VLADIMIR. The name of several Russian princes.—\ i.mumin I.. the Great or the Saint, the first Christian sovereign of Russia, ruled from 980 to 1015. The facts of his life must be gleaned from the sagas. and are subject to doubt. 'lie account generally accepted is as follows: After the death of his brothers lie became ruler of all Russia. and by conquest he increased his territory very greatly. Russia at this time was an ill compacted empire: the various Slavic tribes which dwelt within its boundaries acknowledged the sovereignty of the Russian princes solely by the payment of tribute, and that only when the princes .were powerful enough to enforce it. Vladimir sought to increase the central authority. Nlany of his subjects were Greek Christians, his mother, Olga, had become one, and he wished to he allied with the Byzantine im perial family, and for these and other reasons resolved to adopt t :reek Christianity. Ile first made an attack upon the Byzantine Empire. then sent an embassy to Constantinople, promising peace and his conversion, in exebange for the hand of Anna, the sister of Constantine IN., threatening war in ease of refusal. Il is demands were gladly complied with, and after his mar riage and bap( ism :it Kherson in 988, he returned to Kiev. (lest royed all his idols, and commanded Ids subjects to be limit ized. Churches ware built, schools established, capital punishment was sup I'd by and excessive lenity shown to all criminals. He died July 15, 1015. The Russian Church has decreed hint the epithets of 'saint' and 'equal of the Apostles.' Fhe Order of Vladi mir was founded in his honor by Catharine II.
in 1782, and the University of Kiev was also named for him.—Vt.mumin 11. (10.53-1125), surnamed MoxomAcitt s. the great-grandson of the preceding, was Grand Prince of Kiev from 1113 to 1125. In his youth he led a band of auxiliaries to join Boleslas 11. of Poland in the wars with Bohemia, gaining such renown that on his return he was ranked at the head of Russian warriors, Vladimir's father succeeded to the Grand Principality of Kiev (1078), and Vladimir wrested from their lawful possessors Smolensk, Tchernig,ov, and Novgorod; though sonie years afterwards his cousin Oleg. the dis possessed Prince of Tehernigov, with the aid of the Polovtzes (a Turkic nation which was at that time the terror of the Russians). re covered his dominion. Vladimir, haying subse quently routed the Polovtzes in several engage ments, became so popular that in 1113 he was chosen Grand Prince of Kiev, and for twelve years lie displayed his eminent qualities as a ruler and a warrior. Most of Vladimir's fame, however, rests on his writings. which present an interesting picture of the internal life of Russia at the beginning of the twelfth century. Vladi mir's mother was a daughter of the Byzan tine Emperor. Constantine Monomachus; and Alexis Comnenus, who wished to be on good terms with his powerful northern neighbor, is said to have sent him the crown, sceptre. and sword of his grandfather. which are still shown as such. and which are employed in the coro nation of the Czar. Consult Ramband, History of Russia, vol. i. (Boston. 188(1).