My favourite story about the varangians is the one on the skylitz chronical. A Thracesian woman was assaulted by a varangian and she killed him with his own spear. Other varangians came up to her and offered the dead varangians personal belongings and praised her.
It must have been amazing to have been a Norse adventurer and seeing Constantinople for the first time. You’ve only heard about some mythical city that is pure paradise with everything you’d ever want in life, so you take a risk and make the journey there to find out the stories where true. Straight out of a fantasy novel and I love it. Kinda wish there was a historical fiction show or movie about a simple Norse man going through trials and tribulations to reach the city perhaps after falling on bad times.
The book “Byzantium” by Stephen Lawhead had a wonderful scene where the Norse come out of the mist to see Constantinople laid out before them- so so good
I am reading a norwegian book series about Harald Hardrade, mostly fiction, but major events are true. Lets hope for translation and eventually a movie. Would be awesome.
Fun fact: they've found runic inscriptions(the Vikings written language) in hagia Sophia and other buildings from Constantinople. When some of the inscriptions were translated it turned out to be just banter. Things like "Ragnar slept with froya" or "Grim smells"
Fun Fact #2 Emperor Alexios awarded those Anglo Saxons land in Crimea, where they founded numerous cities, among them "New London" and "New York" (the OG). In fact, the river Londina is called like that nowadays because of this anglo saxon colony.
@@ragael1024 they were also actually loyal, so. I don’t care what they were “in it for”. If you can count on them, that’s already better than the Praetorians. Also, the Praetorians weren’t in it for duty either, almost all of their treachery came from their greed and lust for power
Not really. The Varangians weren't a political unit as were the Praetorians, but they played political roles and showed their greedy side too, by participating in assassination of emperor their swore to protect, or abandoned their role as bodyguards after demanding a raise in pay during a pressing time, they were mercenaries after all.
"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] ." wiki/Greece_runestones
I know, right? Historical realities have a tendency to bite people in the ass. When the Vikings themselves call 'Greece' and 'Greek', keyboard fanatics quiet down. 😊
Harald Hardrada raided from Sicily to Mesopotamia, became increasingly famous, and according to his saga, empress Zoe wanted to marry him. However, upon his refusal she ordered him to be jailed on false accusations of misuse of imperial property. Harald then gathered his loyal men and sailed down the Golden Horn, but the giant chain closing the channel was raised - and no ship had ever managed to cross it. Harald then ordered his men to pick up their belongings and go to the back of the ship. With all the weight on its stern, the galley tilted, the bow lifting upwards, and it managed to cross over the chains. Essentially performing the equivalent of a wheeling.
@@maxavail Yes, indeed, but Hollywood is too interested in making movies that virtue signal Critical Race Theory and how whites, especially the ones from way up north, are racist!! Until this country steam cleans all the commie scum out of this country, especially Hollywood, that great movie will never be made!!
@@chucklynch6523 You are really fully of shit there are dozens of movies and series about Vikings. WTF does CRT have to do with this ? You don't even know what it is obviously. And how do virue signal CRT ? .Also the Hollywood has never claimed that Whites up north are more racists than say American whites or even southern euro whites. In fact Nordic whites are the least racist people in Europe. Why do u feel the need to lie ?
You forgot to mention the "Greece runestones". There are about 30 of them in Sweden, and were made in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home, or men who returned with great wealth. It is very interesting reading them, gives you a more personal aspect for these men.
I love history. Of all the stories/topics in history, one of my absolute favorites is the Varangian Guard. It's cool that someone was smart enough to recognize their skills and utilize them and work with them instead of basically committing suicide by fighting them lol. Also, I admire their loyalty - every time I hear about the Varangians, I hear about their loyalty. It just makes me like the Varangians and Vikings even more. It's interesting how both the emperor and the Varangians had what the other needed - the emperor needed loyal, skilled, violent, intimidating fighters and the Varangians needed violence, adventure, loot, reputation, women and wine, etc. It's like a historic match made in Valhalla.
And to think we could have gotten this a week earlier, but it wouldn't have been nearly as awesome or in depth. Thanks Invicta for asking the fans about what to do with this video.
The segment about their equipment was amazing, but I can't help imagining how horrifying it would be to fight such a man. He towers over you, wearing so much armor you have no hope of hurting him, wielding big weapons with beastial ferocity.
At the time, 5'7 "was like 6'5, so yeah, it would be terrifying seeing a giant charge you with each strike being fueled by rage and being on their side would make you appreciate what side you're on
King Harald Hardrada was reportedly 7'6" tall.While even his enemie mentioed he was very tall but there is no proof he was actually this tall. But the average was 5,7 like you say, today is 5,11. We have many that are 190-200 cm in Norway, me included, so the tallest people (except extremes) were normally around 5,11 to 6,3 for the vikings :)
When the Greeks first saw them within the city walls, they called them barbarians, drunks, unruly and lacking culture. But in time, they proved to be very loyal to the Emperor. These Vikings would return to Scandinavia with wild stories of riches and Greek culture. So many Vikings were taking off for Greece that some rulers tried implementing laws to strip them of property if they took off rather than stay at home with their community to tend the land and defend it.
Around thirty runestones that contain information regarding the voyages that were made by Norsemen to the byzantine empire managed to survive and were found in Sweden. Most of those runestones are in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home. Such as these: "Folkmarr had this stone raised in memory of Folkbjörn, his son. He also met his end among the Greeks. May God help his spirit and soul."[62] "... had this stone erected in memory of ... ... He fell in Greece. May God help (his) soul."[65] "Tófa and Hemingr had this stone erected in memory of Gunnarr, their son, and ... He died abroad among the Greeks. May God and God's mother help his soul."[67] "Guðrún raised the stone in memory of Heðinn; (he) was Sveinn's nephew. He was in Greece, divided (up) gold. May Christ help Christians' spirits."[122] "Vésteinn, Agmundr (and) Guðvér, they raised the stone in memory of Báulfr, their father, a Þegn of strength. He was with the Greeks; then died with them(?) / at ⟨þum⟩."[125] "These landmarks are made in memory of Inga's sons. She came to inherit from them, but these brothers-Gerðarr and his brothers-came to inherit from her. They died in Greece." "Þorsteinn let make the landmark after Sveinn, his father, and Þórir, his brother. They were out to Greece. And after Ingiþóra, his mother. Œpir carved." Kárr had this stone raised in memory of Haursi(?), his father; and Kabbi(?)/Kampi(?)/Kappi(?)/Gapi(?) in memory of his kinsman-by-marriage. (He) travelled competently; earned wealth abroad in Greece for his heir."[80] "Ingimundr and Þórðr (and) Jarl and Vígbjôrn(?) had the stone raised in memory of Ingifastr, their father, a captain who travelled abroad to Greece, Ióni's(?) son; and in memory of Ígulbjôrn. And Œpir carved."[84] "Steinhildr had this stone erected in memory of Viðbjôrn, her husband, a traveller to Greece. May God and God's mother help his soul. Ásmundr Kári' son marked."[92] §Q "Ljótr the captain erected this stone in memory of his sons. He who perished abroad was called Áki. (He) steered a cargo-ship; he came to Greece. Hefnir died at home ... ... cut the runes ..."[99] "Fastvé had the stone raised in memory of Gerðarr and Ótryggr, her sons. The other (= the latter) died in Greece."[104]
That's amazing to read through. and to think in the medieval times, people just go hither and thither without leaving anything behind that they were there. To read this really sheds light on what it was like to live at that time. To see brave warriors depart from their hometowns, whether for glory, or financial-social reasons, and know that they were still connected over the many miles is different from the impression normally taught. Thanks for sharing.
These runestones are a major attestament to the fact that Byzantium was Greek and not Roman and the Byzantines were Greeks and not Romans! I am saying this because there is a deliberate ongoing campaign to totally de-Hellenize Byzantium, stripping it off any Greek element, and turn it into Roman!
@@ThomasGazis well, the eastern Romans were always culturally of a hellenic leaning. The main language was greek. That's what the northerners are referring to. Remember a couple things are going on at this time in history. 1. Nationalism did NOT exist yet. So the land of the greeks were called that because of the main tongue spoken, not because they were all ethnically greek. They couldn't be. You had bulgarians, isaurians, etc. All living in the empire. So when the Rus were speaking of the Greeks, it's not exactly the way you think in the way of the 19th and 20th century. Even when the Imperiun was whole, greek was the most common tongue spoken east of Illyria, from Pontus down to Alexandria. This was thanks to the Hellenistic movements of Alexander and his Diodochi. Even during the 3rd century BCE, the Romans viewed greek ideas and culture as a standard for the region. By the 10th century, sure, the cultural identity would be greek rather than latin, but it still is one segment of The Roman Empire. 2. Those citizens saw THEMSELVES as Rhomaioi, as Romans. Similar to myself. I am living in the States, born and raised here, so the closest sociopolitical culture I attach to is American, that is, I am a citizen of this political entity. However, culturally in terms of family and ancestral roots, I would be Filipino. Those greeks were as much Roman as those living in Gallia or Africa in the 3rd century. The Arabs and Turks that encroached from the east in the 7th and 11th centuries did not term them Greeks, they termed them Rum, or Romans, due to these people being part of the Roman state when they approached the borders. It is a play of semantics, but they are Romans. This is not to deminish their Greek culture or ethnicity, but because they were residents of an area that while militarily conquered by Roman arms, were able to retain their identity yet fly the Imperial banner. In 27AD, those living in Thessaloniki were somewhat different than those living in Capua, they were greeks living under Roman suzerainty. But by 325AD, they were largely the same people. Look at Canada. In Montreal, the official tongue is english, but the most common spoken is french. But in Edmonton, the official is english, and the most common is also english. Are those in Quebec no longer Canadians? Of course they still are. Same for those hellenes living in the Medieval period. They were just as much Roman as they were Greek. This goes into ... 3. To divide that is similar to those people who do not want to give credit to Byzantium being the CONTINUATION of the Roman Empire. There is nothing that points otherwise. After the empire was divided, there was no break in the political structure, or even ethnically I may add, from the 4th century of the Aegean region until 13th century. During that entire time, there was still a capital city governing that region, complete with a Senate, and an Emperor. No one gutted out all of the inhabitants and replaced them with Han chinese from say, 700 to 820AD. (This did happen to some extent with Slavs overrunning the Balkans down to Thessaly in the 8th century, but it did not end the Roman political body in Constantinople) They were thoroughly Roman by this point, just more entrenched at speaking the local tongue. To say that they were a Greek empire and not Roman, is the same claim as saying they were not the Roman empire that was established by Octavian. That is some pro-western view to legitimize the Holy Roman Empire into something that could never be. To take the crown from the ones who should rightfully wear it. I don't feel that anyone is trying to remove the "greekness" of Byzantium. Mainly. They are reinforcing that Byzantium IS Rome. For so many centuries people did not want to give credit where it's due and call the duck for what it is. Even some in my class once said, how could Byzantium be Rome when it did not even rule over the city? Simple. What would you call humans living on Mars? Martians? No. Earthlings, because they originated from Earth and brought their Earth views with them. They did not create any new empire after 476, just ruled the one already in place. 4. It is noted that there were indeed parts of the Peloponnesus that still followed the Olympian gods. In 804 there was still resistance to getting these Maniots converted to Christianity.
