Rogvolod
Rogvolod (Russian: Рогволод, romanized: Rogvolod; Belarusian: Рагвалод, romanized: Rahvałod) (c. 920 – 978) was first chronicled prince of Polotsk (945–978). In the Russian Primary Chronicle, he is known as Рогъволодъ, probably a slavicized version of the Old Norse name Ragnvald. The name has also been connected with the Russian words рог and володеть, which the formation of the name may have come from.[1] He was a Varangian, unrelated to Vladimir the Great, was established at Polotsk in the mid-10th century, most likely having come from overseas (ie., from Scandinavia or the Southern Baltic).[1][2] According to the Russian Primary Chronicle, Vladimir the Great sought an alliance with him in 980 by marrying his daughter Rogneda, but she refused, insulting his parentage, and married his brother, Yaropolk. In revenge, Vladimir attacked Rogvolod and his family, killing him and his sons, after which he raped Rogneda, and forcibly took her as his bride.[2][3]
| Rogvolod | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Polotsk | |
 Rogvolod, post stamp of Belarus | |
| Reign | 945–978 |
| Predecessor | ? |
| Successor | conquered |
| Born | c. 920 (?) Västergötland, Sweden |
| Died | 978 Polotsk |
| Burial | ? |
| Spouse | ? |
| Issue | son son Rogneda |
| House | ? |
| Father | ? |
| Mother | ? |
References
- Алексеев, Л. В. (1966). Полоцкая земля в IX—XIII вв. : Очерки истории Северной Белоруссии. Москва: Наука. p. 238.
- Janet Martin, Medieval Russia 980-1584 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 1.
- Levin, Eve (1989). Sex and society in the world of the orthodox Slavs, 900-1700. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press. p. 234. ISBN 0-8014-2260-4.
External links