Yaroslav The Wise

3D Model

Yaroslav the Wise [Jaroslav Volodymyrovyč ‘Mudryj’], b 978, d 20 February 1054 in Kyiv. Grand prince of Kyiv from 1019; son of Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great and Princess Rohnida of Polatsk; half-brother of Sviatopolk I, Mstyslav Volodymyrovych, and Saints Borys and Hlib; father of seven princes, including Iziaslav Yaroslavych, Sviatoslav II Yaroslavych, and Vsevolod Yaroslavych. During his father’s reign Yaroslav governed the lands of Rostov (from ca 988) and Novgorod the Great (from 1010). While ruling Novgorod, which became his main power base, he rebelled against his father by refusing to pay the yearly tribute of 2,000 silver hryvni (see Hryvnia) to Kyiv. His father died in 1015 while preparing an expedition to subdue Novgorod, and after his death Yaroslav waged war against his brother Sviatopolk I for the Kyivan throne. He defeated Sviatopolk and his Pecheneg allies (see Pechenegs) at the Battle of Liubech in 1015 and assumed the title of grand prince .