@@ThomasGazis somehow the reply was cut, but is it noted that in 804, there were people called Maniots that still worshipped the Olympians and resisted attempts to be converted to Christianity.
@@drakonos79 many of your points are wrong. First of all, the Varangians were describing the Byzantines as GREEKS and not as Romans! Greeks, not in the sense of the 19th or 20th century as you are claiming (the Varangians had no idea of that concept, that would emerge 9-10 centuries after their era) but in the sense i.e. of the 10th century CE! If there was in their era any notion that the Byzantines were "Romans" rest assured that the Varangians would have called them in their runestones Romans and not Greeks! The Varangians were living in Byzantium say around the 10th century, so when they are claiming in their runestones that they were living in the land of the Greeks, among Greeks, we have to give them credit! In addition, the Hellenistic empire was an empire where the Greeks were calling themselves (or were called by the nations they had conquered) GREEKS and not "Babylonians" or "Egyptians"! So, I am sorry that the Varangian runestones are spoiling your "nation-nihilist" agenda but that's the truth and anything else is a deliberate falsification of history! P.S. Regarding the Quebecois case: I am a very sociable person. In a picturesque coffee shop/pub - located in Plaka, at the roots of the Acropolis hill, in Athens - I have been talking to Canadian tourists for many years now. NEVER the Toronto Canadians came close to the Quebec Canadians. Thus, I was splitting my self half time with the english speaking Canadians and half time with the Quebec Canadians - speaking rather poor French to them (which they oddly loved, as long as I wasn't speaking English to them!)! But the Toronto and the Quebec Canadians NEVER bothered to intermingle!
"Miklagaard has been our home for 20 years or more We've lent our axes, spears and swords In service of the emperor We are loyal warriors That's the oath we gave To protect the emperor even to a violent grave..." "Our loyalty was always firm We kept our given word On these southern battlefields Our northern war cries roared Battles have been fought Many gave their lives But all who died by axe and sword Were called to hall up high..."
Amazing how the Valhalla archetype survived in these poems even after their formal conversion to Christianity. Reminds me of the Japanese army in WW2 who incorporated the Bushido code of the samurai even though the regular army was in fact the one who destroyed the last samurai strongholds in the wake of modern Japan.
Hmm saw a really good documentary about Vlad, made by the Romanians and they say he was Swedish. Hope you manage to find it on youtube. That is where I saw it.
@@simonbroberg969 Vlad who ? We've had many rulers by that name. Vlad the 3rd is the one commonly known as Dracula, the Impaler and he was definitely not Swedish.
It is completely wild just how much the viking/norse/norman expansion changed the course of history, and it is also pretty damn wild that we know very little about them. They just seem to emerge from the north, having loads of kids, building forts and fighting little berserkers, and then just merge into the nations they often defined to the point you never would have guessed they were there.
@Hitler Senpai if you look at reconstruction of plate harnesses as examples they weren’t lil’ baby tiny scrimblos, they were just regular sized bois, also key word AVERAGE, meaning it would not be uncommon to see a 6ft dude walking around, averages are usually taken as maximums for some reason. Ps: sorry for being a “um er actually erm” geeky piece of shit, it’s just so fun and funny and EPIC.
Constantinople was the center of the world at that time. Other cities seemed to date from the stone age, next to Constantinople. Constantinople at that time adorned the dreams of mankind. I can't imagine how surprised the Varangians guards were when they first saw Constantinople.
The Roman Empire was always first in many ways, and in its architecture and urban planning it excelled well beyond what came before it or even after for almost 1000 years until the British Empire. Rome and Constantinople, the two most glorious Roman cities, made a huge impact on mankind's history.
@@ThomasGazis How am I distorting the truth, when Constantinople quite literally was Rome 2.0, the proverbial New Rome built by the Romans with the intention to serve as a head city of the Roman Empire? The people who lived in Constantinople were Romans who did their best for over 1000 years to conserve Roman culture. I know that you will tell me that the Romans spoke Greek, thus they were Greek. But that does not render someone a Greek. Language is nothing other than a tool wielded for communication. My response is simply this: do you understand that the Romans and many other Roman nationals such as Armenians, Syrians, Galatians, Isaurians, Phrygians, Carians, Thracians and many others including the Romans, were using the Greek and Latin languages like you and I are using English to communicate with one another?
@@ThomasGazis the byzantine called themselves Rums, for roman. In Anatollyah the turks founded first the sultanate of rums. The concept of roman at this time was more similar to the concept of european of today... So thanks for the romans that we have peace and an "unified" federation.
The Varangian DID NOT took the tattooing custom from the Turk!!!! Tattooing was a general practice for at least 1000 years, as Celts, Germans, Pictae, Dacians/Getae were tattooing themselfs.
Don't forget it was from a Byzantine source. Byzantines vaguely knew the ethnic differences of the North and their most common foe were the steppe nomads.
@@Λυκάων but tattooing was even common in the Roman Empire. Legionaries would be tattooed with the symbol of their Legion for as late as the 7th century AD when the last Legion finally disappeared. It was also a practice in other fields. So the Medieval Romans themselves would hardly be strangers to the custom of tattooing.
@Survival prepping for normal people Just because Turks became muslim doesn’t mean they became Arabs. Turks even today have many of their ancient Tengrist traditions alive. In those days Turks started to call Tengri Allah, however majority of Turks haven’t even read or learned about Quran. Also Turkish practice of Islam is different than the universal Islam. That is the reason why Turks easily adapted to Secularism Atatürk brought. Pet Dogs are Haram too. We always had dogs. Alcohol is haram. We drink Rakı. Most Turks deny some practices in Quran because it doesn’t match Turkish Culture. Also I believe he meant Turks of Northern Euroasian Steppe (Ukraine).
Yes they probably did. Romans were closer to Turks of Western Euroasian Steppe (Ukraine). In your language Turkic and Turkish are different. That is What caused confusion.
Praetorian Guard was exactly what they wanted to be: opportunistic, corrupt and craven bodyguards who only defended their emperor well against the rabble of peasants.
@@swissmilitischristilxxii3691 Something tells me you have something against the Varangian Guard. Unlike the Praetorian Guard, the Varangians were always loyal to their emperor and willing to die for said emperor as long as they got paid, or until the emperor died, they never killed any emperor to my knowledge, or tried to place a puppet emperor on the throne... or literally sell the empire to the highest bidder. As for the overrated guards part, yeah no. The fact that they were able to fight so effectively, even during the Fourth Crusade. If not for them, the city would have fallen easily, but Alexios III had to be a coward and run away to leave his own people to die.
@@swissmilitischristilxxii3691 Right... I'm not denying how great the Swiss Guard were, but you wanted these guys to die for an Emperor who broke his own oath towards not only the Varangian guard but to his own people and fled like a coward. They had honor, they fought and they never betrayed an Emperor, which is what a bodyguard ought to do. As for their talents in combat... you seriously must have not done any research on them if you thought that they were glorified guards. They routed armies by themselves, they never faltered during combat, hell, they were the most effective unit during the Siege of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade... and you tell me they were glorified guards because they didn't die for someone who wasn't even brave enough to lead them in combat and fled the city. So what, if they had all chosen to die in pointlesd combat, would you have liked them more? The Swiss Guard were fighting to delay the enemy so the pope could escape to a safe place. What reason had the Varangian Guard to fight? The person they were there to protect wasn't even there anymore.
Not really, the Praetorian never wished to be mere bodyguards. The Varangians weren't a political unit as were the Praetorians, but they played political roles and showed their greedy side too, by participating in assassination of emperor their swore to protect in favor of usurpers, or abandoned their role as bodyguards after demanding a raise in pay during a pressing time, they were viking mercenaries after all.
@@FreeFallingAir Because you know these mercenaries were better and absolutely loyal bodyguards to the emperors then the homemade ones like the Praetorian Guard and those that follow them.
In 1404 axe bearing British warriors in the military were mentioned by the Byzantine Emperor and in the 1300s there are many references to Varangians serving as guardsmen. Whilst they were no longer a large battlefield force in the 1400s they still remained as Palace guards and a regiment of the guard (mentioned in the kantakouzenos) We can assume to some degree that there were Varangians present in 1453.
You mean English. British meant something different in the medieval times. The English and 'British' were considered very different things in the middle ages in Britain. The Anglo-Saxons became the English (Angle-ish) and founded their country, England, and they referred to the original Celtic cultured folk of Britain as either Welsh or British, interchangeably. So, the Anglo-Saxons/English saw the British/Welsh as their enemy. A unified sense of Britishness on this island was not fostered until the 18th and moreso the 19th century, with the act of Union and the rise of the British Empire.
@@leod-sigefast I know all that, Im welsh myself lol. The exact referance says “of the british race” so take your pick really. There is a possibility of Scots, Welshmen and Englishmen all serving in the Varangians. But in this instance it probably is referring to Englishmen. But on the other hand, maybe not.
When this video popped up I just knew I'd come across at least one comment like this. I just bought and downloaded the game to try it w friend (bc it's on of rare full cross platform games) and I'm so glad to see that it has, at least to a certain degree, active community
@@FatherSeed_games man......I hate this game and console...... I got myself PS4 not so long ago so I naively thought that I can just buy the game and play w friends......those greedy ahh holes forbid me from doing that. Apparently I need fing Playstation plus to play for honor online
For some reason it didn't reply last time I sent. Ty man, but it seems like whole buying of the game and installing it was for nothing. Fing greedy sonny doesn't allow for honor to be played online without playstation plus....I pay full price for the console then I pay full price for the game and I still can't play it online???? Bs
For all his Bulgar bashing Basil actually intergrated them into the empire flawlessly. The war was brutal the peace was as swift and complete, Bulgaria becoming a loyal and integral part of the empire within months.
One of the best video-essays about the Byzantine world. The animation on this channel is very tasteful. It’s a shame, the Byzantine period has been so overlooked by writers of fiction/adventure literature as well as by the movie industry. Everyone knows about the Ancient Rome and the Crusades, but few have even heard of the Byzantine empire. Public school education doesn’t really talk about it. That is indeed surprising, because the legacy of the Byzantines is actually still alive in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. When you go to an Orthodox Church, you can see a living tradition that goes back to Constantinople in the first millennium.
"Hetairai" means "prostitutes" (εταίραι etere, "e" and "ai" are spelled as "e" in the word "get") . "Hetaireiai" is the correct word and it means "companies" (εταιρείαι, eterie, again all "e" are spelled as before and "i" as in the word "bill"). For example, the almughavar mercenaries that came to the empire in 1303 are mentioned as "Katalaniki Hetaireia" (Καταλανική Εταιρεία, katalaniki eteria), which means "Catalan Company"
Huh, I always assumed those were the same words with the Ancient Greek hetairai being called that precisely because they served as companions to men in leisure and conversation, like the japanese geishas; and just like the geishas, they weren't exactly prostitutes.
