The Last Varangians [Song in Old Swedish] HD Remake | The Skaldic Bard

[@SkaldBard]

Here is a song I wrote a while back in Late Old Swedish (yngre fornsvenska) about the Fall of Constantinople from the hypothetical perspective of a remaining group of Swedish Varangian guardsmen. I remade it to improve the sound quality as I recorded the first version on my phone. The style/melody/rhythm of the song isn’t at all traditional, just my own vision of how it went down, with a shield-beating rhythm coupled with choral verse to express the range of emotion that must have been felt while fighting during the Fall of the Great City. The line in Greek is part of Emperor Constantine XI's final speech to his men. Just because people may have been confused last time about the premise of the song: - I am aware that the Varangian Guard isn’t known to have been present at the fall of Constantinople in 1453. - I am aware that even if they were, the later guard would likely have been primarily made up of Anglo-Saxons, not Swedes. - I wrote this as the first Scandinavians to join the guard were Swedes, so it felt fitting to pay homage to them as the final Varangians. - All that said, it isn’t entirely impossible that Swedes would have been there at the fall, as we know a great deal of foreigners were present, and there are Varangians still known to have been in service as late as 1404, so some Nords may still have been present! - I find it a little sad that the Varangian Guard kind of drops out of history, so this is a quasi-hypothetical ending story for them. Conceivable or not, I hope you enjoy. If you'd like to support my work, you can do so here: buymeacoffee.com/theskaldicbard. Thank you for your kindness. Lyrics in description. My intention is exclusively to teach history and languages through song. I do not condone, endorse or seek to glorify violence.

[@franciscohugolezik7066]

Hola SkaldBard. Está muy buena tu música

[@kiriktorvos]

Thanks for the info! And about your work - my respect, very beautiful and militant, conveys the power of the Varangians🛡️🪓⚔️

[@caderiddle5996]

Wether Varangians were there or not, I almost guarantee a few of their grandsons were, and would have taken up the axe and sword, as their forefathers did.

[@eldermillennial8330]

Led by the example of the archdiocese of Ulrich in the Netherlands, the Northlands in general had been highly reluctant to adopt the Gregorian reforms after 1054, but didn’t want to automatically reject Rome’s authority entirely either, as had Constantinople & all Orthodox to this day. They tried to walk a delicate middle path, all while hoping a reconciliation would happen, but never did. Still, there were regions of Sweden at least as late as 1400 whose local bishops continued to Phoo-phoo papal supremacy (without condemning) similarly to the Ullrich bishops would continue to do until 1870 (then leave communion to become the Old Catholics). At some point after 1400, however, they began to lose influence and were replaced with more papal submissive bishops. This MAY have contributed to fewer volunteers serving in Constantinople after that time leading up to 1453. The emperor strongly preferred them to be Orthodox or more orthodox-ish than the typical Latins, and I suspect the shift to anglo Saxons was more political as pressure to kiss the papal ring increased. Subsequently, its likely that even as anti-Orthodox sentiment had been sadly been finally growing in Sweden, Norman political opportunism saw an opening to finagle their way into Byzantine affairs through their growing desperation. This is what eventually led to the false council of Florence. There is no known exact timeline in which the last of Orthodox Swedes finally died out, but it could not have been large enough to have plausibly produced any more than 20 soldiers for the emperor by 1453, by my estimation.

[@Gunnlaug-ormstungu]

​@@eldermillennial8330The Nordics were, from the beginning, under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen (Latin), which included the following nations: Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Orkney, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. On one occasion, Canute the Great tried to appoint a Danish bishop without the authorization of the archbishop, but he failed and had to retract. Adam of Bremen was at the court of King Sven II and details the relationship between the Archdiocese and the Nordics. This lasted until the end of the 11th century, after the Pope, at the request of King Eric the Good of Denmark, created the Archbishopric of Lund, which had jurisdiction over the Nordics separately from the German Church. In the 12th century, after visiting the Nordic countries, the Pope created a separate archbishopric for the Norwegians, separating the Norwegian Church from the Danish Church. If you want to know more, read the works of Adam of Bremen, Saxo Grammaticus, and Snorri.

[@grandmarshallsteve]

The fall of Constantinople remains one of the greatest tragedies in world history. God rest the fallen who defended it. Great work as usual, really hoping we get an HD remake of Harald Fairhair next

[@Ioustinianos_the_great]

May the Varangians never be forgotten for their bravery and loyalty to the Basileus. Δόξα στους Βαράγγους!

