For centuries, Vikings traveled from throughout Scandinavia to join the elite Varangian Guard that protected the Eastern Roman Emperor and the city of Constantinople.
National Library of SpainA twelfth - century instance of the Varangian Guard defending Constantinople .
Vikings are perhaps best known for plundering Western Europe and being the first Europeans to set up infantry in North America . But they also make for a of the essence role in the Byzantine Empire , where a select group of warriors call the Varangian Guard protected the emperor in Constantinople for C of age .
Loyal , fierce , and armed with a double - sided ax , these warriors patrol the halls of the Great Palace , accompanied the Saturnia pavonia to warfare , and kept order in the streets . They were extravagantly rewarded for their service , and one of them even became the magnate of Norway .
National Library of SpainA 12th-century illustration of the Varangian Guard defending Constantinople.
Like many elite soldiers , the Varangian Guard eventually fell victim to shifts in big businessman . But for one C of twelvemonth , they reigned as some of the Earth ’s most fearsome fighter .
The Formation Of The Varangian Guard
At the dawn of the Viking age around 800 C.E. , most Vikings — a disparate mathematical group of Nordic warriors — stormed the shores of England . But some of them went eastward . Luredby Arabic silver , they sail down the rivers of easterly Europe , plundering as they went .
Some of these Vikings resolve in Eastern Europe . They were call Rus , or Kievan Rus , which roughly translates from Old Norse as “ one who row . ” They grew in power , and their leaders started carry on Slavik names .
Around 978 - 980 , a difference of opinion arose between the boy of Prince Sviatoslav I of Kyiv . To fight his brothers , Vladimir I of Kyiv call up 6,000 warrior from nearby Sweden . Not only did these soldiers help him curb the region , but they also laid the origination for the Varangian Guard .
Дар Ветер/Wikimedia CommonsVladimir of Kiev converted to Christianity and lent his powerful Varangian Guard to the Byzantine emperor.
Дар Ветер / Wikimedia CommonsVladimir of Kiev converted to Christianity and lent his powerful Varangian Guard to the Byzantine emperor .
Less than a decennium later , Basil II of the Byzantine Empire reached out to Vladimir for military aid . He needed assist to defeat two would - be usurpers to his throne . Basil offered his sister ’s hand in marriage to sweeten the green goddess — as long as Vladimir was willing to commute to Christianity .
Vladimir agreed to get off his warrior . As for Christianity , he ’d long been looking for a religion to “ modernize ” his mass , and he had decided against Islam because of its restrictions on alcoholic drink .
Public DomainA depiction of Basil II of the Byzantine Empire.
“ drink is the joy of the Rus , we can not exist without that pleasure,”Vladimir allegedly pronounce .
He became a Christian and send off his 6,000 Norse warrior to Constantinople , where his fearsome army shortly became lie with as the Varangian Guard .
How Vikings Protected The Byzantine Empire
Public DomainA depiction of Basil II of the Byzantine Empire .
The Varangian Guard made an impact as before long as they arrive . According to historian J.J. Norwich :
“ In late December 988 the Black Sea lookouts espied the first of a enceinte fleet of Viking ship on the northern purview … and 6,000 burly giant set down . A few weeks later , the Norsemen , led by Basil himself , crossed the pass under cover of wickedness .
Wikimedia CommonsGraffiti left by a likely member of the Varangian Guard, which reads “Halfdan,” probably his name.
“ At first light they attacked … [ swinging ] their swords and battle - axes without mercifulness until they stood mortise joint - deep in lineage . Few of the victims escape with their lives . ”
Another account of the Varangian Guard ’s attack noted that the Vikings “ cheerfully hacked [ their enemy ] to piece . ”
After Basil had crushed his enemy , he settle to keep the Viking around . shortly , they were being called Varangians , probably from the Old Norse wordvárwhich mean “ confidence ( in ) , ” “ faith ( in ) ” or “ vow of faithfulness . ” It loosely translate to “ men of the toast . ”
Vivaystn/Wikimedia CommonsA painting of the fall of Constantinople at the Panorama 1453 History Museum in Istanbul.
