With writing came laws and with laws came cohesive government.

After Vladimir & Theodosius -- Studite Rule -- a system of inheritance was established called Votchina.

This is similar to modern laws regarding inheritance.

Why was it needed in Rus?

Remember the Rota system? When Vladimir died, Boris (eldest), Gleb

and Sviatapolk inherited his wealth. Boris (king of Rostov) would take the

throne in Kiev Gleb (king of Muron) would take the

throne in Rostov Sviatopolk would assume the throne in

Muron

Sviatopolk did not agree with that -- he sent message from Kiev to his brother Boris that he was urgently needed in Kiev.

Sviatopolk had Boris killed (stabbed through the heart after being found alive ) -- Boris had a chance to save himself but uttered a phrase as popular in Russian mythology as the final words of Caesar in the western world.

"Oh Lord, I shall not raise my hand to my own brother -- forgive him for he know not what he does."

Sviatopolk then called for his brother Gleb to come to Kiev -- he had convinced him their father Vladimir was still alive.

Gleb rushed to the deathbed of his father. Yaroslav (known as The Wise) warned

Gleb about their brother Sviatopolk in Smolensk

Gleb continued on to meet his brother -- to pray for his brother.

Gleb was killed a few miles outside of Kiev by those loyal to Sviatopolk

Sviatopolk seized Kiev and took total control of Kievan Rus

For murdering his brothers Boris & Gleb he was referred to as 'the damned'

The people never respected him -- he had to rule with an iron fist

He ruled for only 3.5 years -- 1015-1019

Yaroslav, angry that his older brother had killed his other brothers Boris & Gleb, raised an army with help of the veches of Novgorod, Smolensk, Rostov and Kiev.

He marched on Kiev in 1018 AD to take out Sviatopolk.

By 1019 Sviatopolk was proposing a truce -- hey, we can both rule together!

Yaroslav knew better and told Sviatopolk the only way this would end was with his death.

In spring of 1019 Sviatopolk had to flee Kiev as Yaroslav was closing in...

While fleeing to what is modern day Poland, Sviatopolk was killed (unclear).

This began the reign of Yaroslav who was thusly given the name Yaroslav the Wise

He ruled Kievan Russia and brought it to its peak power and influence -- often called the Golden Age of Kievan Rus.

He defeated all neighboring tribes expanding the borders and providing peace to Kievan Rus for over a century.

European powers sought marriage alliances with his family (remember Vladimir's grandkids?)

Through the help of writing -- the schools setup by his father and the aid of the Orthodox Church (Theodosius), Yaroslav setup the first Russian law codes (Russkaya Pravda -- 1st version)

Yaroslav the Wise setup votchina -- with throne progression patterns to stop civil war... but...

Upon the death of Yaroslav, Iziaslav was set to take his throne -- remember, votchina and succession.

As Iziaslav was set to be crowned his younger brothers -- Svjatoslav and Vsevolod -- exiled their brother to Rome and split the throne.

Theodosius by this time had become famous throughout all of Western Europe. The brothers invited him to dine with them and pronounce them the rightful kings of Kiev.

"We shall not come to Beelzebub’s table and partake of the food full of blood and murder."

Theodosius actively campaigned against the two brothers.

In his sermons. On street corners. In public and private conversation.

He linked them to Cain & Abel and Sviatopolk

He wrote an open letter to the two brothers, read in churches throughout Kiev...

Theodosius accused the two brothers of disrespecting their father, Yaroslav, and of being unjust rulers.

A quote from the letter “the voice of your brother’s blood cries out against you to God, just as Abel’s did against Cain.”

Rumors began to circle that Theodosius would be imprisoned or killed.

With the help of Theodosius (and the Pope and the Germans) Iziaslav regained his throne.

His two brothers Svjatoslav and Vsevolod were exiled.

The Pope -- answering a request from Theodosius -- sent Iziaslav a crown and gave him the title 'King of Rus.'

Once again we have a change in Rus ushered in by St. Theodosius.

While Grand Princes envisioned wide sweeping changes in the social and political structure of Rus, Theodosius was needed to accomplish them.

First writing and his importation of the Studite Rule.

Now, Theodosius helped put an end to the violence the Rota system had brought upon Rus and helped establish votchina.

Too bad there was only 90 years left for Kievan Rus -- the Mongols are coming soon.