Svjatopolk

Svjatopolk is a given name of Old East Slavic origin, meaning "holy glory" or "divine glory." It was a common name among Rurikid princes in medieval Kievan Rus' and later in Poland.

The most prominent historical figure bearing this name was Sviatopolk I Vladimirovich, also known as Sviatopolk the Accursed. He was the Grand Prince of Kiev from 1015 to 1019. His reign was marked by a violent struggle for power following the death of his father, Vladimir the Great. Sviatopolk is infamously associated with the murder of his half-brothers Boris and Gleb, who were later canonized as saints by the Orthodox Church. This act, along with his subsequent defeat by his brother Yaroslav the Wise, led to his epithet "the Accursed."

Another notable Sviatopolk was Sviatopolk II of Kiev, who ruled at various times between 1093 and 1113. His reign was characterized by internal strife and conflicts with neighboring peoples.

The name also appears in Polish history, notably with Sviatopolk I of Bohemia, Duke of Bohemia from 999 to 1002 and again in 1003, though he was of Bohemian origin and not directly tied to the Rurikid dynasty. The name's usage reflects a period of dynastic connections and shared cultural influences between Slavic regions.