The new book by the outstanding Russian Byzantinist G. G. Litavrin talks about the formation of Ancient Rus' as a powerful cultural power and the influence of Byzantium and Bulgaria on this process. As the author himself writes, “the main goal of this book is not to trace the very process and circumstances of the baptism of Rus', but to show how, despite all the vicissitudes and difficulties in relations with the Byzantine Empire, Russia adopted Christianity from it became inevitable... The entire course of formation and development of the Ancient Russian state and its very geopolitical position determined the historical pattern that made the name Byzantium the “godmother” of Ancient Rus'...” The monograph includes, in a revised and expanded form, articles by G. G. Litavrin, published 1970–90

ContentsPrefaceChapter 1. FIRST CONTACTSPreliminary remarks (Normans and Khazars in Rus')Testimonies from the lives of George of Amastrid and Stefan of Sourozh about the campaigns of the Ros against Amastris and SurozhVertinsky annals about the embassy of the Ros in ConstantinoplePatriarch Photius about the attack of the Ros on Constantinople and about their baptism (860–867)Chapter 2. RUSSIANS IN BYZANTIUM. TREATIES WITH THE GREEKS Prehistory of the treaties of 911 and 944 The nature of relations between Rus' and the empire under the treaties of 911 and 944 Military obligations of Rus' under the treaties of 911 and 944 Legal status of Russians in Byzantium Conditions of stay and activities of Russian ambassadors and merchants in ConstantinopleChapter 3. ON THE PROBLEM DUTIES FROM MERCHANTS OF Rus' IN CONSTANTINOPLEChapter 4. DIPLOMACY OF THE RUSSIAN PRINCESS OLGANews of ancient Russian sources about the princess OlgaNews from the chronicle of the Successor of ReginonMessage from the chronicle of John Skylitzes about Princess OlgaDescription of Olga’s receptions in the book “On Ceremonies”On the dating of Olga’s receptions by ConstantineComposition of Olga’s embassy in ConstantinopleTo the problem of dating the baptism of Princess OlgaChapter 5. BYZANTIUM AND CHRISTIAN Rus' IN THE FIRST HALF CENTURY AFTER CAPITALITY On the issue of continuity in pagan foreign policy and Christian RussiaWar of 1043 in the assessments of modern historiography Sources about the Russian-Byzantine war of 1043 Experience of interpretation Reasons, goals and results of the war of 1043 Chapter 6. BYZANTIUM AND ANCIENT Rus' AT THE TURN OF THE 11th-12th centuries Chapter 7. PROBLEMS OF CULTURAL RELATIONS OF ANCIENT RUSI , BULGARIA AND BYZANTINEPreliminary remarksThe place of Bulgaria and the Bulgarians in the cultural transformation of RussiaAbout the nature of reception in Rus' Byzantine cultural values The idea of supreme state power in Byzantium and Rus' in the 10th–12th centuries. Greco-Russian description of the feat of Eustratius the Postnik Instead of imprisonment. ANCIENT Rus' AND THE SO-CALLED “BYZANTINE COMMONWEALTH OF STATES” Appendix 1. Receptions of the Kyiv princess Olga in Constantinople by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus Appendix 2. Reply of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus to one of the unsurvived letters of his friend, Metropolitan Cyzicus Theodore Appendix 3. ment of the letter of the exiled Metropolitan of Nicaea Alexander to the Metropolitan Nicomedia IgnatiusBasic bibliographyList of abbreviationsIndex of namesIndex of geographical and ethnic names