Sviatoslav II of Kiev

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Sviatoslav Yaroslavich (1027 – December 27, 1076) was the Prince (Kniaz) of Chernigov from 1054 to 1073 and Grand Prince (Velikiy Knyaz) of Kiev from 1073 until his death. A son of Yaroslav I the Wise, he was a founder of Chernigov princely line and is sometimes referred to as Sviatoslav of Chernigov.

Upon his father's death in 1054, Sviatoslav joined his brothers Vsevolod and Iziaslav in forming a kind of a princely triumvirate that oversaw the affairs of Kievan Rus' until 1072. In 1067, they defeated Vseslav of Polotsk, on the Nemiga river and took him prisoner. A year later, the brothers were smashed by the Polovtsi on the Alta River. After a while, Sviatoslav returned to defeat these steppe nomads with a small force at the town of Snov, thus enhancing his prestige among the populace. The second part of the first Russian legal code Russkaya Pravda is assigned to the brothers.

Sviatoslav's first wife was named Kilikia, a lady of unknown origin, but possibly a princess from the Caucasus. Their sons were Oleg, Gleb, Roman, and David. In 1072 Sviatoslav married Oda, daughter of a certain "Count Lippold", and the sister of Burkhard, provost of Trier. Oda's grand-uncles were Pope Leo IX and Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor.

In 1073, the triumvirate broke up, when Sviatoslav, supported by his younger brother Vsevolod, dethroned and replaced his older brother Iziaslav. Three years later, Russian scribes compiled the so-called Izbornik Sviatoslava at his request. One of the oldest relics of the Old East Slavic language, the book is a compilation of articles on grammar, logic, poetics, church, sermons, riddles, and parables. One of the miniatures represents Sviatoslav himself, standing with his second wife Oda and sons.

Sviatoslav's son Oleg of Chernigov had a posterity which continues in male line to the present day. His son by Oda, Yaroslav, founded the great dynasty of Riazan, and the Seljuk Sultan Kilij Arslan II claimed to descend from one of Sviatoslav's daughters.

Preceded by: Iziaslav I

Prince of Kiev and Chernigov 1054–1076

Succeeded by: Vsevolod I