According to the legend Kiev was founded by 3 brothers - Kiy, Scheck, Horif and their sister Lybid.  Historians contend that the first settlement on the territory of modern Kiev was by the V century. The location of the city was chosen very successfully and the rivers natural bank vaults (Dnieper) provided a great defence mechanism in case of enemy threat. The year 882, Kiev was taken by Prince Oleg from Novgorod and he reformed it to the capital of the Old Russian State of Kievan Russ, the first organized Slavian state.