@@chingizzhylkybayev8575 Hetaira (fem.) and Hetairos (masc.) mean companion, that's why Alexander's cavalry was called Hetairoi (eteri), it's the plural of companions. As for the women, hetairai where at the top of the postitution climax, they weren't concubines, neither whores or sex slaves, they were as you say companions, just like the geishas you mention, and that's why only the aristocrats had them. Regarding the word Hetaireia (Company) we still use it to refer to any international company nowadays, but it's also means a union of people with common goal, whatever this goal may be. In that sense the medieval Greeks use the term Hetaireia (singular) and Hetaireiai (plural) for their mercenary groups. All these words have the same root and etymology but they are not the same
You're mostly corect, except for the addition of modern Greek pronunciation. Up until the middle byzantine ages the dipthongs were pronounced clear cut, with the exception of ει which sounded as ι. It was therefore Ἑ-τα-ι-ρεί-α-ι and Ἑ-τα-ί-ρα.
@@YiannissB. That's the first time I hear it and it sounds odd, in Medieval Greek they tried to merge and pronounce less letters, eg παλαιός=παλιός (paleos-palios). Βut then again I'm not a linguist so I'm not certain.
@@Ioannis_Moraitis you're right, that change begun during ~1000-1200 AD. I suggest you check this guy's channel, a teacher and fluent speaker in Latin and ancient Greek. He made me understand a lot about the history of Greek phonology th-cam.com/video/Dt9z5Gvp3MM/w-d-xo.html
@@Allloyzin Vikings dug rivers in Russia, its historically already an old game, they had the slave labour for doing this,,why do you think the name slave ressemble slavic, slave trade with slavic slaves to Middle East was very profitable for all different Vikings..same as the Arab Muslim slave-trade which provided even slves for USA and Latin America..actually in Arabic the name Black and Slave are the same also the Portuguese bought their African slaves from the ArabMuslims slave-traders which dominated Africa and Middle East....as 10% of slaves from Africa to USA died over 60% Blacks slaves died marching from Djibouti in Mali to Cairo, also Black Males were castrated and pregnant Black females killed, thats why tere is no Black population in Middle East.
I always really liked the Dane axe. There is a strange kind of aestheticism to it. Big and brutal, yet also elegant, especially the shape of its axe head. Would have been my weapon of choice as a Varangian.
Finally one of my favorite Units in one of my favorite medieval civilizations. Those Scandinavian and then also Saxon men were a force to be reckoned with. Also highly appreciate a more accurate to say the least depiction of their armour,based on the few sources that were found. Fun fact: In Greece there are people that have the surname Varangopoulos (Βαραγγοπουλος)or Varangopoulou(Βαραγγοπουλου)for the female version of it. It basically means son/daughter/children of the Varangian/Varangians. Possibly an intermixing (on one way or another...) with the local population and some Varagians.
No they were not! By the time Basileios II formed the Varangian Guard in the late 10th century, the Byzantines were actually doing FANTASTIC !!! The intensive campaining of the warrior Emperors Nikephoros Phokas and Ioannes Tzimiskes finally led to the defeat and pacification of the Muslim Arabs, who had been a mortal threat to the Empire for more than 3 centuries! No major threat from the East would come again until a full century later with the arrival of the Seljuks! Also the Empire was in the process and final stages of defeating and conquering its other great enemy, the First Bulgarian Empire. Emperor Basileios II completed that task - hence his sobriquet" Bulgar Slayer" ... So the Byzantines were doing just fine without the Varangians, they were the undisputed superpower of the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the richest,most influential and most powerful realms in the world and they had highly skilled,trained, disciplined and professional armies and naval forces! The Norsemen were mostly appreciated for their unwavering loyalty to their employer, the Emperor! The various native Scholae and Hetairiai that comprised the Imperial Guard up until then were as skilled and competent as the Norsemen, but their major flaw was that they were NATIVES!! As such their loyalties fluctuated among the various noble houses and Imperial pretenders! That could be due to many reasons: family ties, being from the same region of the Empire, having served under the command of a noble wannabe Emperor and thus being more appreciative of him rather than the current Emperor and a myriad other reasons! The Norsemen were mercenaries from a VERY distant land with no bonds and allegiances to any other in the Empire, only their generous employer, the Emperor mattered to them! He was the source of their wealth and prestige, the reason they had come to serve in the first place, so they would go above and beyond to protect him from any threat!
Best documentary I have seen about the Varangian Guard so far. The podcast TheHistoryOfByzantium had a discussion about low popoulation density people vs urbanites and this might go some way to explain why the Norse were so appreciated. Something like, if you grow up in a low population density everything you ever do will be remembered and used against you. Which makes people more trustworthy. But that was just speculation while your documentary follow what few sources there are. Well done!
@@majorianus8055 Robin Pierson has great empathy and a quiet passion for the people of the past, retelling history from an Eastern Roman perspective. He does some of the aspects of historical podcasting better than anyone else, imho.
Loyaly is just one thing of many that was part of the most valued thing in Norse soceity: A good name, to be spoken highly of in life and death was the only thing that would last. Disloyalty, cowardice, dishonor in general was to be a "niding". Any such person would end up in Hel.
We showed the world, the function of the Daneaxe We were the first to break into the burning fray The Romans heckled us as imperial wine sacks But still they waited for the Norse to clear the way For every year, in imperial service We earned another 60 gold coins for our work We made both emperors and enemies feel nervous! The bloody labour in the danger has that perk! First to combat, first to fight And first to drink throughout the night But discipline was always tight The throne was ever in our sight With golden cups and royal wine A ruby, red as blood would shine Adorning the left ear of mine The guardian bond could not be severed!
The Grave in the Busento; At Cosenza nightly lisping, from Busento muted songs, Answer echoing from the waters with its trills each note prolongs. Each way, up and down the river valliant Goths their shadows cast, Grieving o'er their leader Alaric, now in death still unsurpassed. All too soon and far from home would he be laid to final rest With his shoulders, face and neck by locks of youth still blond, caressed. And along Busento's banks feverishly in turns they raced To divert the river's current; a new riverbed they traced. In the hollow, fully drained a still deeper bed they forced; Lowered deep into this trench the dead warrior, armed and horsed; Then again with earth they covered him with his possessions brave, That the tall grass from the river grow out from the hero's grave. For a second time diverted to restore the river's home, With full force in their old bed Busento's billows sprayed their foam. And a choir of men were singing, "Sleep an honored hero's slumber! Never shall vile Roman greed your final resting place encumber!" This they sang; the hymns of praise resounded from the Gothic host; Speed them on, Busento billows, speed them on from coast to coast!
Only 3 nations had Tsars if i am not mistaken ( Serbia, Russia and Bulgaria ) and the title of Tsar was equal to emperor ( hense why these 3 nations where called empires at some point ). Here in Bulgaria we do call Constantinople Tsarigrad, but we used Kesar instead of Cesar.
I’ve often imagined a meeting between two of these guys in 1067 being extremely awkward. A Viking is defeated at Stamford bridge and goes off to Constantinople nodding in appreciation at one of the victors. Six months later the same Saxon shows up and is all like “yeah… was not expecting things to end like that”. They then eye each other suspiciously across a mead hall for the rest of the evening.
You being a Greek literally doesn’t matter. The only way it could matter at all is if you have somehow convinced yourself that the Byzantine empire was a Greek empire.
@@agathius3969 You speak like someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about. Just because Greek nationalism has told you something that doesn’t make it true. I find it difficult to believe that in an empire where most called themselves Romans and not Hellenes or Greeks how it can be a Greek empire.
@@isaacangelos You mention people who don't know what they're talking about, and yet you are the one equating Ethnicity with Culture. They were Greeks, and they were Romans. Can't get more simple. The same way centuries ago when the Empire was whole, Iberians were Romans, Gauls were Romans, Greeks, Egyptians etc. Just cause you saw it on reddit and now you consider yourself a master historian, doesn't mean much
@@agathius3969 Why don’t you read the book Romanland. You literally can’t be an ethnic Greek if you don’t identify as a Greek. If you read Byzantine sources(which you obviously don’t) you mostly just see Roman with the odd Hellene or Greek thrown in.
Here in Sweden we have alot of Runestones speaking of travels to Miklagård and some also mentions the varangian Guards! Tho i think its really sad that this isent as known like the Vikings that went to England and france, wished there where more about the eastern journeys of the Vikings in Media!
The sun rose over the wasteland As far as the eye can see Sand fills the vast plains of Serkland It's vultures jeering at me But they can circle until they drop dead I have not come this far To end, but to pursue my own thread To join The Varangian Guard
First, I would like to congratulate Invicta for preparing such a detailed, comprehensive and correct summary of the Varangians, about whom I have read the English translation of the book [Titled: The Varangians of Byzantium] written by an Icelandic historian. Kudos to you!!! One small contribution: Up until after the Battle of Hastings 1066 AD, the Varangians were overwhelmingly composed of the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and even Icelandic warriors. After 1066, Anglo-Saxons started filling in the ranks of the Varangians, as it is correctly stated by the video.
Our longest video yet and it could not go to a more deserving unit! Huge props to the team for making this awesome episode. You can support them directly though purchases on their store which features all kinds of amazing designs: printerpanther.com/collections/invicta
2:46 an error on map, DACIA wasn't there , was in what is Romania today ,inside Carpathian Mountains area , with the capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia (near Sibiu city) ,the map looks like DACIA was in Hungary (from today) and this is an error
Harald Hardråde had a fantastic career in Bysants, won a series of victories according to Snorre Sturlason, and rose to the top in the væringgarden as it was called. He was of royal blood in Norway and when he left Bysants (deserted) he was rich beyond belief. He had enough cash that he bought enough support and became king in Norway. He then looked over to England and made a dash for the throne there, if he only had come some time later, he would fight the winner of Godwinson vs Willhelm the basterd, and maybe England would have been Norway.
The guy was also a close friend of Yaroslav and spent some time at his court. He wanted to marry Yaroslav's daughter but was told to go get some balls (a.k.a. recognition and prestige) first and so Harald went joined the Emperor's guard. Upon returning from his service in Byzantium he eventually married Yaroslav's daughter and took her with him to Norway.
Several runestones in sweden were raised by varangian guards after returning home, i remember one that was risen by one varangian guardsman at request from another guardsmans father.
I first learned of the Varangian Guard through a series of fictional books written by John Ringo where their descendants play a major role in the main characters life, and since Eastern Roman history is one of the few places that my schooling failed me. Since reading those books, and discovering a historical unit i had never heard of before, i decided to do research. And i am absolutely astounded by the effort you put into this video. You did a far better job than any other documentary or research page i have seen before, and i know you had to go through multiple sources to get this information. I love your channel because you put so much effort into it. Thank you.
@P Nelson I do believe that's right. It's written in runes. I read that in the Prologue to Erik Christian Haugaard's 1963 novel Hakon of Rogen's Saga, which is set at the end of the Viking Era. I recommend it. It's a good book.
