Rogneda of Polotsk

Rogneda
Princess Consort of Rus

Vladimir and Rogneda (1770).
Reign 980–988
Predecessor Unknown wife of Yaropolk I
Successor Anna Porphyrogeneta
Born 962
Died 1002 [aged 40]
Spouse Vladimir the Great (divorced)
Issue Izyaslav of Polotsk
Yaroslav the Wise
Mstislav of Chernigov
Predlava
Premislava
Mstislava
Father Rogvolod

Rogneda of Polotsk (962–1002) is the Slavic name for Ragnhild, whose father Ragnvald (Slavic: Rogvolod) came from Scandinavia and established himself at Polatsk in the mid-10th century.

Life

It has been speculated that Rogneda belonged to the Ynglings royal family of Norway. In or about 980, Vladimir, on learning that she was betrothed to his half-brother Yaropolk I of Kiev, took Polotsk and forced Rogneda to marry him. Having raped Rogneda in the presence of her parents, he ordered them to be killed, along with two of Rogneda's brothers.

Rogneda gave him several children. The four sons were Yaroslav the Wise, Vsevolod, Mstislav of Chernigov, and Izyaslav of Polotsk. She also bore two daughters, one of whom is named by Nestor the Chronicler as Predslava (taken as a concubine of Boleslaus I of Poland, according to Gallus). A later chronicle tells a story, most likely taken from a Norse saga, of Rogneda plotting against Vladimir and asking her elder son, Izyaslav, to kill him. As was the Norse royal custom, she was sent with her elder son to govern the land of her parents, i.e. Polotsk. Izyaslav's line continued to rule Polotsk and the newly found town of Izyaslavl until the Mongol invasion.

After Vladimir converted to Christianity and took Anna Porphyrogeneta as his wife, he had to divorce all his previous wives, including Rogneda. After that, she entered the convent and took the name Anastasia.

Legacy

Around 1825 Kondraty Ryleev wrote a narrative poem entitled Rogneda. This poem became a literary source for her portrayal in the nationalist Russian opera Rogneda by Alexander Serov, which premiered in 1865.

See also

Russian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Unconfirmed
Last known consort: Olga of Kiev
Grand Princess consort of Kiev
980–988
Vacant
Title next held by
Unconfirmed
Next known consort: Malfrida
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