Vladmir The Saint

Converted the Russains to Byzantine form of Christianity, Russian church being organized on Greek pattern under canonical rule of Patriarch of Constantinople.

"He owned at least three friller and gitet her 2. along with Annals at Byzantz. Stayed paramount at 980-1015. A good many knew descenders. Along with her first frille owned he among other reasons son Vsevolod (970) as became innebrendt along with Harald Ambit at Sigrid Storråde in 995 in Sweden."

His wife's father, Rognvald von Polotzk, was killed Killed at Volodimer 980. from http://gw.geneanet.org/index.php3?b=kellypetit&lang=en;p=vlodimi+den+hellige;n=av+kiew

Vladimir was the youngest son of Svyatoslav I by his housekeeper Malusha, described in the Norse sagas 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 Prekrasa, who was Christian and governed the capital during Svyatoslav's frequent military campaigns.

~~~~Saint Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Great (c. 958 – 1015) was the grand prince of Kiev who converted to Christianity in 988, and proceeded to baptise the whole Kievan Rus.Vladimir was the youngest son of Svyatoslav I by his housekeeper Malusha, described in the Norse sagas 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 Prekrasa, who was Christian and governed the capital during Svyatoslav's frequent military campaigns.

Transferring his capital to Pereyaslavets in 969, Sviatoslav designated Vladimir ruler of Novgorod the Great but gave Kiev to his legitimate son Yaropolk. After Sviatoslav's death (972), a fratricidal war erupted (976) between Yaropolk and his younger brother Oleg, ruler of the Drevlians. In 977 Vladimir fled to his kinsmen in Scandinavia, collecting as many of the Viking warriors as he could to assist him to recover Novgorod, and on his return the next year marched against Yaropolk.

On his way to Kiev he sent ambassadors to Rogvolod (Norse: Ragnvald), prince of Polotsk, to sue for the hand of his daughter Rogneda (Norse: Ragnhild). The well-born princess refused to affiance herself to the son of a bondswoman, but Vladimir attacked Polotsk, slew Rogvolod, and took Ragnhild by force. Actually, Polotsk was a key fortress on the way to Kiev, and the capture of Polotsk and Smolensk facilitated the taking of Kiev (980), where he slew Yaropolk by treachery, and was proclaimed konung, or kagan, of all Kievan Rus.

In addition to his father's extensive domain, Vladimir continued to expand his territories. In 981 he conquered the Cherven cities, the modern Halychyna; in 983 he subdued the Yatvyags, whose territories lay between Lithuania and Poland; in 985 he led a fleet along the central rivers of Russia to conquer the Bulgarians of the Kama, planting numerous fortresses and colonies on his way.

In the year 987, as the result of a consultation with his boyars, Vladimir sent envoys to study the religions of the various neighboring nations whose representatives had been urging him to embrace their respective faiths. The result is amusingly described by the chronicler Nestor. Of the Muslim Bulgarians of the Volga the envoys reported there is no gladness among them; only sorrow and a great stench, and that their religion was undesirable due to its taboo against alcoholic beverages and pork. Russian sources also describe Vladimir consulting with Jewish envoys (who may or may not have been Khazars), and questioning them about their religion but ultimately rejecting it, saying that their loss of Jerusalem was evidence of their having been abandoned by God. Ultimately Vladimir settled on Christianity. In the churches of the Germans his emissaries saw no beauty; but at Constantinople, where the full festival ritual of the Orthodox Church was set in motion to impress them, they found their ideal: "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth," they reported, "nor such beauty, and we know not how to tell of it." If Vladimir was impressed by this account of his envoys, he was yet more so by political gains of the Byzantine alliance.

In 988, having taken the town of Chersones in Crimea, he negotiated for the hand of the emperor Basil II's sister, Anna. Never had a Greek princess married a Barbarian before, as matrimonial offers of French kings and German emperors had been peremptorily rejected. In short, to marry the 27-year-old princess to a pagan Slav seemed impossible. Vladimir, however, was baptized at Chersones, taking the Christian name of Basil out of compliment to his imperial brother-in-law; the sacrament was followed by his marriage with the Roman princess. Returning to Kiev in triumph, he destroyed pagan monuments and established many churches, starting with the splendid Church of the Tithes (989) and monasteries on Mt. Athos.

He now formed a great council out of his boyars, and set his twelve sons over his subject principalities. With his neighbors he lived at peace, the incursions of the savage Pechenegs alone disturbing his tranquillity. After Anna's death, he married again, most likely to a granddaughter of Otto the Great.

He died at Berestovo, near Kiev, while on his way to chastise the insolence of his son, Prince Yaroslav of Novgorod. The various parts of his dismembered body were distributed among his numerous sacred foundations and were venerated as relics. One of the largest Kievan cathedrals is dedicated to him. The University of Kiev was named after the man who both civilized and Christianized Kievan Rus. There is the Order of St. Vladimir in Russia. Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the feast day of St. Vladimir on 15 July.

