Rogneda of Polotsk
Encyclopedia
Rogneda of Polotsk is the Slavic name for Ragnhild, whose father Ragnvald (Slavic: Rogvolod) came from overseas (i.e., from Scandinavia
) and established himself at Polatsk
in the mid-10th century.
It has been speculated that Ragnvald belonged to the Ynglings royal family of Norway
. In or about 980, Vladimir
, on learning that she was betrothed to his half-brother Yaropolk I of Kiev
, took Polotsk and forced Rogneda to marry him. Having raped Rogneda in the presence of her parents, he ordered them to be killed, along with two of Rogneda's brothers.
Rogneda gave him several children. The four sons were Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod, Mstislav of Chernigov
, and Izyaslav of Polotsk
. She also bore two daughters, one of whom is named by Nestor the Chronicler
as Predslava (taken as a concubine of Boleslaus I of Poland, according to Gallus
). A later chronicle tells a story, most likely taken from a Norse saga
, of Rogneda plotting against Vladimir and asking her elder son, Izyaslav, to kill him. As was the Norse royal custom, she was sent with her elder son to govern the land of her parents, i.e. Polotsk. Izyaslav's line continued to rule Polotsk and the newly-found town of Izyaslavl until the Mongol invasion.
After Vladimir converted to Christianity and took Anna Porphyrogeneta
as his wife, he had to divorce all his previous wives, including Rogneda. After that, she entered the convent and took the name Anastasia.
Around 1825 Kondraty Ryleev
wrote a narrative poem entitled Rogneda. This poem became a literary source for her portrayal in the nationalist Russian opera Rogneda
by Alexander Serov
, which premiered in 1865.
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Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
) and established himself at Polatsk
Polatsk
Polotsk , is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina river. It is the center of Polotsk district in Vitsebsk Voblast. Its population is more than 80,000 people...
in the mid-10th century.
It has been speculated that Ragnvald belonged to the Ynglings royal family of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. In or about 980, Vladimir
Vladimir I of Kiev
Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь Old Norse as Valdamarr Sveinaldsson, , Vladimir, , Volodymyr, was a grand prince of Kiev, ruler of Kievan Rus' in .Vladimir's father was the prince Sviatoslav of the Rurik dynasty...
, on learning that she was betrothed to his half-brother Yaropolk I of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, took Polotsk and forced Rogneda to marry him. Having raped Rogneda in the presence of her parents, he ordered them to be killed, along with two of Rogneda's brothers.
Rogneda gave him several children. The four sons were Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod, Mstislav of Chernigov
Mstislav of Chernigov
Mstislav of Chernigov was the earliest attested ruler of Chernigov . He was Vladimir the Great's son, probably by Rogneda of Polotsk, although his exact position in the family has been disputed. It is not clear, for instance, whether Yaroslav the Wise was his younger or elder brother...
, and Izyaslav of Polotsk
Izyaslav of Polotsk
Izyaslav was the son of Vladimir I of Kiev and Rogneda of Polotsk.Following Norse tradition, Izyaslav was sent with his mother to rule her homeland. There is also a legend that Rogneda tried to get Izyaslav to slay his father....
. She also bore two daughters, one of whom is named by Nestor the Chronicler
Nestor the Chronicler
Saint Nestor the Chronicler was the reputed author of the Primary Chronicle, , Life of the Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, Life of the Holy Passion Bearers, Boris and Gleb, and of the so-called Reading.Nestor was a monk of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev from 1073...
as Predslava (taken as a concubine of Boleslaus I of Poland, according to Gallus
Gallus Anonymus
Gallus Anonymus is the name traditionally given to the anonymous author of Gesta principum Polonorum , composed in Latin about 1115....
). A later chronicle tells a story, most likely taken from a Norse saga
Norse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
, of Rogneda plotting against Vladimir and asking her elder son, Izyaslav, to kill him. As was the Norse royal custom, she was sent with her elder son to govern the land of her parents, i.e. Polotsk. Izyaslav's line continued to rule Polotsk and the newly-found town of Izyaslavl until the Mongol invasion.
After Vladimir converted to Christianity and took Anna Porphyrogeneta
Anna Porphyrogeneta
Anna Porphyrogeneta was a Grand Princess consort of Kiev; she was married to Grand Prince Vladimir the Great....
as his wife, he had to divorce all his previous wives, including Rogneda. After that, she entered the convent and took the name Anastasia.
Around 1825 Kondraty Ryleev
Kondraty Fyodorovich Ryleyev
Kondraty Fyodorovich Ryleyev, also spelled Kondraty Feodorovich Ryleev , 1795 - July 25 , 1826) was a Russian poet, publisher, and a leader of the Decembrist Revolt, that attempted to overthrow the Russian monarchy in 1825.-Early life:...
wrote a narrative poem entitled Rogneda. This poem became a literary source for her portrayal in the nationalist Russian opera Rogneda
Rogneda (opera)
Rogneda is an opera in five acts, composed by Alexander Serov during 1863–1865. The scenario, by the composer, was based on the novel Askold's Grave by Mikhail Zagoskin and the poem Rogneda by Kondraty Ryleyev...
by Alexander Serov
Alexander Serov
Alexander Nikolayevich Serov – was a Russian composer and music critic. He and his wife Valentina were the parents of painter Valentin Serov...
, which premiered in 1865.
See also
- Family life and children of Vladimir IFamily life and children of Vladimir IUntil his baptism, Vladimir I of Kiev was described by Thietmar of Merseburg as a great profligate . He had a few hundred concubines in Kiev and in the country residence of Berestovo. He also had official pagan wives, the most famous being Rogneda of Polotsk...
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