St. Vladimir

By the end of the 10th century, trade with Constinople had become well-established and the basis for the subsequent evolution of Russian civilization. In the 970's there occured a struggle for power which ultimately ended in the accession of Vladimir (980-1015) who celebrated his victory with an orgy of paganism sacrificing 1000 lives in honor of Perun, the thunder god. Later, in a war against the Byzantines he demanded a sister of the Emperor as one of the terms of peace. In rturn, he accepted the religion of Princess Anne. In 989, he imposed the new religion on his people and from this spot threw down the old wooden idol of Perun into the Dnieper below.