Svyatopolk I

Sviatopolk the Accursed
Grand Prince of Rus'
Sviatopolk the Accursed by V. Sheremetiev, 1867
Reign	1015–1019
Predecessor	Vladimir the Great
Successor	Yaroslav the Wise
Prince of Turov
Reign	988–1019
Born	~980
Died	1019 [aged ~39]
Spouse	a daughter of Bolesław I Chrobry
Full name Sviatopolk Vladimirovich
Dynasty	Rurikid
Father	Yaropolk I
Sign

Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich (Sviatopolk the Accursed, the Accursed Prince) (Old East Slavic: Свѧтоплъкъ, Svętopŭlkŭ; Ukrainian: Святополк Окаянний; Russian: Святополк Окаянный, Svyatopolk) (c. 980 – 1019) was the Kniaz' (Prince) of Turov (988–1015) and Velikii Kniaz (the Grand Prince) of Kiev (1015–1019) whose paternity and guilt in the murder of brothers are disputed.

Sviatopolk's mother was a Greek nun captured by Sviatoslav I in Bulgaria and married to his lawful heir Yaropolk I, who became Prince of Rus in 972. In 980, Yaropolk's brother Vladimir had him murdered, and the new sovereign raped his predecessor's wife, who soon gave birth to a child. Thus, Sviatopolk was probably the eldest of Vladimir's sons, although the issue of his parentage has been questioned.

When Sviatopolk was eight years old, Vladimir put him in charge of Turov and later arranged his marriage with the daughter of the Polish king Bolesław I Chrobry of Poland. The young princess came to Turov together with Reinbern, the Bishop of Kołobrzeg. Dissatisfied with his father and encouraged by his own wife and Reinbern, Sviatopolk began preparations for war against Vladimir, probably counting on support from his father-in-law. Vladimir soon discovered Sviatopolk's intentions, however, and threw him, his wife and Reinbern in prison. Reinbern died in prison.