X century from the Nativity of Christ. Byzantium agrees with Bulgaria on joint actions against the growing power of the Russian prince Svyatoslav. To prevent his march on Constantinople, a secret embassy is sent to the Great Steppe in order to incite the Pechenegs to go to Kyiv. Nothing came of this idea, and Svyatoslav brought with him from the Balkan campaign the young Princess Anastasia, the illegitimate daughter of Empress Feofano, tonsured a nun, deciding to marry his eldest son Yaropolk to her. It is not known how events would have developed further, but in 972 Svyatoslav died in a battle with the steppe inhabitants, and civil war came to Kievan Rus, brother rose up against brother - Yaropolk set out to get rid of his brothers, and the youngest, Vladimir, was forced to go north, to their distant relatives, the Vikings...