Harold Hardrada was both the servant of a Roman Emperor, the assassin of another one, and the guy who tried to take over England in 1066. What could be more epic?
The Varangian Guard was made up of a lot of veterans of the Battle of Hastings who ended up fighting the doomed campaign against the Norman's in Dyracchium. Imagine getting evicted from your home by the Norman's and travelling to the furthest part of Europe just to get annihilated by the Norman's again.
"The Greece runestones (Swedish: Greklandsstenarna) are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes." "On these runestones the word Grikkland ("GREECE") appears in three inscriptions,[1] the word Grikk(j)ar ("GREEKS") appears in 25 inscriptions,[2] two stones refer to men as grikkfari ("traveller to Greece")[3] and one stone refers to Grikkhafnir ("Greek harbours").[4]"
For those who ever visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, make sure to check out the carving made by a Varangian Guard (Halvdan). Its only his name in runes but really interesting (bet he got bored on guard duty)
There's a reason why some people make the most funny duty logs, its a real drag but I'd like to think its just human nature to try and do anything to escape the boredom.
It should also be mentioned the Norwegian king Sigurd the Crusader, in Norwegian called Sigurd Jordsalfare (Earthallwander), after his crusade in the promised land went to Byzantine. Unlike many of the other crusader kings he was true to his oath to return the riches he captured to the Byzantine Emperor, as well as giving him all his ships. In return the Byzantine Emperor made many of his men Varangian guards, feasted him, gave him a parade, gifted him with many horses, and gave him honorary titles, which included being captain of the Varangian Guard (but probably not the actual captain). Sigurd however returned to Norway to rule after only a short stay riding north. The journey home however did take the king a few years as he played royal tourist. Sigurd had left Norway with 5000 men and only came home to Norway together with 300. While some historians jump to the conclusion that most of the others died we do not know how many stayed as Varangian guards, how many stayed in the Holy Land, how many returned home on their own accord or even rode from Byzantine with him, but then found other employment elsewhere in Europe. We simply do not know if he lost most of his men, or just a portion of his men, campaigning. I personally think at least a fifth or more survived as he had the man power to guard his treasure wagons in his journey to the coast and sail his ships to the Byzantine Empire after his crusade concluded.
I'm Greek living in NY, and going down there is such awesome weather compared to US Northeast. Winters without frost, Dry summers with low humidity, shade is all u need. The Varangians born in Scandinavia must have felt like they reached heaven in eastern Mediterranean. Lately Climate change makes Greek summers more humid and hot, ACs everywhere, but I didn't need it in 99-01. The clubs had open roofs, night was perfection for drinking and dancing 60-65 degrees. No clouds, stars always up there!
Oh, and I should mention, that in Vinland Saga, one of the characters has a sword from the Roman Empire and had served with them as a younger man in the Varangians and had eventually travelled back to Denmark under King Canute.
The Varangian Guard consisted of Viking and Slavic mercenaries, which distinguished them from palace guard units such as the Scholai or the Exkoubitores. The earliest members of the Varangian guard came from Kievan Rus. A treaty of 874 obliged the rulers of Kievan Rus to provide men for Byzantine service.
Yeah, especially considering that living a quiet life at a farm didn't guarantee your survival, either, back in those times. A failed harvest, or two, and you're starving to death. Might as well try your luck as a mercenary.
it's far but it's probably harder for these Vikings to travel to Central Germany than to Greece even though Central Germany is very near, because sea travel is always faster than land.
Still continues to this day. Vietnamese hired by Emiratis, Serbians hired by the Congolese in the 90s for their Bosnian War experience, and Cubans and several Africans fighting for Russia today
Is it possible that the Rhomphaia is called such by historians who have worked off of the mistranslation? Nordic warriors and Norman warriors would have been far more likely to use two-bladed swords, either the Nordic and Norman swords they were used to, or the Byzantine equivalent. Basically arming-swords and broadswords. The single-edged Rhomphaia curving the wrong way would have been somewhat alien to them. If they used it I would hazard it was mostly as ceremonial weapons, not actually in combat.
Varangians probably were the best Shock Infantry to ever exist. They have the Berserker mentality of their Viking Ancestors, but were drilled and equipped to the highest Standards of the Late Eastern Romans. I would imagine that any competent General would ensure that they were ordered to Charge enemy Infantry after ensuring they were safe from being harassed by Calvary, and such a direct charge would consistently produce devasting results...
This is pretty much the Battle of Beroia. Emperor John II was wounded by an arrow to the leg or foot, but he still led his Varangians to a charge towards the Pecheneg wagon fort. They hacked and slashed at the Pechenegs so hard that they disappeared from the historical record as an independent entity after the battle.
They were loyal as long as they were getting paid, which is more than you could ask for the average mercenary band and certainly way more reliable than the praetorian guard.
The Rus were just swedish vikings living in Ukraine and Russia. They eventually got absorbed into native Slavic populations but they were pretty Scandinavian in culture for most of their early history.
@@Ian-yf7uf Yeah I understand that I'd how the Rus started out, but that raises the question of at what point the intermingling with the local populations started and have any of the Varangians in the subsequent years been culturally and ethnically more Slavic or Slavic at all at some point. The Slavic influence in Varangian equipment is not hard to come across in various depictions, but this video would have you believe they were rather strictly norse and later on Anglo saxon, at least up until some point, which could very well be true, but I am wondering if it was so clear cut for all, if any of the duration of their existence as the Byzantine elite forces
@@ivansalamon7028 The varangians of the early days must have come solely from Nordic stocks. Kievan Rus seemed to have served mostly as the middle-man between Byzantium and the Scandinavian realms. Moreover, since cultures migrate more than people do, the Slavic features on the Varangians' equipments must have symbolized both ethnic and cultural significance.
The Heteriaea Guards from Attila Total War is basically the Varangian Guard from real life, CA added this unit into the game for the sake of game balancing.
