Flight of Vladimir.--His Stolen Bride.--The March Upon Kief.--Debauchery of Vladimir.--Zealous Paganism.--Introduction of Christianity.--Baptism in the Dnieper.--Entire Change in the Character of Vladimir.--His Great Reforms.--His Death.--Usurpation of Sviatopolk the Miserable.--Accession of Yaroslaf.--His Administration and Death.--Accession of Ysiaslaf.--His Strange Reverses,--His Death.--Vsevolod Ascends the Throne.--His Two Flights to Poland.--Appeals to the Pope.--Wars, Famine and Pestilence.--Character of Vsevolod. CHAPTER IV. YEARS OF WAR AND WOE. From 1092 to 1167. Character of Vsevolod.--Succession of Sviatopolk.--His Discomfiture.--Deplorable Condition of Russia.--Death of Sviatopolk.--His Character.--Accession of Monomaque.--Curious Festival At Kief.--Energy of Monomaque.--Alarm of the Emperor At Constantinople.--Horrors of War.--Death of Monomaque.--His Remarkable Character.--Pious Letter To His Children.--Accession of Mstislaf.--His Short But Stormy Reign.--Struggles For the Throne.--Final Victory of Ysiaslaf.--Moscow in the Province of Souzdal.--Death of Ysiaslaf.--Wonderful Career of Rostislaf.--Rising Power of Moscow.--Georgievitch, Prince of Moscow. CHAPTER V. MSTISLAF AND ANDRE. From 1167 to 1212. Centralization of Power At Kief.--Death of Rostislaf.--His Religious Character.--Mstislaf Ysiaslavitch Ascends the Throne.--Proclamation of the King.--Its Effect.--Plans of Andre.--Scenes At Kief.--Return and Death of Mstislaf.--War in Novgorod.--Peace Concluded Throughout Russia.--Insult of Andre and Its Consequences.--Greatness of Soul Displayed By Andre.--Assassination of Andre.--Renewal of Anarchy.--Emigration From Novgorod.--Reign of Michel.--Vsevolod III.--Evangelization of Bulgaria.--Death of Vsevolod III.--His Queen Maria. CHAPTER VI. THE GRAND PRINCES OF VLADIMIR, AND THE INVASION OF GENGHIS KHAN. From 1212 to 1238. Accession of Georges.--Famine.--Battle of Lipetsk.--Defeat of Georges.--His Surrender.--Constantin Seizes the Scepter.--Exploits of Mstislaf.--Imbecility of Constantin.--Death of Constantin.--Georges III.--Invasion of Bulgaria.--Progress of the Monarchy.--Right of Succession.--Commerce of the Dnieper.--Genghis Khan.--His Rise and Conquests.--Invasion of Southern Russia.--Death of Genghis Khan.--Succession of His Son Ougadai.--March of Bati.--Entrance into Russia.--Utter Defeat of the Russians. CHAPTER VII. THE SWAY OF THE TARTAR PRINCES. From 1238 to 1304. Retreat of Georges II.--Desolating March of the Tartars.--Capture of Vladimir.--Fall of Moscow.--Utter Defeat of Georges.--Conflict of Torjek.--March of the Tartars Toward the South.--Subjugation of the Polovtsi.--Capture of Kief.--Humiliation of Yaroslaf.--Overthrow of the Gaussian Kingdom.--Haughtiness of the Tartars.--Reign of Alexander.--Succession of Yaroslaf.--The Reign of Vassuli.--State of Christianity.--Infamy of Andre.--Struggles With Dmitri.--Independence of the Principalities.--Death of Andre. CHAPTER VIII.