Varangian Guard: The Elite Bodguard of the Byzantine Emperors
Рет қаралды 56,377
28 күн бұрынGet the exclusive NordVPN Deal here: nordvpn.com/sandrhoman
It's risk free with Nord's 30-day-money-back-guarantee!
In the Middle Ages, battle-hardened Norsemen from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and later England traveled to the Byzantine Empire, where they joined one of the most sought-after and effective mercenary units of the time: The Varangian Guard. Renowned as loyal, disciplined, and effective warriors, they served as the personal guards and elite military force of the Byzantine emperors for more than three centuries. To this day, they are Byzantium’s best-known unit and remain among the most famous mercenaries in history. So, without further ado, let’s explore what made the Varangian Guard so effective, analyze their combat techniques, and unravel the intriguing story of how Norsemen, of all people, became the elite warriors of the Byzantine emperor.
Patreon (thank you): / sandrhomanhistory
Paypal (thank you: www.paypal.com/paypalme/SandR...
Twitter: / sandrhoman
Some must read mlitary history books:
Ambrose, S. E., Band of Brothers: E Company, 2001. amzn.to/438ltvZ
Baime, A. J., The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman, 2017. amzn.to/3TcDGUj
Beard, M., Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World, 2023. amzn.to/49L2olR
Bevoor, A., Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943, 1999. amzn.to/4a4rqwe
Beevor, A., The Second World War, 2013. amzn.to/3wNFITu
Brennan, P+D., Gettysburg in Color, 2022. amzn.to/48LGldG
Clausewitz, C., On War, 2010. amzn.to/3Vblf5
Kaushik, R., A Global History of Pre-Modern Warfare: 10,000 BCE-1500 CE, 2021. amzn.to/49Mtqt7
McPherson, J., Battle Cry of Freedom, The Civil War Era, 2021. amzn.to/3TseYAW
Tsu, S., The Art of War, 2007, amzn.to/3TuknHA
Sledge. E. B., With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, 2008. amzn.to/439olIK
Pomerantsev, P., How to Win an Information War, 2024. amzn.to/3Ts0YqQ
Bibliography
Primary Sources
Komnene, Anna, The Alexiad. trans. by E. R. A. Sewter, Harmondsworth 1969.
Press, Muriel (trans.), Laxdale Saga (The Temple Classics), London 1899.
Magnusson, Magnus, and Hermann Pálsson, trans. King Harald’s Saga, Harmondsworth 1966.
Margoulias, Harry J., trans. O City of Byzantium: Annals of Niketas Choniates, Detroit/Michigan 1984.
Sewter, E. R. A., trans. Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus, Harmondsworth 1966.
Secondary Works
Bartusis, Mark C., The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society, 1204-1453, Philadelphia 1992.
Blöndal, Sigfus, The Varangians of Byzantium. Trans. and revised by Benedikt S. Benedikz. Cambridge 1978.
Carroll, Alastair, The Role of the Varangian Guard in Byzantine Rebellions and Usurpations, 988-1204, Belfast 2005.
Dawson, Timothy, The Varangian Rhomphaia: a Cautionary tale, in: Varangian Voice 22: 24-26 (1992), pp. 24-26.
Egan, Geoff, Byzantium in London? New Archaeological Evidence for 11th Century Links Between England and the Byzantine World, in: Grünbart, Michael, et al., Material Culture and Well-Being in Byzantium (400-1453), Vienna 2007, pp. 111-117.
Jakobsson, Sverrir, The Varangians: In God's Holy Fire, London/New York 2020.
Shephard, Jonathan, s. v. "Varangian Guard" in: Clifford J. Rogers (ed), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology, 2010.
@SandRhomanHistory 27 күн бұрын
Get the exclusive NordVPN Deal here: nordvpn.com/sandrhoman It's risk free with Nord's 30-day-money-back-guarantee
@robertjarman3703 27 күн бұрын
Harold Hardrada was both the servant of a Roman Emperor, the assassin of another one, and the guy who tried to take over England in 1066. What could be more epic?
@domenstrmsek5625 26 күн бұрын
Hardrada, however, actually missed the chance to be crowned Byzantine Emperor, which was even more epic.
