Sviatopolk I (jul 15, 980 – jan 1, 1019)

Description:

Son of Vladimir the Great. Brothers to Vysheslav, Yaroslav I, Boris & Gleb
Prince of Turov

Married the daughter of Polish king Boleslaw the Brave. His father uncovered a conspiracy of Sviatopolk to take the throne, and threw him and his wife in prison. When Vlad died, he was released and took the throne with no resistance. In his first year, he organized the murders of 3 of his brothers.

First his brother Boris, who was south at war was killed in his tent. Then Gleb, who was summoned to Kiev was killed. Then his brother Svyatoslav fled the capital hearing of the murders, and Sviatpolk rode in force and killed him in battle.

From 1016-1019 was in civil war with his brother Yaroslav of Novgorod. Yaroslav routed Sviatopolk from Kiev for over a year around 1017, but Sviatopolk returned with a Polish army to retake Kiev. After victory he unfairly broke his polish alliance. Left undefended, Yaroslav took Kiev in 1019, and Sviatopolk fled and died soon after.

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