the death of Rurik of Novgorod in 879, three years earlier than the Frankish chronicles. According to western sources, the ruler of Friesland was converted to Christianity by the Franks. This may have parallels with the Christianization of the Rus' reported by Patriarch Photius in 867. The idea of identifying Rurik of Rus' with Rorik of Dorestad was revived by the anti-Normanists Boris Rybakov and Anatoly H. Kirpichnikov in the mid-20th century, but Alexander Nazarenko and other scholars have objected to it. The hypothesis of their identity currently lacks wide support among scholars, though support for a Viking/Norse rather than Slavic origin of Rus' has increased. Notes References Further reading Bibliography of the history of the Early Slavs and Rus' Bibliography of Russian history (1223–1613) List of Slavic studies journals External links Princes of Novgorod Founding monarchs 9th-century princes in Kievan Rus' 830s births 870s deaths Rurik dynasty Varangians 9th-century rulers in Europe