Varangian Guard: The Elite Bodguard of the Byzantine Emperors
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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.
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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?
Hardrada, however, actually missed the chance to be crowned Byzantine Emperor, which was even more epic.
@@domenstrmsek5625elaborate?
He was a hated tyrant in Norway unfortunately. Seems power got to his head
@@brandonquezada9523 Hence the name Hadrada, which translates to harsh ruler or tyrant. He was a great military leader but a terrible king.
@@correctionguy7632 A marriage to the Makedone Empress of that time (forgot her name but she was Basil's niece) would have given him the chance
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.
Is also possible than some veterans from Stamford Bridge were there too. So imagine being beaten by Anglo-Saxons and end up fighting alongside them.
I mean to be fair they’re the reason the battle was lost lol the Byzantines were winning until they broke ranks to chase the retreating Normans
Its amusing to think they hadn't learned their lesson in Hastings at all lol.
Imagine charging so hard you get surrounded by Normans because you're angey.
"Lol" say the Varangian when surrounded, "Lmao get rekt"
Vikings fighting Vikings in Italy is the most Viking thing
... Yes.
"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]"
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)
There's a reason why some people make the most funny duty logs, its a real drag but I'd like to think its just human nature to try and do anything to escape the boredom.
I do not support illegal graffiti.
The Varangian Guard was what every Roman emperor wished the Praetorian Guard could be.
Really? They turned to preatorian guard and became problem.
@jendrektl5733 Varangian guards were well-handled and were never responsible for coups or murders of Emperors.
@@v4enthusiast541unlike the janissaries
They just want money, give money equal loyalty. Unlike the Janissaries and the Praetorian who would get involved in politics.
@@v4enthusiast541 Harald Hardrada betrayed and blind Emperor Michael V Kalaphates
Harald hardada was playing mount and blade
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!
I would like to imagine this rebel leader claiming that God was on his side before he died from falling off his horse.
"You want me to let you stab him for 200 Solidi? Nah, he pays me a whole 2 Argentii a week, I'm good."
100k sesterceroonies
😎Chad Varangian VS Virgin Praetorian 😭
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.
Reason why they were the best bodyguards
Very well documented and interesting as usual, thanks for your great work!
Alexios also defeated the Normans at Larissa, not merely bribed the German Emperor
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.
Your video is a breath of fresh air - entertaining, informative, and well-presented.
Thank you for your work!
One of my favourite units in Age of Empires 4 and Knights of Honor.
And definitly one of my favourites sagas in human history.
Best middle age history video I’ve seen in quite awhile 👍🏻 give me more!
No.
It’s Vanguardian leviosaaaa
Always cool to learn about new parts of history great video on awesome warriors
Really a very interesting episode. It was a great pleasure to watch
It's crazy to think that people travelled so far to become mercenaries.
Wealth and status is a very good motivator
Yeah, especially considering that living a quiet life at a farm didn't guarantee your survival, either, back in those times. A failed harvest, or two, and you're starving to death. Might as well try your luck as a mercenary.
@@Thraim. high risk high reward through and through
it's far but it's probably harder for these Vikings to travel to Central Germany than to Greece even though Central Germany is very near, because sea travel is always faster than land.
Still continues to this day. Vietnamese hired by Emiratis, Serbians hired by the Congolese in the 90s for their Bosnian War experience, and Cubans and several Africans fighting for Russia today
The Varangian Guard consisted of Viking and Slavic mercenaries, which distinguished them from palace guard units such as the Scholai or the Exkoubitores. The earliest members of the Varangian guard came from Kievan Rus. A treaty of 874 obliged the rulers of Kievan Rus to provide men for Byzantine service.
Let it be mentioned that the Varangian Way was an excellent album.
someone dropped a nuclear bomb in southern sardinia on this map
Thanks!
Incredible history!
There's a beautiful episode recently made by Schwerpunkt on the topic that I strongly recommend together with the Medieval mercenaries playlist. Keep up with the great work, Jacques
Varangians probably were the best Shock Infantry to ever exist. They have the Berserker mentality of their Viking Ancestors, but were drilled and equipped to the highest Standards of the Late Eastern Romans. I would imagine that any competent General would ensure that they were ordered to Charge enemy Infantry after ensuring they were safe from being harassed by Calvary, and such a direct charge would consistently produce devasting results...
This is pretty much the Battle of Beroia. Emperor John II was wounded by an arrow to the leg or foot, but he still led his Varangians to a charge towards the Pecheneg wagon fort. They hacked and slashed at the Pechenegs so hard that they disappeared from the historical record as an independent entity after the battle.
Bro can you tell which drawing software do you use for artistic illustration in your video
Wasn't the Varangian guard compromised of a lot of Slavs from the later Rus as well? I am actually wondering if this is true.