It has more to do with the expulsions of the norse from britain. More infighting in scandinavia and later on anglo saxons feeing from the genocidal actions of william the bastard
Something to note is that after the battle of Dyracchium Alexios signed a deal with Venice giving them increased trading rights and special privileges in exchange for their navies cutting of the normans. This in turn led to the increased Latin presence in the capitol which in turn resulted in the fourth crusade and the looting of Constantinople.
In a way yes, but only indirectly. Relations with Venice were pretty good until Manuel Komnenos mass arrested them and later Andronikos Komnenos sanctioned violent attacks on them. Before that the Venetians were a key ally on a number of occasions, guarding the Adriatic against attacks from the West.
No, what happened then was the Mongol invasion. Millions of the Monsters, even Kiev was destroyed by them reducing the population of the time of 40,000 to 500, making slaves of the survivors.
It is suggested as the Nordic kingdoms evolved from heathen raiders to Christian states, raids lessened. Ever fewer people lived as warriors and those that did did so in service to their local kings and jarls (earls). Over time fewer Nordic people went south to become Varangians. Similarly after the Crusades ended and the Crusader states fell, fewer and fewer Normans made their way to Byzantine as well. The Varangian guard would have diminished in numbers. It probably ceased to be an effective force, becoming ever more ceremonial before either being disbanded or simply going out of service. Either way it disappeared from history.
You would think with how popular Vikings are and how popular Rome is, we’d get more movies and shows about the Varangians. All we have is a couple of episodes of Viking Valhalla. There needs to be more shows period. Especially about the Byzantine Empire. They are so underrated compared to classical Rome yet they were just as successful for just as long. A thousand years that empire reigned. I would love a show like Marco Polo having to do with the relationship between the Mongols and the Byzantine empire. From what I understand they were allies surprisingly. You’d think Atilla would’ve made the Romans hateful towards horse riding steppe nomads lol
@@anibal7a6s agreed! We only really got Rome lol Barbarians I guess but it’s more so from the Germanic tribes perspective. That’s the thing about Rome in movies, shows, even video games. They are always the bad guys, so we don’t get to see much of them other than when they are being oppressive lol that’s what I liked about Rome. It showed that it’s more grey and not so black and white. I’d love to see more Rome too even during the republic. Maybe during the Punic wars would be so damn interesting. Carthage is also a very overlooked people that were just as awesome and interesting and even more so in their own ways
@@anibal7a6s the more I think about it there really aren’t many series about historical periods at all lol Vikings have 3 good shows but thats about it lol
@@jamesheavy789 Byzantine sources? Sounds made up just like the made up name "Byzantine". I know you meant to say Roman sources. It's not your fault you don't know any better public education has failed a lot of people on this subject.
Great video about the guard. Just one note: the maps are totally inaccurate especially after Basil II period before Manzikert (Bulgaria was part of Eastern Roman empire) and during Alexios Komenenos reign (he reconquered Anatolia coast during First Crusade)
@@F_Yale Honestly the only game of theirs I give any hope to is Skull and Bones, which yes, while being the Fallout 76 equivalent for them because of its launch, I feel can at least turn out decent with its roadmap and announced incoming features.
My wet dream is for my father, my brother, and myself to be varangian guard. Going from medieval sweden to constantinople before 1204 would've been like going to space.
I know you didnt ask me, but I think *using* either one is fine, as long as its understood that the name wasn't used while it existed, only 100s of years later by historians.
@@Sev826 How is using a false name fine? That's spreading a lie all because of a German historians'propaganda. I use the name the people alive at that time used.
@@-NovaRoma.Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330 and the Roman Empire was finally conquered in 1453. The name Byzantine is German propaganda for the Holy Roman Empire. The name stuck in the west.
Did the late Varangians and the Almogavars clash? I observe an apparent inconsistency when you talk of the 14th century, because the Almogavar War that effectively let the restored Byzantine Empire in tatters, was at the very beginning of that century and I doubt emperors afterwards had much gold to pay their mercenaries at all.
@@LuisAldamiz they are not anecdote, since we have an actual historical account from 1404 about men in Constantinople who speak english and carry axes. It's just that the varangians at this point were more a sort of ceremonial guard than an actual military unit
@@jamesheavy789 imho varangians were still deployed as military units during the civil war between the regency and John Kantakouzenos. Later? It's hard to say. As we know the late byzantine army is a very obscure topic
its actually interesting seeing different demographics from different parts of Europe serve in the Guard, I mean even how Scandinavians built the kingdoms which are the ancestors of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
The Varangians weren't an elite unite, they were the bodyguards of the Emperor but they weren't used in most armies and wars Furthermore the Cataphractoi were the most elite unite And there were also Elite infantry units which were in most armies unlike the Varangians
@@correctionguy7632 it's a wildly inaccurate and anachronistic term that has no place in serious discourse, when the correct terminology ie "eastern rome / eastern roman empire" is very much in use.
12:50 - How come was English considered the native language of late Varangian Guards when in England itself it was French (Anglo-Norman, a variant of Old French) the official language until the late 14th century?
Because the French in English aristocracy originated from the Normans, and the ones who served the Varangian Guard were Anglo-Saxons dissatisfied with the Norman conquest
Only the Norman ruling class spoke French, the people of England were still English and spoke English. Overtime Old English developed into Middle English with adoption of some Norman French elements. Those who went to Byzantium to serve in the Varangian Guard from England were not Normans.
I would have thought that the first to join and to be admitted would be Normans, who are pretty much Vikings but with French language, if anything, Anglosaxons would be secondary to them. The common people were irrelevant here AFAIK: peasants were not warriors, unless exceptionally, nobles were instead. @Coquinhaification @johnarnold7984
@@LuisAldamiz it's because these are the Anglo-Saxon warriors leaving England just after the conquest, which is when they established their colony in Crimea and all, so they would be English speaking folks. The Norman warriors mostly remained in England as the new rulers.
thats like saying americans are british because they speak english and it was british territory. they didnt even speak latin and culturally they were greek. yes, it was the closest descendant of the roman empire, but it doesn't resemble what it was.
