ABSTRACT
The arrival of the Rus’ in the Dnieper region in the mid-9th century gradually led to a reappraisal of relations on the part of the established Byzantine Empire. Where initially the newcomers were considered to be of little strategic importance, still being more remote than most of the other peoples the Byzantines had dealings with, over time, they came to be seen as potentially useful allies – particularly when it came to military campaigns.
This chapter explores the development of how the Rus’ were perceived – both through the writings of Emperor Leo VI and those of contemporary Arab writers – and how they came to be recruited as mercenaries in a failed attempt to retake Crete from the Arabs in 911. It argues that, while the number of Rus’ mercenaries hired was relatively small, the fact that they were hired at all means that it was probably for a good reason. This may be that, having been on the receiving end of incursions by the Rus’ on more than one occasion, the Byzantines saw an opportunity to turn this to their advantage.