The Rus were just swedish vikings living in Ukraine and Russia. They eventually got absorbed into native Slavic populations but they were pretty Scandinavian in culture for most of their early history.
@@Ian-yf7uf Yeah I understand that I'd how the Rus started out, but that raises the question of at what point the intermingling with the local populations started and have any of the Varangians in the subsequent years been culturally and ethnically more Slavic or Slavic at all at some point. The Slavic influence in Varangian equipment is not hard to come across in various depictions, but this video would have you believe they were rather strictly norse and later on Anglo saxon, at least up until some point, which could very well be true, but I am wondering if it was so clear cut for all, if any of the duration of their existence as the Byzantine elite forces
The initial 5000 would have most likely included Slavs yes but afterwards Scandinavia and England were the main recruiting grounds.
@@ivansalamon7028 The varangians of the early days must have come solely from Nordic stocks. Kievan Rus seemed to have served mostly as the middle-man between Byzantium and the Scandinavian realms. Moreover, since cultures migrate more than people do, the Slavic features on the Varangians' equipments must have symbolized both ethnic and cultural significance.
It was originally Rus aristocracy, but yeah. Plus Norsemen and even Anglo-Saxons, at least earlier on.
They were loyal as long as they were getting paid, which is more than you could ask for the average mercenary band and certainly way more reliable than the praetorian guard.
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.
Roman emperors had a Germanic guard already since the beginning of the Empire, almost uninterrupted since.
My great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather was a Varangian guard.
Did the later inclusion of Anglo-Saxons into the Guard have anything to do with the erstwhile Norse influence on that culture?
Probably. To the Byzantines there was probably not much difference between Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians.
It has more to do with the expulsions of the norse from britain. More infighting in scandinavia and later on anglo saxons feeing from the genocidal actions of william the bastard
!GENIAL!!! QUE TAL UN VIDEO SOBRE LA GUERRA ARABE-BIZANTINA...
They also occupied a fortified harbour called No-Man's-Wharf.
Please a videl of the siege of oran and the siege of castelnouvo...
Red as blood and black as night!
Why are Bulgaria shown as independent after Basil's death?
The Heteriaea Guards from Attila Total War is basically the Varangian Guard from real life, CA added this unit into the game for the sake of game balancing.
Artist? 🍻
My wet dream is for my father, my brother, and myself to be varangian guard. Going from medieval sweden to constantinople before 1204 would've been like going to space.
Great video
Dope drawings
Sad to see the drop in quality and the bad description of manzikert
Janisairies plz
cool
when thirty years war
Sandrhoman history i want to ask what are your thoughts about the name byzantium should we use it or should we call the empire eastern Roman empire?
I know you didnt ask me, but I think *using* either one is fine, as long as its understood that the name wasn't used while it existed, only 100s of years later by historians.
@@Sev826 thanks
@@Sev826 How is using a false name fine? That's spreading a lie all because of a German historians'propaganda. I use the name the people alive at that time used.
@@-NovaRoma.Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330 and the Roman Empire was finally conquered in 1453. The name Byzantine is German propaganda for the Holy Roman Empire. The name stuck in the west.
@@Clearwood_ I don't think we can call it propaganda but okay thanks 👍
Just a 30 sec to a minute history lesson
Did the varangians ever fight the janissaries?
Yeah we need to know this fr
I think the Varangians lasted only until 1204, so not.
@@jamesheavy789But it’s debated whether they were actual Varangians as native Greeks began to fill the guard and none are mentioned at 1453.
@@jamesheavy789 Byzantine sources? Sounds made up just like the made up name "Byzantine". I know you meant to say Roman sources. It's not your fault you don't know any better public education has failed a lot of people on this subject.
@@Clearwood_ Dude, stop trying to sound smart. Its not making you look better.
Time stamp 1:12 -> I assume you mean East?
its actually interesting seeing different demographics from different parts of Europe serve in the Guard, I mean even how Scandinavians built the kingdoms which are the ancestors of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Babe woke me up for this
👍👍
👍
can u also talk about the Battle of Halidzor, 70k turks couldn't win from 300 Armenians.
Typical turks
Good video.
Did the late Varangians and the Almogavars clash?
I observe an apparent inconsistency when you talk of the 14th century, because the Almogavar War that effectively let the restored Byzantine Empire in tatters, was at the very beginning of that century and I doubt emperors afterwards had much gold to pay their mercenaries at all.
The varangians existed until the very end of the Easter Roman Empire.
But by the XIV century their role was limited to palace guards and escort
@@Phantom-xp2co - Makes sense. That should also mean that late "English" Varangians are pretty much anecdote.
@@LuisAldamiz they are not anecdote, since we have an actual historical account from 1404 about men in Constantinople who speak english and carry axes.