@@Blox117 To be fair the Western Roman Empire of 476AD has little to nothing to do with the Roman Republic of 509BC except the language. In fact, no nation/kingdom/empire that has ever existed hasn't faced an evolution in culture, military, structure of power, language or religion. But that doesn't stop the said political entity to not carry the legacy of its previous rulers.
@@tonykalis6205The Western Roman Empire directly held the position of the ethno-cultural successor of the Roman Kingdom. The political theory and legitimacy allowed the Greek half of the empire to claim a form of succession but nobody can seriously claim that the Greek empire in Constantinople had anything more to do with Rome than any kingdom that came out of the Western Roman Empire besides the name they called themselves.
@@Steven-cf1ty First of all, not only your answer is wrong in the sense that Western and Eastern Roman Empire were almost identical and that in fact that roman Emperor Constantine actually had more interest in the East even before the Empire got split. But secondly your comment has nothing to do with what im saying. What im trying to point out is that culture changes through time. No nation on earth had/has/will have the same culture as their ancestors simply because the values of one's nation changes with time. Furthermore culture doesn't necessarily (and in fact 99% of the time) change the legitimacy of a nation. For example take the modern UK and the one 150 years ago. Completely different cultures, values and mindset of the people. Let's go 500 years ago, different political system, art and military might. Then go 1000 years ago, the language changes, almost zero technological advancements over most nations on the globe and also they English kingdoms haven't even united under one ruler. That's my point, culture changes but it doesn't necessarily change rulership or the legitimacy of a nation.
15:33 they weren't crusaders anymore at that point, as they had been excommunicated plus it was mostly a Venetian thing and the Byzantines had been quite treacherous to the real crusaders for a long time, from the beginning pretty much.
The excommunications only came after the Crusaders had become incredibly bloated with stolen wealth from Byzantium and had immense power because of it. The Popes hierarchy felt threatened by this and moved on them.
The vast majority of the Latin army were crusaders, the Venetians mainly supplied the fleet. A Crusading leader would become the first Latin emperor. And yes, the Byzantines had treated some previous crusades poorly, but the crusaders had also looted and raided Byzantium every time they passed through starting with the First Crusade.The Byzantines were smart to be wary of these passing Latin armies. The Fourth Crusade wasn't even supposed to come through Constantinople, their original plan was to sail for Egypt.
Loyal my ass they deserted during the 4th Crusade when Constantinople was being sacked Yeahhhh I'm a bit too hard on them after all that was one of the only times they deserted and their emperor had run away but still deserting when their city was being sacked sucks for such a legendry unit even if it was one of the only times they deserted
Heyy they quit at the last moment and for paid mercenaries of the ever changing emperor and ever shifting Byzantine court politics that's way more loyalty shown than what
@@REAPERthePRUSKIEThe crusades were brutal. Even ceysqders themselves betrayed the crusades and the Byzantine Empire. Harsh of you to judge the varangians when realistically no one was 100% helping the Byzantines
@@parodyclip36Yeah but still they deserted even tho the city was probably gone they could've at least put up a good last stand After all they were trained for that
Fundamentally yes. With some key differences, one being that they were willing and grown participants whereas Janissaries, at least from the start were kidnapped Christian children from the Balkans forced to become soldiers. Another being that Janissaries were tied for life in their vocation, while being Varangian was more of a career great warriors could opt for but eventually also retire from. Harald Hardrada is an example of this. This was possible due to the steady and perpetual flow of warriors from north europe who were willing to become Varangians as soon as others returned home as rich men. I also don't think Janissaries enjoyed the same status as Varangians, as they were bodyguards to the emperor but also advisers, generals of the armies and could even at times install a candidate they favoured to the throne. But I wouldn't be be surprised if Janissaries were established with inspiration from Varangians. The Ottomans after all, fancied themelves the spiritual successors of the roman empire (big 'ol wannabes if you ask me). Something which thereto only Christian european kingdoms (which is logical) had laid claim to since it was a Christian empire.
@@alexanderb5726Byzantines would often impose mandatory retirement (or at least transferred to somewhere different) so they wouldn't get too comfortable/form strong relationships with important people
Not really. As the janissaries were enslaved, Christian boys brainwashed and forced to serve for life while the Varangian were volunteers who were payed and could leave anytime they wanted
No they can't. Janissaries were a parasitic caste who murdered in cold blood many sultans to keep their privileges. Varangians were decently loyal mercenaries
Byzantiums most sought after mercenaries? The picture you're using is of a Roman Emperor and the emperors bodyguard. Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330. These in the picture are from a later time period.
No the Eastern Roman Empire is called Byzantine Empire by modern historians for the period after East Rome became more Greek, in the Middle Ages after the end of the Western Roman Empire.
@@alicelund147 "modern" I refuse to spread lies and propaganda. They called themselves Romans their enemies called them Romans. You can believe revisionist history if you like that's your right but I won't follow it.
They were both. And also Anglo-Saxons after the Norman conquest of England caused a lot of them to bail. Also assuming you mean Norsemen since viking is neither an ethnicity nor a culture. The Rus are also supposedly Norsemen that settled in Eastern Europe (Rurikid Dynasty being descended from Rurik/Hrorik). So the aristocracy could also have been Norse, at least for a while.
"Viking" was an occupation, not an ethnic group. Also, there were a lot of Rus in it too. All along the volga, Scandinavian and the Rus had a lot of cultural exchange, making them more similar culturally than you think.
@@LuisAldamizEastern Rome was just the Eastern Roman empire that managed to survive until 1453. Not usurpation because they split off to make management of Rome easier. You’re either stupid, or you don’t know the definition of usurpation 😂
tl:dr : varangian guard was only good when it was consisted of the original varangians, e.g the Russians 6000 of whom the prince of the Rus has gifted to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. Those were indeed - OP. But then the William The Conqueror has took England, and puny anglo-saxons who lost to him has started to flee the England and flocking to the banners of varangians. The mercenary pool has been polluted with influx of dirty poor English "peasants" and the varangians lost every battle after. Including a humiliation defeat from the crusade of 1204.
