Nestor, The Primary Chronicle

The Primary Chronicle (other titles: Annual Tale, Povest’ vremennykh let, Chronicle of Nestor) is an Old Rus’ chronicle describing the history of the Rus’ state from the arrival of Rurik in Novgorod the Great (9^th century) to the beginning of the 12^th century. It is regarded as the fundamental source for the study of the history of early Kyivan Rus’. The full title of the chronicle is: The Tale of Bygone Years, Whence the Rus’ Land Came, Who First Ruled in Kyiv, and How the Rus’ Land Originated. According to tradition, its author was the Kyiv monk Nestor (hence the name “Chronicle of Nestor”). The work was created around 1113, and the oldest surviving copy dates from 1377. In addition to its vivid account of the history of Rus’, it also contains information about the beginnings of other states, including Poland.