Who guarded the Byzantine emperor?

The Varangian Guard
The Varangian Guard (Greek: Τάγμα των Βαράγγων, Tágma tōn Varángōn) were a part of Byzantine Army and personal bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors from the 10th to the 14th centuries. Initially the guard was composed of Varangians who came from Kievan Rus’.

How did the Viking warriors serve the Byzantine Empire?

The members served as personal bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors. The Varangian Guard was known for being primarily composed of recruits from northern Europe, including mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia but also Anglo-Saxons from England.

How did the Vikings get to Byzantium?

By sailing upriver from the Baltic sea, portaging for a relatively short distance and sailing downriver to the Black Sea, the Vikings had reasonably easy access to Constantinople. The fact that portage was involved tends to suggest that the vessels used were relatively small.

What were Viking guards called?

the Varangian Guard
During the Viking Age there existed, within the army of the Byzantine empire, an elite company of mercenaries mostly from Scandinavia. This group was known as the Varangian Guard, a regiment of warriors renowned for their ruthless loyalty and military prowess.

What happened to the varangian guard?

As they entered the city at various points, the Varangians retreated with the Emperor to the palace. Here they held their ground until the emperor and large parts of the nobility secretly left the city. After negotiations they surrendered to the Crusaders, and no doubt many of them found further employment there.

What were Viking raiders called?

In the old Norse language, the word víkingr would normally be translated as raider or pirate. While this aspect of Norse life was very important, most Norsemen were not pirates, but rather farmers, traders, smiths, and so on.

What brought down the Byzantine Empire?

The Byzantine Empire fell in 1453. The immediate cause of its fall was pressure by the Ottoman Turks. Ironically enough, the major cause of the decline of the Byzantine Empire (what made it weak enough to fall to the Ottomans) was the Crusades. The Crusades were supposed to be Christian wars against Muslims.

Who were the Vikings Byzantine Empire?

When Byzantine Emperor Basil II faced an internal uprising in 987, Vladimir the Great gave him 6,000 Viking mercenaries known as Varangians to differentiate the native Scandinavians from the Rus who by the middle of the 10th century had assimilated with the native Slavs and lost their distinct identity.

How did the Vikings get to Turkey?

According to the experts, Vikings and their Russian branches, called Varangians, came to the region as mercenaries or merchants. We also know that Vikings, who were mercenaries for the Byzantium Emperor Micheal VII Doukas, lived in the region.”

How many varangian guards were there?

But the numbers, in accordance with sources, kept fluctuating after 11th century – though most of them dealt with the Varangians participating in battles, and these warriors were possibly only a part of the entire Varangian Guard in its full capacity. In any case, the figures range from 4,500 men to a paltry 540 men.