european pagan countries) adopted this or that version of christianity.
Also Varangians weren’t exactly this prominent in Byzantium, they were kept apart from rest of society (which often hated them because it’s their axes that were chopping up the citizens heads in every significant riot) and they weren’t even kingmaking as much as one could expect from a Byzantine throne bickering.
Yeah, I didn’t mean “prominent” as in wealthy or socially highly regarded but just in how they are a notable fixture of that society. It’s very rare to read a Byzantine source that doesn’t mention Varangians and eunuchs at least once, and yet those “successors to Rome” in Western Europe don’t know much about either. As soon as things stop being relevant to the Normans, Westerner pop historians just forget about it.
Even their understanding of the Vikings is incredibly western, most barely know about how prominent the Varangians were in Eastern Rome because they only read Latin sources. It begins and ends with Ragnar and some Marvel superheroes (and the Nazis, obviously).
deleted by creator
Wonder how many of the Viking stans are even aware who and what “The Rus” were. Ya know, Rurik and co
“Based vikings ruling over the Russian savages” is often accompanied by “and then the savages took the worst from Mongols and became an asiatic horde and that’s how Russia was born” which also don’t prevent them from praising Mongols themselves.
Common opinion in polish internet and not only, i once heard that even from actual medieval history professor ex cathedra in university, just without the loud said slurs, those were only implied in his case.
Oh right, I forgot about the whole “haha stoopid russkies couldn’t even organise themselves and needed GLORIOUS NORDIC UBERMENSCH to rule them!”
Do these people also claim Vladimir chose orthodox Christianity because other religions forbid alcohol?
Some of them do, although even polish history books (and said professor) have more sober look on it, probably because it mirrors reasons Poland (and most other european pagan countries) adopted this or that version of christianity.
Also Varangians weren’t exactly this prominent in Byzantium, they were kept apart from rest of society (which often hated them because it’s their axes that were chopping up the citizens heads in every significant riot) and they weren’t even kingmaking as much as one could expect from a Byzantine throne bickering.
Yeah, I didn’t mean “prominent” as in wealthy or socially highly regarded but just in how they are a notable fixture of that society. It’s very rare to read a Byzantine source that doesn’t mention Varangians and eunuchs at least once, and yet those “successors to Rome” in Western Europe don’t know much about either. As soon as things stop being relevant to the Normans, Westerner pop historians just forget about it.