Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev1,2,3b. circa 955, d. 15 July 1015, #24157
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Person Page 24157
| Father | Svyatoslav Igorevich b. before 915, d. circa 973 | |
| Mother | Malusha of Lubech1 b. circa 940 |
| Baptism Name | His baptismal name was Vasili (Basil).4,5 | |
| Name Variation | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev was also found as Vladimir I "The Great Duke" of Kiev.6 | |
| Name Variation | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev was also found as Grand Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich of Kiev.4 | |
| Name Variation | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev was also found as Wolodomir I First Czar of Russia. | |
| Name Variation | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev was also found as Swietoslawitz. | |
| Birth* | circa 955 | Vladimir I was born circa 955 at Kiev, Ukraine.7,6 |
| HYPER* | 961 | HYPERLINK this file: likeness of Vladimir C:\book\linked pix\vladimir. |
| !AInfoNew | 972 | He had to flee to Scandinavia when his half-brother, Yaropolk, took the throne on the death of their father, Svyatoslav, in 972. He returned with 6000 Vikings - Varangians, and organized an army including also, Novgorodians. After taking Kyiv he reneged on his promise to pay the Varangians. He was able to keep a lid on them by sending some 6000 of them off to Greece to serve in Emperor Basil's army. Initially Vladimir was a tireless builder of heathen temples of which particularly intimidating was the idol Peruna on the hill where the Prince and privileged people lived.8 |
| !AInfoNew | 977 | Vladimir succeeded his father through the process of fratricidal wars in which his brothers were slain. "He installed himself at Kiev (977), whence, by savage campaigns, he collected wives and tribute from most of the Dnieper Basin. Vladimir's chief fame rests on his forced conversion of the Russian Slavs to Christianity...During his reign, Kiev was repeatedly harassed by the Pechenegs; to hold them off, Vladimir built a sort of fortified line of new towns along the steppe frontier. At his death (1015) he left seven sons--of four or five different mothers--each ruling as prince in a portion of the Russian land; one of them, Yaroslav of Novgorod, was in open rebvellion, having refused to pay tribute to his father. Sviatopolk, who seized Kiev, promptly murdered three of his brothers, but was defeated in a four-year struggle by Yaroslav, who succeeded to the title of grand prince. Yaroslav, however, was forced to share the territory with another brother, Mstislav, who took the opportunity to move his residence from outlying Tmutorakan, beyond the Sea of Azov, to Chernigov, near Kiev. Not until Mstislav's death (1036) did Yaroslav "the Wise" venture to remove his seat from Novgorod to Kiev." "Vladimir...who had won the throne of Kiev by the murder of his older brother, was the last major European ruler to abandon paganism." He invited envoys from the Khazars (Jews), the Volga Bulgars (Muslims), Rome and Greece to "sell" their religious beliefs. But "Vladimir and his simple warriors (were) unable to make up their minds in this war of words." Therefore, they visited the temples of the Bulgars, the Romans and the Greeks, not bothering with a visit to the Khazars. They found the mosques unclean and western Catholic worship tolerable, but they were entralled with the spendor and beauty of the Greek places of worship. Hence, they embraced the Greek Orthodox religion. Vladimir was promised the hand of Anne, sister of the Byzantine emperor, in return for military aid and, despite some foot dragging by the emperor after the aid was provided, married the lady in 988. "In 990 Vladimir returned to Kieve with his imperial bride and a retinue of priests. Throughout his dominions the population was compulsorily baptized wholesale..." RC says he had many pagan wives and concubines of whom these are known: (1) Adlaga; (2) Olava; (3) Malfrida, a Bohemian, d. 1002; (5) a Greek, widow of his brother, Teropolk; (6) N.N.(27-36), a Bulgarian; md (7) 989, Anna, daughter of the Eastern Emperor, the Basilius Romanos, d. 10011; (8) N.N. (321-33), daughter of Kuno, Count of Ohningen. K. calls the latter Rogneda de Oehningen. One AF record says born about 962. According to my records, St. Vladimir had three daughters with Vladimirovna as name or part of name--all via different wives. Maybe he just liked the name. Maybe there are errors in the records.6 |
