Vladimir the Russian Viking

the long version

Endowed with exceptional talents as a warrior, diplomat, and ruler--not to mention a temperament that earned him the epithet fornicator immensus in the chronicles of his contemporaries--Vladimir of Russia (960?-1015) began his career at the age of twelve as Prince of Novgorod, rising to be known as "The Red Sun." Volkoff tells Vladimir's story with gusto and humor, describing the years of conquest, violence, polygamy, and pagan ritual as the remarkable prince seized his brother's throne, expanding his rule over the whole of Russia. A shrewd, hospitable, and progressive ruler, he adopted the Christian faith from the Greeks, bringing Christianity to Russia. A "second Constantine," he was later canonized as a saint. This is the first complete biography, based on Russian, Greek, German, Arabic, and Icelandic sources. - Publisher.