Regarding their tattoos I realize you were quoting a contemporary historian of their time around the time of their mention so I'm not positive where you got your information but I'm assuming it's the same source albeit paraphrasing at that point. That being said it's misinformation regardless of origin. It is untrue that the varangian practice of tattooing their bodies was a custom adopted from Turkic interaction as anyone even remotely interested in Scandinavian history today is well aware of the fact that inking the body has been a common thing to do by the men of the north and really all of Europa (i.e. otzi) since time immemorial. Obviously historical misinformation, regardless of how the errors occur, throughout the ages is nothing new however I just wanted to point that out for anyone who may be unaware. Also, your content is second to none, true ace tier quality and this one here is no exception! Love your stuff, thanks!!!
@@winnienguyen4420 When the Turks adopted Islam they did so in their own terms. Especially during the Seljuk era many kept the steppe traditions. Most of them also continued to drink alcohol etc. Ottoman Empire was considerably more Islamic but some, especially the Turkmens in Anatolia kept some of their traditions alive. Tatoos in particular were never fully abandoned by the Turks. Some of their troops and especially the Jannissaries used tatoos. They would tattoo the symbol of their detachments on their bodies.
You are absolutely right. Otzi - who lived 5000 years ago - was found on the border between Italy and Austria, he had 61 tattoos. In Denmark we have found tattoo tools in graves dating back to the Bronze Age, some 2000 years before the Viking Age even started.
I love this video. It was fascinating, fun, beautiful, and overall perfect. I’d say “great work,” but that doesn’t even begin to describe the amazing work you guys did on this incredible video. It was completely worth the wait. I had very high expectations for this video and it still exceed them by a great margins.
One of the most thrilling historical novels set in the Byzantine Greek Empire during the last Siege of Constantinople, is “The Dark Angel” (original title Johannes Angelos) of prominent Finnish writer, Mika Waltari. Truly epic.
@@josephmoore9706 I was just replaying kingdom come deliverance and I saw this comment lmao what a coincidence. I totally agree with you tho, that game's combat is the best I've ever seen.
I remember being little and being told that one viking returned from Miklagard after many years and his family lamenting because he refused to dress in anything but the finest silk and dine on the finest meat and wine lol.
A truly superb documentary! My only critique (minor) is a reminder that Normans were also former Vikings who adopted more modern tactics (such as heavy cavalry). However, they still carried the bloodthirsty and fierce disposition of their Varangian opponents. Normans were also some of the most formidable soldiers of the Medieval ages. Clearly they were the only ones capable of besting the Varangian guard. If not for the Normans, perhaps the Byzantine Empire may have endured longer. Very shrewd of the Norse Vikings (both Normans and Varangians) to adapt themselves and integrate with those they once considered enemies. From Britain, the Normans then conquered most of the World. Some might say they are still in power to this day. So for the Varangians to lose to the Normans, it was a very worthy adversary. Outstanding documentary!
to me honest, it really wound me up, 922AD Swedish vikings were fighting the Russ in the 13th warrior story written in 922AD by the fella we call Ibn. so no way were the Varangian Guard Russ!
I don't know who said it, but the best description of the Varangians that I've heard is "they were loyal to the throne, but not necessarily to its occupant."
In Finland it is said when Varangians left to come back to their homes, they took route to Finland to raid for last time, but few of them were killed in Finland which have been a tale for a long time now.
Even when they're home after such a long journey and adventure, they still have to risk it all. They really couldn't help themselves I guess, raiding was in their blood and dna. Or they were probably greedy and mad bastards, that probably as well haha.
They were for sure one the units that offered obstinate resistance to the crusaders who sacked Constantinople in 1204, but due to their small number, they didn't change the course of events
Being of 22 % Scandinavian ancestry and 6” 1’ with a blue eyed 6” 2’ son, I know where I get my drinking , love of women and fighting from. Hell I,m living in the wrong era. Awesome presentation. Did not know tis in depth history. Thank you.
@Hamza Bin Yasseen Well, not all of them are blonde. And they are smarter, bigger and stronger than "your people", so..... You are 100% judged by your name, in more ways than one
![The Last Viking - The Campaigns of Harald Hardrada [FULL DOCUMENTARY]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/uYsmHdgD5V4/mqdefault.jpg)
My favourite story about the varangians is the one on the skylitz chronical.
A Thracesian woman was assaulted by a varangian and she killed him with his own spear. Other varangians came up to her and offered the dead varangians personal belongings and praised her.
This is depicted in the Skylitzes Chronicle
Sounds like that lady was a badass.
He was probably a drunk fool, who wanted to mess with her after leaving his weapon on the side... what a way to be remembered in history.
@@elasolezito still a better way to go down in history than the pompeii masturbator
@@apparentlyjeremy sounds interesting, ok google...
Edit: alright, this did give me some laughs
It must have been amazing to have been a Norse adventurer and seeing Constantinople for the first time.
You’ve only heard about some mythical city that is pure paradise with everything you’d ever want in life, so you take a risk and make the journey there to find out the stories where true.
Straight out of a fantasy novel and I love it. Kinda wish there was a historical fiction show or movie about a simple Norse man going through trials and tribulations to reach the city perhaps after falling on bad times.
The book “Byzantium” by Stephen Lawhead had a wonderful scene where the Norse come out of the mist to see Constantinople laid out before them- so so good
@@HenryBrewerCalvert I read that book as a lad. It left quite the impression and definitely whet my appetite for history.
Vinland Saga blueballed us hard by timeskipping the hell out of Thorfin Travel to Costantinople.
Vikings kinda did this but not Constantinople, more like arab cities in Africa.
I am reading a norwegian book series about Harald Hardrade, mostly fiction, but major events are true.
Lets hope for translation and eventually a movie. Would be awesome.
Fun fact: they've found runic inscriptions(the Vikings written language) in hagia Sophia and other buildings from Constantinople. When some of the inscriptions were translated it turned out to be just banter. Things like "Ragnar slept with froya" or "Grim smells"
Hillarious.
This is pretty much what we do in Norway today as well 😂
"halfdan was here"
Fun fiction found in the loo: "glory holy to Valhalla"
Im gonna tell grim you said that!
Fun fact: Some Saxon veterans who survived the battle of Hastings ended up joining the Varangian Guard.
And they took a lot of the Greek culture from Ireland with them. Never could quite catch a break from the Normans.
Fun Fact #2
Emperor Alexios awarded those Anglo Saxons land in Crimea, where they founded numerous cities, among them "New London" and "New York" (the OG). In fact, the river Londina is called like that nowadays because of this anglo saxon colony.
Actually there was way more than just survivers of Hastings.
@@Ridder1523 They would have been pretty tough to have fought their way out of that Norman encirclement and rejoin the Varangians.
Funfact: My Neighbours cousins cat watched a documentary on The Byzantine's and joined the.... well he just sat their he's a cat stupid. 😆
These guys are everything the Praetorian Guard should have been.
yeah but at the end of the day, they were just in it for the money, not duty. but true, at least they fought their money's worth.
@@ragael1024 they were also actually loyal, so. I don’t care what they were “in it for”. If you can count on them, that’s already better than the Praetorians. Also, the Praetorians weren’t in it for duty either, almost all of their treachery came from their greed and lust for power
Who would've thought recruiting bodyguards from the families that wanted to kill you was a bad idea.
Not really. The Varangians weren't a political unit as were the Praetorians, but they played political roles and showed their greedy side too, by participating in assassination of emperor their swore to protect, or abandoned their role as bodyguards after demanding a raise in pay during a pressing time, they were mercenaries after all.
@@ragael1024 also not so different from the praetorians and hypaspis.
"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] ."
wiki/Greece_runestones
Facts!!!
I know, right? Historical realities have a tendency to bite people in the ass. When the Vikings themselves call 'Greece' and 'Greek', keyboard fanatics quiet down. 😊
Harald Hardrada raided from Sicily to Mesopotamia, became increasingly famous, and according to his saga, empress Zoe wanted to marry him. However, upon his refusal she ordered him to be jailed on false accusations of misuse of imperial property.
Harald then gathered his loyal men and sailed down the Golden Horn, but the giant chain closing the channel was raised - and no ship had ever managed to cross it. Harald then ordered his men to pick up their belongings and go to the back of the ship. With all the weight on its stern, the galley tilted, the bow lifting upwards, and it managed to cross over the chains. Essentially performing the equivalent of a wheeling.
Empress Zoe: No one can get past this barrier
Harald: Hold my mead
Harald: * Ollies longship *
Imagine the movie they could make of this guy's story.
@@maxavail Yes, indeed, but Hollywood is too interested in making movies that virtue signal Critical Race Theory and how whites, especially the ones from way up north, are racist!!
Until this country steam cleans all the commie scum out of this country, especially Hollywood, that great movie will never be made!!
@@chucklynch6523 You are really fully of shit there are dozens of movies and series about Vikings. WTF does CRT have to do with this ? You don't even know what it is obviously. And how do virue signal CRT ? .Also the Hollywood has never claimed that Whites up north are more racists than say American whites or even southern euro whites. In fact Nordic whites are the least racist people in Europe.
Why do u feel the need to lie ?
You forgot to mention the "Greece runestones". There are about 30 of them in Sweden, and were made in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home, or men who returned with great wealth. It is very interesting reading them, gives you a more personal aspect for these men.
I love history. Of all the stories/topics in history, one of my absolute favorites is the Varangian Guard. It's cool that someone was smart enough to recognize their skills and utilize them and work with them instead of basically committing suicide by fighting them lol. Also, I admire their loyalty - every time I hear about the Varangians, I hear about their loyalty. It just makes me like the Varangians and Vikings even more. It's interesting how both the emperor and the Varangians had what the other needed - the emperor needed loyal, skilled, violent, intimidating fighters and the Varangians needed violence, adventure, loot, reputation, women and wine, etc. It's like a historic match made in Valhalla.
Yeah it really was Norse heaven on earth.
@@buddermonger2000 well all those blondes and blue eyes warriors coming from the north with living walking fighting savers in the south.. grrrrrrrrr!
And to think we could have gotten this a week earlier, but it wouldn't have been nearly as awesome or in depth. Thanks Invicta for asking the fans about what to do with this video.
8
The segment about their equipment was amazing, but I can't help imagining how horrifying it would be to fight such a man. He towers over you, wearing so much armor you have no hope of hurting him, wielding big weapons with beastial ferocity.
Basically the Barbarian version of the Iron Giant.
@@FrostReave Or Juggernaut from X-Men.
At the time, 5'7 "was like 6'5, so yeah, it would be terrifying seeing a giant charge you with each strike being fueled by rage and being on their side would make you appreciate what side you're on
King Harald Hardrada was reportedly 7'6" tall.While even his enemie mentioed he was very tall but there is no proof he was actually this tall. But the average was 5,7 like you say, today is 5,11. We have many that are 190-200 cm in Norway, me included, so the tallest people (except extremes) were normally around 5,11 to 6,3 for the vikings :)
When the Greeks first saw them within the city walls, they called them barbarians, drunks, unruly and lacking culture. But in time, they proved to be very loyal to the Emperor. These Vikings would return to Scandinavia with wild stories of riches and Greek culture. So many Vikings were taking off for Greece that some rulers tried implementing laws to strip them of property if they took off rather than stay at home with their community to tend the land and defend it.