| (Witness) !AInfoNew | When daughter Rogneida refused to marry Vladimir, saying it was because he was the son of a slave girl, Vladimir killed Rogvolod and took Rogneida anyway.9 | |
| Marriage* | 978 | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev married Rogneda of Polotsk, daughter of Rogvolod Prince of Polotsk and Ingelborge, 978. Possibly as late as 980. Her father, Rogvolod, watched the skirmishes between Vladimir and his brothers trying to remain neutral. Both wanted and needed the support of Rogvolod. Rogvolod had to make a choice of which brother to support. Both brothers send Matchmakers to Rogvolod to secure his daughter Rognieda. The Matchmakers of brother Yaropolk decided it was not suitable. But Rognieda is recorded as answering the Matchmakers from Vladimir with "I do not want to marry the ilegal born. I want Yaropolk" This made Vladimir extremely angry. He collected an army and went to Polotsk, captured the town, ravenaged Rognieda, who was but about 12 years old, in front of her parents, then killed her parents and her brothers. Vladimir renamed Rognieda.....Gorislava.10,11,2,8 |
| !AInfoNew | Weber citing Weis and Turton gives their children as: Daughter of Kiev b: ABT 975 in Kiev, Ukraine Jaroslaus I "The Wise" Grand Duke of Kiev b: ABT 976 in Kiev, Ukraine Iszyaslav Valdimirovich Duke of Polotsk b: ABT 978 in Kiev, Ukraine Wyrtgeorn (Vortigern) King of Wenden b: ABT 980 in Wenden, Germany Premyslava of Kiev b: ABT 982 in Kiev, Ukraine.6 | |
| !AInfoNew | Vladimir control Novgorod about 978. Neither of his two 1/2 brothers wanted to go to this remote area.8 | |
| !AInfoNew | 981 | Vladimir had many other wives and concubines after Rogneda and before officially marrying Anna Porphrogenita, daughter of Romanus II, Byzantine Emperor, and sister of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. She died in 1011. He is credited with several other wives, ( a Czech, a Bulgarian, and others). He later married the daughter of Cuno, Count of Oeningen and granddaughter of Emperor Otto I. She died in 1018. He had many sons, some whose names are unknown and it is not clear, except for Izyaslav, which sons were from which women. He is reputed to have had 300 concubines atVyshgorod, another 300 at Belgorod and 200 at the main palace at Berestovo near Kyiv. (Kviv).8 |
| !AInfoNew* | Tho' Rogneda had not wanted to marry Vladimir she had 5 children by him in about 10 years. She may have forgiven him for having killed her father and brothers but she could not abide by his unfaithfulness. When Rogenda was about 22 years old, and son Izyaslav was about 7 she had had enough. While Vladimir was sleeping she took his knife and drove it into his heart. But he lived!!!! Rogneda expected to pay the penalty of death for murder but Vladimir chose a worse sentence. She should never see her children again. Son Izyaslav put up such a real fuss that he was deported with her to a "deaf" (that is what the translation from the Russian says!!) place at the source of the Svislock river.8 | |
| Marriage* | 989 | Saint Vladimir I Grand Duke of Kiev married Anna of Byzantium, daughter of Romanus II , Emperor of the East and Theophana (Anastasia), 989.3 |
| !AInfoNew | 990 | The Chronicler says that not only Christian but Muslim and Jews brought their missionaries to sway the prince to their beliefs. First among the ambassadors were the Bulgarians, practicing the religion of Mohammed, but their tenets of shaven heads and non-alcoholism did not please the prince. The ambassadors of the Pope in Rome were also rejected. Likewise the Khazar Jews were turned away. Having heard them, the prince asked them where was their homeland. "In Jerusalem" answered the ambassadors, but "God punished us, and scattered us on others' lands." "You who are punished by God dare teach others-- cried out Vladimir; we have no wish to give up our homeland." Finally, the envoy sent by the Greeks, a philosopher, refuting other beliefs, told in summary to the prince the Old and New Testaments and the contents of the Bible. In conclusion he showed Vladimir a depiction of the last judgement with the fates endured by the judged sinners and saved; the prince was astonished and exclaimed: "Happiness for those who do good deeds and anguish for the evil." "Be Baptized," responded the Greek elder and "You will be in Heaven with the first ones." Vladimir, the "Self made Christian," ordered the construction of the first stone churches, palaces and fortifications in Kiev. The church dedicated to the Virgin Mother was commissioned by Grand Prince Vladimir in 989 and endowed the church with a tenth part of his revenue; because of this endowment the people started calling the church Desyatinaya (The church of the Tithes), a name which it has been known ever since. He conducted many campaigns. Among the most notable was the siege and capture of Chersonesus, the Byzantine port in Crimea. He returned it in exchange for Basil's sister, Anna.8 |