@correctionguy7632 26 күн бұрын
@@domenstrmsek5625elaborate?
@brandonquezada9523 26 күн бұрын
He was a hated tyrant in Norway unfortunately. Seems power got to his head
@curranlakhani 26 күн бұрын
@@brandonquezada9523 Hence the name Hadrada, which translates to harsh ruler or tyrant. He was a great military leader but a terrible king.
@d.dante_vergil 26 күн бұрын
@@correctionguy7632 A marriage to the Makedone Empress of that time (forgot her name but she was Basil's niece) would have given him the chance
@curranlakhani 26 күн бұрын
The Varangian Guard was made up of a lot of veterans of the Battle of Hastings who ended up fighting the doomed campaign against the Norman's in Dyracchium. Imagine getting evicted from your home by the Norman's and travelling to the furthest part of Europe just to get annihilated by the Norman's again.
@Bzhydack 26 күн бұрын
Is also possible than some veterans from Stamford Bridge were there too. So imagine being beaten by Anglo-Saxons and end up fighting alongside them.
@tylerellis9097 26 күн бұрын
I mean to be fair they’re the reason the battle was lost lol the Byzantines were winning until they broke ranks to chase the retreating Normans
@TheNEOverse 26 күн бұрын
Its amusing to think they hadn't learned their lesson in Hastings at all lol.
@mattaffenit9898 25 күн бұрын
Imagine charging so hard you get surrounded by Normans because you're angey. "Lol" say the Varangian when surrounded, "Lmao get rekt"
@justinhess2747 26 күн бұрын
Vikings fighting Vikings in Italy is the most Viking thing
@mattaffenit9898 25 күн бұрын
... Yes.
@vangelisskia214 26 күн бұрын
"The Greece runestones (Swedish: Greklandsstenarna) are about 30 runestones containing information related to voyages made by Norsemen to the Byzantine Empire. They were made during the Viking Age until about 1100 and were engraved in the Old Norse language with Scandinavian runes." "On these runestones the word Grikkland ("GREECE") appears in three inscriptions,[1] the word Grikk(j)ar ("GREEKS") appears in 25 inscriptions,[2] two stones refer to men as grikkfari ("traveller to Greece")[3] and one stone refers to Grikkhafnir ("Greek harbours").[4]"
@michealohaodha9351 26 күн бұрын
For those who ever visit Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, make sure to check out the carving made by a Varangian Guard (Halvdan). Its only his name in runes but really interesting (bet he got bored on guard duty)
@legoeasycompany 25 күн бұрын
There's a reason why some people make the most funny duty logs, its a real drag but I'd like to think its just human nature to try and do anything to escape the boredom.
@MaxMustermann-bm7qt 19 күн бұрын
I do not support illegal graffiti.
@jonh101 26 күн бұрын
Harald hardada was playing mount and blade
@fortweek_7389 27 күн бұрын
The Varangian Guard was what every Roman emperor wished the Praetorian Guard could be.
@jendrektl5733 27 күн бұрын
Really? They turned to preatorian guard and became problem.
@v4enthusiast541 26 күн бұрын
@jendrektl5733 Varangian guards were well-handled and were never responsible for coups or murders of Emperors.
@Phantom-xp2co 26 күн бұрын
@@v4enthusiast541unlike the janissaries
@breakerdawn8429 26 күн бұрын
They just want money, give money equal loyalty. Unlike the Janissaries and the Praetorian who would get involved in politics.
@aokiaoki4238 24 күн бұрын
@@v4enthusiast541 Harald Hardrada betrayed and blind Emperor Michael V Kalaphates
@WalterWhiteFootballSharing 26 күн бұрын
I'm Greek living in NY, and going down there is such awesome weather compared to US Northeast. Winters without frost, Dry summers with low humidity, shade is all u need. The Varangians born in Scandinavia must have felt like they reached heaven in eastern Mediterranean. Lately Climate change makes Greek summers more humid and hot, ACs everywhere, but I didn't need it in 99-01. The clubs had open roofs, night was perfection for drinking and dancing 60-65 degrees. No clouds, stars always up there!
@ThomasWeaver1992 26 күн бұрын
I would like to imagine this rebel leader claiming that God was on his side before he died from falling off his horse.
