Varangians

Varangians were Norsemen who traveled eastward from Scandinavia during the Viking Age and into the high medieval period. The term is used for groups of Norse origin who reached the Baltic and river routes to the Black Sea, as well as the elite guards known as the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire. They played a significant role in the formation of the Rus and in Byzantine military affairs.

Origin and routes: Varangians came from parts of present-day Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. They moved along Baltic trading networks and down river routes such as the Dnieper and Volga, engaging with Slavic peoples and establishing early Rus states, with the legendary foundation of Novgorod attributed to Norse migrants. The ethnonym Rus is associated with these Norse newcomers.

Byzantine service: From the 10th century, many Varangians served as mercenaries in Byzantium. A more permanent unit, the Varangian Guard, developed to protect emperors and became a symbol of imperial loyalty. They were noted for their formidable combat prowess and for wielding axes and later swords; over time the guard included Western European mercenaries as Byzantium evolved.

Contemporary sources: Ibn Fadlan’s 922 account provides one of the few contemporary depictions of the Rus and their Varangian contemporaries, describing their appearance, customs, and funeral rites. Such sources illuminate how Varangians were viewed by outsiders and how they interacted with other cultures.

Legacy and decline: The Varangians left a lasting impact on East Slavic state formation and on Byzantine military practice. The Varangian Guard persisted into late Byzantium, lasting until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The term Varangian remains a key label in scholarly discussions of early Scandinavian involvement in Eastern Europe.