Further Details

Title: The Varangian Guard 988–1453
Condition: New
Format: Paperback
Illustrator: Giuseppe Rava
Contributor: Giuseppe Rava (Illustrated by)
Author: Raffaele D’Amato
EAN: 9781849081795
ISBN: 9781849081795
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN-10: 1849081794
Genre: Law & Politics
Topic: Military History, History
Release Date: 20/06/2010
Language: English
Item Height: 248mm
Item Length: 184mm
Item Width: 5mm
Item Weight: 186g
Description: 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.
Country/Region of Manufacture: GB
Series: Men-at-Arms
Release Year: 2010

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