Page:Conversion of St Vladimir.pdf/20



Although the author of the original poem has omitted to write any preface or make any historical reference in his epic, the translator does not find it amiss to add a short biography of its principal character.

Vladimir was born in 956 A. D. and was the youngest son of Sviatoslav, Grand Duke of Kiev, and one of his bondwomen. Upon the death of his father he received as an endowment one of the provinces. Not content with his share of the heritage he plotted against his two elder brothers, the legitimate sons and heirs of the Grand Duke. Oleg and Yaropolk were slain treacherously; Vladimir took over all their estates and possessions and started out to conquer other provinces.

On one of his marauding expeditions he encountered Regwald, Prince of Polotsk, and demanded his daughter as wife. The proud princess refusing to give her hand in betrothal to the son of a mistress, Vladimir killed her father and took his domains—as well as the princess, by force. He thus warred against all the minor principalities, leaving a trail of plunder, pillage, murder and rape behind, stopping at nothing to achieve his ends. In this manner he became the absolute ruler of nearly the entire vast territory of Russia. He had wives in many cities and kept hundreds of concubines in all parts of his possessions. When not engaged in warfare he passed his time in feasting, debauchery and the chase. To these recreations he added that of slaughtering missionaries as offerings and sacrifices upon the altars of his pagan gods.

In the course of his empire’s expansion he discovered some unrest among his subjects and found a great deal of dissatisfaction with paganism. The efforts of the missionaries were taking seed. Cults and creeds were making inroads upon the religious life of the serfs.