The Varangian Guard 988-1453 by Osprey Publishing
Item Number: OSPMAA459
Men-at-Arms 459
Author: Raffaele D-Amato
Illustrator: Giuseppe Rava
About this book
The Varangian Guards were Viking mercenaries who operated far beyond their native shores as an elite force within the Byzantine Armies. Descendants from a legendary line of warriors, the Varangian Guard was formed after a group of Viking mercenaries made a major contribution to the Byzantine Emperor Basil II-s victory over rebel forces in 988 AD. These 5,000 men were then retained as Basil-s personal guard and would provide loyal service to many successive occupants of the imperial throne. Commonly referred to as -foreigners- (Etaireia), they were nonetheless absorbed into a new Palatine regiment under command of an officer termed the Akolouthos, who was either a Norsemen or a Rus (Norsemen colonisers of Russia). The Varangians wore mixtures of their native clothing and armour together with a splendid formal Byzantine uniform. But most famously, they always wielded their own traditional battle-axes and in fact this became a sign that the emperor was on the battlefield in person. This is an insightful look of one of the legendary guard units of the medieval world.
Contents
* Introduction
* History of the Regiment
* Organization
* Terms of service and everyday life
* Clothing
* Arms and Equipment
Paperback; June 2010; 48 pages; ISBN: 9781849081795