This is such a retarded overgeneralization its almost hilarious. Its almost as if the general's leadership, tactics employed, regular army troopers and their morale, army preparedness are inconsequential because the "Varungeeayans" were invincible supermen here to save the day. Dude, shut the fuck up for us 😂
Where do you get russians from? :P Most that served in the Varangian Guard were of Scandinavian descent. People mix this crap up all the time because of the fact that they came or traveled through KievnRus lol. I can assure you that Slaic people were not very common in the guard
@@patrikdahlberg1825 i've already written what history has told us. The sources are widely known. You should read them before writing also. The Rus are the Russians since what is written in the Russian primary chronicle, and 6000 of them were gifted to the Emperor by the Svyatoslav the prince of the Rus. Y ou call them Scandinavians yet even the terminology e.g. Varangian - is unknown still and disputed.
@@patrikdahlberg1825 What period are you talking about the varangian guard of the ERE has started at the 1034 A.D. The Kievan Rus was in it's 3nd century of existence. The primary chronicle which states the Rus are Russians was written at the 1113 only 80 years after the formation of the Varangians not to mention that it could have started to get written decades before the official date. So the nation has been formed by that time. Do not mix the 8 and 11 century.
The Varangian guards caused the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. The Professional Standing army of the Byzantines were far more effective for 600 years before the over-hyped Varangians flopped onto the scene. The Varangians is just one more part of the overemphasised furry Viking hype train.
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Harold Hardrada was both the servant of a Roman Emperor, the assassin of another one, and the guy who tried to take over England in 1066. What could be more epic?
Hardrada, however, actually missed the chance to be crowned Byzantine Emperor, which was even more epic.
@@domenstrmsek5625elaborate?
He was a hated tyrant in Norway unfortunately. Seems power got to his head
@@brandonquezada9523 Hence the name Hadrada, which translates to harsh ruler or tyrant. He was a great military leader but a terrible king.
@@correctionguy7632 A marriage to the Makedone Empress of that time (forgot her name but she was Basil's niece) would have given him the chance
The Varangian Guard was made up of a lot of veterans of the Battle of Hastings who ended up fighting the doomed campaign against the Norman's in Dyracchium. Imagine getting evicted from your home by the Norman's and travelling to the furthest part of Europe just to get annihilated by the Norman's again.
Is also possible than some veterans from Stamford Bridge were there too. So imagine being beaten by Anglo-Saxons and end up fighting alongside them.
I mean to be fair they’re the reason the battle was lost lol the Byzantines were winning until they broke ranks to chase the retreating Normans
Its amusing to think they hadn't learned their lesson in Hastings at all lol.
Imagine charging so hard you get surrounded by Normans because you're angey.
"Lol" say the Varangian when surrounded, "Lmao get rekt"
Vikings fighting Vikings in Italy is the most Viking thing
... Yes.
"The Greece runestones (Swedish: Greklandsstenarna) are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes." "On these runestones the word Grikkland ("GREECE") appears in three inscriptions,[1] the word Grikk(j)ar ("GREEKS") appears in 25 inscriptions,[2] two stones refer to men as grikkfari ("traveller to Greece")[3] and one stone refers to Grikkhafnir ("Greek harbours").[4]"
For those who ever visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, make sure to check out the carving made by a Varangian Guard (Halvdan). Its only his name in runes but really interesting (bet he got bored on guard duty)
There's a reason why some people make the most funny duty logs, its a real drag but I'd like to think its just human nature to try and do anything to escape the boredom.
I do not support illegal graffiti.
Yes, surprising and interesting. I just didn't know that they went that far at the time.
The Varangian Guard was what every Roman emperor wished the Praetorian Guard could be.
Really? They turned to preatorian guard and became problem.
@jendrektl5733 Varangian guards were well-handled and were never responsible for coups or murders of Emperors.
@@v4enthusiast541unlike the janissaries
They just want money, give money equal loyalty. Unlike the Janissaries and the Praetorian who would get involved in politics.
@@v4enthusiast541 Harald Hardrada betrayed and blind Emperor Michael V Kalaphates
Harald hardada was playing mount and blade
It should also be mentioned the Norwegian king Sigurd the Crusader, in Norwegian called Sigurd Jordsalfare (Earthallwander), after his crusade in the promised land went to Byzantine. Unlike many of the other crusader kings he was true to his oath to return the riches he captured to the Byzantine Emperor, as well as giving him all his ships. In return the Byzantine Emperor made many of his men Varangian guards, feasted him, gave him a parade, gifted him with many horses, and gave him honorary titles, which included being captain of the Varangian Guard (but probably not the actual captain). Sigurd however returned to Norway to rule after only a short stay riding north. The journey home however did take the king a few years as he played royal tourist.
Sigurd had left Norway with 5000 men and only came home to Norway together with 300. While some historians jump to the conclusion that most of the others died we do not know how many stayed as Varangian guards, how many stayed in the Holy Land, how many returned home on their own accord or even rode from Byzantine with him, but then found other employment elsewhere in Europe. We simply do not know if he lost most of his men, or just a portion of his men, campaigning. I personally think at least a fifth or more survived as he had the man power to guard his treasure wagons in his journey to the coast and sail his ships to the Byzantine Empire after his crusade concluded.
I'm Greek living in NY, and going down there is such awesome weather compared to US Northeast. Winters without frost, Dry summers with low humidity, shade is all u need. The Varangians born in Scandinavia must have felt like they reached heaven in eastern Mediterranean. Lately Climate change makes Greek summers more humid and hot, ACs everywhere, but I didn't need it in 99-01. The clubs had open roofs, night was perfection for drinking and dancing 60-65 degrees. No clouds, stars always up there!
what is latitude?
"You want me to let you stab him for 200 Solidi? Nah, he pays me a whole 2 Argentii a week, I'm good."
100k sesterceroonies
😎Chad Varangian VS Virgin Praetorian 😭
One of my favourite units in Age of Empires 4 and Knights of Honor.
And definitly one of my favourites sagas in human history.
I would like to imagine this rebel leader claiming that God was on his side before he died from falling off his horse.
