Get the exclusive NordVPN Deal here: [ Ссылка ]
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): [ Ссылка ]
Paypal (thank you: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]

Some must read mlitary history books:
Ambrose, S. E., Band of Brothers: E Company, 2001. [ Ссылка ]
Baime, A. J., The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman, 2017. [ Ссылка ]
Beard, M., Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World, 2023. [ Ссылка ]
Bevoor, A., Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943, 1999. [ Ссылка ]
Beevor, A., The Second World War, 2013. [ Ссылка ]
Brennan, P+D., Gettysburg in Color, 2022. [ Ссылка ]
Clausewitz, C., On War, 2010. [ Ссылка ]
Kaushik, R., A Global History of Pre-Modern Warfare: 10,000 BCE–1500 CE, 2021. [ Ссылка ]
McPherson, J., Battle Cry of Freedom, The Civil War Era, 2021. [ Ссылка ]
Tsu, S., The Art of War, 2007, [ Ссылка ]
Sledge. E. B., With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa, 2008. [ Ссылка ]
Pomerantsev, P., How to Win an Information War, 2024. [ Ссылка ]

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.

свернуть