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

YO its the Βασιλιάς of Ρώμη

[@gamesworld6818]

imperator of rome😁

[@CONSTANTINEXI63]

I shall stand alongside their descendents as we retake our city together

[@kingofthehill9923]

Βασιλεὺς Βασιλέων Βασιλεύων Βασιλευόντων

[@FlaviusBelisarius500]

​@@CONSTANTINEXI63I will fight with you, close as a phalanx

[@Misterp-1922]

And here it is, the remake of the song by which I met you... Beautiful

[@GermanoSousa-t5k]

Yes, Guadalete!

[@romanianspy4277]

Same here

[@Iliasmadmad]

Me too

[@henrykkeszenowicz4664]

Same.

[@Rip_and_Tear1209]

You deserve a medal man, i love it. Greetings from Cyprus

[@iberius9937]

Miklagarth.....what a badass name for Constantinople.

[@persian639]

Miklagarth, the capital of Greekland :)

[@theresponsibleuser90]

That's Indo European language ❤

[@DochiKnowi]

Miklagarth, the Great City

[@AnalniyBandit]

I prefer Tsarugradu, city of Tsar/Caesar/Emperor

[@Dalpilarna]

In modern day Swedish we say Miklagård

[@justagreekhistorian]

I am so happy to see you remaster old songs of yours! The original versions were already great and these are 10x better! Keep it up!

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks for the support!

[@larslange4078]

Have swedish ancestry. Still swedish heritage is somehow alive. Hearing this song caused something in my heart and blood. Nilson familiy!

[@baggelis_aikaterinis]

Goosebumps !!!! "Αφου πεφτει η Πολη μου, θα πεσω κι εγω μαζι της" 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@CONSTANTINEXI63]

I'm still standing, and so is my city

[@NormanKnight-rp9je]

I must say since you probably don't get this comment enough, but you have a really nice voice. Your dictation is excellent, and you hit the notes. Also, any language you take on, the pronunciation and accent is impeccable. Your voice itself is also very nice. God bless you. JMJ.

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks a lot for this, man - very nice to hear

[@jakobofcincy]

@@SkaldBard how did you learn like 5 different ancient languages?

[@Novum_YT]

So good dude! As always. This would be so at home on the Northman soundtrack that I'm sure film studios are going to be blowing up your phone someday very soon! Very, very cool and incredibly executed.

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks so much, man, and great to hear from you - certainly hope you're right about the studios! By the way, congrats on the long-awaited Midsommar video - a true testament to your determination and keen sense of analysis

[@arnoldjohansson1662]

This is amazing, beyond all praise. With love from Russia.

[@SkaldBard]

Спасибо, мой друг!

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

This is the only creator who can reupload and its actually good.

[@sebastianneff1004]

I clicked onto this after listening to the old version literally just before. I IMMEDIATELY noticed the steep improvement of quality just from the first few strums on the lyre. Crazy. Keep the work up, it's awesome what you're doing!

[@deadgamer2159]

finally, the song that got me into listening to your channel got remastered!!!

[@LAC03098]

Skald, Wonderful work again! Have been eagerly waiting to see which song would be remade next, I'm glad it was this. Your idea to pay homage to swedes who may or may have not been present at the fall but were the "founding fathers" if you will of the Varangian Guard. I think one of my favourite features of your "Varangian Collection" as i like to call it is that you often use genuine quotes from these people, from Constantine's Final speech to thee writings of Isabella (I think) in "Brothers of the North Sea" it adds that extra detail and shows how much effort you put into these i do like that the remakes have an ever so slightly faster tempo than the originals and i especially like that your pronunciations have become more natural and rythmic in your singing - an improvement of perfection if you ask me. as always, wonderful stuff God Bless -Chappell

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks for your wonderful and very thoughtful comment! It's great to see that you've noticed those little details. The encouragement means a lot - thank you, friend

[@uberfeel]

Bro, how do you have just 17k subscribers? You deserve millions of subscribers.

[@MjukCheese]

very powerfull song liked it alot glad i found your channel SKÅL!

[@SkaldBard]

Skål!

[@CadianguardsmanM41]

This is a absolutely amazing song! I loved the first one but this one is so much better!

[@danhubert-hx4ss]

Goose-bumps again as per usual.

