Which Byzantine princess married Vladimir the Great of Kiev in 988?

Which Byzantine princess married Vladimir the Great of Kiev in 988? Anna Porphyrogenita did.

Anna was the daughter of Byzantine Emperor Romanos II and Empress Theophano, and the sister of Emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII. Her title, Porphyrogenita, meant “born in the purple,” a prestigious designation for children born to a reigning emperor.

Her marriage to Vladimir was part of a major political and religious bargain. Vladimir helped Basil II suppress a rebellion, and in return sought the emperor’s sister in marriage. Vladimir was baptized as a Christian, traditionally taking the name Basil, before marrying Anna in the Crimean city of Chersonesos.

The union helped link Kievan Rus' with Byzantium and is closely associated with Vladimir’s conversion and the Christianization of Rus'. Anna should not be confused with Zoe Porphyrogenita or Theodora Porphyrogenita, Byzantine imperial sisters who lived in a different political generation.