The Patron Saint of Revenge | Olga of Kiev

Olga of Kiev, also known as Saint Olga, was a Viking queen who ruled over the Kievan Rus' in the 10th century. She was born around 890 AD and became the wife of Prince Igor of Kiev.After her husband's death, Olga became the regent for her young son and began a series of military campaigns to expand and protect her kingdom. She is known for her strategic thinking and was able to negotiate several successful alliances with neighboring tribes.

Olga's most famous act, however, was her revenge against the Drevlians, a neighboring tribe who had killed her husband. She pretended to submit to their demands for marriage, but instead had them burned alive in their own city.Despite her violent reputation, Olga was also known for her charitable works and her conversion to Christianity. She is credited with helping to spread the Christian faith throughout the Kievan Rus' and is revered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.Olga's legacy as a strong and capable ruler has continued to inspire generations of Russians and Ukrainians, and her story has become a symbol of the power and resilience of women in history.