Russian Vladimir Svyatoslavich
born 956, Kiev, Kievan Rus
died July 15, 1015, Berestova, near Kiev; feast day July 15
Grand prince of Kiev (980–1015).
He became prince of Novgorod in 970, and after his father's death in 972 he seized Kiev from his brother. He consolidated the Kievan realm from Ukraine to the Baltic Sea by 980 and fortified its frontiers against Baltic and Eastern nomads. Originally a pagan, Vladimir made a pact (с 987) with Basil II , providing him with military aid in exchange for marriage to Basil's sister and promising to convert to Christianity. He adopted the Byzantine rite for his realm, forcibly converting Kiev and Novgorod and ordering pagan idols cast into the Dnieper River.