The Varangian Guards

[The Wizard]

To add to Steppe Merc's post, the Varangian Guard was only disbanded after 1204, when they apparently failed to defend the basileios (or mutinied?).



~Wiz

[Colovion]

During the First Crusade, they were the most intimidating force of arms in Constantinople to the Crusaders. Their silvered breast-plates and scarlet cloaks sheathing their giant stature of the Scandinavian blood was a sight to behold.

However, besides a few scant images in my mind from books, I dont' know that much more about them.

[Krusader]

The leader of the Varangian Guard was called an akolouthos (sp?) which meant follower in greek.
In their first decades if not century, they were mainly made up off Norse from the Kiev area, or Rus as they were also called. However, in the years after 1066, most members of the Guard were Anglo-Saxons, Danes or Normans.

Atm, Im writing a 15-page semester essay at Uni about the Fourth Crusade, and I can say, that the Varangian Guard was the only Byzantine unit during the siege of Constantinople, that succesfully defended themselves. As for protecting the Emperor, the Emperor fled Constantinople, and so did his succesor.

I have some more info in a Osprey book. Can check it and give some more info back.


More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_guard

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

If I recall correctly they did indeed see combat quite frequently.
They generally lived up to their reputation.

[The Wizard]

The leader of the Varangian Guard was called an akolouthos (sp?) which meant follower in greek.
In their first decades if not century, they were mainly made up off Norse from the Kiev area, or Rus as they were also called. However, in the years after 1066, most members of the Guard were Anglo-Saxons, Danes or Normans.

Atm, Im writing a 15-page semester essay at Uni about the Fourth Crusade, and I can say, that the Varangian Guard was the only Byzantine unit during the siege of Constantinople, that succesfully defended themselves. As for protecting the Emperor, the Emperor fled Constantinople, and so did his succesor.

I have some more info in a Osprey book. Can check it and give some more info back.


More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_guard

Hm, they did now?

As I recall it, didn't the crusaders depose one basileios for the other, and when the new one refused to pay them (or something else that angered them), they attacked and took Constantinople?



~Wiz

[Krusader]

@The Wizard:

Partially right. The crusaders had with them one Alexius Angelus, whose father was emperor Isaac II. Isaac again was deposed and blinded by his brother Alexius (became Emperor Alexius III), and both Isaac & his son Alexius were put in prison.
Alexius, the younger fled in 1201, and somehow met up with the crusaders and asked for help. Crusaders agreed and journeyed to Constaninople. There they demanded Alexius III step down and give crown to Alexius Angelus. That didnt happen, so they laid siege to the town. During the siege, Alexius III fled and as I recall only the Galata-section of the town had fallen to the crusaders.

Alexius Angelus was put on the throne as Alexius IV, and his father Isaac II was made co-emperor (Greeks didnt trust Alexius IV). To cut a story short, Alexius IV owned the crusaders money, but didnt have enough money to pay. So the crusaders attacked again, but a Byzantine noble called Murzuphlus seized the throne and had the two emperors killed, and made himself Alexius V. And during this time, Constantinople did fall, but even though the Greeks could have been able to continue fighting Murzuphlus fled as well. And then Count Baldwin of Flanders was placed on the throne.

For a more detailed explanation:

Fourth Crusade information

[The Wizard]

Interesting. Thanks for the link!

BTW, the Galata section? You mean modern Galatasaray (Turkish for 'Galata neighborhood')? Isn't that further up the Bosphorus -- as in, in those days a peripheral town dependant on the Constantinople, but not part of it?

It could be that I'm wrong and that the section of Istanbul which is on the northern side of the Golden Horn (where the Galata tower is nowadays) is also Galatasaray...



~Wiz

[King Henry V]

Galata is the suburb of Constantinople across the Golden Horn. It was mainly inhabited by the Latin trading powers such as the Pisans, Venetians and Genoese since the Golden Horn was the best place they could anchor there ships.

for a map of constantinople, see here:
http://www.throneworld.com/oathofemp...tantinople.jpghttp://www.throneworld.com/oathofempire/geographica/constantinople.jpg