History - The Varangian Guard 988-1453 - Grimfrost.com

The Varangian Guard 988-1453

Regular price€22,40
/
Tax included.
  • In stock
  • Inventory on the way
Fast Worldwide Shipping
Secure Payments
Supplier to Vikings and Game of Thrones
Details
  • Title: The Varangian Guard 988-1453
  • By (author): Raffaele D'Amato
  • Illustrator: Giuseppe Rava
  • ISBN-10: 1849081794
  • ISBN-13: 978-1849081795
  • Pages: 48
  • Language: English
  • Format: Paperback
  • Size: 185 x 125 mm
  • Illustrations: Several photos and illustrations
  • Published: Osprey Publishing - 2010
  • Books cannot be returned.
Notify Me When Available

The Varangian Guard 988-1453, By Raffaele D'Amato

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 colonizers of Russia). The Varangians wore mixtures of their native clothing and armor together with a splendid formal Byzantine uniform. But most famously, they always wielded their own traditional battle-axes; 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, complete with a dazzling array of artwork plates showing the Varangian Guard in an array of settings from court ceremonies to the battlefield.

Product number: 3416

Dr Raffaele D'Amato is an experienced Turin-based researcher 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 and Imperial Roman Naval Forces 31 BC-AD 500.

You may also like

Recently viewed