Did Oleg "The Wise" exist? The Legendary Conqueror of Kyiv and Persia

Kniaz Oleg, Alyek in Russian and Oleh in Ukrainian, is one of the most popular figures in Eastern European history. According to legend, he was a pagan prophet who established Kiev as the capital of Rus' - the progenitor of modern states like Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. He attacked Constantinople by mounting wheels on his ships and sailing them on land against the city of God, where he spiked his shield above its very gates. He tried to cheat his prophesied death, but was bitten by a snake and succumbed to the poison. Nowadays he is regarded as a foundational figure, commemorated in 19th century artwork, including a ballad by Alexander Pushkin, bestowing him the title of "Oleg the Wise".