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Who were the members of the Varangian Guard?
The members served as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors. The Varangian Guard was known for being primarily composed of recruits from northern Europe, including mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia but also Anglo-Saxons from England.
How did the Nordic people interact with the Byzantine Empire?
Engaging in trade, piracy, and mercenary service, Varangians roamed the river systems and portages of Gardariki, as the areas north of the Black Sea were known in the Norse sagas. Those were the main important trade links at that time, connecting Medieval Europe with Abbasid Caliphates and the Byzantine Empire.
What did the varangian guard wear?
The trademark of the Varangian Guard pertained to carrying an imposing ax and wearing of heavy armor (though in rare cases, they were also lightly armed). Relating to the latter, the armor often entailed ringmail shirts that were sometimes reinforced with lamellar (klivanion) or scale armor.
Where does the word Varangian come from?
The name comes from medieval Latin Varangus, ultimately from Old Norse, and probably based on vár ‘pledge’. Varangian guard the bodyguard of the later Byzantine emperors, comprising Varangians and later also Anglo-Saxons.
What happened to the Varangian Guard?
As they entered the city at various points, the Varangians retreated with the Emperor to the palace. Here they held their ground until the emperor and large parts of the nobility secretly left the city. After negotiations they surrendered to the Crusaders, and no doubt many of them found further employment there.
How many people were in the Varangian Guard?
But the numbers, in accordance with sources, kept fluctuating after 11th century – though most of them dealt with the Varangians participating in battles, and these warriors were possibly only a part of the entire Varangian Guard in its full capacity. In any case, the figures range from 4,500 men to a paltry 540 men.
Did Vikings use Greek fire?
In 941 the Rus launched a disastrous attack on Constantinople. With the Byzantine army and navy once again gone from the city, a fleet of 1,000 ships descended upon Constantinople only to be done in by 15 old dromons fitted with Greek Fire projectors that set the Viking ships ablaze.
What weapons did the varangian Guard use?
The Varangian Guard was best known for its weaponry, for they carried axes, sometimes described as single-bladed and sometimes as double. “The imperial axe-bearers” is a common description of them. The Varangian Guard’s top commanders seem to have been Byzantine, although smaller units had foreign commanders.
What is the meaning of Varangian Guard?
The Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα τῶν Βαράγγων, Tágma tōn Varángōn) was an elite unit of the Byzantine Army from the tenth to the fourteenth century, whose members served as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine Emperors.
Were the Varangians loyal to the Emperor?
In essence, as historian Dr. Raffaele D’Amato mentioned (in his book The Varangian Guard: 988-1453) , the Varangians were specifically employed to be directly loyal to their paymaster – the Emperor.
What is the origin of the word Varangian?
Interestingly, the very term Varangian (Old Norse: Væringjar; Greek: Βάραγγοι, or Varangoi) is open for etymological debate. Though most scholars tend to agree that it is derived from Old Norse væringi, which is a compound of vár ‘pledge or vow of fidelity’ and gengi ‘companion or fellowship’.
What happened to the Varangian catepans?
On 3 September 1041, they were defeated in battle by the Normans. Many of the last catepans were sent from Constantinople with Varangian units. In 1047, John Raphael was sent to Bari with a contingent of Varangians, but the Bariots refused to receive his troops and he spent his term at Otranto.