Editing Vladimir the Great

{{Short description|Grand Prince of Kiev from 978 to 1015}}
{{Redirect|Prince Vladimir|the 2006 Russian film|Prince Vladimir (film){{!}}''Prince Vladimir''}}
{{Family name hatnote|Sviatoslavich||lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Vladimir the Great
| image        = Coin of Vladimir the Great.JPG
| caption      = Vladimir's effigy on one of [[Money of Kievan Rus'|his coins]]. He is crowned in the Byzantine style, holding a cross-mounted staff in one hand and a [[trident]] (''[[tryzub]]'') in the other.
| succession   = [[Grand Prince of Kiev]]
| reign        = 11 June 978{{spaced ndash}}15 July 1015
| reign-type   = Reign
| coronation   = 
| predecessor  = [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk I]]
| successor    = [[Sviatopolk I of Kiev|Sviatopolk I]]
| succession1  = [[Prince of Novgorod]]
| reign1       = 970{{spaced ndash}}{{circa|988}}
| coronation1  = 
| predecessor1 = [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev|Sviatoslav I]]
| successor1   = [[Vysheslav]]
| birth_date   = {{circa|958}}
| birth_place  = [[Budnik (hamlet)|Budnik]]<ref>Александров А. А. Ольгинская топонимика, выбутские сопки и руссы в Псковской земле // Памятники средневековой культуры. Открытия и версии. СПб., 1994. С. 22—31.</ref> or [[Budiatychi]]<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Dyba|first1=Yury|editor1=Aleksandrovych V.|editor2=Voitovych, Leontii|editor2-link=Leontii Voitovych|display-editors=etal|url=http://www.inst-ukr.lviv.ua/files/k-doba_6/004-dyba.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.inst-ukr.lviv.ua/files/k-doba_6/004-dyba.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|script-title=uk:Історично-геогра фічний контекст літописного повідомлення про народження князя Володимира Святославовича: локалізація будятиного села|trans-title=Historical-geographic figurative context of the chronicled report about the birth of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich: localisation of a busy village|language=uk|journal=Княжа доба: історія і культура [Era of the Princes: history and culture]|volume=6|issn=2221-6294|year=2012|location=Lviv|access-date=7 January 2018}}</ref>
| death_date   = 15 July 1015 (aged approximately 57)
| death_place  = [[Berestove]]
| burial_place = [[Church of the Tithes|Church of the Tithes, Kiev]]
| spouse       = {{plainlist|
* Allogia
* [[Rogneda of Polotsk]]
* Adela
* [[Malfrida]]
* [[Anna Porphyrogenita]]
}}
| spouse-type  = [[Family life and children of Vladimir I|Spouse]]
| issue        = {{plainlist|
* [[Sviatopolk I]]
* [[Iziaslav of Polotsk]]
* [[Yaroslav the Wise]]
* [[Mstislav of Chernigov]]
* [[Boris and Gleb|Saint Boris]]
* [[Boris and Gleb|Saint Gleb]]
* [[Sudislav]]
* [[Maria Dobroniega of Kiev]]
* [[Agatha, wife of Edward the Exile|Agatha]] (possible) {{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
}}
| issue-link   = #Family
| issue-pipe   = among others
| full name    = Vladimir Sviatoslavich
| house        = [[Rurik dynasty|Rurik]]
| house-type   = Dynasty
| father       = [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev]]
| mother       = [[Malusha]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=qTgMAQAAMAAJ Harvard Ukrainian studies, Vol. 12–13, p. 190], Harvard Ukrainian studies, 1990</ref>
| religion     = [[Chalcedonian Christianity]] (from 988)<br /> {{small|''prev.'' [[Slavic paganism|Slavic pagan]]}}
}}
{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
| name            = Vladimir of Kiev
| image           = Владимир_царь_Киев_Праздничная_минея_1619.JPG
| caption         = 
| titles          = [[Equal to the Apostles]]
| birth_date      = {{circa|lk=no}} 958
| birth_place     = 
| death_place     = 
| death_date      = 15 July 1015
| venerated_in    =[[Eastern Orthodox Church]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Štúr |first=Ľudovít |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IUUyEAAAQBAJ&dq=vladimir+the+great+catholic+feast&pg=PT493 |title=Slavdom: A Selection of his Writings in Prose and Verse |publisher=Glagoslav Publications B.V. |date=June 7, 2021 |isbn=9781914337031}}</ref> <br />[[Catholic Church]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Berit |first=Ase |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wHqsBwAAQBAJ&dq=vladimir+the+great+catholic+feast&pg=PA216 |title=Lifelines in World History: The Ancient World, The Medieval World, The Early Modern World, The Modern World 
|publisher=Routledge 
|date=March 26, 2015 |isbn=9781317466048
|pages=216}}</ref> <br />[[Anglican Communion]]<br />[[Lutheranism]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.resurrectionpeople.org/saints.html |title=Notable Lutheran Saints |website=Resurrectionpeople.org |access-date=16 July 2019 |archive-date=16 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516024927/http://www.resurrectionpeople.org/saints.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| beatified_date  = 
| beatified_place = 
| beatified_by    = 
| canonized_date  = 
| canonized_place = 
| canonized_by    = [[Pre-Congregation]]
| major_shrine    = 
| feast_day       = 15 July
| attributes      = Crown, cross, throne
| patronage       = 
| suppressed_date = 
| issues          = 
}}