The living are never wrong.
Oh, and I should mention, that in Vinland Saga, one of the characters has a sword from the Roman Empire and had served with them as a younger man in the Varangians and had eventually travelled back to Denmark under King Canute.
No.
It’s Vanguardian leviosaaaa
When the CK3 Emeperor demands to know why his kids are all blonde with blue eyes...😊
didn't one of the Emperators married a norse woman?
@@Tortuga-nt4pm Basil I, i think
Very well documented and interesting as usual, thanks for your great work!
Alexios also defeated the Normans at Larissa, not merely bribed the German Emperor
Reason why they were the best bodyguards
Best middle age history video I’ve seen in quite awhile 👍🏻 give me more!
Let it be mentioned that the Varangian Way was an excellent album.
The Varangian Guard consisted of Viking and Slavic mercenaries, which distinguished them from palace guard units such as the Scholai or the Exkoubitores. The earliest members of the Varangian guard came from Kievan Rus. A treaty of 874 obliged the rulers of Kievan Rus to provide men for Byzantine service.
All one need do is read Howard’s Hyborian Age, to see just how much Norsemen used to get around, and why they were so sought after.
Always cool to learn about new parts of history great video on awesome warriors
It's crazy to think that people travelled so far to become mercenaries.
Wealth and status is a very good motivator
Yeah, especially considering that living a quiet life at a farm didn't guarantee your survival, either, back in those times. A failed harvest, or two, and you're starving to death. Might as well try your luck as a mercenary.
@@Thraim. high risk high reward through and through
it's far but it's probably harder for these Vikings to travel to Central Germany than to Greece even though Central Germany is very near, because sea travel is always faster than land.
Still continues to this day. Vietnamese hired by Emiratis, Serbians hired by the Congolese in the 90s for their Bosnian War experience, and Cubans and several Africans fighting for Russia today
7:15 It's funny because the Rohmphaia is also referred to as "The Arm of the Emperor."
Is it possible that the Rhomphaia is called such by historians who have worked off of the mistranslation? Nordic warriors and Norman warriors would have been far more likely to use two-bladed swords, either the Nordic and Norman swords they were used to, or the Byzantine equivalent. Basically arming-swords and broadswords. The single-edged Rhomphaia curving the wrong way would have been somewhat alien to them. If they used it I would hazard it was mostly as ceremonial weapons, not actually in combat.
My great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather was a Varangian guard.
Varangians probably were the best Shock Infantry to ever exist. They have the Berserker mentality of their Viking Ancestors, but were drilled and equipped to the highest Standards of the Late Eastern Romans. I would imagine that any competent General would ensure that they were ordered to Charge enemy Infantry after ensuring they were safe from being harassed by Calvary, and such a direct charge would consistently produce devasting results...
This is pretty much the Battle of Beroia. Emperor John II was wounded by an arrow to the leg or foot, but he still led his Varangians to a charge towards the Pecheneg wagon fort. They hacked and slashed at the Pechenegs so hard that they disappeared from the historical record as an independent entity after the battle.
They were loyal as long as they were getting paid, which is more than you could ask for the average mercenary band and certainly way more reliable than the praetorian guard.
someone dropped a nuclear bomb in southern sardinia on this map
Red as blood and black as night!
They also occupied a fortified harbour called No-Man's-Wharf.
Wasn't the Varangian guard compromised of a lot of Slavs from the later Rus as well? I am actually wondering if this is true.
The Rus were just swedish vikings living in Ukraine and Russia. They eventually got absorbed into native Slavic populations but they were pretty Scandinavian in culture for most of their early history.
@@Ian-yf7uf Yeah I understand that I'd how the Rus started out, but that raises the question of at what point the intermingling with the local populations started and have any of the Varangians in the subsequent years been culturally and ethnically more Slavic or Slavic at all at some point. The Slavic influence in Varangian equipment is not hard to come across in various depictions, but this video would have you believe they were rather strictly norse and later on Anglo saxon, at least up until some point, which could very well be true, but I am wondering if it was so clear cut for all, if any of the duration of their existence as the Byzantine elite forces
The initial 5000 would have most likely included Slavs yes but afterwards Scandinavia and England were the main recruiting grounds.
@@ivansalamon7028 The varangians of the early days must have come solely from Nordic stocks. Kievan Rus seemed to have served mostly as the middle-man between Byzantium and the Scandinavian realms. Moreover, since cultures migrate more than people do, the Slavic features on the Varangians' equipments must have symbolized both ethnic and cultural significance.
It was originally Rus aristocracy, but yeah. Plus Norsemen and even Anglo-Saxons, at least earlier on.
Incredible history!
Thank you for your work!
!GENIAL!!! QUE TAL UN VIDEO SOBRE LA GUERRA ARABE-BIZANTINA...
Bro can you tell which drawing software do you use for artistic illustration in your video
Roman emperors had a Germanic guard already since the beginning of the Empire, almost uninterrupted since.
The Heteriaea Guards from Attila Total War is basically the Varangian Guard from real life, CA added this unit into the game for the sake of game balancing.
Did the later inclusion of Anglo-Saxons into the Guard have anything to do with the erstwhile Norse influence on that culture?
Probably. To the Byzantines there was probably not much difference between Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians.
It has more to do with the expulsions of the norse from britain. More infighting in scandinavia and later on anglo saxons feeing from the genocidal actions of william the bastard
They all spoke the Old West Norse Dialect in those times.
Really a very interesting episode. It was a great pleasure to watch
Artist? 🍻
Why are Bulgaria shown as independent after Basil's death?
can u also talk about the Battle of Halidzor, 70k turks couldn't win from 300 Armenians.
Typical turks
Something to note is that after the battle of Dyracchium Alexios signed a deal with Venice giving them increased trading rights and special privileges in exchange for their navies cutting of the normans. This in turn led to the increased Latin presence in the capitol which in turn resulted in the fourth crusade and the looting of Constantinople.