@robertjarman3703 27 күн бұрын
Oh, and I should mention, that in Vinland Saga, one of the characters has a sword from the Roman Empire and had served with them as a younger man in the Varangians and had eventually travelled back to Denmark under King Canute.
@irohito622 27 күн бұрын
"You want me to let you stab him for 200 Solidi? Nah, he pays me a whole 2 Argentii a week, I'm good."
@Baitin_Amphibian 27 күн бұрын
100k sesterceroonies
@Harib_Al-Saq 26 күн бұрын
😎Chad Varangian VS Virgin Praetorian 😭
@Yoo-Kang 24 күн бұрын
Reason why they were the best bodyguards
@imperator7828 27 күн бұрын
Alexios also defeated the Normans at Larissa, not merely bribed the German Emperor
@rahjah6958 27 күн бұрын
No. It’s Vanguardian leviosaaaa
@justdracir8197 27 күн бұрын
One of my favourite units in Age of Empires 4 and Knights of Honor. And definitly one of my favourites sagas in human history.
@marcovalentini863 25 күн бұрын
someone dropped a nuclear bomb in southern sardinia on this map
@julio5prado 24 күн бұрын
Very well documented and interesting as usual, thanks for your great work!
@zachhughes9149 10 күн бұрын
All one need do is read Howard’s Hyborian Age, to see just how much Norsemen used to get around, and why they were so sought after.
@CARL_093 27 күн бұрын
The Varangian Guard consisted of Viking and Slavic mercenaries, which distinguished them from palace guard units such as the Scholai or the Exkoubitores. The earliest members of the Varangian guard came from Kievan Rus. A treaty of 874 obliged the rulers of Kievan Rus to provide men for Byzantine service.
@MythicTales993 26 күн бұрын
Your video is a breath of fresh air - entertaining, informative, and well-presented.
@jessiearabie8166 23 күн бұрын
Best middle age history video I’ve seen in quite awhile 👍🏻 give me more!
@pomicultorul 26 күн бұрын
Thank you for your work!
@MarktheRude 27 күн бұрын
Let it be mentioned that the Varangian Way was an excellent album.
@Proud2bGreek1 27 күн бұрын
They were loyal as long as they were getting paid, which is more than you could ask for the average mercenary band and certainly way more reliable than the praetorian guard.
@Thraim. 26 күн бұрын
It's crazy to think that people travelled so far to become mercenaries.
@DylanJo123 26 күн бұрын
Wealth and status is a very good motivator
@Thraim. 26 күн бұрын
Yeah, especially considering that living a quiet life at a farm didn't guarantee your survival, either, back in those times. A failed harvest, or two, and you're starving to death. Might as well try your luck as a mercenary.
@DylanJo123 26 күн бұрын
@@Thraim. high risk high reward through and through
@majorianus8055 22 күн бұрын
it's far but it's probably harder for these Vikings to travel to Central Germany than to Greece even though Central Germany is very near, because sea travel is always faster than land.
@ftwcrazyman 4 күн бұрын
Still continues to this day. Vietnamese hired by Emiratis, Serbians hired by the Congolese in the 90s for their Bosnian War experience, and Cubans and several Africans fighting for Russia today
@saintjacques8137 27 күн бұрын
There's a beautiful episode recently made by Schwerpunkt on the topic that I strongly recommend together with the Medieval mercenaries playlist. Keep up with the great work, Jacques
@LEFT4GABEN 27 күн бұрын
Varangians probably were the best Shock Infantry to ever exist. They have the Berserker mentality of their Viking Ancestors, but were drilled and equipped to the highest Standards of the Late Eastern Romans. I would imagine that any competent General would ensure that they were ordered to Charge enemy Infantry after ensuring they were safe from being harassed by Calvary, and such a direct charge would consistently produce devasting results...
@johntitor_ibm5100 27 күн бұрын
This is pretty much the Battle of Beroia. Emperor John II was wounded by an arrow to the leg or foot, but he still led his Varangians to a charge towards the Pecheneg wagon fort. They hacked and slashed at the Pechenegs so hard that they disappeared from the historical record as an independent entity after the battle.