'''Vladimir I Sviatoslavich''' or '''Volodymyr I Sviatoslavych'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://st-sophia.org.ua/en/museums-en/st-sophia-museum/period-of-the-cathedral-construction/ | title=Час побудови собору | date=26 May 2020 }}</ref> ({{langx|orv|Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь|Volodiměr Svętoslavič}};{{efn|''Volodiměrъ'' is an Old East Slavic form of the given name; this form was influenced and partially replaced by the [[Old Bulgarian]] (Old Church Slavonic) form ''Vladiměrъ'' (by folk etymology later also ''Vladimirъ''; in modern East Slavic languages, the given name is rendered {{langx|be|Уладзiмiр}}, ''Uladzimir'', {{langx|ru|Владимир}}, ''Vladimir'', {{langx|uk|Володимир}}, ''Volodymyr''. See [[Vladimir]] for details.}}{{efn|{{langx|ru|Владимир Святославич}}, ''Vladimir Svyatoslavich''; {{langx|uk|Володимир Святославич}}, ''Volodymyr Sviatoslavych''; {{langx|be|Уладзімір Святаславіч}}, ''Uladzimir Svyataslavich''; [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] ''Valdamarr gamli''<ref>''[[Fagrskinna]]'' ch. 21 (ed. [[Finnur Jónsson]] 1902&ndash;8, p. 108).</ref>}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Клосс |first1=Борис |title=Полное собрание русских летописей. Том 1. Лаврентьевская летопись |date=15 May 2022 |publisher=Litres |isbn=978-5-04-107383-1 |page=69 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PwNTDwAAQBAJ |language=ru}}</ref> [[Christian name]]: ''Basil'';<ref>{{cite book |last1=James |first1=Liz |title=A Companion to Byzantium |date=29 January 2010 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-2002-2 |page=183 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1Mt-t-bgzoC |language=en}}</ref> {{circa|958}}{{snd}}15 July 1015), given the epithet "'''the Great'''",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CV%5CO%5CVolodymyrtheGreat.htm | title=Volodymyr the Great|website=Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine|language=en|access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref> was [[Prince of Novgorod]] from 970 and [[Grand Prince of Kiev]] from 978 until his death in 1015.<ref name="Feldbrugge"/><ref name="Hanak"/> The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] [[canonization|canonised]] him as '''Saint Vladimir'''.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/companiontocalen0000hyne/page/105 Companion to the Calendar: A Guide to the Saints and Mysteries of the Christian Calendar, p. 105], Mary Ellen Hynes, Ed. Peter Mazar, LiturgyTrainingPublications, 1993</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gasparov |first1=B. |last2=Raevsky-Hughes |first2=Olga |title=Slavic Cultures in the Middle Ages |date=1 January 1993 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-07945-8 |pages=77–82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k7Z6d0ifWfEC |language=en}}</ref>

Vladimir's father was [[Sviatoslav I]] of the [[Rurik dynasty]].<ref name="britannica.com">{{Britannica|631547|Vladimir I (Grand Prince of Kiev)}}</ref> After the death of his father in 972, Vladimir, who was then the prince of [[Veliky Novgorod|Novgorod]], was forced to flee abroad after his brother [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk]] murdered his other brother [[Oleg of Drelinia|Oleg]] in 977 to become the sole ruler of Rus'. Vladimir assembled a [[Varangian]] army and returned to depose Yaropolk in 978.<ref name="Martin"/> By 980,<ref name="Hanak"/> Vladimir had consolidated his realm to the [[Baltic Sea]] and solidified the frontiers against incursions of [[Bulgarians]], [[Baltic tribes]] and Eastern nomads. Originally a follower of [[Slavic paganism]], Vladimir converted to [[Christianity]] in 988,<ref>[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?AddButton=pages\V\O\VolodymyrtheGreat.htm Vladimir the Great], Encyclopedia of Ukraine</ref><ref>[http://www.ukrainian-orthodoxy.org/saints/otherSaints/volodymyr.htm Saint Vladimir the Baptizer: Wetting cultural appetites for the Gospel], Dr. Alexander Roman, Ukrainian Orthodoxy website</ref><ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Ukrainian+Catholic+Church:+part+1-a030020137 Ukrainian Catholic Church: part 1.], The Free Library</ref> and [[Christianization of Kievan Rus'|Christianized the Kievan Rus]].<ref name="britannica.com" /><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1VkZAAAAMAAJ National geographic, Vol. 167, p. 290], National Geographic Society, 1985</ref>

