Yaroslav The Wise - Kyiv, Ukraine

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Yaroslav the Wise, born in 978 and died on 20 February 1054 in Kyiv, was the Grand Prince of Kyiv from 1019. He was the son of Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great and Princess Rohnida of Polatsk, half-brother to Sviatopolk I, Mstyslav Volodymyrovych, and Saints Borys and Hlib, and father to seven princes, including Iziaslav Yaroslavych, Sviatoslav II Yaroslavych, and Vsevolod Yaroslavych.

During his father’s reign, Yaroslav governed the lands of Rostov (from around 988) and Novgorod the Great (from 1010). While ruling Novgorod, which became his primary power base, he rebelled against his father by refusing to pay the annual tribute of 2,000 silver hryvni (see Hryvnia) to Kyiv. His father passed away in 1015 while preparing an expedition to subdue Novgorod, and following 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.