In a way yes, but only indirectly. Relations with Venice were pretty good until Manuel Komnenos mass arrested them and later Andronikos Komnenos sanctioned violent attacks on them. Before that the Venetians were a key ally on a number of occasions, guarding the Adriatic against attacks from the West.
By disappearing from the pages of history in the 15th century you mean dying alongside their emperor in battle like true Valangians.
No, what happened then was the Mongol invasion. Millions of the Monsters, even Kiev was destroyed by them reducing the population of the time of 40,000 to 500, making slaves of the survivors.
After the Mongols, came the Ottomans, you know the rest of the story from there.
It is suggested as the Nordic kingdoms evolved from heathen raiders to Christian states, raids lessened. Ever fewer people lived as warriors and those that did did so in service to their local kings and jarls (earls). Over time fewer Nordic people went south to become Varangians. Similarly after the Crusades ended and the Crusader states fell, fewer and fewer Normans made their way to Byzantine as well. The Varangian guard would have diminished in numbers. It probably ceased to be an effective force, becoming ever more ceremonial before either being disbanded or simply going out of service. Either way it disappeared from history.
5:05 Byzantines invented or known to make plate armor similiar to what High Middle Ages Knights wore?
You would think with how popular Vikings are and how popular Rome is, we’d get more movies and shows about the Varangians. All we have is a couple of episodes of Viking Valhalla. There needs to be more shows period. Especially about the Byzantine Empire. They are so underrated compared to classical Rome yet they were just as successful for just as long. A thousand years that empire reigned. I would love a show like Marco Polo having to do with the relationship between the Mongols and the Byzantine empire. From what I understand they were allies surprisingly. You’d think Atilla would’ve made the Romans hateful towards horse riding steppe nomads lol
Even about classical Rome I feel that there are not enough series lol
@@anibal7a6s agreed! We only really got Rome lol Barbarians I guess but it’s more so from the Germanic tribes perspective. That’s the thing about Rome in movies, shows, even video games. They are always the bad guys, so we don’t get to see much of them other than when they are being oppressive lol that’s what I liked about Rome. It showed that it’s more grey and not so black and white. I’d love to see more Rome too even during the republic. Maybe during the Punic wars would be so damn interesting. Carthage is also a very overlooked people that were just as awesome and interesting and even more so in their own ways
@@anibal7a6s the more I think about it there really aren’t many series about historical periods at all lol Vikings have 3 good shows but thats about it lol
Thanks!
Sad to see the drop in quality and the bad description of manzikert
Time stamp 1:12 -> I assume you mean East?
Babe woke me up for this
Dope drawings
Please a videl of the siege of oran and the siege of castelnouvo...
Eastern Roman history = INSTANT LIKE
Did the varangians ever fight the janissaries?
Yeah we need to know this fr
I think the Varangians lasted only until 1204, so not.
@@jamesheavy789But it’s debated whether they were actual Varangians as native Greeks began to fill the guard and none are mentioned at 1453.
@@jamesheavy789 Byzantine sources? Sounds made up just like the made up name "Byzantine". I know you meant to say Roman sources. It's not your fault you don't know any better public education has failed a lot of people on this subject.
@@Clearwood_ Dude, stop trying to sound smart. Its not making you look better.
Great video
when thirty years war
Just a 30 sec to a minute history lesson
Janisairies plz
Great video about the guard. Just one note: the maps are totally inaccurate especially after Basil II period before Manzikert (Bulgaria was part of Eastern Roman empire) and during Alexios Komenenos reign (he reconquered Anatolia coast during First Crusade)
Someone should send this to Ubisoft, given they had the bright idea to make the Varangian Guard hero a female only class.
Lol what?
Ah yes, as we all know, For Honor is prized for its incredible attention to historical accuracy.
You should probably give up any hope and faith you still have in this woke garbage-tier dev.
@@F_Yale Honestly the only game of theirs I give any hope to is Skull and Bones, which yes, while being the Fallout 76 equivalent for them because of its launch, I feel can at least turn out decent with its roadmap and announced incoming features.
@@F_Yale Imagine using woke unironically in 2024 lmao
Last time I was this early, Anatolia was still Roman!
and Attila was some important guy
2:27 10:40 Did Harald Silgurdson convert to Christianity ever? or did he worship Old Gods throughout his rough life?
Why is bulgaria independant after basil II died?
Because at the time of the rebellion Bulgaria has not been subdued yet
Bulgaria made a comeback some time afterwards.
My wet dream is for my father, my brother, and myself to be varangian guard. Going from medieval sweden to constantinople before 1204 would've been like going to space.
From 1070 onwards they were almost exclusively Anglo-Saxon.
Sandrhoman history i want to ask what are your thoughts about the name byzantium should we use it or should we call the empire eastern Roman empire?
I know you didnt ask me, but I think *using* either one is fine, as long as its understood that the name wasn't used while it existed, only 100s of years later by historians.
@@Sev826 thanks
@@Sev826 How is using a false name fine? That's spreading a lie all because of a German historians'propaganda. I use the name the people alive at that time used.
@@-NovaRoma.Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330 and the Roman Empire was finally conquered in 1453. The name Byzantine is German propaganda for the Holy Roman Empire. The name stuck in the west.
@@Clearwood_ I don't think we can call it propaganda but okay thanks 👍
Did the late Varangians and the Almogavars clash?
I observe an apparent inconsistency when you talk of the 14th century, because the Almogavar War that effectively let the restored Byzantine Empire in tatters, was at the very beginning of that century and I doubt emperors afterwards had much gold to pay their mercenaries at all.
The varangians existed until the very end of the Easter Roman Empire.
But by the XIV century their role was limited to palace guards and escort
@@Phantom-xp2co - Makes sense. That should also mean that late "English" Varangians are pretty much anecdote.
@@LuisAldamiz they are not anecdote, since we have an actual historical account from 1404 about men in Constantinople who speak english and carry axes.
It's just that the varangians at this point were more a sort of ceremonial guard than an actual military unit
@@jamesheavy789 imho varangians were still deployed as military units during the civil war between the regency and John Kantakouzenos.
Later? It's hard to say.