[@InAeternumRomaMater]

There's actual documented proof that Varangians still defended Constantinople in the 1200s, but cannot tell that "Varangian" was still a thing in the 1400s.

[@JustinMiller-mt2fp]

Probably not as a group, but I like to think that some individuals didn't forget the oath.That their kinsman made to defend Constantinople.

[@InAeternumRomaMater]

@@JustinMiller-mt2fp They were referred as Rhōs by Niketas Choniates. Varangian Rhōs

[@JustinMiller-mt2fp]

@@InAeternumRomaMater Yes, and there were many other groups of warriors and mercenaries that fought to defend the second Rome. Castilians Venetians And various other smaller groups of men from around Europe.

[@InAeternumRomaMater]

@@JustinMiller-mt2fp Yes of course. But Niketas Choniates made a very good distinction between the Varangians and the other mercenaries, they had a very good and positive reputation already by that time. Choniates mentioned their defence of Constantinople when Tsar Kaloyan the Vlach sent an army of Vlachs and Cumans all the way to the city to attack it but those Varangian Rhōs, small in number yet fearless in battle defended the Queen of Cities in early 1200s. So they were likely present in the 4th Crusade also.

[@pattyguy]

The Varangians have dissolved after Catholic occupation of Constantinople in 1204. Even if there were Norse defenders in 1453, they were not Varangians.

[@stonefish1318]

Yes i love it! Your music is epic! The sound quality indeed needed some improvements. Im glad your tackling it

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks, bud!

[@lordwark7364]

I love the Varangians and I love this song. After going back you can really tell the difference between the old version and this one.

[@MatthewVanston]

This was the first song I heard from you. You made it even better.

[@lukefriesenhahn8186]

This song makes the soldiers sound epic. I love it! Thank you Skaldic Bard!

[@Кивис-ч3й]

Nice, another great remake! One of my favourite songs too!

[@SkaldBard]

Great to hear!

[@awesomebearaudiobooks]

Wow, I woudln't have assumed you are from the British Isles! I am Russian/Ukrainian, and, to me, your accent and pronunciation sound very Rus-like! As if you are a Viking who lived in Eastern Europe for such a long time that even his accent changed. Like Harald Hardrada, a Norwegian-born pretender to both the English and the Danish thrones and a Byzantine Varangian Guard, who also lived in Kiev and briefly stayed in Novgorod, the two main cultural centres of the proto-Russian lands, where Germanic and Slavic traditions mixed to create something entirely new and unique.

[@servantofaeie1569]

His wife is Polish, so that may be why he might sound a little Slavic

[@tsoii]

@@servantofaeie1569 That makes literally 0 sense im sorry but LMFAO what.?

[@sarahsepan4745]

@@tsoii He mentioned in the description of the song he wrote in Late Middle Polish that he spent time living in Poland and learning Polish. Perhaps the commenter above you thought he learned Polish to speak with his wife and simply didn't convey that thought very well?

[@Legz_inStyle]

This is a very close rendition of old Swedish but then again, Sweden and Ukraine seem to have a bond hidden by history

[@AnalniyBandit]

​@@Legz_inStyleI would say Scandinavia and Rus

[@Heiligtaler]

Dude, this version is even better, super hot fire †

[@agentbimlo4555]

I love this remake i mean it makes this song more mythical and magic plus the fact that this song I listened on repeat and it’s the song which made me found you. For me it will always remain the favorite song i have ever listened to! Keep it up and I can’t wait for the next song!

[@jimmin190]

The first of your songs that I heard, back and better than ever

[@Beorneofmercia449]

No bloody way thank you for this skald😁👏👏👏👏 funny enough i was watching the original version earlier

[@lords9827]

Literally masterpiece

[@ultrablue7018]

I find it interesting, how the writing is so different from icelandic, but the pronunciations are extremely similar . for example wæriom wi borghena vs verjum við borgina. Pretty much pronounced the same but written wildy differently

[@AsceticAesthetic]

CHRIST IS RISEN!

[@TehJozze]

TRULY! He is risen!

