Vladimir of Novgorod
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Vladimir Yaroslavich (1020 – October 4, 1052) reigned as prince of Novgorod from 1036 until his death. He was the eldest son of Yaroslav I of Kiev by Ingigerd, daughter of king Olaf Skötkonung of Sweden.
In 1043, he led the Russian armies against the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX. He predeceased his father by two years and was buried by him in St Sophia Cathedral he had built in Novgorod. His younger brothers Izyaslav I, Svyatoslav II and Vsevolod I all reigned in Kiev.
Vladimir's only son, Rostislav Vladimirovich, was a landless prince who usurped power in Tmutarakan. His descendants were dispossessed by their uncles but gradually managed to establish themselves in Halychina, ruling the land until 1199, when their line went extinct. In order to downplay their claims to Kiev, the records of Vladimir's military campaigns seem to have been obliterated from Kievan chronicles. As a result, medieval historians often confuse him with two more famous namesakes — Vladimir the Great and Vladimir Monomakh.
Vladimir's memory was better preserved in foreign sources. In Norse sagas he frequently figures as Valdemar Holti (that is, "the Nimble"). George Cedrenus noticed Vladimir's arrogance in dealing with the Byzantines.
[edit] Further reading
- Volkoff, Vladimir. Vladimir, the Russian Viking. Overlook Press, 1985.
