CHAPTER III.
REIGNS OF VLADEMER, YAROSLAF, YSIASLAF AND VSEVOLOD From 973 to 1092.
Flight of Vlademer .-- His Stolen Bride .-- The March Upon Kief .-- Debauchery of Valdemar .-- Zealous Paganism .-- Introduction of Christianity .-- Baptism in the Dnieper .-- Entire Change in the Character of Valdemar .-- His Great Reforms .-- His Death .-- Usurpation of Sviatopolk the Miserable .-- Accession of Yaroslaf .-- His Administration And Death .-- Accession of Ysiaslaf .-- His Strange Reverses .-- His Death .-- Vsevolod Ascends the Throne .-- His Two Flights to Poland .-- Appeals to the Pope .-- Wars, Famine And Pestilence .-- Character of Vsevolod.
Though Vlademer had fled from Russia, it was by no means with the intention of making a peaceful surrender of his realms to his ambitious brother.

For two years he was incessantly employed, upon the shores of the Baltic, the home of his ancestors, in gathering adventurers around his flag, to march upon Novgorod, and chase from thence the lieutenants of Yaropolk.

He at length, at the head of a strong army, triumphantly entered the city.

Half way between Novgorod and Kief, was the city and province of Polotsk.

The governor was a Norman named Rovgolod.