Olga of kiev birds

Olga

Princess of Kyiv
Date of Birth:
Country: Russia

Content:
  1. Princess Olga: A Reign of Vengeance and Legacy
  2. Vengeful Acts and Establishment of Order
  3. Progressive Reforms
  4. Conversion to Christianity
  5. Saintly Veneration and Legacy

Princess Olga: A Reign of Vengeance and Legacy

Early Life and Ascension to Power

Olga's origins remain shrouded in mystery.

Olga of kiev biography definition us history Olga, much wiser than her husband, would use the regency to exact vengeance on her husband's murderers, improve revenue collections, strengthen law, convert to Christianity and prepare her son for his eventual inheritance. One of Olga's greatest domestic accomplishments was the establishment of the first internal revenue system in Russia. She continued to govern after Svyatoslav's maturity, as his focus remained solely on military conquests. Realizing that Olga and Vladimir marked the transition between pagan and Christian Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized both of them.

In , Prince Igor of Kiev brought her as his bride, possibly from Pskov or the Bulgarian city of Pliska. She bore the Viking name Helga.

Upon Igor's untimely demise in , Olga assumed the regency as her young son, Svyatoslav, was too young to rule. She continued to govern after Svyatoslav's maturity, as his focus remained solely on military conquests.

Vengeful Acts and Establishment of Order

Olga's reign began with brutal vengeance against the Drevlian tribe for their role in Igor's murder.

She had their ambassadors buried alive and burned others to ashes. By cunningly setting the Drevlian capital of Iskorosten ablaze, she extinguished their threat.

Progressive Reforms

Beyond her vengeful streak, Olga also enacted transformative reforms. She established the first taxation system in Kievan Rus, introducing the concept of "polyudye," or fixed amounts of tribute.

This system extended beyond the Drevlian and Novgorod lands mentioned in the chronicles, shaping the entire economic landscape.

Conversion to Christianity

Olga's most profound act was her conversion to Christianity in or in Constantinople. This pivotal moment laid the foundation for the eventual adoption of Eastern Orthodoxy as the state religion under her grandson, Vladimir the Great.

Saintly Veneration and Legacy

Kiev Rus flourished under Olga's wise and decisive leadership.

Olga of kiev biography definition Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Written Works. After the naive Derevlians paid the tribute, Olga ordered her men to attach sulphur and cloth firebrands to the birds' tails. Olga Constantinovna —

She passed away in , revered as a visionary ruler. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized her as Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles, likening her to the companions of Jesus Christ. Her feast day is celebrated on July 11th, and countless Russian girls bear her name in her honor.

Throughout history, Olga's legacy has inspired and captivated. As a powerful and complex figure, she embodies both the brutality and brilliance of her era, leaving an enduring mark on the political, religious, and economic fabric of Kievan Rus.