@blackhawkdown342 19 күн бұрын
Always cool to learn about new parts of history great video on awesome warriors
@wiktorberski9272 22 күн бұрын
Really a very interesting episode. It was a great pleasure to watch
@emiralidemirel97 27 күн бұрын
Thanks!
@petrapetrakoliou8979 23 күн бұрын
Roman emperors had a Germanic guard already since the beginning of the Empire, almost uninterrupted since.
@bvbxiong5791 26 күн бұрын
My great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather was a Varangian guard.
@bigsarge2085 27 күн бұрын
Incredible history!
@ivansalamon7028 26 күн бұрын
Wasn't the Varangian guard compromised of a lot of Slavs from the later Rus as well? I am actually wondering if this is true.
@Ian-yf7uf 26 күн бұрын
The Rus were just swedish vikings living in Ukraine and Russia. They eventually got absorbed into native Slavic populations but they were pretty Scandinavian in culture for most of their early history.
@ivansalamon7028 26 күн бұрын
@@Ian-yf7uf Yeah I understand that I'd how the Rus started out, but that raises the question of at what point the intermingling with the local populations started and have any of the Varangians in the subsequent years been culturally and ethnically more Slavic or Slavic at all at some point. The Slavic influence in Varangian equipment is not hard to come across in various depictions, but this video would have you believe they were rather strictly norse and later on Anglo saxon, at least up until some point, which could very well be true, but I am wondering if it was so clear cut for all, if any of the duration of their existence as the Byzantine elite forces
@tylerellis9097 26 күн бұрын
The initial 5000 would have most likely included Slavs yes but afterwards Scandinavia and England were the main recruiting grounds.
@d.dante_vergil 26 күн бұрын
@@ivansalamon7028 The varangians of the early days must have come solely from Nordic stocks. Kievan Rus seemed to have served mostly as the middle-man between Byzantium and the Scandinavian realms. Moreover, since cultures migrate more than people do, the Slavic features on the Varangians' equipments must have symbolized both ethnic and cultural significance.
@mattaffenit9898 26 күн бұрын
It was originally Rus aristocracy, but yeah. Plus Norsemen and even Anglo-Saxons, at least earlier on.
@pastapockets984 27 күн бұрын
They also occupied a fortified harbour called No-Man's-Wharf.
@DeerajGopalkrishna-yb3fs 27 күн бұрын
Bro can you tell which drawing software do you use for artistic illustration in your video
@SeverusFelix 27 күн бұрын
Red as blood and black as night!
@jonathanlee8123 22 күн бұрын
Why are Bulgaria shown as independent after Basil's death?
@F_Yale 26 күн бұрын
Did the later inclusion of Anglo-Saxons into the Guard have anything to do with the erstwhile Norse influence on that culture?
@alicelund147 25 күн бұрын
Probably. To the Byzantines there was probably not much difference between Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians.
@squiglemcsquigle8414 22 күн бұрын
It has more to do with the expulsions of the norse from britain. More infighting in scandinavia and later on anglo saxons feeing from the genocidal actions of william the bastard
@ReviveHF 27 күн бұрын
The Heteriaea Guards from Attila Total War is basically the Varangian Guard from real life, CA added this unit into the game for the sake of game balancing.
@RosierJulio 27 күн бұрын
!GENIAL!!! QUE TAL UN VIDEO SOBRE LA GUERRA ARABE-BIZANTINA...
@Hauptmann_Rudolf.Rudi.Winkler 27 күн бұрын
Artist? 🍻
@arturobermudez6277 27 күн бұрын
Please a videl of the siege of oran and the siege of castelnouvo...
@squiglemcsquigle8414 22 күн бұрын
Sad to see the drop in quality and the bad description of manzikert
@kalixkatt 10 күн бұрын
Something to note is that after the battle of Dyracchium Alexios signed a deal with Venice giving them increased trading rights and special privileges in exchange for their navies cutting of the normans. This in turn led to the increased Latin presence in the capitol which in turn resulted in the fourth crusade and the looting of Constantinople.
@strider2713 25 күн бұрын
My wet dream is for my father, my brother, and myself to be varangian guard. Going from medieval sweden to constantinople before 1204 would've been like going to space.
