Valdamarr, or Vladimir the Great (c. 958-1015), was a Viking-descended ruler of Kievan Rus, known as a powerful warrior, consolidator of lands (from Ukraine to the Baltic), pagan idolizer (Perun, etc.), and ultimately the Christianizer of Rus, establishing Orthodox Christianity and building churches after a strategic marriage to a Byzantine princess. He was a complex figure, initially a pagan warlord with many wives, who became a saintly king, known in folklore as "Krasno Solnyshko" (the Fair Sun).

Viking Roots & Rise to Power:
Norse Heritage: He was of Viking (Varangian) descent, son of Sviatoslav I, and his grandmother was St. Olga, who had also converted to Christianity.
Warrior & Conqueror: Vladimir gained power by conquering rivals, expanding territories, and leading military campaigns against neighbors like the Poles and Volga Bulgars.

Pagan Reign:
Idol Worship: He erected wooden idols in Kiev to gods like Perun (thunder/war) and Stribog (wind) to solidify pagan beliefs.
Numerous Wives: He had many wives and concubines, with accounts suggesting hundreds, including Rogneda of Polotsk.

Conversion & Christianization:
Byzantine Alliance: In 988, he famously converted to Byzantine Orthodox Christianity after a deal with the Byzantine Emperor, marrying Emperor Basil II's sister, Anna, and receiving Byzantine cultural influence.
Mass Baptism: Upon returning, he ordered the mass baptism of Kiev's residents in the Dnieper River, destroying pagan idols and building churches.
Legacy: Founder of Christian Rus': His conversion ushered in the Christian era for Kievan Rus', shaping Eastern Slavic culture.
"The Great" & "Fair Sun": He became a legendary figure, known as St. Vladimir, revered in both Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches, and celebrated in folk tales as "Krasno Solnyshko".