[@caderiddle5996]

He is risen indeed

[@lukacosmos-ri7rs]

I loved it something deep inside of me awakened somwthing i dont know thanks for this feeling may lors bless you and your family

[@yourlocalrhodie]

this song is amazing… sure i get bullied for liking old swedish music but at the end of the day. Its worth it

[@Kubilay31820]

Hey, a song about the first Battle of Kosovo would be absolutely amazing. Valiant Prince Lazar, fearless Miloš Obilić, and all of our martyrs would be so proud upon hearing that one out! Also, I loved the picture of Hagia Sophia you used in the video!❤

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks for the suggestions and support!

[@iberius9937]

Farya Faraji already did an original about this on his channel, which is one of my favorites of his!

[@ub3rfr3nzy94]

Most varangians were Anglo-saxon by the 11th century so if there were any remaining varangians it's likely they would have been English. Fun fact, the last known descendant of Constantine XI fought in the English civil war. He has a grave in England (I forgot where).

[@mennyboy1528]

There is un Bahamas, a grave of a palaiologos descendant, i think that grave belongs to somebody named Theodore palaiologos.

[@marcusaurelius3487]

The varangians trouought their histor were dominated by swedish men to the point that laws her set in Sweden to discourage Swedish men from traveling... stop the copium lmao

[@iberius9937]

Awesome remake! One of my favorite of your compositions!

[@xristospalaiokostas8903]

Excellent work once again, you have my congratulations !

[@Danieli-qx8wf]

Great song, good both versions!

[@thespaceman8746]

Oh my Odin i love this version!

[@DeGeneraal289]

On a previous comment you said that you were learning Dutch, so I wanted to ask how the progress is going. And if you already have some ideas for a song. The battle of the golden spurs would be the perfect subject for a song I think and the the history of my hometown Kortrijk would finally get some love. Good luck with your future songs!

[@drengr811]

Excellent work man

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks a lot, friend

[@Hoshinosaull]

Very Neat remake, appreciated! I have a question, what were your sources to learn Gothic? Because I'd love to too. I live in land they once dominated ( Poland ) and I'd love to know language of my ancestors. Cheers.

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you, my friend - and the answer is quite simply Wulfila's bible

[@Hoshinosaull]

@@SkaldBard Nice. How long did it take you to learn Gothic?

[@Hoshinosaull]

Update: I studied "to be" and "have/has" as well as some vocabulary within two days. Can't wait to study more.

[@Docre_T]

Can't even explain what this song did to my soul. Thank you.

[@JustinMiller-mt2fp]

Remake is so much better, the background pictures add a lot to the song.

[@Briselance]

I like both versions, but the first one will always be my favourite.

[@DariusTS1492]

This is so good man god bless you I am lucky to hear your beautiful voice I showed this to a friend and he immediately subscribed he didnt even finish the video. p.s. here is an Idea how about you make a song about the voyages to Vinland

[@baidyanathroy27]

Keep it up bro👍🏻

[@miramax6165]

Honor and glory to the loyalists of the Basileus!

[@TorTyr-z9h]

Hail rome

[@ragingsmurfling7205]

Was listening to the latest rendition of Palastinalied when I got the ping for this. Talk about timing. XD

[@BasilTheBased]

The city has fallen, and I'm still alive. As she falls, I will fall with her!

[@nikolailitavr2502]

Wow the remake is even more legendary, Skól 🤘 Thank you!!

[@marcelgrabowski5939]

That sounds amazing.

[@mennyboy1528]

F for Constantine XI Palaiologos

[@iberius9937]

Would it be possible to do a version of this song in Old Norse or Old English?

[@Beorneofmercia449]

Yo i was thinking that i'd love to hear this in old english🤞

[@CapitanZere]

¡Este tema tuyo es de mis favoritos! ❤

[@beatstar8524]

EXCELLENT!!💯

[@bogdanilic7346]

Did you use any existing song as an inspiration for the chorus? It sounds extremely familiar.

[@Beorneofmercia449]

Just remembered its the anniversary of the fall of constantinople today 29th march

[@NamelessMF1658]

"Ingsins mans arv takær han, mæn i Girklandi sitær" Sôlles sier den Väsgöteske lawen, Môkke bra sang mi herre nygjära äller ej sô é bedden unnebar

[@MrTerkoizzz]

Forever in eternal memory may God exalt the varangian!

[@weeaboo5337]

Awesome video😊

[@HangrySaturn]

Oooooh, it's even better than the original!

[@rekke92]

Excellent!

[@servantofaeie1569]

Can you do remakes of Old English Jerusalem, Old Norse Palästinalied, God Beþ Mid Us, and St. Rǫgnvald next?