@sarahsidney1988 27 күн бұрын
Great video
@kalixkatt 10 күн бұрын
Dope drawings
@jothegreek 27 күн бұрын
Janisairies plz
@andrerobinson5831 26 күн бұрын
Did the varangians ever fight the janissaries?
@xanderdylan5085 26 күн бұрын
Yeah we need to know this fr
@TRLHistory 26 күн бұрын
I think the Varangians lasted only until 1204, so not.
@tylerellis9097 26 күн бұрын
@@jamesheavy789But it’s debated whether they were actual Varangians as native Greeks began to fill the guard and none are mentioned at 1453.
@Clearwood_ 26 күн бұрын
@@jamesheavy789 Byzantine sources? Sounds made up just like the made up name "Byzantine". I know you meant to say Roman sources. It's not your fault you don't know any better public education has failed a lot of people on this subject.
@shellshockedgerman3947 24 күн бұрын
@@Clearwood_ Dude, stop trying to sound smart. Its not making you look better.
@ygdmdx 27 күн бұрын
when thirty years war
@nicbahtin4774 27 күн бұрын
Just a 30 sec to a minute history lesson
@oriffel 26 күн бұрын
cool
@MonkeNapoleon 27 күн бұрын
Last time I was this early, Anatolia was still Roman!
@kleinweichkleinweich 26 күн бұрын
and Attila was some important guy
@squiglemcsquigle8414 22 күн бұрын
Why is bulgaria independant after basil II died?
@CemSencar 7 күн бұрын
Because at the time of the rebellion Bulgaria has not been subdued yet
@hetgrotepsv1913 19 күн бұрын
can u also talk about the Battle of Halidzor, 70k turks couldn't win from 300 Armenians.
@SamO-ik2cm 17 күн бұрын
Typical turks
@amronnog 26 күн бұрын
Babe woke me up for this
@-NovaRoma. 27 күн бұрын
Sandrhoman history i want to ask what are your thoughts about the name byzantium should we use it or should we call the empire eastern Roman empire?
@Sev826 27 күн бұрын
I know you didnt ask me, but I think *using* either one is fine, as long as its understood that the name wasn't used while it existed, only 100s of years later by historians.
@-NovaRoma. 27 күн бұрын
@@Sev826 thanks
@Clearwood_ 26 күн бұрын
@@Sev826 How is using a false name fine? That's spreading a lie all because of a German historians'propaganda. I use the name the people alive at that time used.
@Clearwood_ 26 күн бұрын
@@-NovaRoma.Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330 and the Roman Empire was finally conquered in 1453. The name Byzantine is German propaganda for the Holy Roman Empire. The name stuck in the west.
@-NovaRoma. 26 күн бұрын
@@Clearwood_ I don't think we can call it propaganda but okay thanks 👍
@samwisegamgee8318 27 күн бұрын
Eastern Roman history = INSTANT LIKE
@estebancastellino3284 25 күн бұрын
👍
@aurele2 27 күн бұрын
its actually interesting seeing different demographics from different parts of Europe serve in the Guard, I mean even how Scandinavians built the kingdoms which are the ancestors of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
@user-bchfldmgd 27 күн бұрын
👍👍
@joknaepkens 3 күн бұрын
Time stamp 1:12 -> I assume you mean East?
@bvillafuerte765 24 күн бұрын
Good video.
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
Did the late Varangians and the Almogavars clash? I observe an apparent inconsistency when you talk of the 14th century, because the Almogavar War that effectively let the restored Byzantine Empire in tatters, was at the very beginning of that century and I doubt emperors afterwards had much gold to pay their mercenaries at all.
@Phantom-xp2co 26 күн бұрын
The varangians existed until the very end of the Easter Roman Empire. But by the XIV century their role was limited to palace guards and escort
@LuisAldamiz 26 күн бұрын
@@Phantom-xp2co - Makes sense. That should also mean that late "English" Varangians are pretty much anecdote.
