Home > Sviatoslav I, Prince of Kiev

He was known as a warrior Prince and spent most of his reign campaigning against nearby tribes. During his reign, he created an empire that stretched from the Volga to the Danube. By 965 he had defeated the Volga Bulgars and the Khazars, thus bringing under Kievan control the entire area of the Volga River. Then, as an ally of the Byzantine Empire, which was at war with the Bulgars, Sviatoslav defeated the Bulgars of the Danube ( 968Events Births Emperor Kazan of Japan Ethelred II of England Romanus Argyrus, later Romanus III of the Eastern Roman Empire. May 14 Leofric, Earl of Mercia Deaths August 25 Edgiva of Kent 968.) and further extended Kievan control in the Balkans. He was forced to give up the Balkan lands ( 971), however, in a war with the Byzantine Emperor John I.

His unorthodox appearance was noted by the Byzantines, who described him as having shaved one side of his head, and having a single large gold earring. He divided his territories among his sons Yaropolk and Oleg, and the illegitimate Vladimir. Sviatoslav was killed in battle with the Pechenegs in 972.