Anna Porphyrogenita | |
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Grand Princess consort of Kyiv | |
Tenure | 989 – c. 1011 |
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Born | 13 March 963 Constantinople, Purple chamber of Palace, Byzantine Empire (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey) |
Died | c. 1011 (aged approx. 48) Kyiv, Grand Principality of Kyiv (modern-day Ukraine) |
Spouse | Volodymyr I of Kyiv |
Issue | Yaroslav the Wise and Theofana |
House | Macedon |
Father | Romanos II |
Mother | Theophano |
Anna Porphyrogenita (Medieval Greek: Ἄννα Πορφυρογεννήτη, romanized: Anna Porphyrogennētē, Russian: Анна Византийская, Ukrainian: Анна Порфірогенета; 13 March 963 – 1011)[1] was a Grand Princess consort of Kyiv; she was married to Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great.[2]
Anna was the daughter of Byzantine Emperor Romanos II and the Empress Theophano. She was also the sister of Emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII. Anna was a Porphyrogenita, a legitimate daughter born in the special purple chamber of the Byzantine Emperor's Palace. Anna's hand was considered such a prize that some theorize that Volodymyr became Christian just to marry her.[3]
Anna did not wish to marry Volodymyr and expressed deep distress on her way to her wedding. Volodymyr was impressed by Byzantine religious practices; this factor, along with his marriage to Anna, led to his decision to convert to Eastern Christianity. Due to these two factors, he also began Christianizing his kingdom. By marriage to Grand Prince Volodymyr, Anna became Grand Princess of Kyiv, but in practice, she was referred to as Queen or Czarina, probably as a sign of her membership of the Imperial Byzantine House. Anna participated actively in the Christianization of Rus: she acted as the religious adviser of Volodymyr and founded a few convents and churches herself. It is not known whether she was the biological mother of any of Volodymyr's children, although some scholars have pointed to evidence that she and Volodymyr may have had as many as three children together.[4] French historian, Jean-Pierre Arrignon argues that Yaroslav the Wise was in fact Anna's son, as this would explain his interference in Byzantine affairs in 1043.[5] This view is corroborated by the study of Yaroslav's remains carried out in 1939–1940, which would place him amongst Volodymyr's youngest children (with 986 as his estimated date of birth).[6] Furthermore, Yaroslav's maternity by Rogneda of Polotsk has been questioned since Mykola Kostomarov in the 19th century.[7][8][9]
Russian royalty | ||
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Vacant Title last held by UnconfirmedLast known consort: Malfrida |
Grand Princess consort of Kiev 988–1011 |
Vacant Title next held by UnconfirmedNext known: Ingegerd Olofsdotter |
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