c. 910–969
Princess Olha
First woman ruler of Kyivan Rus’
The wife of Prince Ihor, who after his death in 944 ruled Rus’ in place of her young son Sviatoslav. She subdued the Derevlianians, reorganized tribute collection and became the first ruler of Rus’ to accept Christianity.
Key accomplishments
- Ruled Rus’ from 945, as regent for the young Sviatoslav and later during his campaigns
- Abolished the Derevlianian tribal principality (945–946)
- Reorganized tribute collection by founding princely pohosty and stations, administrative centers across the country
- The first ruler of Rus’ to accept Christianity; established peaceful relations with Byzantium
- Around 959 sent an embassy to the German king Otto I
Who she was
Olha was the wife of Prince Ihor of Kyiv and the mother of Sviatoslav Ihorovych. Little is known about her origins: according to the Tale of Bygone Years she came from Pleskov, but historians offer other versions too. She probably married Ihor around 930. At baptism she took the name Olena (Helena).
Her story
In the autumn of 944 the Derevlianians killed Ihor when he tried to collect tribute from them a second time. Olha took the throne of Kyiv and ruled in place of her young son. In 945–946 she crushed the Derevlianians and abolished their tribal principality; the chronicle tells of her revenge in several vivid stories, among them the burning of Iskorosten with the help of birds. Olha then reorganized tribute collection: instead of the dangerous rounds known as poliuddia, she founded princely pohosty and stations, centers through which Kyiv collected taxes and governed its lands.
In relations with Byzantium Olha preferred diplomacy to military campaigns. She visited Constantinople and made peace with Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus. According to the Encyclopedia of the History of Ukraine, she was baptized at that time in the Cathedral of Hagia Sophia; the date of the visit and the place of her baptism are still debated (946, 955 or 957 are suggested, and some historians believe Olha was baptized earlier, in Kyiv). Around 959 she sent an embassy to the German king Otto I; its purpose and outcome are unknown.
Olha was unable to make Christianity the state religion: she was opposed by the pagan nobility led by Sviatoslav. Around 964 she handed power to him but continued to govern Kyiv during his campaigns. Olha died in 969 and was buried according to Christian custom.
Why it matters today
Olha is the first known woman ruler in the history of Rus’. Her administrative reforms strengthened the state, and her personal baptism prepared the way for the choice of her grandson Volodymyr, who baptized Rus’ in 988. The Church venerates Olha as a saint equal to the apostles; she stands on the monument on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv, and the Order of Princess Olha is Ukraine’s state award for women.
