1st Prince Of Kiev Who Became A Christian (988), Married Anna As A Result
Returned, Defeated & Killed His Brother, Who Was Ruling In Kiev
Founded Cities, Built Churches, Schools, And Libraries
Promoted Trade, Established Relations With The Pope
Church Of The Tithes, Kiev, Ukraine
, Vladimir (St.) the Great of Kiev, Grand Prince of Kiev
Born: 960
Acceded: 978
Died: 15 JUL 1015, Kiev, Ukraine
Father: , Svyatoslav I Suitislaus of Kiev, Prince of Kiev, b. ABT 942
Mother: , Malusha
Married to Bohemia, Malfreda of
Married 980 to von Polotzk, Rogneda, Nun
Child 1: , Yaroslav I the wise of Kiev, Prince of Kiev, b. 978
Child 2: , Vissavald of Kiev
Child 3: , Iasaslav, Prince of Polotzk
Child 4: , Mtsislav, Grand Prince Tschernigow
Child 5: , Premislava
Child 6: , Sviataslav
Child 7: , Sudislav, Prince of Pskow
Child 8: , Wizeslau, Prince of Novgorod
Married 989 to Porphyrogenita, Anna
Child 9: , Gleb (St.)
Child 10: , Boris (St.)
Child 11: , daughter of Kiev
Married to , Adelja
Acceded: 978. Grand Prince Of Kiev.
Responsible For Establishing Of Christianity In Russia.
Became Ruler Of Novgorod (972), But Forced To Flee To Scandinavia.
Became Grand Duke In Kiev.
Born A Pagan Of Viking Origin.
Ably Defended Russia Against Its Eastern Neighbors.
Established Relations With European Rulers.
Vladimir the Great
The empire was divided among the prince's three sons, causing dynastic conflicts that were ended in 980, when the youngest son, Vladimir I (see VLADIMIR, SAINT), later known as Vladimir the Great, became sole ruler. The most significant event of his reign was his conversion to Byzantine Christianity in 988 and the institution of that religion as the official religion of the Russian people (see ORTHODOX CHURCH). After casting off his several pagan wives, he married Anne (963-1011), sister of the Byzantine emperor Basil II. From its inception, the Russian Orthodox church differed from its Byzantine parent. Services were given in liturgical Slavonic, and the church enjoyed a large measure of autonomy, even though it remained under the canonical authority of the patriarch of Constantinople and the Russian ruler was in fact its supreme head. Monasteries and churches were built in Byzantine style, however, and Byzantine culture ultimately became the predominant influence in such fields as architecture, art, and music.
Vladimir The Russian Viking by Vladimir Volkoff p 27