Phone: 0049 (0)30 315 700 0
- You are here:
- Books & Media
- Osprey
- Osprey - Men at Arms
- Middle Ages
-
Books & Media
- Novelties
- Offers
- Bestseller
- Books
-
Osprey
- Osprey - Men at Arms
- Osprey - Campaign
- Osprey - Combat
- Osprey - Warrior
- Osprey - Elite
- Osprey - Fortress
- Osprey - Duel
- Osprey - New Vanguard
- Osprey - Air Campaign
- Osprey - Air Vanguard
- Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces
- Osprey - Aviation Elite
- Osprey - Combat Aircraft
- X-Planes
- Osprey - Battle Order
- Osprey - Bolt Action
- Osprey - Command
- Osprey - Essential History
- Osprey - Masterclass
- Osprey - Modelling
- Osprey - Modelling Manuals
- Osprey - Myth & Legends
- Osprey - Frostgrave
- Osprey - Raid
- Osprey - Wargames
- Osprey - Weapons
- Osprey - Games
- Osprey - Special editions
- Book series
- Zeughaus Verlag
- Second Hand Books
- Historical novels
- Comics
- Music, Movies
- Others
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 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.
- Group
- Books (first-hand)
- Author
- D'Amato, R./Rava, G. (Illustr:
- Title
- The Varangian Guard 988-1453
- Details
- English text, paperback, many bw-images, some plates with colour illustrations. 48 pages.
- Series
- Mittelalter
We also recommend this article
The following articles may also interest you
Take a look at our similar products.Copyright © 2024 Berliner Zinnfiguren & Preussisches Buecherkabinett
Berliner Zinnfiguren, Knesebeckstr. 88, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Phone 0049 (30) 315 700 0