A Princess from Kyiv was Norway's last Viking queen

 Prince Yaroslav the Wise ruled Kyivan Rus’ in the middle of the 11th century.

Yaroslav the Wise was himself the son of a Swedish Viking princess. His spouse, Ellisiv's mother, was named Ingegerd Olofsdotter and was the daughter of the Swedish king Olof Skötkonung. The kingdom of Kiev at that time flourished more than ever before or since. Under Yaroslav, the government was known as modern and cultured.  

The prince's children were well educated and could read and write.His daughter Elisaveta - later known as Queen Ellisiv in Norway - was born in 1025. 

When Ellisiv's little sister Anna married the French king Henri I, she is said to have signed the marriage contract with her full name. Henri had to settle for making his mark with an X.

The Norwegian Harald Hardrada (Hardruler) had fought on the losing side with his half-brother Olav Haraldsson (later Olav the Holy) in the battle of Stiklestad in 1030.

After the defeat, 15-year-old Harald travelled to Kyiv, capital of Gardariki, via Sweden. Here Harald went into service with Yaroslav.

The young Norwegian is said to have been quite forward and asked the prince for his ten-year-old eldest daughter Elisaveta's hand, but according to the Fagrskinna saga, he was told no. 

In 1035, Harald went on to Constantinople with a guard of about 500 men to offer his services there as mercenaries for the emperor. 

In 1043 or 1044, according to Snorre Sturleson, the Icelandic skald, Harald returned to Kyiv with ‘so much property that no man in the north countries had seen the like in one man's possession.’ Harald reportedly had to flee Constantinople, because Empress Zoe of Byzantium did not want him to leave.

In Kyiv again, the Norwegian this time won his Princess Ellisiv, as he had wished.

Soon thereafter, Harald Hardruler became king of Norway, and Elisaveta of Kyiv his queen.

According to Snorre, Ellisiv was the mother of Harald's two daughters, Maria and Ingegerd.