Byzantine Viking Mercenaries | The Varangian Guard

All credit for the art on the Thumbnail goes to: Christian Sloan Hall
Check out his website HERE: www.americanvendetta.co.uk/
The Varangian Guard, a distinguished unit of the Byzantine Army, existed from the late ninth to the fourteenth century. Comprising Norse, Swedish, and Rus warriors, they were handpicked to serve as the personal bodyguards of Byzantine emperors. These Norsemen with their exceptional combat skills, unwavering loyalty, and distinctive appearance made them an indispensable part of Byzantine military might. Clad in elaborate armor and wielding formidable weapons, the Varangian Guard stood as the epitome of medieval chivalry and martial prowess.
The Varangian guard was a mercenary unit, among its ranks were mainly Norsemen that served as an elite bodyguard and shock troops for the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople from as early as the year 874 to the 14 century. Until the late 11th century, the mercenary group kept an almost entirely Norse cast to the organization until the late 11th century. The Norse Varangian guardsmen would be recognised by their long hair and ornamented dragons sewn on their chainmail. They often wore crimson cloaks with battle axes gilded with gold.
The duties of the Varangian guard were varied, they would stand as the personal bodyguard for the emperor as well as fight on the battlefield as an elite unit. They also had to swear oaths of loyalty & had policing duties such as guarding the royal treasury and were wardens in imperial prisons. These warriors patrolled the halls of the great palace, accompanied the emperor to war and kept order on the streets.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:02 Chapter 1 - Founding the Order
05:07 Chapter 2 - Berserkers in the Order
06:42 Chapter 3 - Harald Hardrada Enlists
14:40 Chapter 4 - The End of the Varangian Guard
Credit for the musical tracks go to:
"Savfk - The Travelling Symphony" is under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)
Song : Noel Malekar - Voice of Prayer (No Copyright Music)
Video Link:
• [No Copyright Mus... ​​
Channel Link: kzbin.info/door/JkK​...
Track : Myths and Legends (Collection)
Composer: Noonsol
#historyprofiles #vikings #viking #vikinghistory #varangian #haraldhardrada #byzantine_empire #mercenaries #vikingwarriors #norse #norsemythology #bodyguard #elitewarriors #berserker #berserk

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Man, i saw this pop up just now and made an audible "Yes!" Hahaha

[@tomtom21194]

Searched 'viking mercenaries' for inspiration for the story I'm writing and you uploaded 5 hours ago. Kismet.

[@thewolf1630]

As always much appreciated brother 🤌🏾✊🏾

[@angelosantiago6155]

Dude nothing better than Viking history...these guys were brutally courageous....never a boring story!

[@BryerTheKing1]

It's more than a story.

[@angelosantiago6155]

@@BryerTheKing1 nah, don't believe you! Lol

[@aprillanders8018]

Love your videos!! I am 75% Norwegian. So proud of my ancestors!! I am studying on my ancestors. On both sides I do ha royalty. Thank you the videos. I love history!! Lots of love from Tennessee!!

[@bohemianwriter1]

I'm 100% Norwegian. I can't make up my mind on whether who the bigger assholes are. Them redneck mucks I went to high school with in Kansas, or my berserker ancestors whom I can trace my ancestry back to. Only funny thing, is when Harald Hardråde cut the balls of an East-Roman emperor. "Proud to be Irish". "Proud to be Italian". "Proud to be Mongolian". What's the point of being proud over a genetic accident? -George Carlin.

[@ELKE-]

Sorry i'm later, but here now to enjoy your wonderful work. Your passion on those history is contagious, and i love it! Thank you History Profiles

[@-RONNIE]

The Nordic & Germanic tribes especially in them times was a true force ⚔️

[@hytraetion]

Great video brotha! Since you’ve made a lot of English kings vids maybe do some French kings next? Keep up the great work 💯

[@invincibleluis]

Amazing warriors

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Love your videos, bud! 👍

[@historyprofiles]

Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@ernestTbass23]

How interesting! Thanks much blessings to you and yours

[@brodyberry6253]

Pure gold my man! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@deecooper1567]

Love learning about this period of history 💖👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@jozzieokes3422]

Amazing work!

