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The Varangian Guard 988–1453

The Varangian Guard 988–1453

Men-at-Arms 459
  • Author: Raffaele D’Amato
  • Illustrator: Giuseppe Rava
  • Short code: MAA 459
  • Publication Date: 20 Jun 2010
  • ISBN: 9781849081795
  • Format: Paperback
  • Number of Pages: 48
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Regular Price: $17.95

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About this Product

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.

Biographical Note

Dr Raffaele D'Amato is an experiencd Turin-based reseracher of the ancient world. He is an external professor to the Athens University School of Philosophy and Material Culture. He has previously written Roman Military Clothing (3) and Imperial Roman Naval Forces 31 BC-AD 500 for Osprey Publishing.

Contents

Introduction
History of the Regiment
Organization
Terms of service and everyday life
Clothing
Arms and Equipment

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