General Notes

REFN: 5998AN
Alias:<ALIA> The /Great/
St. Vladimir the Great, Grand Prince of Kiev
Born in 960
Acceded in 978
Died on July 15 1015 at Kiev
Vladimir was a pagan at the beginning of his reign, which was at
first devoted to consolidating his terr itories into a unified Russian
state. By the early 10th century, however, Kie van Rus had established
close commercial and cultural ties with the Byzantine Empire, an Orthodox
Christian state.  He converted in 988 to Orthodox Christ ianity and made
Orthodoxy the official religion of Kievan Rus.  Vladimir's ch oice of
Orthodox Christianity, rather than the Latin church (Roman Catholicis m)
or Islam, had an important influence on the future of Russia.
Vladimir's choice between the Christian and Islamic faiths was said to
have been heavily influenced by the fact that he enjoyed the consumption
of alcoholic beverage s.  The Christian faith allowed for this and the
Islamic faith did not.  Henc e, Validimir chose Christianity.
St. Vladimir married in 980 to  Rogneda von P olotzk, a Nun and a daughter
of Rognald of Polotzk.  Rogneda died in 1002.
S t. Vladimir and Rogneda the Nun had the following children:
Yaroslav I the Wis e, Grand Prince of Kiev
Vissavald of Kiev
Iasaslav, Prince of Polotzk
Mtsisl av, Grand Prince Tschernigow
Premislava
Sviataslav
Sudislav, Prince of Pskow
Wizeslau, Prince of Novgorod
St. Vladimir married after 1011 to Malfreda of Bohemia, a daughter of
Kuno, Count of Ohningen, by RichilDe who was a daughte r of Otto I the
Great, King of Germany.
St. Vladimir and Malfreda had a daug hter:
Dobroniega who married in 1038 to King Casimir I, King of Poland.