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he passed on to monotheism and adopted
Christianity of the orthodox (Byzantine) type,
which was based on Caesaropapism where
secular power dominated the church unlike it
was in Rome.
- the adoption of Christianity favoured the
centralization of the country, strengthened the
authority and power of the prince (as the
power granted by God), gave push to the
development of culture, spread of written
language, appearance of the first schools, etc.;
enhanced the significance of Kyivan Rus on
the international arena.
1015-1019 The struggle for Kyiv throne by Volodymyr’s
sons in the course of which, Sviatopolk killed
his brothers Borys, Hlib and Sviatoslav; he
was called the Accursed Prince. Yaroslav
with the support of the Varangian druzhiny
(personal guards) drove Sviatopolk away and
he escaped to Poland. In 1018 Sviatopolk
with the support of the Polish king Boleslav I
(the Brave) captured Kyiv again. In the year
of 1019 the crucial battle took place and was
won by Yaroslav.
1019-1054 The rule of Yaroslav I the Wise:
1) first he had to struggle to rise to the throne
with his brother Mstyslav. In 1024 the battle
near the city of Lystven where Mstyslav
inflicted a heavy defeat on Yaroslav. He let
Yaroslav rule in Kyiv and ruled in Chernihiv
himself. This dualistic reign lasted till
Mstyslav’s death in 1036. The brothers solved
state issues and carried out campaigns

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