Get 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.
18 май 2024
