Varangian Guard: The Elite Bodguard of the Byzantine Emperors
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Published 2024-05-19
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In the Middle Ages, battle-hardened Norsemen from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and later England traveled to the Byzantine Empire, where they joined one of the most sought-after and effective mercenary units of the time: The Varangian Guard. Renowned as loyal, disciplined, and effective warriors, they served as the personal guards and elite military force of the Byzantine emperors for more than three centuries. To this day, they are Byzantium’s best-known unit and remain among the most famous mercenaries in history. So, without further ado, let’s explore what made the Varangian Guard so effective, analyze their combat techniques, and unravel the intriguing story of how Norsemen, of all people, became the elite warriors of the Byzantine emperor.
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Bibliography
Primary Sources
Komnene, Anna, The Alexiad. trans. by E. R. A. Sewter, Harmondsworth 1969.
Press, Muriel (trans.), Laxdale Saga (The Temple Classics), London 1899.
Magnusson, Magnus, and Hermann Pálsson, trans. King Harald’s Saga, Harmondsworth 1966.
Margoulias, Harry J., trans. O City of Byzantium: Annals of Niketas Choniates, Detroit/Michigan 1984.
Sewter, E. R. A., trans. Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus, Harmondsworth 1966.
Secondary Works
Bartusis, Mark C., The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society, 1204–1453, Philadelphia 1992.
Blöndal, Sigfus, The Varangians of Byzantium. Trans. and revised by Benedikt S. Benedikz. Cambridge 1978.
Carroll, Alastair, The Role of the Varangian Guard in Byzantine Rebellions and Usurpations, 988–1204, Belfast 2005.
Dawson, Timothy, The Varangian Rhomphaia: a Cautionary tale, in: Varangian Voice 22: 24–26 (1992), pp. 24-26.
Egan, Geoff, Byzantium in London? New Archaeological Evidence for 11th Century Links Between England and the Byzantine World, in: Grünbart, Michael, et al., Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400–1453), Vienna 2007, pp. 111–117.
Jakobsson, Sverrir, The Varangians: In God's Holy Fire, London/New York 2020.
Shephard, Jonathan, s. v. "Varangian Guard" in: Clifford J. Rogers (ed), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, 2010.
All Comments (21)
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Harold Hardrada was both the servant of a Roman Emperor, the assassin of another one, and the guy who tried to take over England in 1066. What could be more epic?
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Vikings fighting Vikings in Italy is the most Viking thing
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The Varangian Guard was made up of a lot of veterans of the Battle of Hastings who ended up fighting the doomed campaign against the Norman's in Dyracchium. Imagine getting evicted from your home by the Norman's and travelling to the furthest part of Europe just to get annihilated by the Norman's again.
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"The Greece runestones (Swedish: Greklandsstenarna) are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes." "On these runestones the word Grikkland ("GREECE") appears in three inscriptions,[1] the word Grikk(j)ar ("GREEKS") appears in 25 inscriptions,[2] two stones refer to men as grikkfari ("traveller to Greece")[3] and one stone refers to Grikkhafnir ("Greek harbours").[4]"
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For those who ever visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, make sure to check out the carving made by a Varangian Guard (Halvdan). Its only his name in runes but really interesting (bet he got bored on guard duty)
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Harald hardada was playing mount and blade
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The Varangian Guard was what every Roman emperor wished the Praetorian Guard could be.
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I'm Greek living in NY, and going down there is such awesome weather compared to US Northeast. Winters without frost, Dry summers with low humidity, shade is all u need. The Varangians born in Scandinavia must have felt like they reached heaven in eastern Mediterranean. Lately Climate change makes Greek summers more humid and hot, ACs everywhere, but I didn't need it in 99-01. The clubs had open roofs, night was perfection for drinking and dancing 60-65 degrees. No clouds, stars always up there!
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I would like to imagine this rebel leader claiming that God was on his side before he died from falling off his horse.
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"You want me to let you stab him for 200 Solidi? Nah, he pays me a whole 2 Argentii a week, I'm good."
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Oh, and I should mention, that in Vinland Saga, one of the characters has a sword from the Roman Empire and had served with them as a younger man in the Varangians and had eventually travelled back to Denmark under King Canute.
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Reason why they were the best bodyguards
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Alexios also defeated the Normans at Larissa, not merely bribed the German Emperor
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All one need do is read Howard’s Hyborian Age, to see just how much Norsemen used to get around, and why they were so sought after.
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No. It’s Vanguardian leviosaaaa
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One of my favourite units in Age of Empires 4 and Knights of Honor. And definitly one of my favourites sagas in human history.
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Very well documented and interesting as usual, thanks for your great work!
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Something to note is that after the battle of Dyracchium Alexios signed a deal with Venice giving them increased trading rights and special privileges in exchange for their navies cutting of the normans. This in turn led to the increased Latin presence in the capitol which in turn resulted in the fourth crusade and the looting of Constantinople.
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Your video is a breath of fresh air - entertaining, informative, and well-presented.