Around thirty runestones that contain information regarding the voyages that were made by Norsemen to the byzantine empire managed to survive and were found in Sweden. Most of those runestones are in memory of members of the Varangian Guard who never returned home. Such as these:
"Folkmarr had this stone raised in memory of Folkbjörn, his son. He also met his end among the Greeks. May God help his spirit and soul."[62]
"... had this stone erected in memory of ... ... He fell in Greece. May God help (his) soul."[65]
"Tófa and Hemingr had this stone erected in memory of Gunnarr, their son, and ... He died abroad among the Greeks. May God and God's mother help his soul."[67]
"Guðrún raised the stone in memory of Heðinn; (he) was Sveinn's nephew. He was in Greece, divided (up) gold. May Christ help Christians' spirits."[122]
"Vésteinn, Agmundr (and) Guðvér, they raised the stone in memory of Báulfr, their father, a Þegn of strength. He was with the Greeks; then died with them(?) / at ⟨þum⟩."[125]
"These landmarks are made in memory of Inga's sons. She came to inherit from them, but these brothers-Gerðarr and his brothers-came to inherit from her. They died in Greece."
"Þorsteinn let make the landmark after Sveinn, his father, and Þórir, his brother. They were out to Greece. And after Ingiþóra, his mother. Œpir carved."
Kárr had this stone raised in memory of Haursi(?), his father; and Kabbi(?)/Kampi(?)/Kappi(?)/Gapi(?) in memory of his kinsman-by-marriage. (He) travelled competently; earned wealth abroad in Greece for his heir."[80]
"Ingimundr and Þórðr (and) Jarl and Vígbjôrn(?) had the stone raised in memory of Ingifastr, their father, a captain who travelled abroad to Greece, Ióni's(?) son; and in memory of Ígulbjôrn. And Œpir carved."[84]
"Steinhildr had this stone erected in memory of Viðbjôrn, her husband, a traveller to Greece. May God and God's mother help his soul. Ásmundr Kári' son marked."[92]
§Q "Ljótr the captain erected this stone in memory of his sons. He who perished abroad was called Áki. (He) steered a cargo-ship; he came to Greece. Hefnir died at home ... ... cut the runes ..."[99]
"Fastvé had the stone raised in memory of Gerðarr and Ótryggr, her sons. The other (= the latter) died in Greece."[104]
That's amazing to read through. and to think in the medieval times, people just go hither and thither without leaving anything behind that they were there. To read this really sheds light on what it was like to live at that time. To see brave warriors depart from their hometowns, whether for glory, or financial-social reasons, and know that they were still connected over the many miles is different from the impression normally taught. Thanks for sharing.
These runestones are a major attestament to the fact that Byzantium was Greek and not Roman and the Byzantines were Greeks and not Romans! I am saying this because there is a deliberate ongoing campaign to totally de-Hellenize Byzantium, stripping it off any Greek element, and turn it into Roman!
@@ThomasGazis well, the eastern Romans were always culturally of a hellenic leaning. The main language was greek. That's what the northerners are referring to. Remember a couple things are going on at this time in history. 1. Nationalism did NOT exist yet. So the land of the greeks were called that because of the main tongue spoken, not because they were all ethnically greek. They couldn't be. You had bulgarians, isaurians, etc. All living in the empire. So when the Rus were speaking of the Greeks, it's not exactly the way you think in the way of the 19th and 20th century. Even when the Imperiun was whole, greek was the most common tongue spoken east of Illyria, from Pontus down to Alexandria. This was thanks to the Hellenistic movements of Alexander and his Diodochi. Even during the 3rd century BCE, the Romans viewed greek ideas and culture as a standard for the region. By the 10th century, sure, the cultural identity would be greek rather than latin, but it still is one segment of The Roman Empire.
2. Those citizens saw THEMSELVES as Rhomaioi, as Romans. Similar to myself. I am living in the States, born and raised here, so the closest sociopolitical culture I attach to is American, that is, I am a citizen of this political entity. However, culturally in terms of family and ancestral roots, I would be Filipino. Those greeks were as much Roman as those living in Gallia or Africa in the 3rd century. The Arabs and Turks that encroached from the east in the 7th and 11th centuries did not term them Greeks, they termed them Rum, or Romans, due to these people being part of the Roman state when they approached the borders. It is a play of semantics, but they are Romans. This is not to deminish their Greek culture or ethnicity, but because they were residents of an area that while militarily conquered by Roman arms, were able to retain their identity yet fly the Imperial banner. In 27AD, those living in Thessaloniki were somewhat different than those living in Capua, they were greeks living under Roman suzerainty. But by 325AD, they were largely the same people. Look at Canada. In Montreal, the official tongue is english, but the most common spoken is french. But in Edmonton, the official is english, and the most common is also english. Are those in Quebec no longer Canadians? Of course they still are. Same for those hellenes living in the Medieval period. They were just as much Roman as they were Greek. This goes into ...
3. To divide that is similar to those people who do not want to give credit to Byzantium being the CONTINUATION of the Roman Empire. There is nothing that points otherwise. After the empire was divided, there was no break in the political structure, or even ethnically I may add, from the 4th century of the Aegean region until 13th century. During that entire time, there was still a capital city governing that region, complete with a Senate, and an Emperor. No one gutted out all of the inhabitants and replaced them with Han chinese from say, 700 to 820AD. (This did happen to some extent with Slavs overrunning the Balkans down to Thessaly in the 8th century, but it did not end the Roman political body in Constantinople) They were thoroughly Roman by this point, just more entrenched at speaking the local tongue. To say that they were a Greek empire and not Roman, is the same claim as saying they were not the Roman empire that was established by Octavian. That is some pro-western view to legitimize the Holy Roman Empire into something that could never be. To take the crown from the ones who should rightfully wear it. I don't feel that anyone is trying to remove the "greekness" of Byzantium. Mainly. They are reinforcing that Byzantium IS Rome. For so many centuries people did not want to give credit where it's due and call the duck for what it is. Even some in my class once said, how could Byzantium be Rome when it did not even rule over the city? Simple. What would you call humans living on Mars? Martians? No. Earthlings, because they originated from Earth and brought their Earth views with them. They did not create any new empire after 476, just ruled the one already in place.
4. It is noted that there were indeed parts of the Peloponnesus that still followed the Olympian gods. In 804 there was still resistance to getting these Maniots converted to Christianity.
@@ThomasGazis somehow the reply was cut, but is it noted that in 804, there were people called Maniots that still worshipped the Olympians and resisted attempts to be converted to Christianity.
@@drakonos79 many of your points are wrong. First of all, the Varangians were describing the Byzantines as GREEKS and not as Romans! Greeks, not in the sense of the 19th or 20th century as you are claiming (the Varangians had no idea of that concept, that would emerge 9-10 centuries after their era) but in the sense i.e. of the 10th century CE! If there was in their era any notion that the Byzantines were "Romans" rest assured that the Varangians would have called them in their runestones Romans and not Greeks!
The Varangians were living in Byzantium say around the 10th century, so when they are claiming in their runestones that they were living in the land of the Greeks, among Greeks, we have to give them credit! In addition, the Hellenistic empire was an empire where the Greeks were calling themselves (or were called by the nations they had conquered) GREEKS and not "Babylonians" or "Egyptians"! So, I am sorry that the Varangian runestones are spoiling your "nation-nihilist" agenda but that's the truth and anything else is a deliberate falsification of history!
P.S. Regarding the Quebecois case: I am a very sociable person. In a picturesque coffee shop/pub - located in Plaka, at the roots of the Acropolis hill, in Athens - I have been talking to Canadian tourists for many years now. NEVER the Toronto Canadians came close to the Quebec Canadians. Thus, I was splitting my self half time with the english speaking Canadians and half time with the Quebec Canadians - speaking rather poor French to them (which they oddly loved, as long as I wasn't speaking English to them!)! But the Toronto and the Quebec Canadians NEVER bothered to intermingle!
"Miklagaard has been our home for 20 years or more
We've lent our axes, spears and swords
In service of the emperor
We are loyal warriors
That's the oath we gave
To protect the emperor even to a violent grave..."
"Our loyalty was always firm
We kept our given word
On these southern battlefields
Our northern war cries roared
Battles have been fought
Many gave their lives
But all who died by axe and sword
Were called to hall up high..."
Amazing how the Valhalla archetype survived in these poems even after their formal conversion to Christianity. Reminds me of the Japanese army in WW2 who incorporated the Bushido code of the samurai even though the regular army was in fact the one who destroyed the last samurai strongholds in the wake of modern Japan.
One Amon Amarth's best.
@@maxavail A lot about bushido is a myth though and it was created quite late in history. Samurai were generally not very nice people.
Hmm saw a really good documentary about Vlad, made by the Romanians and they say he was Swedish. Hope you manage to find it on youtube. That is where I saw it.
@@simonbroberg969 Vlad who ? We've had many rulers by that name. Vlad the 3rd is the one commonly known as Dracula, the Impaler and he was definitely not Swedish.
It is completely wild just how much the viking/norse/norman expansion changed the course of history, and it is also pretty damn wild that we know very little about them. They just seem to emerge from the north, having loads of kids, building forts and fighting little berserkers, and then just merge into the nations they often defined to the point you never would have guessed they were there.
They eventually became farmers, christians and Slavs.
@@UkrainianPaulie Slavs? They were from Denmark/Norway and Sweden.
Harald Hardrada was a huge warrior, towering over 2 meters. His half brother was called Olaf «the huge» before he became known as Olaf «the saint».
No wonder he got shot in the throat
Over two metres back then is insane
@Hitler Senpai medieval people weren’t that much shorter than us even on avarage
@Hitler Senpai if you look at reconstruction of plate harnesses as examples they weren’t lil’ baby tiny scrimblos, they were just regular sized bois, also key word AVERAGE, meaning it would not be uncommon to see a 6ft dude walking around, averages are usually taken as maximums for some reason. Ps: sorry for being a “um er actually erm” geeky piece of shit, it’s just so fun and funny and EPIC.
@Hitler Senpai love you sweetie.
Constantinople was the center of the world at that time. Other cities seemed to date from the stone age, next to Constantinople. Constantinople at that time adorned the dreams of mankind. I can't imagine how surprised the Varangians guards were when they first saw Constantinople.
The Roman Empire was always first in many ways, and in its architecture and urban planning it excelled well beyond what came before it or even after for almost 1000 years until the British Empire. Rome and Constantinople, the two most glorious Roman cities, made a huge impact on mankind's history.
@@ΡωμαϊκόνΠύρ you are deliberately distorting the truth! Constantinople was not that much Roman as it was Greek - Byzantine!
@@ThomasGazis How am I distorting the truth, when Constantinople quite literally was Rome 2.0, the proverbial New Rome built by the Romans with the intention to serve as a head city of the Roman Empire? The people who lived in Constantinople were Romans who did their best for over 1000 years to conserve Roman culture. I know that you will tell me that the Romans spoke Greek, thus they were Greek. But that does not render someone a Greek. Language is nothing other than a tool wielded for communication. My response is simply this: do you understand that the Romans and many other Roman nationals such as Armenians, Syrians, Galatians, Isaurians, Phrygians, Carians, Thracians and many others including the Romans, were using the Greek and Latin languages like you and I are using English to communicate with one another?