His memory was also kept alive by innumerable folk ballads and legends, which refer to him as Krasno Solnyshko, that is, the Fair Sun. With him the Varangian period of Eastern Slavic history ceases and the Christian period begins.

Succeeded by son Sviatopolk I, (Sviatopolk's mother was a Greek nun captured by Svyatoslav I in Bulgaria and married to his lawful heir Yaropolk I. When Yaropolk was murdered by his brother Vladimir's agents, the new sovereign raped his wife and she soon (some would say, too soon) gave birth to a child. Thus, Sviatopolk was probably the eldest of Vladimir's sons, although the issue of his parentage has been questioned.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_I_of_Kiev

Indolent ruler, made peace by resigning title and supported Henry VI Holy Roman Emperor, son of Henry III 50  pg 241, new version 257

Wladyslaw I Herman (1040-1102), Duke of Poland, was a son of Casimir I and brother of Boleslaw II the Bold.

Wladyslaw Herman (also called Wodzislaw Herman) took power in 1079, after his brother Boleslaw II the Bold was forced into exile, and supported Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV in a bid to restore peace.

Wladyslaw Herman first married Judith of Bohemia, then Judith of Swabia. He had an illegitimate son, Zbigniew of Poland (1070-1112).

Later, with Judith of Bohemia he had a son, Boleslaw III Wrymouth (1085-1138), who succeeded him, ruling jointly with Zbigniew until 1107 at which point Boleslaw had Zbigniew banished, and became sole ruler.

With Judith of Swabia, daughter of Emperor Henry III, Wladyslaw had a daughter, Agnes of Gandersheim, who became an Abbess. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladislaus_I_Herman

When Domaldi ruled the Swedes after his father, there was great famine. There were sacrifices of bulls to the gods the first year, and with no improvements they sacrificed men the following autumn, with again, no improvement. The people decided the times were on account of Domaldi and offered him to the gods as a sacrifice
Heimskringla, Ynglinga Saga, Section 18

Domalde was a Swedish king of the House of Ynglings, in Norse mythology. He was the son of Visbur.

The sacrifice of king Domalde at Uppsala as painted by Carl Larsson.  Snorri Sturluson relates that Domalde's rule was marked by bad crops and starvation. The first autumn, the Swedes sacrificed oxen at the temple at Uppsala, but the next harvest was not better. The second autumn, they sacrificed men, but the following crops were even worse.

The third year many Swedes arrived at Gamla Uppsala, and the chiefs decided they had to sacrifice the king. They sprinkled the statues of the gods with his blood (see Blót) and the good harvests returned.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domalde

Vortigern is a title, not a name, but over the years, assigned to this one legendary person. While it is impossible to separate the fact from fiction, the possibility of his existence is quite real. Information about the Celt Vortigern is from the Gildas, Bede, Anglo Saxon Chronicles, Historia Brittonum, Geoffrey of Monmouth, and Wace. Vortigern is thought to be either the legendary or actual explanation of how Saxons came to Briton.

The kingdom of Gwerthrynion is thought to be named after Vortigern's real name. Vortigen was from the House of Gewissei, decendant of Celtic Octavuis, King of Briton in the 300's

Probably the first man to be called the High King after Roman rule.
Married a Roman, Servia, daughter of Magnus Maximus who helped remove Roman troops from Britain in 383.
Led and organized rebellions for over twenty years.
Coel Hen of Northern Britain may have been his ally.
421-424: Vortigen comes to power in Britain, usurping Gildas
428-429: Was probably the High King during Germanus's visit in 428 or 428,  who was to find and destroy Pelagius's followers.
429: The first Saxon raid in Britain territory is recorded
437: Vortigern and Ambrosius the Elder fought at Guoloph or Wallop in Hampshire
449: Vortigern and the Elders bought the help of the Saxons mercenaries led by Hengst displaced from their Jutland homes to push back the Picts. Vortigern gave the Saxons the Isle of Thanet in return.
455: The Saxon settlement grew, wanted more land. Vortigen was said to be in love with Hengst's daughter, Rowena, and had approved more land. Vortimer tries to overthrow his father, is killed in battle (or poisoned) and Vortigern returns to power.
466: Ambrosius Aurelianus shows up, driving Vortigern to Wales where he rules Powys.

His sons:
Vortimer, killed in battle against his father
Pascent
Catigern, killed in battle against the Saxons
Faustus, bishop in Gaul

The inscription on the Pillar of Eliseg, an mid-9th Century stone cross, gives the Brythonic variant of Vortigern: Guarthigern. This is the same Vortigern as Gildas' 'superbus tyrannus'. The pillar also states that he was married to Sevira, and gave a line of descent leading to the royal family of Powys, who erected the cross.

