3. The Varangian Guard were Viking mercenaries who fought ferociously for the Byzantium Empire for more than 400 years
Mercenaries, soldiers fighting for money rather than for any notion of loyalty or patriotism, have been around as long as warfare itself. However, the Varangian Guard was different. By any standard, they were soldiers-for-hire. Though they were Norse or Scandinavian, they fought and died in Byzantium. But what sets them apart from other mercenaries is that they did so for centuries. Indeed, for more than 400 years, soldiers of the Varangian Guard were among the most respected warriors in the whole world, renowned for their loyalty just as much as they were for their bravery.
In the 9th century, Swedish Vikings had made their way up the rivers of modern-day Russia, establishing trade links. Before long, some of these traders had switched from selling goods to selling their skills as soldiers. In 988, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II established the Varangian Guard as his own personal bodyguard. He chose the men almost exclusively from the ‘Rus’ (or ‘foreign’) people who had settled in the region. Then, over the years, as the Vikings conquered modern-day Britain, the ranks of the Varangian Guard were swelled with Anglo-Saxons, as well as Germanic warriors.
From Basil II onwards, the Emperors made full use of their elite fighting unit of foreigners. The men’s long hair and red cheeks made them stand out for the usual soldiers, while their tall and broad stature and formidable weaponry struck fear into the hearts of the Empire’s enemies. The Varangians often wore full body armor, even though it was heavy and they preferred huge axes that needed both hands to wield to swords or spears. Thanks to them, Basil II won successes in Georgia and across the Levant. They also helped defeat pirates and sea and served as guards for caravan trains. However, despite earning a formidable reputation and even becoming respected members of society, the men of the Varangian Guard were never given any political power or say in how things were run. Instead, they just accepted money and other favors for their soldiering services, making them the longest-serving military forces in all of history.