==Name==
Several scholars refer to Vladimir as ''Volodimer'',{{sfn|Franklin|1991|p=3}}{{sfn|Ostrowski|2006|p=568}}{{sfn|Halperin|2022|p=15}}<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dabrowski |first1=Patrice M. |date=2014 |title=Poland: The First Thousand Years |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X__-DwAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Cornell University Press |pages=18 |isbn=9781501757402 |access-date=6 March 2023}}</ref> also spelled ''Volodimir'',{{sfn|Ostrowski|2018|p=33}}{{efn|According to historian Donald Ostrowski (2017), Russian scholars tend to prefer "Vladimir", while Ukrainian scholars tend to prefer "Volodimer". However, "Volodimir" tends to occur as much in the primary sources as "Volodimer", and significantly more often than "Vladimir".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ostrowski |first=Donald |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/994543451 |title=Portraits of Medieval Eastern Europe, 900–1400 |date=2017 |others=Christian Raffensperger |isbn=978-1-315-20417-8 |location=Abingdon, Oxon |page=10|oclc=994543451}}</ref>}} and his descendants as ''Volodimerovichi'' (sometimes in lieu of "[[Rurikids]]").{{sfn|Raffensperger|2016|p=9}}{{sfn|Halperin|2022|p=viii}} In the [[history of Scandinavia]], Vladimir is also known as ''Valdemar'' or the [[Old Norse]] form ''Valdamarr'' (see [[Waldemar]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mägi |first1=Marika |title=In Austrvegr: The Role of the Eastern Baltic in Viking Age Communication across the Baltic Sea |date=15 May 2018 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-36381-6 |page=301 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CGdjDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Esmark |first1=Kim |last2=Hermanson |first2=Lars |last3=Orning |first3=Hans Jacob |title=Nordic Elites in Transformation, c. 1050–1250, Volume II: Social Networks |date=24 January 2020 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-03734-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HA3MDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Dʹi͡akonov |first1=Igorʹ Mikhaĭlovich |title=The Paths of History |date=26 August 1999 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-64398-6 |page=84 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tft0FCEzFJcC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chadwick |first1=H. Munro |last2=Chadwick |first2=Nora K. |title=The Growth of Literature |date=31 October 2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-01615-5 |page=118 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ds2oBKF_FrUC |language=en}}</ref>

==Rise to power==
{{Further|Feud of the Sviatoslavichi}}
Born in 958, Vladimir was the [[illegitimate]] and youngest son of [[Sviatoslav I of Kiev]] by his housekeeper [[Malusha]].{{sfn|Bain|1911}} Malusha is described in the [[Norse saga]]s as a prophetess who lived to the age of 100 and was brought from her cave to the palace to predict the future. Malusha's brother [[Dobrynya]] was Vladimir's tutor and most trusted advisor. Hagiographic tradition of dubious authenticity also connects his childhood with the name of his grandmother, [[Olga of Kiev]], who was Christian and governed the capital during Sviatoslav's frequent military campaigns.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kovalenko |first=Volodymyr |title=Young years of Volodymyr Svyatoslavych: the path to the Kyiv throne in the light of the theories of A. Adler - E. Erikson |journal=Bulletin of the Chernihiv National Pedagogical University. Series: Historical Sciences. |volume=2015 |issue=134 |pages=10–18}}</ref>

Transferring his capital to [[Pereyaslavets]], Sviatoslav designated Vladimir ruler of [[Novgorod the Great]] in 970,<ref name="Feldbrugge">{{cite book |last1=Feldbrugge |first1=Ferdinand J. M. |title=A History of Russian Law: From Ancient Times to the Council Code (Ulozhenie) of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich of 1649 |date=20 October 2017 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-35214-8 |page=473 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDI9DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> but gave Kiev to his legitimate son [[Yaropolk of Kiev|Yaropolk]]. After Sviatoslav's death at the hands of the [[Pechenegs]] in 972, a fratricidal war erupted in 977 between Yaropolk and his younger brother [[Oleg of Drelinia|Oleg]], ruler of the [[Drevlians]]; Vladimir fled abroad and assembled a Varangian army to assist him in deposing Yaropolk,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fennell |first1=John L. |title=A History of the Russian Church to 1488 |date=14 January 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-89720-0 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fBitAgAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Martin">{{cite book |last1=Martin |first1=Janet |title=Medieval Russia, 980-1584 |date=7 December 1995 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-36832-2 |pages=1–2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRCc3TtL9bIC |language=en}}</ref> against whom he marched on his return the next year. On his way to Kiev he sent ambassadors to [[Rogvolod]] (Norse: Ragnvald), prince of [[Polotsk]], to sue for the hand of his daughter [[Rogneda of Polotsk|Rogneda]] (Norse: Ragnhild). The high-born princess refused to affiance herself to the son of a bondswoman (and was betrothed to Yaropolk), so Vladimir attacked Polotsk, took Ragnhild by force, and put her parents to the sword.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Levin|first=Eve|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.7591/9781501727627|title=Sex and Society in the World of the Orthodox Slavs 900–1700|year=1995|publisher=Cornell University Press|doi=10.7591/9781501727627|isbn=978-1-5017-2762-7}}</ref> Polotsk was a key fortress on the way to Kiev, and capturing it along with [[Smolensk]] facilitated the taking of Kiev in 978, where he slew Yaropolk by treachery and was proclaimed [[knyaz]] of all [[Kievan Rus']].<ref>[http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/vladimi1 Den hellige Vladimir av Kiev (~956–1015)], [[Roman Catholicism in Norway|Den Katolske Kirke]]</ref><ref name="Hanak">{{cite book |last1=Hanak |first1=Walter K. |title=The Nature and the Image of Princely Power in Kievan Rus', 980-1054: A Study of Sources |date=10 October 2013 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-26022-1 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WfV0AQAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>

