10th century AD. Byzantine Emperor Basil II, from the first days of his reign having suffered defeat at the hands of the Bulgarians and facing a mutiny of military commanders, asks for support from the ruler of the Russian lands—the Prince Vladimir. Under the terms of the agreement, Vladimir sends a squad to Byzantium, and the emperor promises to give him his sister Anna—on condition that the prince accepts Christianity. However, Basil breaks the contract. Then the offended prince goes to Chersonesus and, after many months of siege, takes the city that was considered impregnable. Basil is forced to fulfill his promise. Vladimir is baptized, marries Anna, and together with his young wife returns to Kyiv.
The novel “When Chersonesus Fell” opens a trilogy of historical works about Kievan Rus by writer Antonin Ladinsky. The cycle also includes the novels “Anna Yaroslavna—Queen of France” and “The Last Journey of Vladimir Monomakh.”