Sviatopolk I of Kiev

Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich (Sviatopolk the Accursed, the Accursed Prince; ; ; ; c. 980 – 1019) was the Kniaz' (Turov) of Turov (988–1015) and Velykyi Kniaz or Grand Prince of Kiev (1015–1019) whose guilt in the murder of his brothers are disputed. The Svyatopolk-Mirsky family of Rurikid origin attribute their descent from Sviatopolk, although this claim may be dubious. Early life Sviatopolk's mother was a Greek nun captured by Sviatoslav I in Bulgaria and married to his lawful heir Yaropolk I, who became Prince of Rus in 972. In 980, Yaropolk's brother Vladimir had him murdered, and the new sovereign married his predecessor's wife, who gave birth to a child. Thus, Sviatopolk may have been the eldest of Vladimir's sons, although his parentage has been questioned.