battle ensued, in which thousands were slain.  But Sviatoslaf was victor, and the territory was annexed to Russia, and Russian nobles were placed in feudal possession of its provinces.  The conqueror then followed down the Don to the Sea of Azof, fighting sanguinary battles all the way, but everywhere victorious.  The terror of his arms inspired wide-spread consternation, and many tribes, throwing aside their weapons, bowed the neck to the Russian king, and implored his clemency.

Sviatoslaf returned to Kief with waving banners, exulting in his renown.  He was stimulated, not satiated, by this success; and now planned another expedition still more perilous and grand.  On the south of the Danube, near its mouth, was Bulgaria, a vast realm, populous and powerful, which had long bid defiance to all the forces of the Roman empire.  The conquest of Bulgaria was an achievement worthy of the chivalry even of Sviatoslaf.  With an immense fleet of barges, containing sixty thousand men, he descended the Dnieper to the Euxine.  Coasting along the western shore his fleet entered the mouth of the Danube.  The Bulgarians fought like heroes to repel the invaders.  All their efforts were in vain.  The Russians sprang from their barges on the shore, and, protected by their immense bucklers, sword in hand, routed the Bulgarians with great slaughter.  Cities and villages rapidly submitted to the conqueror.  The king of Bulgaria in his despair rushed upon death.  Sviatoslaf, laden with the spoils of the vanquished and crowned with the laurels of victory, surrendered himself to rejoicing and to all the pleasures of voluptuous indulgence.

From these dissipations Sviatoslaf was suddenly recalled by the tidings that his own capital was in danger; that a neighboring tribe, of great military power, taking advantage of his absence with his army, had invested Kief and were hourly expected to take it by assault.  In dismay he hastened his return, and found, to his inexpressible relief, that the besiegers had been routed by the stratagem and valor of a Russian general, and that the city and its inhabitants were thus rescued from destruction.

But the Russian king, having tasted the pleasures of a more sunny clime, and having rioted in the excitements of sensual indulgence, soon became weary of tranquil life in Kief.  He was also anxious to escape from the reproof which he always felt from the pious life of his mother.  He therefore resolved to return to his conquered kingdom of Bulgaria.  He said to his mother: 

“I had rather live in Bulgaria than at Kief.  Bulgaria is the center of wealth, nature and art.  The Greeks send there gold and cloths; the Hungarians silver and horses; the Russians furs, wax, honey and slaves.”

“Wait, my son, at least till after my death,” exclaimed Olga.  “I am aged and infirm, and very soon shall be conveyed to my tomb.”

This interview hastened the death of Olga.  In four days she slept in Jesus.  She earnestly entreated her son not to admit of any pagan rites at her funeral.  She pointed out the place of her burial, and was interred with Christian prayers, accompanied by the lamentations and tears of all the people.  Sviatoslaf, in his foreign wars, which his mother greatly disapproved, had left with her the administration of internal affairs.  Nestor speaks of this pious princess in beautiful phrase as the morning star of salvation for Russia.