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+--- Thread: Varangians (/showthread.php?tid=8838)
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Varangians - Josef - 03-26-2007
Ive checked around a little bit about Byzantium and there is alot mentioning varangians as mercenaries in the byzantine empire even later becoming royal guards because they where so loyal and stuff but i cant confirm it and i ask you guys because i find it kinda interesting and you guys here probebly know much more than me , an empire of roman greeks and vikings can it become any better ?
and also on wikipedia it says that galatians south celts or what it was where a mix of greeks and gauls any sources that tell more?
because i never take anything from wikipedia serious
Re: Varangians - Steve Lenz - 03-26-2007
Between the greeks and the variangians was more then 1000 years difference (temporal and cultural)! 8)
"Galatians" was the offspring of the volcae (20 000 celtic mercenaries of king Nikomides I., 278 BC, settled in Phyrigia as hire for their job).
The prononciation "gallo-greek people" was of roman origin - but they also called the huge number of barbarian tribes as "german"... :roll:
Re: Varangians - Josef - 03-26-2007
Well the late Byzantines called themselves greeks and if they didnt why would greece be named greece today
hock: anyway lets not get off the topic http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos/Varangians.html
http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9365141 [/url]
well the britannica link is messed up anyway it says :
Galatia
Ancient district, central Anatolia.
It was occupied early in the 3rd century BC by Celtic tribes who were then overpowered by the Seleucid king Antiochus I (Soter) in 275 BC. At that point the Celts, called Galatae (Galatians) by 3rd-century-BC writers, settled in the territory to which they gave their name. Passing successively under the rule of Pergamum and Pontus, Galatia became a Roman protectorate in 85 BC. By the 2nd century AD, the region had become absorbed into the Hellenistic civilization.
different sources this time but i cant be 100% dont know how reliable they are thats why i need different opinions from people
Re: Varangians - hoplite14gr - 03-26-2007
You can try here about Varangians:
http://www.hellenicdefense.gr/index.php?id=69
Kind regards
Re: Varangians - Josef - 03-26-2007
Quote:You can try here about Varangians:
http://www.hellenicdefense.gr/index.php?id=69
Kind regards
ΕΠΙΛΕΞΤΕ ΤΟ ΤΕΥΧΟΣ ΠΟΥ ΣΑΣ ΕΝΔΙΑΦΕΡΕΙ
No entries found.
i can only see the first page it doesnt say anymore ,
sweet site btw
Re: Varangians - Felix - 03-26-2007
Yes, the Varangians were very real. From someone who has done a lot of work on the subject:
http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos/
Re: Varangians - hoplite14gr - 03-26-2007
Yep! Steven certainly knows his staff very well :!:
Kind regards
Re: Varangians - Anonymous - 03-28-2007
Harald Sigurdsson "Hardradi" made his pile in the Varangian Guard before returning to Norway to claim his patrimony. (Harold Godwinson kicked his butt, eventually.)
This forum tends to be about Ancient Greek history, so Early Medieval is a bit off-topic for us. I really think the Byzantine Empire deserves to be treated as a separate area of study.
Re: Varangians - Gaius Julius Caesar - 03-28-2007
But it is the 'late' Roman empire. And was ruled by Greeks!
Re: Varangians - egfroth - 04-01-2007
Josef, though it's a bit dated now, probably the best source on the Varangians is still "The Varangians of Byzantium" by Sigfus Blo"ndal, translated into English and revised by Benedikt Benedikz (Cambridge University Press, 1969). It contains just about every contemporary reference to the Varangians (and a few that the authors include with more enthusiasm than evidence).
This includes contemporary Byzantine authors like Michael Psellos, Princess Anna Komnena, and John Skylitzes, as well as saga references and runestones found in Scandinavia recording the deeds of Varangians.
They certainly existed, and had a significant effect on Byzantine society between the late 10th and early 13th centuries AD.
You should probably also get hold of Psellos' Chronographia (also known as "Fourteen Byzantine Rulers", and read Anna Komnena's Alexiad - available in English on the Net at http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/An ... exiad.html Anna specifically mentions the faithfulness of the Varangians - she appears to have been rather impressed by them.
Felix - glad you like my http://www.geocities.com/egfrothos.html site.
Re: Varangians - hoplite14gr - 04-01-2007
Anna also calls them "Celts". One reason we must be careful with the Byzantine documents.
Kind regards
Re: Varangians - Comerus Gallus - 04-01-2007
...
Re: Varangians - egfroth - 04-02-2007
In fact Anna usually refers to them as Varangians, or Tauro-Skythians. Or just as "axe-bearing barbarians". When the "Russians" are invading the Empire, they're referred to to as Skythians.
But the word "Varangoi" is also common.
I don't know where Anna refers to them as "Celts". Do you have the reference?
Turisas - the Varangian Way... - Arthes - 04-02-2007
and now for something completely different....Varangian battle metal..!
Turisas are from Hämeenlinna, Finland...
Their most famous song 'Battle Metal' here with video from Braveheart BattleMetal
(there is Troy, but the quality is not so good...)
Official site
MySpace
Re: Varangians - Hoplitesmores - 04-02-2007
I put the word kelt keltoi in Tlg musaios and searched the Anna Komnenoi Historia alexias and it just mentions Keltoi 200 times!