Hi Guys ,
Despite being in the total chaos of moving house , I am delighted to still be able to review (at least till we loose the internet next week!!) .
This time we have one of the early releases from Linjo Models , the subject :Varangian Guard.
What I enjoy about reviewing is also the chance to research the subject so lets have a the traditional history notes first and then move onto the model itself .
Who were the Varangians .....well the Byzantine Empire employed mercenaries throughout its long history. Perhaps the most famous of these mercenary units were the elite Varangian Guard. Armed with double edged swords and battleaxes, these fearsome Nordic warriors served as the Emperor’s personal bodyguard from the tenth century onwards.
The term ‘Varangian’ comes from an old Norse word meaning ‘plighted faith’ and was given to those Russianised Vikings whose forefathers had sailed across the Baltic and up the rivers of northern Russia, dominating the slav tribes of the interior as they advanced. They first appeared in Constantinople as a fighting unit sometime in 989 AD for the emperor Basil II.
The Emperors sister , one Anna Komnena writing in ‘the Alexiad’ claimed that the Guard were far more reliable and trustworthy as bodyguards than native Byzantine troops saying :
“They regard loyalty to the Emperors and the protection of their persons as a family tradition, a kind of sacred trust and inheritance handed down from generation to generation; this allegiance they preserve inviolate and never brook the slightest hint of betrayal”
Pay was considerable higher than the average mercenary soldier,they seem to have received as much as ten to fifteen nomismata per month (one and two-thirds to two and a half pounds of gold per annum) as well as special gratuities and a large share of the booty taken on campaigns.
One of the most famous senior commanderes was Harold Sigurthorson (also known as Hardrada), given the title of ‘Spathorokandidates’ he died at Stanford Bridge in 1066 leading an invasion of England.
In modern times the Varangian has been the subject of a book by Rosemary Sutcliff called Blood Fued published in 1976, together with
music albums and several games for PC users all of these emphasise the fightig qualitys of the Varangian which are also today displayed by reenactors.
Continued in next post:
Nap
Despite being in the total chaos of moving house , I am delighted to still be able to review (at least till we loose the internet next week!!) .
This time we have one of the early releases from Linjo Models , the subject :Varangian Guard.
What I enjoy about reviewing is also the chance to research the subject so lets have a the traditional history notes first and then move onto the model itself .
Who were the Varangians .....well the Byzantine Empire employed mercenaries throughout its long history. Perhaps the most famous of these mercenary units were the elite Varangian Guard. Armed with double edged swords and battleaxes, these fearsome Nordic warriors served as the Emperor’s personal bodyguard from the tenth century onwards.
The term ‘Varangian’ comes from an old Norse word meaning ‘plighted faith’ and was given to those Russianised Vikings whose forefathers had sailed across the Baltic and up the rivers of northern Russia, dominating the slav tribes of the interior as they advanced. They first appeared in Constantinople as a fighting unit sometime in 989 AD for the emperor Basil II.
The Emperors sister , one Anna Komnena writing in ‘the Alexiad’ claimed that the Guard were far more reliable and trustworthy as bodyguards than native Byzantine troops saying :
“They regard loyalty to the Emperors and the protection of their persons as a family tradition, a kind of sacred trust and inheritance handed down from generation to generation; this allegiance they preserve inviolate and never brook the slightest hint of betrayal”
Pay was considerable higher than the average mercenary soldier,they seem to have received as much as ten to fifteen nomismata per month (one and two-thirds to two and a half pounds of gold per annum) as well as special gratuities and a large share of the booty taken on campaigns.
One of the most famous senior commanderes was Harold Sigurthorson (also known as Hardrada), given the title of ‘Spathorokandidates’ he died at Stanford Bridge in 1066 leading an invasion of England.
In modern times the Varangian has been the subject of a book by Rosemary Sutcliff called Blood Fued published in 1976, together with
music albums and several games for PC users all of these emphasise the fightig qualitys of the Varangian which are also today displayed by reenactors.
Continued in next post:
Nap
