Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 6 Jan 988

Notes:

[dunbar_tree.FTW]

Vladimir was a semi-barbaric Viking tribal chief of great leadership abilities; conquered
and then was first ruler of a unified Russia; was baptised at Kherson in the Crimea on
The Feast of the Epiphany, 988 and "converted" his subjects to Christianity, and formed
many alliances (many sealed with marriages of his children) with the other leaders of
Europe {-see Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1956 Edition, 23:231}. He was Grand Duke of Kiev
about 978 to his death. His father sent him to govern Novgorod in 970 despite his
youth. He became Grand Duke, i.e. leader of his people, by killing his brother
Yaropolk, uniting Novgorod and Kiev. After becoming a Christian, Vladimir built
churches, promoted charity, established Orthodox canon law and married (988) Princess
Anna, sister of Byzantine Emperor Basil II (reigned 976-1025) and daughter of Romanus II
(Emperor 959-63) and his second wife Theophano ________. Princess Anna's ancestry (the
Macedonian dynasty) is given in "The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium" (NY: Oxford
University Press, 1991), II:1262-63. "From the reign of Svyatoslav's youngest son, Vladimir, the Norman dynasty was definitely settled in Kiev." - Encycl. Brit., 1956, 19:692. His feast day is July 15th. Also see "The Rise of Christian Russia, Part
II", A. Poppe (1978), pp. 197-244.

Grand married Polotzk, Rogneide of in 980. Rogneide died in 1000. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Yaroslav, Grand Prince of Kiev I died on 20 Feb 1054.

Notes:

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{W.H.Turton, "The Plantagenet Ancestry" (Balt.:Gen. Pub. Co., 1968), p. 26,
gives Sviastoslav as son of Igor of Kiev (d. 945) and Olga (d. 969), and
Igor as son of Rurik of Kiev (d. 879).} He was the first prince of Kiev to
attempt conquest beyond Russia proper, invading Bulgaria and taking Preslav
in 968; he was forced to withdraw in 972 and was killed in a battle with the
Petchenegs (employed by the Byzantines to attack him).

Notes:

[dunbar_tree.FTW]

Igor (Ingvar) may be son of Rurik. Igor is Oleg's successor and he
concluded a treaty with the Byzantines in 945. He was slain by rebellious
tribes at Izkorosten.

married Russia, Saint Olga of in 903. Saint was christened in 957 in Constantinpole; died on 11 Jul 969. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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Olga ("Helena") was regent for her son after her husband's death until her
own. Her conversion and baptism marked the first step in establishing
Byzantine religious and cultural domination of Russia.

Rurik married Orvarddi, Alfrind on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[dunbar_tree.FTW]

Her brother, Oleg (Helgi of Novgorod, d. 912), concluded a commercial treaty with the Byzantines in 911. He appears to have been a companion (and is speculated to perhaps be a son or brother-in-law) of Rurik, the Viking ("Varangian") tribal leader
(first "Grand Prince of Kiev") who led the Northmen into present-day Russia and died in 879. {Note: "Ancestral Roots..." (7th Ed.) in line 241 gives Rurik as father of Igor.} Oleg succeeded Rurick in Novgorod in 879(?). Bob Stennett
(bs@inetarena.com) shared by email 2 Nov 1999: "Oleg was Rurik's brother in law. Rurik was married to Oleg's sister, Alfrind Orvarddi."