@@ThomasGazis the byzantine called themselves Rums, for roman. In Anatollyah the turks founded first the sultanate of rums.
The concept of roman at this time was more similar to the concept of european of today...
So thanks for the romans that we have peace and an "unified" federation.
@@obiwankenobi2083 they called themselves Romaioi, not rum…which is just Roman in Greek. Rum is what the Turks called the Romans.
The Varangian DID NOT took the tattooing custom from the Turk!!!! Tattooing was a general practice for at least 1000 years, as Celts, Germans, Pictae, Dacians/Getae were tattooing themselfs.
Don't forget it was from a Byzantine source. Byzantines vaguely knew the ethnic differences of the North and their most common foe were the steppe nomads.
@@Λυκάων but tattooing was even common in the Roman Empire. Legionaries would be tattooed with the symbol of their Legion for as late as the 7th century AD when the last Legion finally disappeared. It was also a practice in other fields. So the Medieval Romans themselves would hardly be strangers to the custom of tattooing.
Exactly
@Survival prepping for normal people Just because Turks became muslim doesn’t mean they became Arabs. Turks even today have many of their ancient Tengrist traditions alive. In those days Turks started to call Tengri Allah, however majority of Turks haven’t even read or learned about Quran. Also Turkish practice of Islam is different than the universal Islam. That is the reason why Turks easily adapted to Secularism Atatürk brought. Pet Dogs are Haram too. We always had dogs. Alcohol is haram. We drink Rakı. Most Turks deny some practices in Quran because it doesn’t match Turkish Culture.
Also I believe he meant Turks of Northern Euroasian Steppe (Ukraine).
Yes they probably did. Romans were closer to Turks of Western Euroasian Steppe (Ukraine). In your language Turkic and Turkish are different. That is What caused confusion.
*40 minutes of Invicta talking about the most badass Byza-Bois??*
*It’s like Christmas, but better* 🥲
The Varangian Guard is what the Praetorian Guard wishes they could’ve been.
Praetorian Guard was exactly what they wanted to be: opportunistic, corrupt and craven bodyguards who only defended their emperor well against the rabble of peasants.
@@swissmilitischristilxxii3691 Something tells me you have something against the Varangian Guard. Unlike the Praetorian Guard, the Varangians were always loyal to their emperor and willing to die for said emperor as long as they got paid, or until the emperor died, they never killed any emperor to my knowledge, or tried to place a puppet emperor on the throne... or literally sell the empire to the highest bidder.
As for the overrated guards part, yeah no. The fact that they were able to fight so effectively, even during the Fourth Crusade. If not for them, the city would have fallen easily, but Alexios III had to be a coward and run away to leave his own people to die.
@@swissmilitischristilxxii3691 Right... I'm not denying how great the Swiss Guard were, but you wanted these guys to die for an Emperor who broke his own oath towards not only the Varangian guard but to his own people and fled like a coward. They had honor, they fought and they never betrayed an Emperor, which is what a bodyguard ought to do. As for their talents in combat... you seriously must have not done any research on them if you thought that they were glorified guards. They routed armies by themselves, they never faltered during combat, hell, they were the most effective unit during the Siege of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade... and you tell me they were glorified guards because they didn't die for someone who wasn't even brave enough to lead them in combat and fled the city.
So what, if they had all chosen to die in pointlesd combat, would you have liked them more? The Swiss Guard were fighting to delay the enemy so the pope could escape to a safe place. What reason had the Varangian Guard to fight? The person they were there to protect wasn't even there anymore.
Not really, the Praetorian never wished to be mere bodyguards. The Varangians weren't a political unit as were the Praetorians, but they played political roles and showed their greedy side too, by participating in assassination of emperor their swore to protect in favor of usurpers, or abandoned their role as bodyguards after demanding a raise in pay during a pressing time, they were viking mercenaries after all.
T Varangians participated in few important battles tho, since they were mostly in the back protecting the emperor or hte palace.
I love how history shows us that the ancient world was so much interconnected and diverse than Hollywood would have us believe.
Hollywood sucks at history. It disgusts me to know how many people believe thier movies are actually history.
I loved this documentary!
Hollywood idea of diversity is to transplant demographics of a modern American city into every setting possible.
I don't think Hollywood cares about historical accuracy. You're kinda dumb if you take fictional movies as fact lol
Hollywood's job is to entertain the masses. A very simple person would believe Hollywood's version of history.
@@sauljahboi5965 Nope the Vikings raided all over the world. There were Africans who trained European swordsmanship in !4th century Germany.
Death: It’s time to go
Varangians: Wait! Tell me… was I a good guard?
Death…you were, and still are, the best.
Why am I crying 😭
@@FreeFallingAir
Because you know these mercenaries were better and absolutely loyal bodyguards to the emperors then the homemade ones like the Praetorian Guard and those that follow them.
@@notaname1750 Praetorian Delanda Est
so epic…
@@ethanwall2443
A man of culture I see.
I just want to say that im glad , the Mount & Blade Viking Conquest DLC music is not forgotten . Its so well made & underrated .
I was trying to remember where I'd heard it before thanks
thanks for giving me the song i wanted to know
Byzantine history is so interesting. It’s crazy to me that there are no movies or popular series .. please keep it up!
Watch Rise of Empire Ottoman they show the Siege of Constantinople fairly from both the Greek and Turkish Side
@@bearislandthuglife3463 is very simple. greece after 1000 years and enemys like crusaders bulgarians serbs arabs turks mongolians and more they fell.
yes because was Greek orthodox empire. and our a days the oethosox church moved to Russia and hollywood controle by zionists americans
The downfall of the empire start with betrayel of the it allies,the venetians
In 1404 axe bearing British warriors in the military were mentioned by the Byzantine Emperor and in the 1300s there are many references to Varangians serving as guardsmen. Whilst they were no longer a large battlefield force in the 1400s they still remained as Palace guards and a regiment of the guard (mentioned in the kantakouzenos) We can assume to some degree that there were Varangians present in 1453.
You mean English. British meant something different in the medieval times. The English and 'British' were considered very different things in the middle ages in Britain. The Anglo-Saxons became the English (Angle-ish) and founded their country, England, and they referred to the original Celtic cultured folk of Britain as either Welsh or British, interchangeably. So, the Anglo-Saxons/English saw the British/Welsh as their enemy. A unified sense of Britishness on this island was not fostered until the 18th and moreso the 19th century, with the act of Union and the rise of the British Empire.
@@leod-sigefast I know all that, Im welsh myself lol. The exact referance says “of the british race” so take your pick really. There is a possibility of Scots, Welshmen and Englishmen all serving in the Varangians. But in this instance it probably is referring to Englishmen. But on the other hand, maybe not.
@@leod-sigefast The Byzantines probably would have still known England only as ex-Roman Britannia though
Coming here to learn more for the new For Honor hero coming out
When this video popped up I just knew I'd come across at least one comment like this. I just bought and downloaded the game to try it w friend (bc it's on of rare full cross platform games) and I'm so glad to see that it has, at least to a certain degree, active community
@@brzisabo3236 I hope you don't get discouraged, safe travels
@@FatherSeed_games man......I hate this game and console...... I got myself PS4 not so long ago so I naively thought that I can just buy the game and play w friends......those greedy ahh holes forbid me from doing that. Apparently I need fing Playstation plus to play for honor online
For some reason it didn't reply last time I sent.
Ty man, but it seems like whole buying of the game and installing it was for nothing. Fing greedy sonny doesn't allow for honor to be played online without playstation plus....I pay full price for the console then I pay full price for the game and I still can't play it online???? Bs
Ah yes. The Varangian Guard are such an legendary force to be reckoned with.
For all his Bulgar bashing Basil actually intergrated them into the empire flawlessly. The war was brutal the peace was as swift and complete, Bulgaria becoming a loyal and integral part of the empire within months.
Flawlessly is not exactly the word. And considering at that time Bulgaria was torn in a civil war more or less that is not saying much.
Bulgaria didn’t really become a loyal part of the empire since they rebelled several times.
One of the best video-essays about the Byzantine world. The animation on this channel is very tasteful.
It’s a shame, the Byzantine period has been so overlooked by writers of fiction/adventure literature as well as by the movie industry. Everyone knows about the Ancient Rome and the Crusades, but few have even heard of the Byzantine empire. Public school education doesn’t really talk about it. That is indeed surprising, because the legacy of the Byzantines is actually still alive in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. When you go to an Orthodox Church, you can see a living tradition that goes back to Constantinople in the first millennium.
"Hetairai" means "prostitutes" (εταίραι etere, "e" and "ai" are spelled as "e" in the word "get") . "Hetaireiai" is the correct word and it means "companies" (εταιρείαι, eterie, again all "e" are spelled as before and "i" as in the word "bill"). For example, the almughavar mercenaries that came to the empire in 1303 are mentioned as "Katalaniki Hetaireia" (Καταλανική Εταιρεία, katalaniki eteria), which means "Catalan Company"
Huh, I always assumed those were the same words with the Ancient Greek hetairai being called that precisely because they served as companions to men in leisure and conversation, like the japanese geishas; and just like the geishas, they weren't exactly prostitutes.
@@chingizzhylkybayev8575 Hetaira (fem.) and Hetairos (masc.) mean companion, that's why Alexander's cavalry was called Hetairoi (eteri), it's the plural of companions. As for the women, hetairai where at the top of the postitution climax, they weren't concubines, neither whores or sex slaves, they were as you say companions, just like the geishas you mention, and that's why only the aristocrats had them. Regarding the word Hetaireia (Company) we still use it to refer to any international company nowadays, but it's also means a union of people with common goal, whatever this goal may be. In that sense the medieval Greeks use the term Hetaireia (singular) and Hetaireiai (plural) for their mercenary groups. All these words have the same root and etymology but they are not the same
You're mostly corect, except for the addition of modern Greek pronunciation. Up until the middle byzantine ages the dipthongs were pronounced clear cut, with the exception of ει which sounded as ι. It was therefore Ἑ-τα-ι-ρεί-α-ι and Ἑ-τα-ί-ρα.
@@YiannissB. That's the first time I hear it and it sounds odd, in Medieval Greek they tried to merge and pronounce less letters, eg παλαιός=παλιός (paleos-palios). Βut then again I'm not a linguist so I'm not certain.
@@Ioannis_Moraitis you're right, that change begun during ~1000-1200 AD. I suggest you check this guy's channel, a teacher and fluent speaker in Latin and ancient Greek. He made me understand a lot about the history of Greek phonology th-cam.com/video/Dt9z5Gvp3MM/w-d-xo.html
From Scandinavia to Constantinople through the rivers. I can only imagine what kind of journey that was.
A very arduous journey for sure.
Have to imagine them singing as they carried their boats over the stretches of land they had to cross
The were digging channels between rivers or traveled all around
There were drags between rivers. Special locations where spcial people were dragging ships by ground. Few cities in Russia has rooth "drag" (волок).
