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Volodymyr Svyatoslavich (Old Russian: Володымѣр Свѧтославичъ), also known as Vladimir the Great, Vladimir the Holy; in the sagas - Voldemar, King of Holmgard (960 - July 15, 1015) - a Rus' prince from the Rurik dynasty. Grand Prince of Kiev (979–1015), ruler and baptizer of Kievan Rus. Prince of Novgorod (970–988). The youngest son, illegitimate son of the Kiev prince Svyatoslav Igorevich from his mistress-chaplain Malusha. Grandson of the Kiev princess Olga, father of the Kiev prince Yaroslav the Wise. Younger brother and successor of the Kiev prince Yaropolk Svyatoslavich. Seized the Kiev throne after a civil war with his brother (977–979). In 988, he was baptized under the name Basil, began the Christianization of Kyivan Rus, establishing the Kyiv Metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. He annexed the lands of the Vyatichi (982), Yatvyags (983), Radimichs (984), and White Croats (981) to his state. He fought against the Bulgars (985), Greeks (988), Armenians (1000), Poles (1001), and Pechenegs (996, 1015). He expanded the borders of the capital Kyiv, built the Tithe Church (996). He was the first of the Rus' princes to begin minting his own coinage. He founded fortified cities - Volodymyr (988), Pereyaslav (992), and others. He used a personal symbol, the "trident," which became the coat of arms of Ukraine in the 20th century.