Vladimir I

Type Figure Region Kievan Rus Time c. 958–1015 Also known as Saint Vladimir

Grand Prince of Kiev (c. 958–1015) who unified the principalities in 988 and accepted baptism, making Christianity the state religion and laying the …

Timeline

980–988Kiev · Kievan RusDefeated his brothers and half-brothers, establishing control over Novgorod, Polotsk, and other principalities, and became the de facto supreme ruler of Rus'.
988–1001Kiev · Kievan RusAccepted Orthodox baptism, destroyed pagan idols, built churches, and promoted Christian rites and church organization, integrating Rus' into the Byzantine cultural sphere.
1001–1015Kiev · Kievan RusIn his later years he maintained diplomacy with Byzantium and Poland, enfeoffed his sons as princes of various cities, around 1010 arranged for his youngest son Yaroslav to rule Novgorod, and his death in 1015 triggered a succession struggle among his sons.

Sources

The Primary Chronicle (Tale of Bygone Years) — Nestor (attrib.)
A History of Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, Vol. I — David Christian (1998)