@Phantom-xp2co 26 күн бұрын
@@LuisAldamiz they are not anecdote, since we have an actual historical account from 1404 about men in Constantinople who speak english and carry axes. It's just that the varangians at this point were more a sort of ceremonial guard than an actual military unit
@Phantom-xp2co 26 күн бұрын
@@jamesheavy789 imho varangians were still deployed as military units during the civil war between the regency and John Kantakouzenos. Later? It's hard to say. As we know the late byzantine army is a very obscure topic
@LuisAldamiz 26 күн бұрын
@@Phantom-xp2co - Different words, same meaning: to me your report is "anecdote", to you it's "not anecdote".
@majorianus8055 26 күн бұрын
At ast
@hiddendesire3076 27 күн бұрын
Someone should send this to Ubisoft, given they had the bright idea to make the Varangian Guard hero a female only class.
@alyenendrovtsorokean7406 27 күн бұрын
Lol what?
@BorgCoitus 26 күн бұрын
Ah yes, as we all know, For Honor is prized for its incredible attention to historical accuracy.
@F_Yale 26 күн бұрын
You should probably give up any hope and faith you still have in this woke garbage-tier dev.
@hiddendesire3076 26 күн бұрын
@@F_Yale Honestly the only game of theirs I give any hope to is Skull and Bones, which yes, while being the Fallout 76 equivalent for them because of its launch, I feel can at least turn out decent with its roadmap and announced incoming features.
@shellshockedgerman3947 24 күн бұрын
@@F_Yale Imagine using woke unironically in 2024 lmao
@alyenendrovtsorokean7406 27 күн бұрын
I thought cataphractoie were the most well known! Followed by them
@grassnothing1631 27 күн бұрын
Hi
@rehurekj 27 күн бұрын
2: 03 says he besieged city right at the bosphorus, shows map with the actual city located at dardanelles...
@srdjandedic8051 14 күн бұрын
Great video about the guard. Just one note: the maps are totally inaccurate especially after Basil II period before Manzikert (Bulgaria was part of Eastern Roman empire) and during Alexios Komenenos reign (he reconquered Anatolia coast during First Crusade)
@blakebailey22 25 күн бұрын
Great video! Thank you for not using AI art!
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
12:50 - How come was English considered the native language of late Varangian Guards when in England itself it was French (Anglo-Norman, a variant of Old French) the official language until the late 14th century?
@Coquinhaification 27 күн бұрын
Because the French in English aristocracy originated from the Normans, and the ones who served the Varangian Guard were Anglo-Saxons dissatisfied with the Norman conquest
@johnarnold7984 27 күн бұрын
Only the Norman ruling class spoke French, the people of England were still English and spoke English. Overtime Old English developed into Middle English with adoption of some Norman French elements. Those who went to Byzantium to serve in the Varangian Guard from England were not Normans.
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
I would have thought that the first to join and to be admitted would be Normans, who are pretty much Vikings but with French language, if anything, Anglosaxons would be secondary to them. The common people were irrelevant here AFAIK: peasants were not warriors, unless exceptionally, nobles were instead. @Coquinhaification @johnarnold7984
@Coquinhaification 27 күн бұрын
@@LuisAldamiz it's because these are the Anglo-Saxon warriors leaving England just after the conquest, which is when they established their colony in Crimea and all, so they would be English speaking folks. The Norman warriors mostly remained in England as the new rulers.
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
@@Coquinhaification - I'll take that at face value but I still have some doubts.
@DimitriHellas 27 күн бұрын
The Varangians weren't an elite unite, they were the bodyguards of the Emperor but they weren't used in most armies and wars Furthermore the Cataphractoi were the most elite unite And there were also Elite infantry units which were in most armies unlike the Varangians
@tylerellis9097 26 күн бұрын
Detachments of Varangians were sent with Byzantine armies during the 11th century notably under George Maniakes and Basil Boioannes.
@rosameltrozo5889 25 күн бұрын
15:33 they weren't crusaders anymore at that point, as they had been excommunicated plus it was mostly a Venetian thing and the Byzantines had been quite treacherous to the real crusaders for a long time, from the beginning pretty much.
@brad5426 23 күн бұрын
Didn't History Matters make a video on the Crusaders and the Byzantines? Would like to know more about their relations.
@clintmoor422 27 күн бұрын
hmm, I think they were no mercenaries. more a personal guard of the emperor.
