Staraya Ladoga

Staraya Ladoga (Russian: Ста́рая Ла́дога, romanized: Stáraya Ládoga, [ˈstarəjə ˈladəɡə]), known as Ladoga until 1704, is a rural locality (a selo) in Volkhovsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Volkhov River near Lake Ladoga, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of the town of Volkhov, the administrative centre of the district.

It used to be a prosperous trading outpost in the 8th and 9th centuries. During this period, it was known to the Norse as Aldeigjuborg. It was dominated by Varangians who became known as the Rus'. For that reason, Staraya Ladoga is sometimes called the first capital of Russia; it is also regarded as one of the original centres from which the name Rus' spread to other territories inhabited by the East Slavs.