Varangian guard

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From what i understand (many, many web-pages) the varangian guard consisted of Viking descendants, drafted from empire of rus (kiev), and served as imperial guard for the byzantine.

Would theese be a separate order, perhaps going crusading (härja och plundra )? Or just (boringly) included in byzantine defences?

 

[unmerged(1057)]

They could (and should ) be used as crusaders,
would certainly add some flavour

 

[Havard]

AFAIK they never operated as a "sovereign" order though...

 

[unmerged(2920)]

Originally posted by Havard
AFAIK they never operated as a "sovereign" order though...

that's right, they only should ba part of the army of the emperor of the Byzantine empire.

 

[Aetius]

They were not only Viking descendants, but also Vikings from all over the Viking domains including Sweden adn Norway.

 

[Havard]

Originally posted by Aetius
They were not only Viking descendants, but also Vikings from all over the Viking domains including Sweden adn Norway.

e.g. Harald Hardråde (killed at Stamford bridge 1066) spent several years in the mediterranean as leader of the Varangian guard

"Kom þá svo að Haraldur gerðist höfðingi yfir öllum Væringjum."
(" It thus came to pass that Harald was made chief of the Varings.")
- Snorri: Haralds saga Sigurðarsonar


Also - several of the men of king Sigurd the Crusader stayed behind in Constantinople when he returned to Norway.

 

[unmerged(1973)]

Originally posted by Aetius
They were not only Viking descendants, but also Vikings from all over the Viking domains including Sweden adn Norway.

IIRC there was also a lot of Englishmen who joined the Varangian guard after the Norman conquest of England.