@lerneanlion 26 күн бұрын
In a sense, can the Varangian Guards be considered as the Janissary Corps of the Eastern Roman Empire?
@alexanderb5726 26 күн бұрын
Fundamentally yes. With some key differences, one being that they were willing and grown participants whereas Janissaries, at least from the start were kidnapped Christian children from the Balkans forced to become soldiers. Another being that Janissaries were tied for life in their vocation, while being Varangian was more of a career great warriors could opt for but eventually also retire from. Harald Hardrada is an example of this. This was possible due to the steady and perpetual flow of warriors from north europe who were willing to become Varangians as soon as others returned home as rich men. I also don't think Janissaries enjoyed the same status as Varangians, as they were bodyguards to the emperor but also advisers, generals of the armies and could even at times install a candidate they favoured to the throne. But I wouldn't be be surprised if Janissaries were established with inspiration from Varangians. The Ottomans after all, fancied themelves the spiritual successors of the roman empire (big 'ol wannabes if you ask me). Something which thereto only Christian european kingdoms (which is logical) had laid claim to since it was a Christian empire.
@sasi5841 26 күн бұрын
The janissary was more link the praetorian guard regarding their political behavior. But simlar to varangians in military roles.
@v4enthusiast541 26 күн бұрын
@@alexanderb5726Byzantines would often impose mandatory retirement (or at least transferred to somewhere different) so they wouldn't get too comfortable/form strong relationships with important people
@adamsmith8797 26 күн бұрын
Not really. As the janissaries were enslaved, Christian boys brainwashed and forced to serve for life while the Varangian were volunteers who were payed and could leave anytime they wanted
@Phantom-xp2co 25 күн бұрын
No they can't. Janissaries were a parasitic caste who murdered in cold blood many sultans to keep their privileges. Varangians were decently loyal mercenaries
@kleinweichkleinweich 26 күн бұрын
героям слава
@Popiward 26 күн бұрын
Videos are slowed down to .75
@Clearwood_ 26 күн бұрын
Byzantiums most sought after mercenaries? The picture you're using is of a Roman Emperor and the emperors bodyguard. Byzantium ceased to exist in the year 330. These in the picture are from a later time period.
@levilastun829 26 күн бұрын
The Eastern Roman Empire is many times called the Byzantine Empire and the Greek Empire. Even though they never called that themselves
@mattaffenit9898 26 күн бұрын
It's a term that showed up in the 1550s that some (a lot of) people use to describe Eastern Rome as a separate state. I don't like it either.
@Harib_Al-Saq 26 күн бұрын
You can't be serious.
@alicelund147 25 күн бұрын
No the Eastern Roman Empire is called Byzantine Empire by modern historians for the period after East Rome became more Greek, in the Middle Ages after the end of the Western Roman Empire.
@Clearwood_ 25 күн бұрын
@@alicelund147 "modern" I refuse to spread lies and propaganda. They called themselves Romans their enemies called them Romans. You can believe revisionist history if you like that's your right but I won't follow it.
@zydrate5098 26 күн бұрын
"Byzantium"? Really? Come on..we expect better from you.
@ZippyZapBike 26 күн бұрын
While you're correct if they called it the "Roman Empire" then 95% of people would be "wtf?"
@johannl9 26 күн бұрын
@@ZippyZapBike Eastern roman empire is a thing you know.
@correctionguy7632 26 күн бұрын
Its the name used by historians
@zydrate5098 26 күн бұрын
@@correctionguy7632 it's a wildly inaccurate and anachronistic term that has no place in serious discourse, when the correct terminology ie "eastern rome / eastern roman empire" is very much in use.
@zydrate5098 26 күн бұрын
The historical community needs to educate and correct the larger masses instead of perpetuating a falsehood.@@ZippyZapBike
@uelibinde 26 күн бұрын
varangians were vikings not rus!
@mattaffenit9898 26 күн бұрын
They were both. And also Anglo-Saxons after the Norman conquest of England caused a lot of them to bail. Also assuming you mean Norsemen since viking is neither an ethnicity nor a culture. The Rus are also supposedly Norsemen that settled in Eastern Europe (Rurikid Dynasty being descended from Rurik/Hrorik). So the aristocracy could also have been Norse, at least for a while.