@@Allloyzin Vikings dug rivers in Russia, its historically already an old game, they had the slave labour for doing this,,why do you think the name slave ressemble slavic, slave trade with slavic slaves to Middle East was very profitable for all different Vikings..same as the Arab Muslim slave-trade which provided even slves for USA and Latin America..actually in Arabic the name Black and Slave are the same also the Portuguese bought their African slaves from the ArabMuslims slave-traders which dominated Africa and Middle East....as 10% of slaves from Africa to USA died over 60% Blacks slaves died marching from Djibouti in Mali to Cairo, also Black Males were castrated and pregnant Black females killed, thats why tere is no Black population in Middle East.
I always really liked the Dane axe. There is a strange kind of aestheticism to it. Big and brutal, yet also elegant, especially the shape of its axe head. Would have been my weapon of choice as a Varangian.
I have been fighting with dane axes in reenactment sense, so they were blunt, but still deffo dangerous if used wrong, amazing tools of war.
Finally one of my favorite Units in one of my favorite medieval civilizations. Those Scandinavian and then also Saxon men were a force to be reckoned with. Also highly appreciate a more accurate to say the least depiction of their armour,based on the few sources that were found.
Fun fact: In Greece there are people that have the surname Varangopoulos (Βαραγγοπουλος)or Varangopoulou(Βαραγγοπουλου)for the female version of it. It basically means son/daughter/children of the Varangian/Varangians. Possibly an intermixing (on one way or another...) with the local population and some Varagians.
Well the varangians loved the greek women, so there was definitely some mixing
@@sdfgvfbg They were in it for the booty, after all, as mentioned by several commenters already.
@@246vili I like your way of words
The Varangian Guard were the kick-ass shock troops that Eastern Rome needed badly in order to survive.
No they were not! By the time Basileios II formed the Varangian Guard in the late 10th century, the Byzantines were actually doing FANTASTIC !!!
The intensive campaining of the warrior Emperors Nikephoros Phokas and Ioannes Tzimiskes finally led to the defeat and pacification of the Muslim Arabs, who had been a mortal threat to the Empire for more than 3 centuries! No major threat from the East would come again until a full century later with the arrival of the Seljuks!
Also the Empire was in the process and final stages of defeating and conquering its other great enemy, the First Bulgarian Empire. Emperor Basileios II completed that task - hence his sobriquet" Bulgar Slayer" ...
So the Byzantines were doing just fine without the Varangians, they were the undisputed superpower of the Eastern Mediterranean, one of the richest,most influential and most powerful realms in the world and they had highly skilled,trained, disciplined and professional armies and naval forces!
The Norsemen were mostly appreciated for their unwavering loyalty to their employer, the Emperor! The various native Scholae and Hetairiai that comprised the Imperial Guard up until then were as skilled and competent as the Norsemen, but their major flaw was that they were NATIVES!! As such their loyalties fluctuated among the various noble houses and Imperial pretenders! That could be due to many reasons: family ties, being from the same region of the Empire, having served under the command of a noble wannabe Emperor and thus being more appreciative of him rather than the current Emperor and a myriad other reasons! The Norsemen were mercenaries from a VERY distant land with no bonds and allegiances to any other in the Empire, only their generous employer, the Emperor mattered to them! He was the source of their wealth and prestige, the reason they had come to serve in the first place, so they would go above and beyond to protect him from any threat!
Yes, they were great, but what made the Normans even greater??
It looks not. Varangian guard is known in Kyevan rus as a prince'sl guard
Varangians were just mercenaries professional and loyal
@@chucklynch6523 Horses
As a Greek this documentary gave me goosebumps. The loyalty of the Varangians was insane!
How about ottomans empire.. your lovely Sultans.😂😂😂
@@ziyamozafari4404 Mongols*
@@Unknown-bt5rd What do mean by Mongols?? I Said ottoman.
@@ziyamozafari4404 we liked them very much!! that's why we kicked their asses back to asia!
byzantines are not greeks cope about it
Best documentary I have seen about the Varangian Guard so far.
The podcast TheHistoryOfByzantium had a discussion about low popoulation density people vs urbanites and this might go some way to explain why the Norse were so appreciated. Something like, if you grow up in a low population density everything you ever do will be remembered and used against you. Which makes people more trustworthy. But that was just speculation while your documentary follow what few sources there are. Well done!
Glad to see someone who's listening to that great but underrated podcast
@@majorianus8055 Yeah great taste in podcasts!
Haven’t seen the podcast but agree with the concept
@@majorianus8055 Robin Pierson has great empathy and a quiet passion for the people of the past, retelling history from an Eastern Roman perspective. He does some of the aspects of historical podcasting better than anyone else, imho.
Loyaly is just one thing of many that was part of the most valued thing in Norse soceity: A good name, to be spoken highly of in life and death was the only thing that would last. Disloyalty, cowardice, dishonor in general was to be a "niding". Any such person would end up in Hel.
As a person who learns byzantine history in school I definitely need to show this to my teacher
did did you already? the reaction of your teacherr?
This channel gets me so pumped about history!
"Holmgard and beyond
That's where the winds will us guide
For fame and for gold
Set sail for those lands unknown"
I am expecting to hear March of the Varangian Guard in this video!
🎶 " Guards of glory and of might
Red as blood and black as night
Flies our banner as we march
In the East, for the king of the Greek!"
Where is that from?
@@dirckthedork-knight1201 The March of the Varangian Guard, a song by Turisas.
Awesome song
bro, a historically accurate series of the varangian guard would be awesome
We showed the world, the function of the Daneaxe
We were the first to break into the burning fray
The Romans heckled us as imperial wine sacks
But still they waited for the Norse to clear the way
For every year, in imperial service
We earned another 60 gold coins for our work
We made both emperors and enemies feel nervous!
The bloody labour in the danger has that perk!
First to combat, first to fight
And first to drink throughout the night
But discipline was always tight
The throne was ever in our sight
With golden cups and royal wine
A ruby, red as blood would shine
Adorning the left ear of mine
The guardian bond could not be severed!
The Grave in the Busento; At Cosenza nightly lisping,
from Busento muted songs,
Answer echoing from the waters
with its trills each note prolongs.
Each way, up and down the river
valliant Goths their shadows cast,
Grieving o'er their leader Alaric,
now in death still unsurpassed.
All too soon and far from home
would he be laid to final rest
With his shoulders, face and neck
by locks of youth still blond, caressed.
And along Busento's banks
feverishly in turns they raced
To divert the river's current;
a new riverbed they traced.
In the hollow, fully drained
a still deeper bed they forced;
Lowered deep into this trench
the dead warrior, armed and horsed;
Then again with earth they covered
him with his possessions brave,
That the tall grass from the river
grow out from the hero's grave.
For a second time diverted
to restore the river's home,
With full force in their old bed
Busento's billows sprayed their foam.
And a choir of men were singing,
"Sleep an honored hero's slumber!
Never shall vile Roman greed
your final resting place encumber!"
This they sang; the hymns of praise
resounded from the Gothic host;
Speed them on, Busento billows,
speed them on from coast to coast!
Moritami and Jurg, now can get married, haiku and all!😂😂😂
In Rus chronicles, Constantinople, almost always called "Tsargrad" or Tsar City, where "Tsar" is Slavonic adaptation of "Cesar".
We (Slovenians) still call it Carigrad. Over centuries word Tsar changed to Car.
Good old 3rd rome
Only 3 nations had Tsars if i am not mistaken ( Serbia, Russia and Bulgaria ) and the title of Tsar was equal to emperor ( hense why these 3 nations where called empires at some point ). Here in Bulgaria we do call Constantinople Tsarigrad, but we used Kesar instead of Cesar.
@@SuchDoge4242 thats first rome to you
Did Ivan the terrible made a statement that Moscow “ Third Rome”?
I’ve often imagined a meeting between two of these guys in 1067 being extremely awkward. A Viking is defeated at Stamford bridge and goes off to Constantinople nodding in appreciation at one of the victors. Six months later the same Saxon shows up and is all like “yeah… was not expecting things to end like that”. They then eye each other suspiciously across a mead hall for the rest of the evening.
And then the viking and the saxon fight the Normans again, together, at Duracum in 1081.
I think a plot like this would work great for a series about varangians
As a Greek I have the highest respect for these guards. Yes they were paid missionaries but they were trusted and awesome professionals.
You being a Greek literally doesn’t matter. The only way it could matter at all is if you have somehow convinced yourself that the Byzantine empire was a Greek empire.
@@isaacangelos Can't convince yourself of reality, usually it hits you whether you want to or not
@@agathius3969 You speak like someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about. Just because Greek nationalism has told you something that doesn’t make it true. I find it difficult to believe that in an empire where most called themselves Romans and not Hellenes or Greeks how it can be a Greek empire.
@@isaacangelos You mention people who don't know what they're talking about, and yet you are the one equating Ethnicity with Culture. They were Greeks, and they were Romans. Can't get more simple. The same way centuries ago when the Empire was whole, Iberians were Romans, Gauls were Romans, Greeks, Egyptians etc. Just cause you saw it on reddit and now you consider yourself a master historian, doesn't mean much
@@agathius3969 Why don’t you read the book Romanland. You literally can’t be an ethnic Greek if you don’t identify as a Greek. If you read Byzantine sources(which you obviously don’t) you mostly just see Roman with the odd Hellene or Greek thrown in.
Harold Hardrada has to be my favorite military leader in history because of his role in the Varangians.
He is the ultimate mercenary in human history I would say
Harald Hardrada probably had one of the most adventerous lives out of anyone in human history
@@misterStevePikk Xanthippus of Lacedaemon, also known as Xanthippus of Carthage, wants a word with you.
@@couchpotatoe91 I'm definitely sticking to my answer on this one.
Made me wonder why there's no movie made about his life
This is one of the most visually pleasing episode's you've made, I love it!
Here in Sweden we have alot of Runestones speaking of travels to Miklagård and some also mentions the varangian Guards! Tho i think its really sad that this isent as known like the Vikings that went to England and france, wished there where more about the eastern journeys of the Vikings in Media!
Don't worry!In Greece you are very well known!
It is so sad that modern sweds doesn't even know or appreciate their viking history
@@uberfeel it's due to the brainwashing by the leftish media.. Yes it's sad
@@johnraina4828 its more important for ''scientists'' to claim there 40 genders instead of focusing on history xD
Here friend: th-cam.com/video/3DuseWw8Qko/w-d-xo.html
The sun rose over the wasteland
As far as the eye can see
Sand fills the vast plains of Serkland
It's vultures jeering at me
But they can circle until they drop dead
I have not come this far
To end, but to pursue my own thread
To join The Varangian Guard
Guards of glory and of might,
red as blood and black as night
flies our banner as we march
in the East, for the King of the Greeks!
There's men of the cross and the hammer
A few of the moon crescent
Men simply searching for glamour
Some concealing their royal descent
i need to know what this is, and if it is a song i need a title.
