Institution

Varangian Guard

c. 988–14th century · 10th century

The Varangian Guard was the elite bodyguard of the Byzantine emperors, formed around 988 when Basil II received about 6,000 warriors from Vladimir of Kiev. At first made up of Rus' and Scandinavians, among them the future king Harald Hardrada, it later recruited many Anglo-Saxons after 1066. Known for their axes and loyalty, the Varangians served until the fourteenth century.

Varangian Guard
Image: Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 profiles

Kingdom of NorwayMilitaryKievan Rus'MilitaryKievan Rus'Military

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Varangian Guard. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/varangian-guard
MLA
“Varangian Guard.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/varangian-guard. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Varangian Guard.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/varangian-guard.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Varangian Guard’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/varangian-guard (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