==Years of pagan rule==
Vladimir continued to expand his territories beyond his father's extensive domain. In 981, he seized the [[Red Ruthenia|Cherven towns]] from the [[History of Poland during the Piast dynasty|Duchy of Poland]]; in 981–982, he suppressed a [[Vyatichi]] rebellion; in 983, he subdued the [[Yatvingians]]; in 984, he conquered the [[Radimichs]]; and in 985, he conducted a military campaign against the [[Volga Bulgaria|Volga Bulgars]],<ref>Janet Martin. ''Medieval Russia''. [[Cambridge University Press]]. 1995. pp. 5, 15, 20.</ref><ref>John Channon, Robert Hudson. ''The Penguin historical atlas of Russia''. Viking. 1995. p. 23.</ref> planting numerous fortresses and colonies on his way.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}

Although [[Christianity]] had spread in the region under Oleg's rule, Vladimir had remained a thoroughgoing pagan, taking eight hundred concubines (along with numerous wives) and erecting pagan statues and shrines to gods.<ref>"Although Christianity in Kiev existed before Vladimir's time, he had remained a pagan, accumulated about seven wives, established temples, and, it is said, taken part in idolatrous rites involving human sacrifice." (''Encyclopædia Britannica'')</ref>

He may have attempted to reform [[Slavic paganism]] in an attempt to identify himself with the various gods worshipped by his subjects. He built a pagan temple on a hill in Kiev dedicated to six gods: [[Perun]]—the god of thunder and war, a god favored by members of the prince's ''[[druzhina]]'' (military retinue); Slavic gods [[Stribog]] and [[Dažbog|Dazhd'bog]]; [[Mokosh]]—a goddess representing Mother Nature "worshipped by Finnish tribes"; Khors and [[Simargl]], "both of which had Iranian origins, were included, probably to appeal to the [[Polans (eastern)|Poliane]]".<ref>{{Cite book|title= Medieval Russia, 980–1584|last= Janet |first= Martin|date= 2007|publisher= Cambridge University Press|isbn= 9780511811074|edition= 2nd |location= Cambridge|page= 6|oclc= 761647272}}</ref>

Open abuse of the deities that most people in Rus' revered triggered widespread indignation.{{Clarify|reason=Who "abused" the deities, and what does that even mean?|date=August 2024}} A mob killed the Christian Fyodor and his son Ioann (later, after the overall Christianisation of Kievan Rus', people came to regard these two as the first Christian martyrs in Rus', and the Orthodox Church set a day to commemorate them, 25 July<ref>{{Cite web |title=On July 25, the church honors the first holy martyrs of Kievan Rus |date=24 July 2021 |url=https://gazeta.ua/articles/life/_25-lipnya-cerkva-vshanovuye-pershih-svyatih-muchenikiv-kiyivskoyi-rusi/1044139}}</ref>). Immediately after said murder, early medieval Rus' saw persecutions against Christians, many of whom escaped or concealed their belief.{{efn|In 983, after another of his military successes, Prince Vladimir and his army thought it necessary to sacrifice human lives to the gods. A lot was cast and it fell on a youth, Ioann by name, the son of a Christian, Fyodor. His father stood firmly against his son being sacrificed to the idols. Further, he tried to show the pagans the futility of their faith: "Your gods are just plain wood: it is here now but it may rot into oblivion tomorrow; your gods neither eat, nor drink, nor talk and are made by human hand from wood; whereas there is only one God – He is worshiped by Greeks and He created heaven and earth; and your gods? They have created nothing, for they have been created themselves; never will I give my son to the devils!"{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}}}

However, Prince Vladimir mused over the incident long after, and not least for political considerations. According to the early Slavic chronicle, the [[Primary Chronicle|''Tale of Bygone Years'']], which describes life in Kievan Rus' up to the year 1110, he sent his envoys throughout the world to assess first-hand the major religions of the time: Islam, Latin Christianity, Judaism, and Byzantine Christianity.<ref>Bury, John Bagnell (1923). [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.70261/page/n307/mode/2up ''The Cambridge Medieval History. Vol. IV. 308''] Cambridge: University Press.</ref> They were most impressed with their visit to Constantinople, saying, "We knew not whether we were in Heaven or on Earth&nbsp;... We only know that God dwells there among the people, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations."<ref>Thomas Riha (2009). 
[https://books.google.com/books?id=_Bkddxc600IC ''Readings in Russian Civilization, Volume 1: Russia Before Peter the Great, 900–1700'']. University of Chicago Press. {{ISBN|978-0-226-71843-9}}</ref>

== Conversion ==
{{main|Conversion of Vladimir the Great}}
[[File:Vasnetsov Bapt Vladimir.jpg|thumb|175px|The Baptism of Saint Prince Vladimir, by [[Viktor Vasnetsov]] (1890)]]

The ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' reports that in the year 986, missionaries from various peoples representing various religions arrived in Kiev, trying to convert Vladimir to their religion. In 987, after consultation with his [[boyar]]s, Vladimir reportedly sent envoys to study the religions of the various neighboring peoples whose representatives had been urging him to embrace their respective faiths. Although in both stories Vladimir ultimately rejects all options except [[Eastern Christianity]], he hesitates and does not convert.{{sfn|Ostrowski|2006|pp=568–569}}

In 988, having taken the town of [[Chersonesus]] in [[Crimea]], he allegedly boldly negotiated for the hand of emperor [[Basil II]]'s sister, [[Anna Porphyrogenita|Anna]].<ref>''The Earliest Mediaeval Churches of Kiev'', Samuel H. Cross, H. V. Morgilevski and K. J. Conant, '''Speculum''', Vol. 11, No. 4 (Oct., 1936), 479.</ref> Never before had a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] imperial princess, and one "[[born in the purple]]", married a barbarian, as matrimonial offers of French kings and [[Holy Roman Emperor]]s had been peremptorily rejected. In short, to marry the 27-year-old princess to a pagan Slav seemed impossible. Vladimir was baptized at Chersonesos, however, taking the Christian name of Basil out of compliment to his imperial brother-in-law; the sacrament was followed by his wedding to Anna.

[[Arab]] sources, both Muslim and Christian, present a different story of Vladimir's conversion. [[Yahya of Antioch]], [[al-Rudhrawari]], [[al-Makin]], [[Shams al-Din al-Ansari al-Dimashqi|al-Dimashqi]], and [[ibn al-Athir]] all give essentially the same account.<ref>Ibn al-Athir dates these events to 985 or 986 in his [[The Complete History]]</ref> In 987, [[Bardas Sclerus]] and [[Bardas Phokas the Younger|Bardas Phocas]] revolted against the Byzantine emperor Basil II. Both rebels briefly joined forces, but then Bardas Phocas proclaimed himself emperor on 14 September 987. Basil II turned to the Kievan Rus' for assistance, even though they were considered enemies at that time. Vladimir agreed, in exchange for a marital tie; he also agreed to accept Christianity as his religion and to Christianize his people. When the wedding arrangements were settled, Vladimir dispatched 6,000 troops to the Byzantine Empire, and they helped to put down the revolt.<ref name="Rus">"Rus". ''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]''</ref>

== Christianization of Kievan Rus' ==
{{Main|Christianization of Kievan Rus'}}
Returning to Kiev in triumph, Vladimir [[Baptism of Kievan Rus'|destroyed pagan monuments]] and established many churches, starting with a church dedicated to [[Basil of Caesarea|St. Basil]],<ref>''The Earliest Mediaeval Churches of Kiev'', Samuel H. Cross, H. V. Morgilevski and K. J. Conant, '''Speculum''', 481.</ref> and the [[Church of the Tithes]] (989).{{sfn|Bain|1911}}

In 988 and 991, he baptized [[Pecheneg]] princes [[Metiga]] and [[Kuchug]], respectively.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Curta|first1=Florin|title=The Other Europe in the Middle Ages|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JAKwCQAAQBAJ&q=kuchug+khan&pg=PA442|publisher=Brill|access-date=14 May 2016|isbn=9789047423560|year= 2007}}</ref>

==Christian reign==
Vladimir then formed a great council out of his boyars and set his [[Family life and children of Vladimir I|twelve sons]] over his subject principalities.{{sfn|Bain|1911}} According to the [[Primary Chronicle]], he founded the city of [[Belgorod Kievsky|Belgorod]] in 991. In 992, he went on a campaign against the Croats, most likely the [[White Croats]] that lived on the border of modern [[Ukraine]]. This campaign was cut short by the attacks of the [[Pechenegs]] on and around [[Kyiv|Kiev]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Russian Primary Chronicle |url=https://archive.org/details/the-russian-primary-chronicle/}}</ref>

In his later years he lived in relative peace with his other neighbors: [[Bolesław I of Poland]], [[Stephen I of Hungary]], and Andrikh the Czech (a shadowy figure mentioned in [[Primary Chronicle|A Tale of the Bygone Years]]). After Anna's death, he married again, likely to a granddaughter of [[Otto the Great]].{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In 1014, his son [[Yaroslav the Wise]] stopped paying tribute. Vladimir decided to chastise the insolence of his son and began gathering troops against him. Vladimir fell ill, however, most likely of old age, and died at Berestove, near modern-day Kiev. The various parts of his dismembered body were distributed among his numerous sacred foundations and were venerated as [[relic]]s.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}

During his Christian reign, Vladimir lived the teachings of the Bible through acts of charity. He would hand out food and drink to the less fortunate, and made an effort to go out to the people who could not reach him. His work was based on the impulse to help one's neighbors by sharing the burden of carrying their cross.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Obolensky|first=Alexander|year=1993|title=From First to Third Millennium: The Social Christianity of St. Vladimir of Kiev|journal=Cross Currents}}</ref> He founded numerous churches, including the {{lang|uk|Desyatynna Tserkva}} [[Church of the Tithes|(Church, or Cathedral, of the Tithes)]] (989), established schools, protected the poor and introduced ecclesiastical courts. He lived mostly at peace with his neighbors, the incursions of the Pechenegs alone disturbing his tranquility.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}

