Catholic Vladimir of Kiev

What if Vladimir I of the Kiev had chosen to convert to German-style Catholicism instead of Orthodoxy? Perhaps a single charismatic German priest meets with his emissaries and convinces them that the spiritual beauty of his church is much greater than the wonders of the Hagia Sophia.

This means no alliance with the Byzantines. Which means no Kievan support against Bardas Phocas and the possibility that Basil II might lose his head instead.

Meanwhile, lets say that Vladimir put as much effort into propagating Catholicism as he did with Orthodoxy in OTL. Perhaps a duplication of the Ottonian system. Long term, what will a Catholic Russia mean for the Crusades and other future events?
 

Philip

Donor
What if Vladimir I of the Kiev had chosen to convert to German-style Catholicism instead of Orthodoxy?

Given the date of Vlad's conversion, this question makes little sense. Eastern and Western Christianity were still formally united at the time. I am not sure what you mean by 'German-style'? Was German Catholicism significantly different from, say, Italian or French at the time?

This means no alliance with the Byzantines.
I fail to see how this precludes an alliance. The Empire allied itself with pagan, Jewish, and Islamic states as it the situation dictated. Finally, it should be remembered that historically, the possibility of closer ties with Constantinople helped draw the Rus' towards Christianity.
 
I was talking specifically of Otto the Greats system of empowering the bishoprics and abbeys at the expense of the secular nobles and endowing them with large tracts of land. Vladimir might do something similar.

While the Byzantines did ally with non-Christians, it had consistently denied intermarriage with Western European royalty up to that date. The marriage between the Byzantine princess and Vladimir was a first, though likely it was encouraged by political concerns. I'm just saying the Vladimir choosing Catholicism might break down that particular alliance at that particular time, meaning no Varangians and a possible defeat for Basil II.
 
Catholic Vladimir of Kiev instead of Orthodox in OTL, I presume that Kiev would join crusades and there would be no Cyrillic Alphabet. Much intermarriage with Western European royalty would be much common than in OTL and Roman Catholicism would spread east much easier and earlier than in OTL. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia would be Catholic instead of Orthodox in OTL.
 

Philip

Donor
I was talking specifically of Otto the Greats system of empowering the bishoprics and abbeys at the expense of the secular nobles and endowing them with large tracts of land. Vladimir might do something similar.

That is a political move, not a religious one. You can achieve this with a simpler PoD.


While the Byzantines did ally with non-Christians, it had consistently denied intermarriage with Western European royalty up to that date.
Two mistakes: First, they did intermarry when it served their purposes. For example, Justinian II married the sister of the Khagan of the Khazars sometime around (IIRC) 700. Second, I am not sure how you could consider the nobility of Kiev as 'Western European'.

I'm just saying the Vladimir choosing Catholicism might break down that particular alliance at that particular time, meaning no Varangians and a possible defeat for Basil II.
Again, you seem to be glossing over the fact that at the time of the conversion of Kiev, there is no formal difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. When the split does happen, political forces favor Kiev siding with Constantinople.
 
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