The two provinces that broke away and formed kingdoms that were hostile to the Eastern Slavs were Novgorod and Kiev. These kingdoms were established in the 9th century and were ruled by the Varangians, a group of Scandinavian warriors and traders who had come to the region to trade and raid. The Varangians quickly established themselves as the dominant power in the region and were able to conquer and control much of the territory that had previously been held by the Eastern Slavs. The kingdoms of Novgorod and Kiev were often in conflict with each other, and they also frequently raided and attacked the Eastern Slavic tribes that lived in the surrounding areas.