It's just that the varangians at this point were more a sort of ceremonial guard than an actual military unit
@@jamesheavy789 imho varangians were still deployed as military units during the civil war between the regency and John Kantakouzenos.
Later? It's hard to say.
As we know the late byzantine army is a very obscure topic
@@Phantom-xp2co - Different words, same meaning: to me your report is "anecdote", to you it's "not anecdote".
At ast
Last time I was this early, Anatolia was still Roman!
and Attila was some important guy
Eastern Roman history = INSTANT LIKE
Hi
Why is bulgaria independant after basil II died?
Because at the time of the rebellion Bulgaria has not been subdued yet
Someone should send this to Ubisoft, given they had the bright idea to make the Varangian Guard hero a female only class.
Lol what?
Ah yes, as we all know, For Honor is prized for its incredible attention to historical accuracy.
You should probably give up any hope and faith you still have in this woke garbage-tier dev.
@@F_Yale Honestly the only game of theirs I give any hope to is Skull and Bones, which yes, while being the Fallout 76 equivalent for them because of its launch, I feel can at least turn out decent with its roadmap and announced incoming features.
@@F_Yale Imagine using woke unironically in 2024 lmao
I thought cataphractoie were the most well known! Followed by them
Great video about the guard. Just one note: the maps are totally inaccurate especially after Basil II period before Manzikert (Bulgaria was part of Eastern Roman empire) and during Alexios Komenenos reign (he reconquered Anatolia coast during First Crusade)
Great video! Thank you for not using AI art!
2: 03 says he besieged city right at the bosphorus, shows map with the actual city located at dardanelles...
12:50 - How come was English considered the native language of late Varangian Guards when in England itself it was French (Anglo-Norman, a variant of Old French) the official language until the late 14th century?
Because the French in English aristocracy originated from the Normans, and the ones who served the Varangian Guard were Anglo-Saxons dissatisfied with the Norman conquest
Only the Norman ruling class spoke French, the people of England were still English and spoke English. Overtime Old English developed into Middle English with adoption of some Norman French elements. Those who went to Byzantium to serve in the Varangian Guard from England were not Normans.
I would have thought that the first to join and to be admitted would be Normans, who are pretty much Vikings but with French language, if anything, Anglosaxons would be secondary to them. The common people were irrelevant here AFAIK: peasants were not warriors, unless exceptionally, nobles were instead.
@Coquinhaification
@johnarnold7984
@@LuisAldamiz it's because these are the Anglo-Saxon warriors leaving England just after the conquest, which is when they established their colony in Crimea and all, so they would be English speaking folks. The Norman warriors mostly remained in England as the new rulers.
@@Coquinhaification - I'll take that at face value but I still have some doubts.
15:33 they weren't crusaders anymore at that point, as they had been excommunicated plus it was mostly a Venetian thing and the Byzantines had been quite treacherous to the real crusaders for a long time, from the beginning pretty much.
Didn't History Matters make a video on the Crusaders and the Byzantines?
Would like to know more about their relations.
The Varangians weren't an elite unite, they were the bodyguards of the Emperor but they weren't used in most armies and wars
Furthermore the Cataphractoi were the most elite unite
And there were also Elite infantry units which were in most armies unlike the Varangians
Detachments of Varangians were sent with Byzantine armies during the 11th century notably under George Maniakes and Basil Boioannes.
hmm, I think they were no mercenaries. more a personal guard of the emperor.
героям слава
In a sense, can the Varangian Guards be considered as the Janissary Corps of the Eastern Roman Empire?
Fundamentally yes. With some key differences, one being that they were willing and grown participants whereas Janissaries, at least from the start were kidnapped Christian children from the Balkans forced to become soldiers. Another being that Janissaries were tied for life in their vocation, while being Varangian was more of a career great warriors could opt for but eventually also retire from. Harald Hardrada is an example of this. This was possible due to the steady and perpetual flow of warriors from north europe who were willing to become Varangians as soon as others returned home as rich men. I also don't think Janissaries enjoyed the same status as Varangians, as they were bodyguards to the emperor but also advisers, generals of the armies and could even at times install a candidate they favoured to the throne. But I wouldn't be be surprised if Janissaries were established with inspiration from Varangians. The Ottomans after all, fancied themelves the spiritual successors of the roman empire (big 'ol wannabes if you ask me). Something which thereto only Christian european kingdoms (which is logical) had laid claim to since it was a Christian empire.
The janissary was more link the praetorian guard regarding their political behavior. But simlar to varangians in military roles.
@@alexanderb5726Byzantines would often impose mandatory retirement (or at least transferred to somewhere different) so they wouldn't get too comfortable/form strong relationships with important people
Not really. As the janissaries were enslaved, Christian boys brainwashed and forced to serve for life while the Varangian were volunteers who were payed and could leave anytime they wanted
No they can't.
