Rightly called Russia's first capital, the town of Old Ladoga was founded in 862 by the Varangian (a generalized name for Scandinavians serving Byzantian Emperors) Prince Rurick, the future head of the dynasty that ruled Russia for nearly 700 years. Invited by the Slavonic tribes to stop the unceasing internal wars, Prince Rurick started ruling the tribes by building a fortified town on the steep banks of the Volkhov river and annexing the adjacent lands of Beloozero and Izborsk. 15 years after he moved the capital of his state from Old Ladoga to Novgorod.