Katherine Johnson

Between the 9th and 11th centuries, Kyivan Rus’ and the Byzantine Empire were entangled in a dynamic relationship that spanned raids, diplomacy, marriage, war, and faith. This map traces key moments in that story, from early confrontations on the shores of Constantinople to the appointment of an independent metropolitan in Kyiv. While Byzantine influence was undeniable, especially in the adoption of Christianity, this was not a one-way transmission of power and culture.

Rus’ was not a periphery orbiting a Byzantine core. It was an emerging polity with its own ambitions, shaped by its steppe frontiers, its trade networks, and its internal dynamics. At times a threat, at times an ally, Rus’ engaged with Byzantium on terms that were often negotiated, sometimes resisted, and always adapted to local needs.

Contents:

Early Attacks, 860 & 907 – Constantinople (Now Istanbul)

Igor’s Campaign, 941 – Constantinople (Now Istanbul)

Igor’s Treaty, 944 – Constantinople (Now Istanbul)

Ol’ga’s Visit and Baptism, 957 – Constantinople (Now Istanbul)

Svyatoslav’s Balkan Campaigns, 970-971 – Silistra (Now part of Bulgaria)

Volodimer’s Campaign & Siege – Chersonesos (Now Crimea)

Volodimer’s Baptism, 988-989 – Kyiv

Treaty After the 1043 Campaign, 1046 – Constantinople (Now Istanbul)

Appointment of Metropolitan Hilarion, 1051 – Kyiv

Trade Route – Dnipro (Along the Dnieper River)