| Death* | 15 July 1015 | Vladimir I died on 15 July 1015 at Kiev, at Ukraine at Russia.10,1,3,8,7 |
| !AInfoNew* | Chosen the first Szar, built the town Wolodimir. He was first a pagan idolater, but was converted to Christ and joined those of the Greek Church and when bapitzed was called Basilius. Wolodomir I, first Czar of Russia, divided his dominions among his twelve sons, who were all alive at his death in 1005. Baptism: Abt 990.10,6 | |
| Burial* | Vladimir was buried in Kiev, Ukraine, Russia.6 | |
| !AInfoNew | The 'Dictionary of Royal Lineage" says he m. (1) Rogneda of Potolsk and (2), in 989, Anna, d. of Romanus II, Eastern Roman Emporer. Weis' "Ancestral Roots" (241:4) gives his wives as (1) a dau. of Kuno, Count of Ohningen, whom he married after 1011, and was the mother of DOBRONEIGA; and (2) Rogneide, dau. of Rognald of Polotzk, who was the mother of JAROSLAV I. Stevens uses this relationship. "John Bailey" posted to soc.genealogy.medieval on 6 Nov 1997 Subject: Rurik Dynasty of Kiev; From Rurik to Yaroslav the Wise "Shortly before his death in 972, Vladimir's father divided his property among his three sons. The Grand Duchy of Kiev was given to Yaropolk; the land of the Drevlani (now Galicia) was given to Oleg. When neither would journey to the ancient Russian capital of Novgorod, which threatened rebellion, this land was given to the Vladimir, who was an illegitimate son. Shortly after the father's death, war broke out between the two older brothers, Yaropolk and Oleg. Oleg was not only dethroned but also died during the struggle. On learning this, Vladimir was afraid that Yaropolk would threaten him, as well, and so fled for help to the Varangians of Scandinavia. A few years later, Vladimir returned with a large force of mercenaries and reclaimed Novgorod. Growing bolder, he waged war against Yaropolk, defeated him and was instrumental in having him assassinated. With Yaropolk out of the way, Vladimir made himself ruler of the entire Kievan realm in the year 980. In spite of his grandmother's conversion to Christianity, Vladimir was raised a heathen and indulged in the excesses which were available to a Russian prince at that time. Historians record that he engaged in "unbridled dissipation," and they name him a "flagrant polygamist." In addition to his wife, Ragnilda, he had five other wives and many female slaves. By these women he had ten sons and two daughters. As a reward for helping to defend against the advance of Bulgarian armies and an uprising in Asia Minor, Vladimir asked for Emporer Basil II's sister Anna in marriage. A threat to march on Constantinople was made if his proposal was refused. The Emperor replied that his sister was a Christian and could not marry a heathen, but if Vladimir were a Christian prince, he would sanction the marriage. Vladimir agreed to be baptized and received the Sacrament in the year 988. The Chrisianization of Russia is reckonded from that year. Upon arriving back at Kiev, Vladimir saw to the conversion of his subjects and ordered the destruciton of the statues of the gods. The wooden statue of the god Perum (the god of thunder and lightning) was torn from its pedestal and was dragged through the mud to the River Knieper, where it was thrown into the water. The destruction of the idols was so impressive that the people readily followed the example of their monarch and accepted Christianity. In the Russian Orthodox and Ruthenian Greek Catholic calendars, St. Vladimir's feast is celebrated on July 15. Because he was canonized before the Great Schism, he is also recognized by Rome as a saint of the Universal Church."3 |
| Family 1 | Rogneda of Polotsk b. circa 960, d. circa 1002 | |
| Children | 1. | Daughter of Kiev+ b. c 9756 |
| 2. | Mstislav b. c 979, d. c 10358 | |
| 3. | Izyaslav b. c 981, d. 10018 | |
| 4. | Predslava b. bt 982 - 9888 | |
| 5. | Promislava b. bt 983 - 9888 | |
| 6. | Yaroslav I The Wise Prince of Kiev+ b. c 985, d. 20 Feb 1054 | |
| 7. | Vsievolod b. c 985, d. a 101912 |
| Family 2 | Anna of Byzantium b. circa 955, d. circa 1011 | |
| Children | 1. | Roman (Boris) b. bt 990 - 1000, d. c 10154 |
| 2. | David (Gleb) b. c 995, d. c 10154 |
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