Tagi

medieval, russian history, women in history

medieval-women:

Rogneda of Polotsk

Princess Consort of Rus

Born 962 – Died 1002

Claim to Fame: Fought back against a tyrannical husband.

It is speculated that Rogneda belonged to a royal Norwegian family that settled in Polotsk, Belarus.

Rogneda was betrothed to Yaropolk I of Kiev, half brother of Vladimir the Great. Vladimir wanted Rogneda for himself but she flatly rejected him in favour of Yaropolk. Vladimir was so furious that he invaded Polotsk and forced Rogneda to marry him. Having raped Rogneda in the presence of her parents, he had them murdered, along with two of her brothers.

Rogneda bore Vladimir six children but, understandably, it was not a happy marriage. Rogneda plotted with her son, Izyaslav, to murder Vladimir (first picture above). Vladimir also tried to kill her but Izyaslav intervened on his mother’s behalf (second picture above).

Eventually, Rogneda and Izyaslav were sent to govern Polotsk. Her ancestors continued to rule there until the Mongol invasion.

After Vladimir converted to Christianity and took Anna Porphyrogenita as his wife, he had to divorce all his previous wives, including Rogneda. Rogneda entered a convent and Vladimir subsequently became a saint.