[@TheMostSteelDooshbagEver0451]

Great job as usual, bro!

[@LordOvWolves1996]

You should do a song about the Spanish conquest of the Americas

[@joshuamillins5389]

Question have you thought of Manzikert where the Varagians fought to the last as their oath demanded. Would be quite the epic, one worthy of a Skald.

[@LeRoyEngloys]

Probably the hardest lyrics I've ever heard

[@magusscythian]

As far as I can tell, the last Varangians fought the Franks after all in 1204)

[@Bufkey]

Oh the first song of yours I encountered. Beautful! Just curious, but are you planning on releasing all of your remakes as one cohesive album?

[@SkaldBard]

Exactly! That's why they're not out on streaming services quite yet :-)

[@Bufkey]

​@@SkaldBardWonderful news!

[@kubikkuratko188]

RIP Rome You shall live in our hearts for eternity!

[@kemtpesmatic1584]

Which Rome? Byzantine or pagan?

[@Romanian_Nationalist481]

Both, both is good​@@kemtpesmatic1584

[@kubikkuratko188]

@@kemtpesmatic1584 ROME IS ROME!

[@kemtpesmatic1584]

@@kubikkuratko188 yes Rome was pagan once amd became home origin for Catholicism

[@kemtpesmatic1584]

We all must sue that guy for stealing our hearts with those masterpieces ❤❤

[@kubikkuratko188]

EPIC!

[@ryanzitka3486]

Free Free Constantinople! Deus Vult

[@Haimariks]

May I suggest doing a song on Widukind?

[@natheriver8910]

Wonderful 👏 🔥 👏 🔥 👏

[@ufcfan2018]

Қалай үйренуге болады бұл өленді ойнауға?

[@RESTITVTOR-ORBIS]

Great warriors and very loyal to the emperors, the Bizantine emperors used to trust more in the varengians than in the bizantines itself.

[@nikolamrdeza2912]

Man this is soul music for me

[@ernesto1953]

Thanks !

[@theresponsibleuser90]

Love from India 🇮🇳 We're all Indo Europeans ❤

[@jaimar_99]

Of course brother. We are all indoeuropeans and aryans 😁

[@TheMostSteelDooshbagEver0451]

Btw, can you make a cover of Fever Ray - If I Had A Heart in Old Norse?

[@nicolasdeandrea9223]

Long live the Varangian Guard 🗡⚔️🏹🛡

[@Alexander-oq3gc]

EPIC

[@mozzarella_boyy7779]

I have never clicked so fast..

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Ack Svea Rike, vilket bittert öda, dina söner döden gjöt 🇸🇪 Thank you for writing this tribute, homage, hymn to the brave and fallen! *TILL VALHALL,* Hurra! *TILL VALHALL,* _HURRA!_ *TILL VALHALL, **_HUUUUUUUURRRRRRAAA!_* _(check out the youtube video of the Norwegian SF _*_"Telemark battalion"_*_ before they deployed to Afghanistan)_ 🇳🇴

[@armaelrosiere8874]

Great music.

[@agrippa5643]

Well done!

[@Pagan12]

I play this before I went to my chemistry exam, and I got a full mark.

[@TomasHomer2009]

It's little bit sad that this song don't appeared in the new Varangian symphony from Farya Faraji, because it would be awesome and much more immersive and accurate.

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

Danheim has got nothing on this man

[@Dawn0616]

When you find out your 4% swedish

[@EliasGustavsson-g1e]

As a Swede, I understood about 90% :)

[@diegomenchititio]

Hi! I came across your music from listening to the many compositions that he posts, would like to leave that I always love these songs as you simultaneously become more rounded in musical options and enriching in history as well! I was trying to email you but did not see any @? Is this the case?

[@SkaldBard]

Hey there, thank you! You can email me at [e-mail]

[@LuciaSims745]

It is really very sad and a pity that you do not make music in Proto-Germanic, Old High German or Middle High German. That hurts me deeply. We are all brothers 😢

[@SkaldBard]

Got a Proto Germanic one coming soon :-)

[@LuciaSims745]

😲😲😲😀😀😀😭 þankaz brōþēr ❤

[@sethfrisbie3957]

Which remake do you like most?

[@kingivar702]

Constantinople and her last defenders shall never be forgotten!

[@isono-tetsuo]

Great, viking power.