He introduced the [[Byzantine law|Byzantine law code]] into his territories following his conversion but reformed some of its harsher elements; he notably abolished [[capital punishment]], along with [[judicial torture]] and [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|mutilation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ware |first=Timothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UY8UnwEACAAJ&pg=PT85 |title=The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity |date=1993|publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-0-14-192500-4 |language=en}}</ref>

==Family==
{{Main|Family of Vladimir the Great}}
[[File:Anton Losenko. Vladimir and Rogneda.jpg|thumb|''Vladimir and Rogneda'' (1770)]]
The fate of all Vladimir's daughters, whose number is around nine, is uncertain. His wives, concubines, and their children were as follows: 
* [[Olava, Grand Princess of Kiev|Olava]] or Allogia ([[Varangian]] or [[Czechs|Czech]]), speculative; she might have been mother of Vysheslav while others claim that it is a confusion with [[Helena Lekapene]]
** Vysheslav (c. 977{{snd}}c. 1010), Prince of Novgorod (988–1010)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Feldbrugge |first1=Ferdinand J. M. |title=A History of Russian Law: From Ancient Times to the Council Code (Ulozhenie) of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich of 1649 |date=20 October 2017 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-35214-8 |pages=340 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDI9DwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Irina, Grand Princess of Kiev|Irina]], a widow of [[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk I]], a Greek nun
** [[Sviatopolk I of Kiev|Sviatopolk the Accursed]] (born c. 979), possibly the surviving son of Yaropolk
* [[Rogneda of Polotsk|Rogneda]] (the daughter of [[Rogvolod]]); later upon divorce she entered a convent taking the Christian name of Anastasia
** [[Izyaslav of Polotsk]] (born c. 979, Kiev), Prince of Polotsk (989–1001)
** [[Yaroslav the Wise]] (no earlier than 983), Prince of [[Rostov, Yaroslavl Oblast|Rostov]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pchelov |first1=E.V. |title=Rurikovichi: Istoriya dinastii |date=2002 |location=Moscow |edition=Online edition (No longer available)}}</ref> (988–1010), Prince of Novgorod (1010–1034), Grand Prince of Kiev (1016–1018, 1019–1054). He was likely a son of [[Anna Porphyrogenita]] rather than Rogneda.<ref>William Humphreys, "Agatha, mother of St. Margaret: the Slavic versus the Salian solutions - a critical overview", ''Foundations'', 1(1):31-43; Joseph Edwards, "Editorial", ''Foundations'', 1(2):74; William Humphreys, "Agatha ‘the Greek’ – Exploring the Slavic solution", ''Foundations'', 1(4):275-288.</ref><ref>Arrignon, Jean Pierre (1983). ''Les relations diplomatiques entre Bizance et la Russie de 860 à 1043''. [[Revue des études slaves]] 55. pp. 133-135.</ref>  Another interesting fact is that he was younger than Sviatopolk according to the words of [[Boris and Gleb|Boris]] in the ''[[Tale of Bygone Years]]'' and not as it was officially known. A later analysis of his skeletal remains also corroborates this view.<ref>Валерий Борисович Перхавко (2006). ''Воители Руси: IX-XIII'' [Warriors of Russia IX-XIII centuries]. - <abbr>M</abbr> .: Veche, 2006. p. 64. - {{ISBN|5-9533-1256-3}}</ref>
** Vsevolod (c. 984{{snd}}1013), possibly the Swedish Prince Wissawald of [[Volhynia]] (c. 1000), was perhaps the first husband of [[Estrid Svendsdatter]]
** Mstislav, distinct from Mstislav of Chernigov, possibly died as an infant, if he was ever born
** [[Mstislav of Chernigov]] (born c. 983), Prince of [[Tmutarakan]] (990–1036), Prince of [[Chernigov]] (1024–1036), other sources claim him to be the son of other mothers (Adela, [[Malfrida]], or some other Bulgarian wife)
** Predslava, a [[concubine]] of [[Bolesław I Chrobry]] according to [[Gesta principum Polonorum]]
** Premislava, (died 1015), some sources state that she was a wife of the [[Ladislas the Bald|Duke Laszlo (Vladislav) "the Bald"]] of the [[Árpád dynasty|Arpadians]]
** Mstislava, in 1018 was taken by [[Bolesław I Chrobry]] among the other daughters
* Bulgarian Adela, some sources claim that Adela is not necessarily Bulgarian as Boris and Gleb may have been born from some other wife
** [[Boris and Gleb|Boris]] (born c. 986), Prince of Rostov (c. 1010{{snd}}1015), remarkable is the fact that the Rostov Principality as well as the Principality of [[Murom]] used to border the territory of the [[Volga Bolgars]]
** [[Boris and Gleb|Gleb]] (born c. 987), Prince of Murom (1013–1015), as is Boris, Gleb is also claimed to be the son of [[Anna Porphyrogenita]].<ref name=":0">Shepherd, Jonathan (2003). "Marriages Towards the Millennium". In [[Paul Magdalino|Magdalino, Paul]] (ed.). ''Byzantium in the Year 1000''. BRILL. pp. 25–26. {{ISBN|978-90-04-12097-6}}. Retrieved January 27, 2013.</ref>
** Stanislav (born c. 985{{snd}}1015), Prince of Smolensk (988–1015), possibly of another wife and the fate of whom is not certain
** [[Sudislav]] (died 1063), Prince of [[Pskov]] (1014–1036), possibly of another wife, but he is mentioned in [[Patriarch Nikon|Nikon]]'s Chronicles. He spent 35 years in prison and later became a monk.
* [[Malfrida]]
** Sviatoslav (c. 982{{snd}}1015), Prince of Drevlians (990–1015)
* [[Anna Porphyrogenita]]
** Theophana, a wife of Novgorod [[posadnik]] [[Ostromir]], a grandson of semi-legendary [[Dobrynya]]<ref name=":0" /> (highly doubtful is the fact of her being Anna's offspring)[''[[Wikipedia:Citation needed|citation needed]]'']
* a granddaughter of [[Otto the Great]] (possibly Rechlinda Otona [Regelindis])
** [[Maria Dobroniega of Kiev]] (born c. 1012), the Duchess of Poland (1040–1087), married around 1040 to [[Casimir I the Restorer]], Duke of Poland, her maternity as daughter of this wife is deduced from her apparent age
* other possible family
** Vladimirovna, an out-of-marriage daughter (died 1044), married to [[Bernard, Margrave of the Nordmark]].
** Pozvizd (born prior to 988), a son of Vladimir according to [[Hustyn Chronicles]]. He, possibly, was the Prince Khrisokhir mentioned by [[Niketas Choniates]].