Vortigen was supposedly the seneschal to Constantine III, whose two sons Ambrosius and Uther were sent to the Budic I, King of Brittany, son of Constantine's brother King Aldrien, for safe keeping against Vortigern.

52 - DB2

Legend: archbishop Guithelinus, who takes the responsibility for the defence of Britain by popular demand after the final departure of the Roman armies. Guithelinus or Vitalinus goes to Brittany to get troops and a king to lead Britain: Constantinus, brother of Aldroenus, the king of Brittany. After some time he is killed, and his son Constans is made king by Vortigern, Duke of Gwent, who now enters the scene. I will defend elsewhere in detail why I believe that Vitalinus and Vortigern are one and the same, and that the story of the troops from Brittany is the same as the Adventus Saxonum as described by Gildas and those following him.

Vortigern has Constans killed and 'reluctantly' accepts the crown, after which Geoffrey follows much of the earlier story. He gets Hengist from Germany to fight the Picts and marries his daughter Renwein for his own purposes and to reward Hengist. Kent is given to Hengist, thereby angering the Britons and Vortigern's own sons. Thy revolt and put Vortimer on the throne, who starts fighting the Saxons. Renwein then poisons him, after which Vortigern returns as king. Then followes the Saxon betrayal at Stonehenge, which Geoffrey calls "the Cloister of Ambrius", clearly after Amesbury. Then Geoffrey relates the Dinas Emrys legend, but calls the boy Merlin. Interspaced are the 'Prophecies of Merlin' as a separate chapter. Vortigern flees to Ercing, where he is killed by Ambrosius, who is called 'Aurelius Ambrosius' here. Vortigern is burned with his fortress.

http://www.vortigernstudies.org.uk/artwho/who.htm

Vortigern, (also spelled Vortiger and Vortigen) was a 5th century Brython warlord, whose existence is considered likely, though information about him is shrouded in legend. He is traditionally said to have invited the Anglo-Saxons to settle in Britain as mercenaries, only to see them revolt and establish their own kingdoms. This earned him a poor reputation in later legend, where he was eventually remembered as one of the worst Kings of the Britons.

Excluding what is taken from Gildas, there are six groupings of traditions, one of which is: Genealogical material about Vortigern's ancestry, the names of his four sons (Vortimer, Pascent, Catigern, Faustus), a father (Vitalis), a grandfather (Vitalinus) and a great-grandfather who is probably just an eponym (Gloui) which associates Vortigern with Glevum, the civitas of Gloucester.

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortigen

Vratislaus I or Wratislaus I (Czech: Vratislav I) (c.888 – February 13, 921), Duke of Bohemia (915 – 921), was the younger brother of Spytihnev I.

By his wife Drahomira, Vratislaus had two sons, Wenceslaus and Boleslaus, and a daughter, Strezislava the Pretty. The Chronicle of Fulda reports that in 900 the Bavarians attacked Moravia in alliance with the Bohemians. Vratislaus died (possibly in 919, although 921 is more often conjectured) in battle against the Magyars.

His wife: Drahomíra the Arrogant (died after 935) was a Bohemian princess, wife of Vratislav I. Drahomíra's homeland was around Brandeburg, a castle near present-day Berlin. She was princess of Havolans. She married Vratislav I of Bohemia and gave birth to at least three children: Saint Wenceslas, Boleslaus I and Strezislava. She led her husband to cooperation with her vernaculars, which waged war against Saschen. After her husband's untimely death (921), she and her mother-in-law, Saint Ludmila, divided government above Bohemia. Legends present Ludmila as a tame, pious grandmother, but she was likely much more energetic. Finally, Ludmila runned on Tetín castle, where Drahomíra's slayers, Tunna and Gommmon, murdered her.

When her son, Wenceslas, came to power, he sent his mother into exile in Budec. He later called her back. Wenceslas was one of the apples of discord between them. Drahomíra had raised her younger son, Boleslaus, whereas Ludmila did the same for her eldest grandchild, Wenceslas.

Vratislaus II or Wratislaus II (Czech: Vratislav II) (died 14 January 1092), the son of Bretislaus I and Judith, daughter of Henry of Schweinfurt, was the first King of Bohemia from 15 June 1085. The royal title was a grant, however, from the Holy Roman Emperor and was not hereditary. Before being raised to kingship, he had ruled Bohemia as duke since 1061. He was one of the greatest of medieval Czech rulers.

On his father's death in 1055, Vratislaus became duke of Olomouc. He argued with his brother Spytihnev II and was exiled to Hungary. Vratislaus regained his Moravian ducal throne with Hungarian assistance and eventually reconciled with his brtoher and succeed him in the dukeship of all the lands of the Bohemian Crown.

Vratislaus died of a hunting wound on January 14, 1092, after a reign of thiry years.

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vratislav_II