Arab sources, both Muslim and Christian, present…

Arab sources, both Muslim and Christian, present a different story of Vladimir's conversion.

Yahya of Antioch, al-Rudhrawari, al-Makin, al-Dimashki, and ibn al-Athir all give essentially the same account.

Bardas Sclerus and Bardas Phocas had revolted in 987 against the Eastern Roman emperor Basil II.

Both rebels had briefly joined forces, but then Bardas Phocas had proclaimed himself emperor on September 14, 987.

Basil had turned to the Kievan Rus' for assistance, even though they are considered enemies at this time.

Having taken the town of Chersonesos, the main imperial base in the Crimea, in 988, Vladimir boldly negotiates for the hand of the emperor Basil II's younger sister, Anna, offering to evacuate Chersonesos and to supply six thousand of his soldiers as reinforcements.

At first, Basil hesitates.

The Imperial Greeks view all the nations of Northern Europe, be they Franks or Slavs, as barbarians.

Never has a Greek imperial princess, and one "born-in-the-purple" at that, married a barbarian before, as matrimonial offers of French kings and German emperors have been peremptorily rejected.

In short, to marry the twenty-seven-year-old princess off to a pagan Slav seems impossible, with no precedent in imperial annals.

Anna herself objects to marrying a barbarian ruler, but when Vladimir promises to baptize himself and to convert his people to Christianity, Basil finally agrees.

When the wedding arrangements are settled, Vladimir dispatches six thousand troops to the Empire, who are to help suppress the revolt.

The Rus' recruits, largely Scandinavians, are instrumental in ending the rebellion, and they will later be organized into the Varangian Guard.

Vladimir is baptized at Cherson, taking the Christian name of Basil out of compliment to his imperial brother-in-law; the sacrament is followed by his wedding with Anna.