Vladimir the Great
d. 1015
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About
Vladimir the Great was Grand Prince of Kiev and the man who made the Rus Christian. He is said to have sent envoys to compare religions and to have chosen Byzantine Christianity after they reported that in Constantinople they did not know whether they were in heaven or on earth. He was canonised. His mother Malusha was his father's housekeeper, so his own descent runs through an illegitimacy that troubled nobody at the time and troubles nothing here.
Research notes
✓ DOCUMENTED (web-confirmed 25 Jul 2026): VLADIMIR I 'THE GREAT' / ST VLADIMIR, GRAND PRINCE OF KIEV (c.958-1015); CHRISTIANISER OF THE RUS - accepted Byzantine Christianity c.988 and converted his realm; canonised. Son of Sviatoslav I; his mother was Malusha, the princess Olga's housekeeper (illegitimacy no bar to descent - cf. the ruling on Robert of Gloucester [[damery-lane-join]]). Father of Yaroslav the Wise (our line). Direct ancestor. Added 25 Jul 2026.