@bandit6272 26 күн бұрын
"Viking" was an occupation, not an ethnic group. Also, there were a lot of Rus in it too. All along the volga, Scandinavian and the Rus had a lot of cultural exchange, making them more similar culturally than you think.
@bomb8149 25 күн бұрын
originally they came from the Kieven Rus which was created by vikings
@valerysinitsine5949 27 күн бұрын
Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire - neither entity ever existed.
@mysticnovelbro 27 күн бұрын
not under those names anyways.
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
At least the capital cities are correctly named. Byzantium was never really Rome but an usurpation.
@MasonBryant 27 күн бұрын
Are you trying to be profound?
@WarriorofChrist612 27 күн бұрын
@@LuisAldamizEastern Rome was just the Eastern Roman empire that managed to survive until 1453. Not usurpation because they split off to make management of Rome easier. You’re either stupid, or you don’t know the definition of usurpation 😂
@valerysinitsine5949 27 күн бұрын
@@MasonBryant Just stating the facts.
@pepperspray7386 27 күн бұрын
who are the byzantines? is that the empire made up by the germans so they can be the ones who conquered rome, instead of the muslims?
@zombies1238 27 күн бұрын
I believe you are talking about the Ostrogoth. They sacked the western roman empire.
@LuisAldamiz 27 күн бұрын
The Dacians who spoke Greek and hated Rome, ask in the court of Diocletian...
@bydloshkolnik 17 күн бұрын
tl:dr : varangian guard was only good when it was consisted of the original varangians, e.g the Russians 6000 of whom the prince of the Rus has gifted to the Emperor of the Roman Empire. Those were indeed - OP. But then the William The Conqueror has took England, and puny anglo-saxons who lost to him has started to flee the England and flocking to the banners of varangians. The mercenary pool has been polluted with influx of dirty poor English "peasants" and the varangians lost every battle after. Including a humiliation defeat from the crusade of 1204.
@honestlordcommissarbrighte7921 15 күн бұрын
This is such a retarded overgeneralization its almost hilarious. Its almost as if the general's leadership, tactics employed, regular army troopers and their morale, army preparedness are inconsequential because the "Varungeeayans" were invincible supermen here to save the day. Dude, shut the fuck up for us 😂
@patrikdahlberg1825 8 күн бұрын
Where do you get russians from? :P Most that served in the Varangian Guard were of Scandinavian descent. People mix this crap up all the time because of the fact that they came or traveled through KievnRus lol. I can assure you that Slaic people were not very common in the guard
@bydloshkolnik 8 күн бұрын
@@patrikdahlberg1825 i've already written what history has told us. The sources are widely known. You should read them before writing also. The Rus are the Russians since what is written in the Russian primary chronicle, and 6000 of them were gifted to the Emperor by the Svyatoslav the prince of the Rus. Y ou call them Scandinavians yet even the terminology e.g. Varangian - is unknown still and disputed.
@patrikdahlberg1825 7 күн бұрын
@@bydloshkolnik Ugh I am not even going to bother here. The fact that you even use russians as an example during this time period makes no sense
@bydloshkolnik 7 күн бұрын
@@patrikdahlberg1825 What period are you talking about the varangian guard of the ERE has started at the 1034 A.D. The Kievan Rus was in it's 3nd century of existence. The primary chronicle which states the Rus are Russians was written at the 1113 only 80 years after the formation of the Varangians not to mention that it could have started to get written decades before the official date. So the nation has been formed by that time. Do not mix the 8 and 11 century.
@ivanstrydom8417 19 күн бұрын
The Varangian guards caused the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. The Professional Standing army of the Byzantines were far more effective for 600 years before the over-hyped Varangians flopped onto the scene. The Varangians is just one more part of the overemphasised furry Viking hype train.
@SamO-ik2cm 17 күн бұрын
Are you sure?
@ivanstrydom8417 17 күн бұрын
@@SamO-ik2cm Indeed.
SandRhoman History
Рет қаралды 74 М.
SandRhoman History
Рет қаралды 96 М.
SandRhoman History
Рет қаралды 504 М.
HistoryMarche
Рет қаралды 230 М.