What is the Service History of the Varangian Guard? #shorts

This documentary explores one the most famous units of history: the Varangian Guard. The video begins with a brief history on the rise of the Byzantine Empire, following the fall of Rome. The documentary discusses the history of the Byzantine conflicts with the Kievan Rus which gave rise to the eventual mercenary service of Varangians in the Byzantine army.

#history

[Watheverable]

400 years of faithfulness is quite the achievement

[dimitrisgotsis]

"Varangis" is an existing surname still today in Greece.

[knightofsvea]

I imagine them just taking out their longships out of storage and went:
"Okej Björn, Olaf, Swain. Nu åker vi hem till Svea igen."
And their greece commanders was like: "τι?"

[thesentry]

It's cool to see that these guys were everywhere. Specifically, I think they served the Viking King in the invasion of England in 1066.

[johndavidnew]

Im so high atm that i listened to this 10-15 times before I realized it was repeating. 😂

[TheRogueJedii]

Should mention some of their heroic feats in a next short

[akronym]

I have seen the flag/sign (bird) of the varangian guard in multiple videos. Where do you know that the bird was the sign for the guard? Where can I find sources for this?

[WelcomeToDERPLAND]

I imagine they went home, joined mercenary bands, or served their local retainers until their deaths- perhaps a band of them could have been mercs until exterminated or went home.

[misterbd]

The Vikings returned to their homelands or worked as mercenaries / contractors as it is now known.

[Sutton-vpbf]

4th crusade really was the worst thing to happen in the entire history of those invasions

[SetuwoKecik]

A movie or netflix series about Varangian Guard can be an epic story.

But nah, not gonna happen considering what happens to Hollywood nowadays.

[ballsjawls]

Merry Christmas mr Invicta and all the team

[fredmidtgaard]

The Varangians were from northernmost Norway. The Varanger peninsula in the far north.

[perlarsson]

Englishmen who had left their country after 1066 came and took more and more over according to M. Larsson.

[servandoherrera]

If that is there actual historical armor then DAMN they had fashion

[bouzoukiman]

They would switch sides on the battlefield. Not quite so faithful

[TaeSunWoo]

I like to imagine that they went out fighting with Constantine XI in 1453

[SternenSeelen]

they fulfilled their oath.... there is no greater honor 🙏

[jjonast]

Where is that flag in the second frame from?

[joea]

How did the crusaders take the city so easily?