What is "askold"

Askold (Haskuldr in Old East Norse and Höskuldr in Old West Norse) was a prince of Kiev and founder of the first Eastern Slavic state formation in Dnieper Ukraine. According to the Nikon Chronicle Askold's name was spelled out as Oskold. Nonetheless, Askold is widely popular however after the Primary Chronicle where he along with another voivode Dir were of Rurik's clan in the 870s. That chronicle implies that they were neither his relatives nor of noble blood.

At least three ships of the Imperial Russian Navy have been named Askold after the semi-legendary rulers of Kiev, Askold and Dir.

• - 46-gun frigate stricken in 1861 and subsequently broken up.

• - 17-gun corvette stricken in 1893 and sold for scrap in 1901.

• - Protected cruiser that participated in the Battle of the Yellow Sea during the Russo-Japanese War. Scrapped in 1922.