==Significance and legacy==
[[File:1 hryvnia 2006 front.jpg|thumb|Volodymyr the Great portrait on obverse of [[Banknotes of the Ukrainian hryvnia|₴1 bill]], circa 2006]]

The [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Byzantine Rite Lutheranism|Byzantine Rite Lutheran]] and [[Roman Catholic]] churches celebrate the feast day of St. Vladimir on 15/28 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=434 |title=St. Vladimir |access-date=May 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ukrlc.org/?p=202|script-title=uk:День Св. Володимира Великого, християнського правителя|date=28 July 2014|publisher=[[Ukrainian Lutheran Church]]|language=uk|access-date=19 September 2018}}</ref>

The town [[Volodymyr (city)|Volodymyr]] in north-western Ukraine was founded by Vladimir and is named after him.<ref>Henryk Paszkiewicz. ''The making of the Russian nation.'' Greenwood Press. 1977. Cracow 1996, pp. 77–79.</ref> The foundation of another town, [[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]] in Russia, is usually attributed to [[Vladimir Monomakh]]. However some researchers argue that it was also founded by Vladimir the Great.<ref>С. В. Шевченко (ред.). [http://www.russiancity.ru/books/b82.htm К вопросу о дате основания г. Владимира], ТОО "Местное время", 1992. (S. V. Shevchenko (ed.). On the foundation date of Vladimir. in Russian)</ref>

[[St Volodymyr's Cathedral]], one of the largest cathedrals in Kyiv, is dedicated to Vladimir the Great, as was originally the [[Kyiv University]]. The [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russian]] [[Order of St. Vladimir]] and [[Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] in the United States are also named after him.

The memory of Vladimir was also kept alive by innumerable Russian folk ballads and legends, which refer to him as ''Krasno Solnyshko'' (''the Fair Sun'', or ''the Red Sun''; ''Красно Солнышко'' in Russian). The [[Varangian]] period of Eastern Slavic history ceases with Vladimir, and the Christian period begins.

The appropriation of Kievan Rus' as part of national history has also been a topic of contention in [[Ukrainophile]] vs. [[Russophilia|Russophile]] schools of historiography since the [[Soviet historiography|Soviet era]].<ref>[https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21709553-russia-statues-are-politics-other-means-tale-two-vladimirs A tale of two Vladimirs], [[The Economist]] (5 November 2015)<br>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/vladimir-great-statue-unveiled-putin-moscow From one Vladimir to another: Putin unveils huge statue in Moscow], [[The Guardian]] (5 November 2015)<br>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37871793 Putin unveils 'provocative' Moscow statue of St Vladimir], [[BBC News]] (5 November 2016)</ref> Today, he is regarded as a symbol in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine.

All branches of the economy prospered under Vladimir.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Vladimir the Russian Viking|last=Volkoff|first=Vladimir|publisher=Overlook Press|year=2011|location=New York}}</ref> He [[Money of Kievan Rus'|minted coins]] and regulated foreign affairs with other countries, such as trade, bringing in [[Greek wine]]s, [[Baghdad]] spices, and [[Arabian horse]]s for the markets of Kiev.

