2.  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?

3.  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

4.  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."

5.  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

6.  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

7.  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.

8.  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

9.  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...

10.  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.

11.  "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

12.  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.

13.  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.'

14.  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.