Janissaries were a parasitic caste who murdered in cold blood many sultans to keep their privileges.
Varangians were decently loyal mercenaries
Videos are slowed down to .75
"Byzantium"? Really? Come on..we expect better from you.
While you're correct if they called it the "Roman Empire" then 95% of people would be "wtf?"
@@ZippyZapBike Eastern roman empire is a thing you know.
Its the name used by historians
@@correctionguy7632 it's a wildly inaccurate and anachronistic term that has no place in serious discourse, when the correct terminology ie "eastern rome / eastern roman empire" is very much in use.
The historical community needs to educate and correct the larger masses instead of perpetuating a falsehood.@@ZippyZapBike
Byzantiums most sought after mercenaries? The picture you're using is of a Roman Emperor and the emperors bodyguard. Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330. These in the picture are from a later time period.
The Eastern Roman Empire is many times called the Byzantine Empire and the Greek Empire. Even though they never called that themselves
It's a term that showed up in the 1550s that some (a lot of) people use to describe Eastern Rome as a separate state.
I don't like it either.
You can't be serious.
No the Eastern Roman Empire is called Byzantine Empire by modern historians for the period after East Rome became more Greek, in the Middle Ages after the end of the Western Roman Empire.
@@alicelund147 "modern" I refuse to spread lies and propaganda. They called themselves Romans their enemies called them Romans. You can believe revisionist history if you like that's your right but I won't follow it.
varangians were vikings not rus!
They were both. And also Anglo-Saxons after the Norman conquest of England caused a lot of them to bail.
Also assuming you mean Norsemen since viking is neither an ethnicity nor a culture.
The Rus are also supposedly Norsemen that settled in Eastern Europe (Rurikid Dynasty being descended from Rurik/Hrorik). So the aristocracy could also have been Norse, at least for a while.
"Viking" was an occupation, not an ethnic group.
Also, there were a lot of Rus in it too. All along the volga, Scandinavian and the Rus had a lot of cultural exchange, making them more similar culturally than you think.
originally they came from the Kieven Rus which was created by vikings
who are the byzantines? is that the empire made up by the germans so they can be the ones who conquered rome, instead of the muslims?
I believe you are talking about the Ostrogoth. They sacked the western roman empire.
The Dacians who spoke Greek and hated Rome, ask in the court of Diocletian...
Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire - neither entity ever existed.
not under those names anyways.
At least the capital cities are correctly named. Byzantium was never really Rome but an usurpation.
Are you trying to be profound?
@@LuisAldamizEastern Rome was just the Eastern Roman empire that managed to survive until 1453. Not usurpation because they split off to make management of Rome easier. You’re either stupid, or you don’t know the definition of usurpation 😂
@@MasonBryant Just stating the facts.
tl:dr : varangian guard was only good when it was consisted of the original varangians, e.g the Russians 6000 of whom the prince of the Rus has gifted to the Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Those were indeed - OP.
But then the William The Conqueror has took England, and puny anglo-saxons who lost to him has started to flee the England and flocking to the banners of varangians.
The mercenary pool has been polluted with influx of dirty poor English "peasants" and the varangians lost every battle after. Including a humiliation defeat from the crusade of 1204.
This is such a retarded overgeneralization its almost hilarious. Its almost as if the general's leadership, tactics employed, regular army troopers and their morale, army preparedness are inconsequential because the "Varungeeayans" were invincible supermen here to save the day.
Dude, shut the fuck up for us 😂
Where do you get russians from? :P Most that served in the Varangian Guard were of Scandinavian descent. People mix this crap up all the time because of the fact that they came or traveled through KievnRus lol. I can assure you that Slaic people were not very common in the guard
@@patrikdahlberg1825 i've already written what history has told us.
The sources are widely known. You should read them before writing also.
The Rus are the Russians since what is written in the Russian primary chronicle, and 6000 of them were gifted to the Emperor by the Svyatoslav the prince of the Rus. Y
ou call them Scandinavians yet even the terminology e.g. Varangian - is unknown still and disputed.
@@bydloshkolnik Ugh I am not even going to bother here. The fact that you even use russians as an example during this time period makes no sense
@@patrikdahlberg1825 What period are you talking about the varangian guard of the ERE has started at the 1034 A.D. The Kievan Rus was in it's 3nd century of existence.
The primary chronicle which states the Rus are Russians was written at the 1113 only 80 years after the formation of the Varangians not to mention that it could have started to get written decades before the official date.
So the nation has been formed by that time.
Do not mix the 8 and 11 century.
The Varangian guards caused the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. The Professional Standing army of the Byzantines were far more effective for 600 years before the over-hyped Varangians flopped onto the scene. The Varangians is just one more part of the overemphasised furry Viking hype train.
Are you sure?
@@SamO-ik2cm Indeed.