Varangian Guard: Professional Viking Warriors Highly Valued For Courage, Loyalty, Discipline And Fighting Skills

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The Varangian Guard represented the elite heavy infantry regiment of the Roman ('Byzantine') Empire from 988 AD to around 1404 AD.

They were Vikings for hire who successfully conquered territories across the Empire. They fought in Crete, Italy, and Asia Minor.

Fanciful ahistorical representation of Byzantine Varangian Guardsmen (dressed more like Norman knights) and Michael Barachios. Drawing from Vinkhuijzen Collection of Military Costume Illustration. New York Public Library (NYPL) digital gallery - Public Domain

The Varangians ('in Old Norse' væringi' 'sworn companion') were foreigners who became members of the imperial bodyguard. Recruits were drawn mainly from Scandinavia, but after 1066, there were also Anglo-Saxons among the Varangians.

In the fight, the Varangians relied on long axes, which they used as their primary weapon, although they did well in combat against swords and bows. These professional warriors were highly valued for their courage and loyalty; they also had high fighting skills and the ability to carry out commands efficiently and without unnecessary questions.

According to the Icelandic Sagas, getting into the Imperial Guard was not easy. It was an entrance fee to be paid by a new member, and it was probably a large sum, which not all warriors could pay. However, "they were well received as soon as it was known that they were Norsemen."

Basil the Bulgar-Slayer (958 - 1025), Byzantine Emperor, founded Varangian Guard because he did not trust his people. The Varangians, on the other hand, were for their legendary loyalty.

The true story of these warriors is closely related to particularly one famous warrior, Harald Hardrada, "(hard ruler") officially Harald III Sigurdsson (1015-1066), one of the most famed Viking leaders. He participated in the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 AD at the age of 15.

Before Hardrada became king of Norway, he made a living as a mercenary soldier. The saga of the king mentions that he fought in 18 battles against the Bulgarians, the Anatolian Arabs, and in southern Italy under the command of the eminent Byzantine commander, General Georgios Maniakes, during the 11th century. According to ancient sources, Hardrada had difficulties paying an entrance fee as a new guard member.

Hardrada was among the best berserkers in the army. His formidable Viking warriors were employed as protectors of the emperor, and Harald became a military commander in Kievan Rus and the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire.

Hardrada developed successful tactics that transformed warfare across the Mediterranean region. For several centuries the Varangians served as both palace guards and field troops who fought in expeditionary armies; later, they became the household guards of the emperor in Constantinople and no longer went out on campaigns.

The Varangians continued their service until the second half of the 11^th century, when, after the Norman Conquest (1066 AD, both English and Danish nobles who left England were eventually absorbed into it.

Some historians suggest that after the sacking of the city of Constantinople in 1204 by the crusaders, the guard ceased to exist.

By the late 13th century, Varangians mainly were ethnically assimilated by the Byzantines, though the regiment operated until at least the mid-14th century. In 1400, some people still identified as "Varangians" in Constantinople.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer

Updated on July 21, 2022

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