As we know the late byzantine army is a very obscure topic
@@Phantom-xp2co - Different words, same meaning: to me your report is "anecdote", to you it's "not anecdote".
its actually interesting seeing different demographics from different parts of Europe serve in the Guard, I mean even how Scandinavians built the kingdoms which are the ancestors of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
I thought cataphractoie were the most well known! Followed by them
Great video! Thank you for not using AI art!
Hi
The Varangians weren't an elite unite, they were the bodyguards of the Emperor but they weren't used in most armies and wars
Furthermore the Cataphractoi were the most elite unite
And there were also Elite infantry units which were in most armies unlike the Varangians
Detachments of Varangians were sent with Byzantine armies during the 11th century notably under George Maniakes and Basil Boioannes.
👍👍
cool
👍
At ast
2: 03 says he besieged city right at the bosphorus, shows map with the actual city located at dardanelles...
героям слава
"Byzantium"? Really? Come on..we expect better from you.
While you're correct if they called it the "Roman Empire" then 95% of people would be "wtf?"
@@ZippyZapBike Eastern roman empire is a thing you know.
Its the name used by historians
@@correctionguy7632 it's a wildly inaccurate and anachronistic term that has no place in serious discourse, when the correct terminology ie "eastern rome / eastern roman empire" is very much in use.
The historical community needs to educate and correct the larger masses instead of perpetuating a falsehood.@@ZippyZapBike
hmm, I think they were no mercenaries. more a personal guard of the emperor.
12:50 - How come was English considered the native language of late Varangian Guards when in England itself it was French (Anglo-Norman, a variant of Old French) the official language until the late 14th century?
Because the French in English aristocracy originated from the Normans, and the ones who served the Varangian Guard were Anglo-Saxons dissatisfied with the Norman conquest
Only the Norman ruling class spoke French, the people of England were still English and spoke English. Overtime Old English developed into Middle English with adoption of some Norman French elements. Those who went to Byzantium to serve in the Varangian Guard from England were not Normans.
I would have thought that the first to join and to be admitted would be Normans, who are pretty much Vikings but with French language, if anything, Anglosaxons would be secondary to them. The common people were irrelevant here AFAIK: peasants were not warriors, unless exceptionally, nobles were instead.
@Coquinhaification
@johnarnold7984
@@LuisAldamiz it's because these are the Anglo-Saxon warriors leaving England just after the conquest, which is when they established their colony in Crimea and all, so they would be English speaking folks. The Norman warriors mostly remained in England as the new rulers.
@@Coquinhaification - I'll take that at face value but I still have some doubts.
There is no such place as Byzantine Empire
It was the Eastern Roman Empire
thats like saying americans are british because they speak english and it was british territory.
they didnt even speak latin and culturally they were greek. yes, it was the closest descendant of the roman empire, but it doesn't resemble what it was.
@@Blox117 To be fair the Western Roman Empire of 476AD has little to nothing to do with the Roman Republic of 509BC except the language. In fact, no nation/kingdom/empire that has ever existed hasn't faced an evolution in culture, military, structure of power, language or religion. But that doesn't stop the said political entity to not carry the legacy of its previous rulers.
@@tonykalis6205The Western Roman Empire directly held the position of the ethno-cultural successor of the Roman Kingdom. The political theory and legitimacy allowed the Greek half of the empire to claim a form of succession but nobody can seriously claim that the Greek empire in Constantinople had anything more to do with Rome than any kingdom that came out of the Western Roman Empire besides the name they called themselves.
@@Steven-cf1ty First of all, not only your answer is wrong in the sense that Western and Eastern Roman Empire were almost identical and that in fact that roman Emperor Constantine actually had more interest in the East even before the Empire got split. But secondly your comment has nothing to do with what im saying. What im trying to point out is that culture changes through time. No nation on earth had/has/will have the same culture as their ancestors simply because the values of one's nation changes with time. Furthermore culture doesn't necessarily (and in fact 99% of the time) change the legitimacy of a nation. For example take the modern UK and the one 150 years ago. Completely different cultures, values and mindset of the people. Let's go 500 years ago, different political system, art and military might. Then go 1000 years ago, the language changes, almost zero technological advancements over most nations on the globe and also they English kingdoms haven't even united under one ruler. That's my point, culture changes but it doesn't necessarily change rulership or the legitimacy of a nation.
@@Steven-cf1ty Sorry that my answer was too long but i feel i had to explain it part by part in order for it to be more understandable.
15:33 they weren't crusaders anymore at that point, as they had been excommunicated plus it was mostly a Venetian thing and the Byzantines had been quite treacherous to the real crusaders for a long time, from the beginning pretty much.
Didn't History Matters make a video on the Crusaders and the Byzantines?
Would like to know more about their relations.
The excommunications only came after the Crusaders had become incredibly bloated with stolen wealth from Byzantium and had immense power because of it. The Popes hierarchy felt threatened by this and moved on them.
The vast majority of the Latin army were crusaders, the Venetians mainly supplied the fleet. A Crusading leader would become the first Latin emperor. And yes, the Byzantines had treated some previous crusades poorly, but the crusaders had also looted and raided Byzantium every time they passed through starting with the First Crusade.The Byzantines were smart to be wary of these passing Latin armies. The Fourth Crusade wasn't even supposed to come through Constantinople, their original plan was to sail for Egypt.
Loyal my ass they deserted during the 4th Crusade when Constantinople was being sacked
Yeahhhh I'm a bit too hard on them after all that was one of the only times they deserted and their emperor had run away but still deserting when their city was being sacked sucks for such a legendry unit even if it was one of the only times they deserted
Heyy they quit at the last moment and for paid mercenaries of the ever changing emperor and ever shifting Byzantine court politics that's way more loyalty shown than what
@@medievalist8441Still a big stink in their reputation
@@REAPERthePRUSKIEThe crusades were brutal. Even ceysqders themselves betrayed the crusades and the Byzantine Empire. Harsh of you to judge the varangians when realistically no one was 100% helping the Byzantines
@@parodyclip36Yeah but still they deserted even tho the city was probably gone they could've at least put up a good last stand
After all they were trained for that
@@REAPERthePRUSKIEfor what take the L and go on the city was lost
In a sense, can the Varangian Guards be considered as the Janissary Corps of the Eastern Roman Empire?
