Delve into the story of the 'Elite of the Byzantine Empire: The Fabled Varangian Guards.' These elite warriors, often of Norse or Anglo-Saxon origin, served as the personal bodyguards of Byzantine Emperors. Renowned for their loyalty, formidable combat skills, and towering presence, the Varangian Guards were a symbol of prestige and power in the Byzantine court.
Personal BodyGuards of Eastern Roman empire's Emperor
Artist - Grunwalder
Fenrir Varangian Guard by Jonathan Kordich on ArtStation.
Our own mix of lamellar and scale armor, this armor design is both lightweight and flexible. While not strictly medieval, this armor is a great look for Vikings, Byzantines, Rus, and plenty of fantasy designs like Rangers, Rohirrim, and more! We initially developed this armor as practical gear for "rangers" in a mini-s
Viking Varangian Way Emblem
During the reign of Eastern Roman Emperor Basil II, he would wage a war against a longtime rival of the Eastern Romans, the Bulgarian Empire. These former nomads occupied lands that were once under the control of the Eastern Romans in the Balkans and both sides have waged an on and off again conflict against one another. It wasn't until the reign of Basil II when he would wage a victorious campaign against them with the newly created Varangian guard. The guard was made up of Vikings from Kievian Rus who were known for their bravery in battle and their fierce loyalty. The campaign against the Bulgarians would culminate at the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 where they would be soundly defeated, with the Varangian guard playing no small part in this. The battle was significant for what Basil II would do after the fact. He ordered that the 15,000 Bulgarian prisoners would have their eyes gouged out and sent back to their capital. One in a hundred men would have one eye to lead the other ninety-nine blinded men to the Bulgarian capital. The Bulgarian Emperor upon seeing this would have a stroke and die. The Bulgarian state was crippled and would be conquered in 1018. Basil II would earn the title "Bulgar Slayer". I don't usually mod Lego or third party products very often, but I figured I would try something different. I had this Brickarms overmolded axe in my Stanley case for a while and filed it down to look like the iconic "Dane-Axe" the Varangians used. I also cut a typical castle helmet to resemble one of many helmets they used. I have more mods I made when making a possible figure entry so expect to see them in either scenes or builds. My Entry to Billy's contest hosted on his discord.
Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire, in order to see it in its proper context, beginning in 988, a few words about the Byzantine Empire itself...
3D sculpture Oleg Pogosyan
Gnezdovo is a Varangian settlement on the trade route from Scandinavia to the Byzantine Empire. Burial mounds excavated there yield amazing Viking artefacts.
"Varangian Guard from For Honor" Artist Aelloy Locke
There was a character design contest that was themed Gladiators. I chose to do a Byzantine Emperor's Varangian Guard Champion. I know the games were out of style by this time, but I thought it would be fun to design.
Varangian Guard from Osprey's Byzantine Armies 886-1118
Slavonic with Radom Druzhina of Varangians dedication. #Lechistan #Lechia #Slavic #Slavonic #Lechites #Varangians #manuscript
For nearly 500 years, the purple-clad emperors of Byzantium were guarded on the battlefield and in their porphyry palace by an axe-wielding body of fierce Viking warriors: The Varangian Guard! The 10th century was the zenith of the Viking Age. The warriors of Scandinavia, renowned for their ferocity, cunning, and fighting prowess were feared throughout…