<gallery widths="170" heights="240">
Vladimir by klodt.jpg|Monument to Volodymyr the Great in [[Kyiv]]
1000 Vladimir 2.jpg|Vladimir the Great on the [[Millennium of Russia]] monument in [[Novgorod]]
Владимир. памятник князю Владимиру и святителю Фёдору.jpg|Monument to Vladimir the Great and the monk Fyodor at Pushkin Park in [[Vladimir, Russia|Vladimir]], Russia
Belgorod 8 (35226536836).jpg|St Vladimir the Great Monument in [[Belgorod]], Russia
Памятник князю Владимиру (Новочебоксарске).jpg|Monument to Prince Vladimir ([[Novocheboksarsk]])
Ruler of Ukraine statuette Volodymir bright.JPG|[[Statue of Saint Volodymyr, London|Statue in London]], erected by [[Ukrainians in Great Britain]] in 1988 to celebrate the establishment of Christianity in Ukraine by St. Volodymyr in 988
Vladimir the Great Toronto 2006.jpg|Statue in Toronto erected by [[Ukrainian Canadians|Ukrainians in Canada]] in 1988 to celebrate the establishment of Christianity in Ukraine by St. Volodymyr in 988
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Saints}}
* [[Order of Saint Vladimir]]
* [[List of people known as the Great]]
* ''[[Prince Vladimir (film)|Prince Vladimir]]'', Russian animated feature film (2006)
* ''[[Viking (2016 film)|Viking]]'', Russian historical film (2016), where Vladimir the Great is portrayed by [[Danila Kozlovsky]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* Golden, P. B. (2006) "Rus." ''[[Encyclopaedia of Islam]]'' (Brill Online). Eds.: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel and W.P. Heinrichs. Brill.
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Vladimir, St|volume=28|page=168|first=Robert Nisbet|last=Bain|author-link=Robert Nisbet Bain}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://sites.utoronto.ca/elul/English/218/Ilarion.pdf |chapter=Ilarion’s “Sermon on Law and Grace” |last=Franklin |first=Simon |title=Sermons and Rhetoric of Kievan Rus' |publisher=University of Toronto (SLA 218 Ukrainian Literature and Culture) |pages=30 |date=1991 |access-date=6 March 2023}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Halperin |first1=Charles J. |date=2022 |title=The Rise and Demise of the Myth of the Rus' Land |url=https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/58585/9781802700565.pdf |location=Leeds |publisher=Arc Humanities Press |pages=107 |isbn=9781802700565 |access-date=6 March 2023}}
* [http://glavred.info/archive/2010/07/28/100536-4.html Some historical analysis and political insights on the state affairs of Vladimir the Great] {{in lang|ru}}
* {{cite book | last=Moss | first=Walter | title=A history of Russia | publisher=Anthem | location=London | year=2002 | isbn=978-1-84331-023-5 | oclc=53250380 }}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Ostrowski |first1=Donald|date=2006 |title=The Account of Volodimer's Conversion in the "Povest' vremennykh let": A Chiasmus of Stories |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41036982 |journal=Harvard Ukrainian Studies |publisher=Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute |volume=28 |issue=1–4 |pages=567–580 |doi= |jstor=41036982 |access-date=6 May 2023}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Ostrowski |first1=Donald |date=2018 |title=Was There a Riurikid Dynasty in Early Rus'? |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/css/52/1/article-p30_2.xml |journal=Canadian-American Slavic Studies |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=30–49 |doi=10.1163/22102396-05201009}}
* {{Cite book |last=Raffensperger |first=Christian |date=2016 |title=Ties of Kinship: Genealogy and Dynastic Marriage in Kyivan Rus' |url=https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/ties-of-kinship-genealogy-and-dynastic-marriage-in-kyivan-rus/9200000041147549/ |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |publisher=Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute |pages=418 |isbn=9781932650136}}

==External links==
* Velychenko, Stephen, [http://krytyka.com/en/community/blogs/how-valdamarr-sveinaldsson-got-moscow How Valdamarr Sveinaldsson got to Moscow (krytyka.com)], 9 November 2015.

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Rurikids|Rurik]]||958|15 July|1015||name=Vladimir I of Kiev|Vladimir I Sviatoslavich}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before= ? }}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prince of Novgorod]]|years=969–977}}
{{s-aft|after= ? }}
{{s-bef|before=[[Yaropolk I of Kiev|Yaropolk I Sviatoslavich]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Rulers of Kievan Rus|Grand Prince of Kiev]]|years=980–1015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Sviatopolk I of Kiev|Sviatopolk I]]}}
{{s-pre}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Oleg of the Drevlyans]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Grand Prince of Kiev|Prince of Kiev]]|years=977–980}}
{{s-aft|after=Vysheslav Vladimirovich}}
{{s-end}}

{{Catholic saints}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vladimir 01 Of Kiev}}
[[Category:Vladimir the Great| ]]
[[Category:Christian saints from Kievan Rus']]
[[Category:Grand princes of Kiev]]
[[Category:Rurikids]]
[[Category:Christian monarchs]]
[[Category:11th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:950s births]]
[[Category:1015 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Christian royal saints]]
[[Category:Princes of Novgorod]]
[[Category:10th-century princes from Kievan Rus']]
[[Category:Converts to Christianity from pagan religions]]
[[Category:Burials at the Church of the Tithes]]