Turisas, March of the Varangian Guard. They have 2 concept albums where they take the perspective of a Scandinavian traveling to Constantinople
@@karlfranz3819 what Peter Roberts said
First, I would like to congratulate Invicta for preparing such a detailed, comprehensive and correct summary of the Varangians, about whom I have read the English translation of the book [Titled: The Varangians of Byzantium] written by an Icelandic historian. Kudos to you!!!
One small contribution: Up until after the Battle of Hastings 1066 AD, the Varangians were overwhelmingly composed of the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and even Icelandic warriors. After 1066, Anglo-Saxons started filling in the ranks of the Varangians, as it is correctly stated by the video.
Our longest video yet and it could not go to a more deserving unit! Huge props to the team for making this awesome episode. You can support them directly though purchases on their store which features all kinds of amazing designs: printerpanther.com/collections/invicta
Yes!..I'm so exited to watch this i've been waiting on it...im going to wait until this evening so there wont be any interruptions.
You do a great service for humanity
Worth the wait
Well worth the wait. Thx very much!
2:46 an error on map, DACIA wasn't there , was in what is Romania today ,inside Carpathian Mountains area , with the capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia (near Sibiu city) ,the map looks like DACIA was in Hungary (from today) and this is an error
Harald Hardråde had a fantastic career in Bysants, won a series of victories according to Snorre Sturlason, and rose to the top in the væringgarden as it was called. He was of royal blood in Norway and when he left Bysants (deserted) he was rich beyond belief. He had enough cash that he bought enough support and became king in Norway. He then looked over to England and made a dash for the throne there, if he only had come some time later, he would fight the winner of Godwinson vs Willhelm the basterd, and maybe England would have been Norway.
The guy was also a close friend of Yaroslav and spent some time at his court. He wanted to marry Yaroslav's daughter but was told to go get some balls (a.k.a. recognition and prestige) first and so Harald went joined the Emperor's guard. Upon returning from his service in Byzantium he eventually married Yaroslav's daughter and took her with him to Norway.
He also was the founder of Sigtuna, Swedens oldest oldest city
Harold didn't desert, he had been kicked out due to embezzlement.
Man those names are killing me.
Haraldr harðráði*
Snorri Sturlusson*
Væringjagarðr*
@@1991beachboy who founded Sigtuna? Also according to norse mythology oden lived there in old Sigtuna
I can't believe that we can watch this quality documentary for free on TH-cam
Several runestones in sweden were raised by varangian guards after returning home, i remember one that was risen by one varangian guardsman at request from another guardsmans father.
Really appreciating the music from Mount and Blade: Warband, Viking Conquest
Came here to say that 🙃
I think this might be your best video ever, I was completely drawn into it.
Check out our follow up video on the most famous Varangian Guard, Harald Hardrada: th-cam.com/video/xn57xCokWkc/w-d-xo.html
I have been waiting all my life for this moment. It's finally here!
I first learned of the Varangian Guard through a series of fictional books written by John Ringo where their descendants play a major role in the main characters life, and since Eastern Roman history is one of the few places that my schooling failed me. Since reading those books, and discovering a historical unit i had never heard of before, i decided to do research. And i am absolutely astounded by the effort you put into this video. You did a far better job than any other documentary or research page i have seen before, and i know you had to go through multiple sources to get this information. I love your channel because you put so much effort into it. Thank you.
11:30 that's beautiful, both of them held each other in high esteem, I love it, working together, as they should
After the Norman Conquest, there were many Saxons who were in the Varangian Guard. There's also graffiti in Haiga Sofia that says, "Halfdan was here."
@P Nelson I do believe that's right. It's written in runes. I read that in the Prologue to Erik Christian Haugaard's 1963 novel Hakon of Rogen's Saga, which is set at the end of the Viking Era. I recommend it. It's a good book.
many many Halfdans back then, it means Half Danish usually written by the Norwegians.
But where was Fulldan
Yeah it's mentioned in the video.
@@tpower1912 Dan var full som fan så han gick vilse
Regarding their tattoos I realize you were quoting a contemporary historian of their time around the time of their mention so I'm not positive where you got your information but I'm assuming it's the same source albeit paraphrasing at that point. That being said it's misinformation regardless of origin. It is untrue that the varangian practice of tattooing their bodies was a custom adopted from Turkic interaction as anyone even remotely interested in Scandinavian history today is well aware of the fact that inking the body has been a common thing to do by the men of the north and really all of Europa (i.e. otzi) since time immemorial.
Obviously historical misinformation, regardless of how the errors occur, throughout the ages is nothing new however I just wanted to point that out for anyone who may be unaware.
Also, your content is second to none, true ace tier quality and this one here is no exception! Love your stuff, thanks!!!
yeah, while watching i had a "wait, is that really...?" moment. thanks for confirming my doubt!
Kinda what I thought. Plus tattoos are forbidden in Islam so it really doesn't make sense that the Turks would have them.
@@winnienguyen4420 When the Turks adopted Islam they did so in their own terms. Especially during the Seljuk era many kept the steppe traditions. Most of them also continued to drink alcohol etc. Ottoman Empire was considerably more Islamic but some, especially the Turkmens in Anatolia kept some of their traditions alive.
Tatoos in particular were never fully abandoned by the Turks. Some of their troops and especially the Jannissaries used tatoos. They would tattoo the symbol of their detachments on their bodies.
You are absolutely right. Otzi - who lived 5000 years ago - was found on the border between Italy and Austria, he had 61 tattoos. In Denmark we have found tattoo tools in graves dating back to the Bronze Age, some 2000 years before the Viking Age even started.
@@ardagurbuz6924 that's intresting, thanks for the info!
I love this video. It was fascinating, fun, beautiful, and overall perfect. I’d say “great work,” but that doesn’t even begin to describe the amazing work you guys did on this incredible video. It was completely worth the wait. I had very high expectations for this video and it still exceed them by a great margins.
Whew, that legit gave me goosebumps several times, you've outdone yourselves.
The rank of "akolouthos" (the one holding the keys of the Great City) mentioned in the video, means "loyal follower" in Greek.
One of the most thrilling historical novels set in the Byzantine Greek Empire during the last Siege of Constantinople, is “The Dark Angel” (original title Johannes Angelos) of prominent Finnish writer, Mika Waltari.
Truly epic.
A varangian rpg game would be awesome. The story and classes basically write themselves
One like Kingdom Come Deliverance.
bannerlord :)))
@@josephmoore9706 I was just replaying kingdom come deliverance and I saw this comment lmao what a coincidence. I totally agree with you tho, that game's combat is the best I've ever seen.
I remember being little and being told that one viking returned from Miklagard after many years and his family lamenting because he refused to dress in anything but the finest silk and dine on the finest meat and wine lol.
He became civilized....
A truly superb documentary! My only critique (minor) is a reminder that Normans were also former Vikings who adopted more modern tactics (such as heavy cavalry). However, they still carried the bloodthirsty and fierce disposition of their Varangian opponents. Normans were also some of the most formidable soldiers of the Medieval ages. Clearly they were the only ones capable of besting the Varangian guard. If not for the Normans, perhaps the Byzantine Empire may have endured longer.
Very shrewd of the Norse Vikings (both Normans and Varangians) to adapt themselves and integrate with those they once considered enemies. From Britain, the Normans then conquered most of the World. Some might say they are still in power to this day. So for the Varangians to lose to the Normans, it was a very worthy adversary.
Outstanding documentary!
You hope I enjoyed this? This was the best you did on unit formations, and that means something, because all those videos were excellent.
This is definitely one of the most interesting history videos I've seen. Thank you Invicta, it was definitely worth the wait.
to me honest, it really wound me up, 922AD Swedish vikings were fighting the Russ in the 13th warrior story written in 922AD by the fella we call Ibn. so no way were the Varangian Guard Russ!
Every history lover needs to watch this ancient history documentary. The insights and details are incredible
17:40 the people's of northern Europe and the steppe were familiar with tattooing long before the Turks entered Anatolia
Oh man, I only just started learning about these guys. The timing on this video is fantastic.
the production quality was as epic as the story being told. this rocked!
Congratulations! Everyone involved did an amazing job! Really interesting and educational!
I'm a minute into the video and wow, it's so good! I'm quickly loving Byzantine history. You're doing such a good job!
I don't know who said it, but the best description of the Varangians that I've heard is "they were loyal to the throne, but not necessarily to its occupant."
My congratulations to you on releasing a video about one of the most interesting (but often times misrepresented) historical unit!
In Finland it is said when Varangians left to come back to their homes, they took route to Finland to raid for last time, but few of them were killed in Finland which have been a tale for a long time now.
Even when they're home after such a long journey and adventure, they still have to risk it all. They really couldn't help themselves I guess, raiding was in their blood and dna. Or they were probably greedy and mad bastards, that probably as well haha.
Holy shit the Varangian guard are the absolute chad of Guards.
this is fantastic, these videos are so visually pleasing
They were for sure one the units that offered obstinate resistance to the crusaders who sacked Constantinople in 1204, but due to their small number, they didn't change the course of events
These warriors were worth fearing and respecting all at once. What a great video. Great job.
The Varangians are so fascinating. The Byzantines are far too under appreciated.
Videos getting better and better every time. I'm so glad to see the channel grow and improve
Been waiting for this one. As always Invicta refuses to miss.
The intro of this video gives me gosebumps. Keep up the good work love the channel.
You got a new Norse subscriber after this quality production. :)
Very much worth the wait. Excellent documentary on this Elite, powerfull and legendary Guard. Great video.
Awesome episode, it's always good to see more quality content on the eastern empire :)
Been looking forward to this!!! As always y'all have blown it out the park! Great artwork as well! Loving this series
Fantastic to see how this channel has evolved over the years. Cant compliment youre team enough! Great detailed work. Thank you!
Being of 22 % Scandinavian ancestry and 6” 1’ with a blue eyed 6” 2’ son, I know where I get my drinking , love of women and fighting from. Hell I,m living in the wrong era. Awesome presentation. Did not know tis in depth history. Thank you.
cringe
These units were 2m tall or 6 Foot,6 inch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@nonameacc It isn't cringe, Greek, it's Germanic Pride! Pride in our great strength and the beauty of our people, you wouldn't understand.
@@willtherealgeorgemichaelpl5879 Same height as my brother!
Quality history, quality work, quality informations, quality and passion.
Keep going!
The animation in this ancient history documentary really helps to visualize how things were back then.
The varangias guard is everybody wet dream here. Basically roman vikings, what can be more badass? We need a movie about them
i would definitely watch that movie!
Or a movie about Harald Hardraade of course
@Hamza Bin Yasseen Well, not all of them are blonde.
And they are smarter, bigger and stronger than "your people", so.....
You are 100% judged by your name, in more ways than one
Great episode! I love the beautifully drawn maps and artwork, they really help me to focus on what is being explained.
I have to say this is probably been one of the most enjoyable videos I watch lately. Good work
My Mom took a genetic test.
She's a large proportion Slavic, but is also Scandinavian. Neat to think I could possibly have some Varangian blood.
In your family history their is probably a drunken norseman somewhere.
@@stunner9005 lol yeh
Ah finally a video on one of my favorite historical warriors