Vladimir

Vladimir (955–1015) prince of Kiev. Scandinavian in origin, a great-grandson of Rurik, traditional founder of the Russian state, Vladimir was brought up in the pagan Viking religion and before his baptism freely indulged in the violence, brutality, and lust often regarded (not least by the contemporary Arab chronicler Ibn-Fadlan) as characteristic of the Varangians. He became Prince of Novgorod in 970; he had to flee to Scandinavia in 972 in the revolt of his brothers; but he soon returned victorious and consolidated his position as ruler of Kievan Russia by 980. In return for military aid from Byzantium he was converted in 989 and married Anne, daughter of the emperor, Basil II. The political and economic advantages of this marriage did not cancel his whole-hearted commitment to Christianity. He put away former wives and mistresses, he destroyed idols and supported the Greek missionaries who evangelized his people. Indeed, he sometimes tried to impose Christianity by force, but not all his people accepted it. It seems probable that the first converts were nobles and merchants and that, as elsewhere, Christianity penetrated slowly both in geographical and social terms. Kiev soon became a metropolitan see.

He was reluctant after his conversion to put to death murderers and robbers and was notable for lavish almsgiving, a practice hitherto unknown. He died on an expedition against one of his sons; before it, he was reputed to have given away all his personal belongings. He and his successors fostered close relations with the Church in the West. His posthumous reputation was helped by a cycle of heroic poems; with his grandmother Olga he was regarded as the Christian pioneer of all Russia. One of his descendants, Waldemar, king of Novgorod, married Gytha, the daughter of Harold II, king of England. Feast: 15 July.

Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.

• S. H. Cross and O. P. Sherbovitz-Wetzor, The Russian Primary Chronicle (1953); N. de Baumgarten, Saint Vladimir et la conversion de la Russie (Orientalia Christiana, 1932); F. Dvornik, The Making of Central and Eastern Europe (1949); B.L.S., vii. 118–20; Bibl. SS., xii. 1323–9; N.C.E., xiv. 734–5