Introduction
After Vladimir I adopted Christianity in the 10th century, the rulers of what would become Russia became prime candidates for dynastic marriage into the great royal houses of Europe. An example of particular interest to the English is the Princess Gytha, daughter of King Harold Godwinson, who married Vladimir’s great-grandson, Vladimir II Monomakh.
IN 862, just before the Great Heathen Army landed in England, the Scandinavian people known as the Rus’ settled at Novgorod and Kiev. Yaroslav the Wise later united the two realms at Kiev, and his grandson Vladimir II Monomakh inherited the Kievan throne in 1113.
Russian sources do not name Vladimir’s first wife, but a near-contemporary, Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus, says she was Gytha, the daughter of King Harold Godwinson of England and his consort Edith Swannesha. After Harold lost his crown and his life at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Gytha and two of her brothers fled to Denmark, and King Sweyn Estridsson subsequently married her to Prince Vladimir, Yaroslav’s heir.
The reigns of Vladimir and of the son Gytha gave him, Mstislav, are remembered as a golden age for Kievan Rus’; and Mstislav’s daughter Euphrosyne married King Géza II of Hungary, making her an ancestor of King Edward III of England through his mother, Isabella of France.
Précis
According to contemporary Scandinavian sources, Mstislav, the twelfth-century Grand Prince of Kiev, was a grandson of King Harold of England. Harold’s daughter Gytha emigrated to Denmark after Harold’s defeat at Hastings in 1066, and from there went to Kiev to marry Vladimir II Monomakh. Many years later, Harold’s blood returned to the English royal line through Mstislav’s descendant, Edward III. (60 / 60 words)
According to contemporary Scandinavian sources, Mstislav, the twelfth-century Grand Prince of Kiev, was a grandson of King Harold of England. Harold’s daughter Gytha emigrated to Denmark after Harold’s defeat at Hastings in 1066, and from there went to Kiev to marry Vladimir II Monomakh. Many years later, Harold’s blood returned to the English royal line through Mstislav’s descendant, Edward III.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, despite, just, may, must, since, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Do. Heir. Just.
2 Give. Inherit. Unite.
3 Ancestor. Golden. Settle.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
brt (5+1)
abort. berate. beret. brat. brute.
bruit.
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