Syvatoslav I Igoryevich of Kiev
- Born: Abt 942
- Marriage: Matuscha
- Died: 972 about age 30
 General Notes:
Born: Cir 942
Marriage: Matuscha
Died: 972 at age 30
General Notes:
Med sin tjenerinne, Matuscha [Malysha], hadde han sønnen Vladimir. Da Olgas sønn Svyatoslav nådde voksen alder, overtok han makten. I navnet var han slaver, men i levesett viking. Han var motstander av den nye tro, og han levde helst sammen med sin stab av krigere, "druzjina", som under hans ledelse foretok krigsekspedisjoner i mange retninger. Han gjorde slutt på Khazar-riket mellom Volga og Don, og han besatte en stripe land ved østkysten av Svartehavet. Bysants bønn om hjelp i krigen mot bulgarerne åpnet vei for ham til Donau. I nærheten av elven ville han gjerne grunnlegge sin hovedstad. Han herjet ikke bare Bulgaria, men plyndret også hensynsløst sine alliertes områder på Balkan, helt til keiser Johannes Tzimiskes beseiret ham og tvang ham til å trekke seg tilbake. I 972 falt han under et forsøk på å fordrive petsjenegerne som gjorde handelsveiene utrygge. _______________________________ Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev (c.945 - 972) reigned as a Varangian prince of Kie, transferring his capital to Pereyaslavets in 969. His mother Olga of Kiev ruled as regent until his majority (c.963). Until his death in 972 Sviatoslav rejected the Christianity embraced by Olga. He was known as a warrior Prince and spent most of his reign campaigning against nearby tribes. During his reign, he created an empire that stretched from the Volga to the Danube. By 965 he had defeated the Volga Bulgars and the Khazars, thus bringing under Kievan control the entire area of the Volga River. Then, as an ally of the Byzantine Empire, which was at war with the Bulgars, Sviatoslav defeated the Bulgars of the Danube (968) and further extended Kievan control in the Balkans. He was forced to give up the Balkan lands (971), however, in a war with the Byzantine Emperor John I. His unorthodox appearance was noted by the Byzantines, who described him as having shaved one side of his head, and having a single large gold earring. He divided his territories among his sons Yaropolk and Oleg, and the illegitimate Vladimir. Sviatoslav was killed in battle with the Pechenegs in 972.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: Grand Prince of Kiev, 945. His mother was regent until about 962.
Svyatoslav married Matuscha.
Syvatoslav married Matuscha.
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