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0850± Scandinavia ⪢⪢
During the 9th century, Scandinavia in northern Europe is populated by, among others, the Vikings, excellent sailors who explore in all directions to plunder but also to develope trade routes. #bookmark
5116#5285
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5285
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0882 ⪢⪢
In 882, his heir Oleg leaves with an army and conquers Smolensk and Kiev. He then founds the Kievan Rus' of which he becomes prince. The new state includes mainly Slavic and Finnish tribes.
5116#6561
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6561
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0964 ⪢⪢
In 964, Sviatoslav launches a military expedition against it. After subduing the Volga Bulgaria, he destroys Atil, the Khazar capital, and then confirms his domination by subduing the Bulgarian Empire in the Balkans.
→ subdue
5116#6620
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CHILDREN
6620
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0972 ⪢⪢
But the Khazar Kingdon, weakened, no longer holds back the nomadic tribes of Central Asia which come to settle in the South of the Kievan Rus'. Among them are the Pechenegs who in 972 kills Sviatoslav during an ambush.
5116#6877
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CHILDREN
6877
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0976 ⪢⪢
The Kievan Rus' is divided between the 3 heir sons and the fratricidal war breaks out. (0977) Vladimir, the prince of Novgorad, flees to Scandinavia where he forms an army of mercenaries.
→ mercenary
5116#7316
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7316
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0978 ⪢⪢
He returns, seizes Kiev, kills his brother and takes the title of Grand Prince of Kiev.
In the South, the Byzantine Empire already at war with Bulgarians undergoes an insurrection. The emperor asks Vladimir for help and receives 6,000 warriors.
5116#11852
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CHILDREN
11852
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0988 ⪢⪢
In exchange, Vladimir asks for the hand of the emperor's sister. But to get married, he first has to break with paganism and convert to Christianity.
#bookmark
5116#11854
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CHILDREN
11854
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0989 ⪢⪢
After his baptism and wedding, Christianity of the Byzantine Rite becomes the official religion of the Kievan Rus', under the authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople.
5116#11856
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CHILDREN
11856
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1054 ⪢⪢
In 1054, after tensions between Rome and Constantinople, Christianity is split between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. This further widens the gap between the Slaves of the Kievan Rus' and the Polish Slaves who had converted to Catholicism.
5116#11896
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CHILDREN
11896
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1054 ⪢⪢
Yaroslav, who has many sons, fears a new fratricidal war after his death. He then decides to divide the Kievan Rus' into several principalities that he shares between his sons in whom he has the most confidence.
5116#11870
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CHILDREN
11870
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1054 ⪢⪢
The eldest son gets the most important title of Grand Prince of Kiev. After his death, the cadet will take his place and the princes will change thrones.
5116#12941
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CHILDREN
12941
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1054 ⪢⪢
This new rotating power-sharing agreement will be the root cause for several generations' numerous internal wars that will exhaust and divide the Kievan Rus'.
#will_would
5116#12942
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CHILDREN
12942
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1200 ⪢⪢
In Western Europe, the Catholic religion is more and more on the offensive. The Pope launches the Baltic crusades intended to convert the pagan peoples around the Baltic sea. Germans arrive in Riga and begin their conquest.
5116#17647
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CHILDREN
17647
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1202 ⪢⪢
At the same time, a fourth crusade, initially sent to the Holly Land, is diverted to Constantinople. The city is besieged and then pillaged.
The Byzantine Empire finds itself divided and Kievan Russia loses an important ally.
→ divert, besiege, pillage
5116#17650
SIBLINGS
CHILDREN
17650
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