The+Varangian+Guard

=The Varangian Guard =

The Varangian Guard were a unit of bodyguards created in 988 by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. Scandinavian mercenaries had been under the employ of [|Byzantium] since the early 10th century, but Basil II was the first to employ them as his Imperial Guard. These first guardsmen came mostly from Russia, but the Guard swiftly drew recruits from Scandinavia and the north of England. The Varangians could be recognised by their height, lighter skin, long hair and beards, and their distinctive choice of weaponry. Each guardsman had a long, double-edged sword on his belt, and he carried a large axe.


 * [[image:Varangian_Guard.jpg width="450" height="386"]] ||
 * An artist's impression of the panoply of a Guardsman ||

The troops of the Guard were known for their ferocity and combat expertise, and were often used for assignments deemed exceptionally violent or difficult, an example of this being Basil II’s campaign against King Georgi of Georgia. However, they were looked on as barbaric by much of the Byzantine populace, who referred to them as ‘the Emperor’s Wine bags’ due to their frequent drunkenness. This ridicule was accompanied by fear and hate, however, as the Varangians were honour-bound to do the bidding of the Emperor, and had no qualms about kidnapping, murder and torture The regiment gained fame throughout the East and North, drawing many young men with promises of glory and adventure. The best-recorded recruit to ever join the Guard is one Harald Sigurdsson, later to become the King of Norway, [|Harald Hardrade]. The Norse saga [|//Heimskringla//] details Harald’s exploits in the Guard. The sagas exaggerate certain aspects, as sagas are wont to do, but they provide an in-depth record of Harald’s time in the guard, something unique for the regiment. Most guardsmen are known only by their names.
 * [[image:halfdan_inscription.jpg]] ||
 * Viking graffiti (possibly Varangian) found in Constantinople ||

An intriguing aspect of Varangian history occurred after William the Conqueror’s successful conquest of England. Many of the Anglo-Saxon nobility fled the nation, preferring exile to submission. A number found their way to Byzantium, where they were eagerly accepted into the ranks of the Guard. A few factors are thought to be the incentive for the Anglo-Saxon migration to the east, and their induction into the Guard. The most convinving hypothesis for why the Anglo-Saxons chose the Guard as a refuge is revenge. In the years following Hastings, other powerful Norman warlords attacked Byzantine holdings in Italy and Sicily. The Byzantine army, including the Guard, was mobilised to defend these holdings. A sizable proportion of the Guard were Anglo-Saxon at this point, and they would have relished the thought of striking back at the Normans, even if they were not the same Normans that took England from them. Other Saxons had previously attempted to sway the King of Denmark to reconquer England in their name, so the thirst for vengeance was clearly present within the exiled Saxons’ mindset. The last true Varangians were defeated in 1204 when the Crusaders overran [|Constantinople]. Though the regiment still existed by name after this, its martial reputation never reached its former height.

 Varangian Guard equipment picture: Tan, D 2000, //Varangian Guard//, DeviantART, viewed 13 September 2011 Graffiti picture: Millet, V 2008, //9th Century Viking Graffiti in Haga Sophia,// Flickr, viewed 14 September 2011