The Varangians became Basil ’s bodyguards , acted as police and jailers , and accompanied the Saturnia pavonia to state of war . And the direful Varangian Guard left an impression everywhere they went . Arab traveler Ahmad Ibn Fadlan marveled that he ’d “ never run into body as near perfect as theirs . ”
Fadlanwrote that the warriors were“tall as laurel wreath trees , fair and scarlet , they put on neither tunic nor kaftan . Every man wears a cloak with which he covers half of his body , so that one arm is uncovered . They carry axis , swords , daggers and always have them to give . ”
And a convoluted chronicler characterized them as “ dread both in appearance and in equipment , ” summate , “ they assail with reckless rage and neither care about misplace blood nor their wounds . ”
Sometimes , their job was n’t that exciting . The Vikings stand guard at the majestic Hagia Sophia , where one warrior grow so bored that he carved his name into the marble .
Wikimedia CommonsGraffiti leave by a potential appendage of the Varangian Guard , which reads “ Halfdan , ” probably his name .
But for others , do in the emperor butterfly ’s elect force pave the way toward riches and power . Harald Hardrada , who ’d flee Norway for Kyiv after his half - pal ’s failed bid for the throne , help in the Varangian Guard from 1034 to 1043 . He hoard so much wealthiness as a warrior that he yield to Norway and became king .
Likewise , a warrior appoint Bolli Bollason ended his turn with the guard as a wealthy humankind . According to theLaxdaela Saga , Bollason came home wrap up in over-embellished robes embroidered with gold . His awful countryman referred to him as “ Bolli the Elegant . ”
Indeed , according to Old Norse saga , many warriors return home dripping with jewelry and expensive silks . In part , that ’s because a strange law allowed them to plunder the emperor butterfly ’s exchequer whenever he die .
“ On the nighttime of their independent ’s death , they had the curious right hand to course to the imperial treasury and take as much gold as they could comfortably take , ” explained historian L. Brownworth . “ This impost enabled most Varangians to retire as moneyed gentleman’s gentleman . ”
Serving in the Varangian Guard — if you survived — seemed a sure way to riches .
Yet the twenty-four hour period of the Varangian Guard were come . Though they fought courageously and ferociously , their powerfulness start out to worsen in the 11th century .
The Transformation And Fall Of The Byzantine Varangian Guard
The world of Varangian Guard underwent wholesale , dramatic changes over the one C . After the Norman Conquest in 1066 , in which William the Conquerer overtake England , exiled Anglo - Saxon warrior extend in droves to Constantinople . Their bearing changed the makeup of the warriors .
Vivaystn / Wikimedia CommonsA painting of the declivity of Constantinople at the Panorama 1453 History Museum in Istanbul .
And the inexperient new member of the guard face up raw , furious enemy . They were defeated while maintain Dyrrachium in Dalmatia in 1081 , and they were n’t able to suppress the strength of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 . Then , the weary warrior may have laid down their arms when they date that the Byzantines were kill .
From that spot on , the Varangian Guards spend most of their time standing watch over palace or prisons , not fighting in actual conflict . Their numbers dwindle away . And they became disused when Ottoman Sultanate inhibit Constantinople in 1453 , harbinger the end of the Byzantine Empire .
By then , most of the Varangian Guard were Anglo - Saxon , anyway , not Norse .
But for hundreds of years , they shone as a strange , frightening presence on the street of Constantinople . Tall , fair , and armed to the teeth , these Viking warrior interchange the line of history when they took up arms for the Byzantine Empire .
Though their glory day may have fade from the history books , traces of these warrior digest in Constantinople itself . The graffito scratched into the Hagia Sophia , just a twosome of simple runes , work as an echo reminder of the Varangian Guard ’s once - omnipresent presence in the city .
After reading about the Varangian Guard , read aboutthe Praetorian Guard , the fearsome military whole of ancient Rome . Then , light upon the story of the terrifyingViking warriors called Berserkerswho fight nude .
