Kievan succession crisis of 1015–1019

Kievan succession crisis of 1015–1019, also known as the Rus' civil war, was a period of internal conflict in Kievan Rus' following the death of Grand Prince Vladimir I in 1015. The struggle for power involved several of his sons: Sviatopolk, Yaroslav, and Boris.

Sviatopolk initially seized the throne but faced opposition from Yaroslav, who allied with Varangian warriors and took control of Kiev. Sviatopolk's attempt to eliminate his rivals led to the deaths of Boris and Gleb, who were later canonized as saints.

The conflict ended with Yaroslav's victory in 1016, establishing him as the sole ruler and marking the beginning of his reign as Yaroslav the Wise. This period highlighted the instability caused by the Rurikid dynasty's practice of dividing territories among sons, leading to frequent succession disputes.