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The Varangian Guard Who would think that hired soldiers from faraway lands would prove more steadfast and capable than the very citizens of the country in question? Unwaveringly loyal and utterly ferocious, the Varangian Guard were exactly that: Norse and Anglo-Saxon men hired to defend the Byzantine Emperor as personal bodyguards. |
Origins
Around 988, Byzantine Emperor Basil II needed a better way to defend his throne against plotting rebels. He was distrustful of the native Byzantine guardsmen, whose loyalties were known to shift unpredictably. Vladimir I of Kiev, who had recently usurped his own way into the title of Grand Prince of Kiev, had a solution for Basil: an army of warriors, vicious and intimidating, yet unwavering in their sworn loyalty. These Varangian warriors held their loyalty like a sacred family tradition. Vlad sent 6,000 of these men to Basil as part of a treaty his father had made between the Kievan Rus and the Byzantine Empire years ago, though Vlad was not without his own gain in the matter. In exchange, he received Basil's sister's hand in marriage. It was also a great opportunity to rid himself of the most unruly of the hired men and get by without actually having to pay them! On Basil's side, the soldiers handled themselves spectacularly while crushing the forces of rebel general Bardas Phokas, hacking them to pieces even as they fled from battle. |
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The Typical Varangian Soldier
The Varangian Guard was thus instated, working closely with the Byzantine Emperor not just as protection, but were occasionally utilized as an elite force deployed during critical moments in battle. Their notoriety for brutality grew alongside their reputation for loyalty, and the sight of these oft-berserked brawlers would have most enemy forces shaking in their boots. The typical Varangian warrior wore heavy armour, often chainmail shirts and lamellar cuirasses, and they carried massive axes alongside large, round shields. Byzantine writers of the time often referred to them as "axe-bearing barbarians". Members of the Varangian guard were first Rus in origin, Norsemen from Sweden who had settled in what is now Ukraine and Belarus. Later, the Guard was predominantly members of Anglo-Saxon heritage, though there were still a few Rus and some Danish members as well. Foreigners in a strange land, they were not interested in political intrigue and couldn't be swayed by the opinions of nobility or common folk. With seafaring as part of their heritage, some members of the guard also served as pirate hunters. Members of the guard who were less experienced or skilled could also find work policing the streets. Though they were very serious about their faithful service to whoever held the Byzantine Throne, they were often boisterous when off duty, earning them the less-than-flattering nickname, "the Emperor's wineskins". |
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Wealth
The most notable perk of being part of the Varangian Guard was the wealth that came with the job. There was a fee for applying, but the Emperor himself was known to sometimes loan that to applicants, knowing full well that they would shortly be able to pay it off and more! They were paid extremely well, but that was just the start of it. Whenever they were part of pillages or raids, they were given an entire third of all goods taken. And whenever one emperor would die and another ascended to the throne (even if the means of death were less than natural), the Varangians were allowed to loot the palace and treasury and were free to take anything they could carry away with their own two hands. |
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Legacy
The wealth that went along with this position was unbelievable, and word quickly spread that the way to get rich was to serve as part of the Varangian Guard. Sweden had to establish laws to keep at least some of their men from leaving and entice those who had left to come back, declaring that no man who was currently residing in the Byzantine Empire could inherit. A few notable men who returned after spending time as part of the Guard include Harold Hadrada and Bolli Bollason. Harold later became king of Norway, and on his return, Bolli Bollason held the nickname "Bolli the Elegant" due to his gold-hilted sword and rich purple robes embroidered with gold. Returned members of the Varangian Guard brought back more than just their wealth; they also brought back touches of the Byzantine Empire through art, ideas, and culture. |
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