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 154 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. their commerce, and for their plundering expeditions. His- torians have in their case, as in so many others, occupied themselves so much with the latter expeditions as to leave the impression — altogether false — that plunder rather than com- merce was the business of their lives. Slaves formed one of their principal articles of export to Constantinople, while they carried back into Waringia silk, spices, and other Eastern produce, and Byzantine gold. The Slavs at Kiev and l^ov- gorod came at an early period under their rule, and the proc- ess began by which they were to be gradually absorbed into the conquered race, as the Normans were at a subsequent pe- riod in England. Between 863 and 869 they were engaged in plundering the remote provinces of the Eastern empire. Within a century they made four attenipts upon Constantino- ple, and in the boldness of these undertakings showed a spirit akin to that of their countrymen, with whose exploits as emi- grants, explorers, and sea-rovers the world is familiar. It was the Waring Olaf who hung his shield either on the topmost turret of one of the chief gates of Constantinople, or, as the Russians assert, on the dome of Ilagia Sophia itself. In 904 Olaf, or Oleg, made an attempt against the imperial city, at the head of a band of Warings, Englishmen, Norsemen, and Slavs, and proceeded to the city in 2000 boats. A treaty of peace was concluded between the emperor and the invaders, which I have already mentioned as an example of the capitu- lations which have so long existed in Constantinople, and un- der which foreigners are still allowed to enjoy the benefit of their own laws, and to be exempt, under certain restrictions, from the jurisdiction of the rulers of the land. This treatj^, made in 907, was followed by another in 912, and a third in 945. All are given in the chronicle of Nestor.' Among those signing on behalf of the Warings are Sigiborn, Adun, Adolf, Antiwald, Furst, Brumwald, Ingeld, Alden, and Swain, names which sufficiently indicate their origin. One of the siirners is named as a merchant. The Warino^s were to have ^ " Ln, Chronique de Nestor, traduitc en Fran^ais par Louis Paris," 1834, vol. i. 3G-44 and 57-04. See also Zonaras, ii. 173.