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@jozzieokes3422]

@@historyprofiles I always enjoy your content man.

[@magnusjonsson7714]

We were the Elite guard of Miklagård (Constantinopel). The people from Sweden sailed down from Russia to the Golden City, as the Northmans called it.

[@robertmastnak581]

Very interesting fakts. Thx

[@sarahgirlisit]

Another one! ❤

[@MojoMajik]

Always wondered why my Ancestry kept coming up with Eastern Russian along with my Scandinavian roots. Viking Blood😎

[@gr0vestghost109]

This vid had a Crusader Kings 3 advert lol nice algorithm, I know what I’m doing later

[@19ate4]

Before battle they would do a ritual dance They would get naked form 2 circles The inner circle they went counterclockwise and the outer circle clockwise Doing this ritual in front of the public must been crazy to see

[@mktf5582]

Siward Barn = anglo/varangian guard,fled after norman conquest/hereward the wake rebellion,perhaps you could do an episode on him please.

[@cherylbrooks7005]

❤

[@Agapy8888]

Romance and wars.

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

Byzentine by Steven R Lawhead is a must read

[@historyprofiles]

Thank you! Might be my new nighttime read!

[@ann-sofienilsson9400]

Thank you Harold Hardrada is anancester of mine.

[@brodyberry6253]

Beautiful AND KICKASS! Now that’s a great combination lol.

[@liamthe5576]

yeah right, and Steven Seagal is mine!

[@ann-sofienilsson9400]

@@liamthe5576 Ooh interesting so your ancestors came from Ireland, Germany, England the Netherlands and from Russian Jews. Good for you...

[@gem9089]

You do realise that's not possible?? No possible way to know that! It's like the ppl who say they are related to Alfred the Great!! Yeah, sure 😂 And I'm related to the virgin Mary!! Most are probably ancestors of peasants!! I include myself! I don't see ppl writing nonsense about being a peasants ancestor!!

[@brodyberry6253]

@@gem9089 YEAH that must be true! You know since there’s no way you can trace your family tree to a famous persons. YEP all this progress we’ve made in genealogy ect. Would never make it so people find out they are actually related to other historical figures with some frequency. No way that’s happening. 😂😂😂😂

[@BARBARYAN.]

All the girls sîmped for him apparently

[@historyprofiles]

Even an empress

[@getmeabeer803]

they practiced in private these are heathen after all...

[@gregheinl6931]

And proud of it baby! 🤘👹

[@johnmclaughlin5660]

🖤🍷🔥

[@gregheinl6931]

Actually it was 797 when the first raid at Lindisfarne took place. Maybe I should start making some of these videos. Lol

[@reginariddle2266]

Yell stallion

[@giggityskull8986]

I've heard of the Byzantine Empire not the Bi-sand-time Empire

[@brockflanigan8792]

Thought: Do you think the rise of Christianity in Scandinavia contributed to the fall of Constantinople? Without the “Viking bloodlust” in fighters wanting glory less and less fighters joining the Varangian guard weakened their stance. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@garrettdaly9893]

Politicians lose wars not soldiers. The fourth crusade and the sacking of Constantinople is in part due to debt owed. So you have a lack of pagan loyalty and warrior culture and a nation in decline. The men have probably less Nordic or Scandinavian stock to pull from in addition to a state presumably unable to pay for more trained men. 🤷‍♂️

[@shar3066]

Well there was a law written in sweden anyway, to stop the young men from joining in hordes, that probably had something to do with it too. They lost right to come back and rights to own land. I dont remember the exact law.

[@liamthe5576]

sorry but ai images are cringe!

[@crazyhercules9442]

No one asked bro.

[@liamthe5576]

No one asked you either!@@crazyhercules9442

[@BARBARYAN.]

They’re fine dude