WI the east slavs never convert to christianity
Of all the mideval noncristian states in europe it would seem the kievan russ and the rus khaganat were probably the most powerful in terms of political and military force as well as a relativly strong culture compared to other slavic populations of europe
so lets say the baptism of kiev newer hapened, this would mean Vladimir I campaing to capture kiev fails and the kaghanat would be ruled by Yaropolk, but he too was rather prochristian, so ider a more traditional ruler would have to overthrow Yaropolk or he would have to build his power on a nonchristian base so that the diplomatic benefits of forced conversion would be less than the downside of losing favor of his nonchristian suporters
the "revival" like the one organised by Vladimir, attempting to reorganise slavic religion into a more monoteistic model, would have to be avoided somehow, instead of wich more general political support for the traditional belief sistem, perhaps a reorganisation of the priesthood with an emfasis on slavic literary culture, possibly with an perfection and proliferation of a general use slavic alfabet, all combined with more antichristian politicks, backed by popular support of the religious majority
could such a reform truly succede? what could the longterm consequences be?
or would any ruler of the slavs during the 900/1100 eventually see as profitable to baptise, and force christianity on his population even with sword and fire?
Of all the mideval noncristian states in europe it would seem the kievan russ and the rus khaganat were probably the most powerful in terms of political and military force as well as a relativly strong culture compared to other slavic populations of europe
so lets say the baptism of kiev newer hapened, this would mean Vladimir I campaing to capture kiev fails and the kaghanat would be ruled by Yaropolk, but he too was rather prochristian, so ider a more traditional ruler would have to overthrow Yaropolk or he would have to build his power on a nonchristian base so that the diplomatic benefits of forced conversion would be less than the downside of losing favor of his nonchristian suporters
the "revival" like the one organised by Vladimir, attempting to reorganise slavic religion into a more monoteistic model, would have to be avoided somehow, instead of wich more general political support for the traditional belief sistem, perhaps a reorganisation of the priesthood with an emfasis on slavic literary culture, possibly with an perfection and proliferation of a general use slavic alfabet, all combined with more antichristian politicks, backed by popular support of the religious majority
could such a reform truly succede? what could the longterm consequences be?
or would any ruler of the slavs during the 900/1100 eventually see as profitable to baptise, and force christianity on his population even with sword and fire?
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