Byzantium and Rus’ in the Last Quarter of the 10th Century.

The lecture will cover Rus’-Byzantine relations in the last quarter of the 10th century. This was a period marked by significant changes in the foreign policies of both states. Special attention will be given to the internal political situation in Byzantium (the apostasies of 976-989) and its influence on the Empire's foreign policy. Importantly, the date of the Battle of Chrysopolis between the forces of Basil II and Bardas Phokas, in March 989, will be considered as the terminus ante quem for the formation of the Rus’-Byzantine alliance. The subsequent Korsun Campaign by Prince Volodymyr was driven by the desire to control the Route from the Varangians to the Greeks, to solidify the rights and privileges of the Rus elite in trade and diplomatic relations with Byzantium. The chronology of the Korsun Campaign encompasses the duration of the siege of Cherson from June 987 to March 988. We will also discuss the content and circumstances of the Rus’-Byzantine agreement, dated in the spring-summer of 988. An important aspect of this agreement and Rus’-Byzantine relations as a whole was the marriage of Princess Anna to Vladimir, which held significant diplomatic and political importance. Part of the lecture will address questions regarding the baptism and marriage of the prince in Cherson on the Great Agora, with the date of baptism either on Easter or Pentecost of 988. An important consequence of Rus’-Byzantine relations in the last quarter of the 10th century was the baptism of the people of Kyiv (between July 20 and August 1, 988) as well as the establishment of a metropolis in Rus’. The metropolis was created with delay, which is linked to the ecclesiastical policy of Basil II and the vacancy of the Patriarchal See in Constantinople.

Speaker

ISA Visiting Fellow - Serhii Sorochan

V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine

Visit Prof. Sorochan's web page

PhD students and researchers who are interested may request an attendance certificate. 
The delivery of the attendance certificate requires the attendance of at least 70% of the lecture.