Who Were the Varangian Guard?
Full video: • Units of History - The Varangian Guar...
This documentary explores one the most famous units of history: the Varangian Guard. The video begins with a brief history on the rise of the Byzantine Empire, following the fall of Rome. We examine the dynamics of the eastern Roman Empire, which interacted with the lands of Scandinavia and the Kievan Rus, relying on river routes that linked the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea. The documentary discusses the history of the Byzantine conflicts with the Kievan Rus which gave rise to the eventual mercenary service of Varangians in the Byzantine army.