What's in a Prague street name

Vladimírova was built in 1898.

Vladimir (or Volodymyr) was born in 958, the illegitimate son of Sviatoslav (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/02/10/prague-4-day-30-svatoslavova/) and his servant, Malusha.

In 970, Sviatoslav made his legitimate son, Yaropolk (pictured), ruler of Kyiv; Vladimir was put in charge of Novgorod.

Sviatoslav was murdered two years later, and war broke out between Yaropolk and the third brother, Oleg (who Vladimir supported).

Vladimir took Polotsk by force – largely because its prince had refused to allow him to marry his daughter, Rogneda, and so Vladimir decided that he would have to take her by force.

He also captured Smolensk, and, in 978, he killed Yaropolk and became Prince (knyaz) of Kyiv.

During his reign, Vladimir extended his territories beyond what his father had ruled; he also maintained his father’s pagan beliefs, at least at first.

Stories of Vladimir’s conversion to Christianity vary (don’t they always?). One has it that, in 988, Vladimir besieged Chersonesus (located where Sevastopol is now), and requested the hand of Anna, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor, Basil II. In order to get her as his wife, he agreed to be baptised.

Returning to Kyiv, Vladimir destroyed pagan monuments and had churches built. He also founded the city of Belgorod in 991.

Despite his taste for war and conquering, Vladimir lived in relative peace with his neighbours for the last years of his life. He died, probably of natural causes, in 1015.

St Volodymyr’s Cathedral, in Kyiv, is dedicated to him (pictures taken in 2013. I love that city).

Слава Україні.