The name Karelia first occurs in Scandinavian sources in the 8th century. In the mid-12th
century Karelia and the Karelians are mentioned in Russian chronicles. In the first
centuries AD the Karelians lived near Lakes Ladoga and Onega. From there they moved along
the Dvina (Finnish Viena) up to the White Sea and thence northwest into Finnish Karelia
and Savo. From the 9th to the 12th centuries the southern part of Karelia was under the
control of the Kievan Rus principality. In 1249 the Swedes captured the lands of Häme and
came to the borders of Karelia.. Fighting against the new danger lead to the final
military union of Karelia and Novgorod. Karelians with the help of Novgorod tried to
resist the Swedish aggression.
In the 12th century the Karelians became dependent on the Novgorod feudal republic and
were converted to the Russian Orthodox faith.
