Battle of Listven

The Battle of Listven (1024) was part of the aftermath of the Kievan succession crisis of 1015–1019 following the death of Vladimir the Great (Volodymyr) in 1015.

Upon Vladimir's death, his son Sviatopolk I (later nicknamed "The Accursed") seized the throne and killed three of his brothers, Sviatoslav of Smolensk and the better-known Boris and Gleb, the first saints of the Rus' Orthodox Church.

Sviatopolk was defeated by Yaroslav, who then challenged Mstislav for supremacy over Kiev.

[6][7] The battle led to a stalemate, with neither brother really able to gain supremacy over the other and rule from Kiev as sole ruler.

Two years later, the brothers divided control of Kievan Rus' along the Dniepr River, with Yaroslav taking the western or Right Bank and Mstislav the eastern or Left Bank.