Fundamentally yes. With some key differences, one being that they were willing and grown participants whereas Janissaries, at least from the start were kidnapped Christian children from the Balkans forced to become soldiers. Another being that Janissaries were tied for life in their vocation, while being Varangian was more of a career great warriors could opt for but eventually also retire from. Harald Hardrada is an example of this. This was possible due to the steady and perpetual flow of warriors from north europe who were willing to become Varangians as soon as others returned home as rich men. I also don't think Janissaries enjoyed the same status as Varangians, as they were bodyguards to the emperor but also advisers, generals of the armies and could even at times install a candidate they favoured to the throne. But I wouldn't be be surprised if Janissaries were established with inspiration from Varangians. The Ottomans after all, fancied themelves the spiritual successors of the roman empire (big 'ol wannabes if you ask me). Something which thereto only Christian european kingdoms (which is logical) had laid claim to since it was a Christian empire.
The janissary was more link the praetorian guard regarding their political behavior. But simlar to varangians in military roles.
@@alexanderb5726Byzantines would often impose mandatory retirement (or at least transferred to somewhere different) so they wouldn't get too comfortable/form strong relationships with important people
Not really. As the janissaries were enslaved, Christian boys brainwashed and forced to serve for life while the Varangian were volunteers who were payed and could leave anytime they wanted
No they can't.
Janissaries were a parasitic caste who murdered in cold blood many sultans to keep their privileges.
Varangians were decently loyal mercenaries
That map has nothing to do with reality
Videos are slowed down to .75
Byzantiums most sought after mercenaries? The picture you're using is of a Roman Emperor and the emperors bodyguard. Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330. These in the picture are from a later time period.
The Eastern Roman Empire is many times called the Byzantine Empire and the Greek Empire. Even though they never called that themselves
It's a term that showed up in the 1550s that some (a lot of) people use to describe Eastern Rome as a separate state.
I don't like it either.
You can't be serious.
No the Eastern Roman Empire is called Byzantine Empire by modern historians for the period after East Rome became more Greek, in the Middle Ages after the end of the Western Roman Empire.
@@alicelund147 "modern" I refuse to spread lies and propaganda. They called themselves Romans their enemies called them Romans. You can believe revisionist history if you like that's your right but I won't follow it.
varangians were vikings not rus!
They were both. And also Anglo-Saxons after the Norman conquest of England caused a lot of them to bail.
Also assuming you mean Norsemen since viking is neither an ethnicity nor a culture.
The Rus are also supposedly Norsemen that settled in Eastern Europe (Rurikid Dynasty being descended from Rurik/Hrorik). So the aristocracy could also have been Norse, at least for a while.
"Viking" was an occupation, not an ethnic group.
Also, there were a lot of Rus in it too. All along the volga, Scandinavian and the Rus had a lot of cultural exchange, making them more similar culturally than you think.
originally they came from the Kieven Rus which was created by vikings
who are the byzantines? is that the empire made up by the germans so they can be the ones who conquered rome, instead of the muslims?
I believe you are talking about the Ostrogoth. They sacked the western roman empire.
The Dacians who spoke Greek and hated Rome, ask in the court of Diocletian...
Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire - neither entity ever existed.
not under those names anyways.
At least the capital cities are correctly named. Byzantium was never really Rome but an usurpation.
Are you trying to be profound?
@@LuisAldamizEastern Rome was just the Eastern Roman empire that managed to survive until 1453. Not usurpation because they split off to make management of Rome easier. You’re either stupid, or you don’t know the definition of usurpation 😂
@@MasonBryant Just stating the facts.
tl:dr : varangian guard was only good when it was consisted of the original varangians, e.g the Russians 6000 of whom the prince of the Rus has gifted to the Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Those were indeed - OP.
But then the William The Conqueror has took England, and puny anglo-saxons who lost to him has started to flee the England and flocking to the banners of varangians.
The mercenary pool has been polluted with influx of dirty poor English "peasants" and the varangians lost every battle after. Including a humiliation defeat from the crusade of 1204.
This is such a retarded overgeneralization its almost hilarious. Its almost as if the general's leadership, tactics employed, regular army troopers and their morale, army preparedness are inconsequential because the "Varungeeayans" were invincible supermen here to save the day.
Dude, shut the fuck up for us 😂
Where do you get russians from? :P Most that served in the Varangian Guard were of Scandinavian descent. People mix this crap up all the time because of the fact that they came or traveled through KievnRus lol. I can assure you that Slaic people were not very common in the guard
@@patrikdahlberg1825 i've already written what history has told us.
The sources are widely known. You should read them before writing also.
The Rus are the Russians since what is written in the Russian primary chronicle, and 6000 of them were gifted to the Emperor by the Svyatoslav the prince of the Rus. Y
ou call them Scandinavians yet even the terminology e.g. Varangian - is unknown still and disputed.
@@bydloshkolnik Ugh I am not even going to bother here. The fact that you even use russians as an example during this time period makes no sense
@@patrikdahlberg1825 What period are you talking about the varangian guard of the ERE has started at the 1034 A.D. The Kievan Rus was in it's 3nd century of existence.
The primary chronicle which states the Rus are Russians was written at the 1113 only 80 years after the formation of the Varangians not to mention that it could have started to get written decades before the official date.
So the nation has been formed by that time.
Do not mix the 8 and 11 century.
The Varangian guards caused the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. The Professional Standing army of the Byzantines were far more effective for 600 years before the over-hyped Varangians flopped onto the scene. The Varangians is just one more part of the overemphasised furry Viking hype train.
Are you sure?
@@SamO-ik2cm Indeed.
"furry viking hype train"? Also they did not cause the downfall of Byzantium.
What a load of rubbish. The Manzikert loss was caused by the Muslim recruits deserting to the enemies ranks.