What is Varangian Guard?
[[File:The body of Leo V is dragged to the Hippodrome through the Skyla Gate.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|Varangian guard}}]] The '''Varangian Guard''' ({{lang-el|Τάγμα των Βαράγγων}}, ''Tágma tōn Varángōn'') was an [[wikt:elite|elite]] unit of the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Army]], from the [[10th century|10th]] to the [[14th century|14th centuries]]. Their members served as personal [[bodyguard]]s to the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine Emperors]]. At first they were made up of [[Viking]]s or [[Rus]]. Later, after the [[Norman conquest of England]], [[Anglo-Saxons]] joined the guard. For a time it caused an Anglo-Saxon [[emigration]] to [[Byzantium]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://deremilitari.org/2014/06/english-refugees-in-the-byzantine-armed-forces-the-varangian-guard-and-anglo-saxon-ethnic-consciousness/ |title=English Refugees in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The Varangian Guard and Anglo-Saxon Ethnic Consciousness |author=Sandra Alvarez |date=23 June 2014 |publisher=DE RE MILITARI |access-date=16 August 2015}}</ref> == History == In 874 [[peace]] was established between the [[Kievan Rus']] and the [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref name=DAmato6.7>Raffaele D'Amato, ''The Varangian Guard 988-453'' (Oxford; Long Island City, NY: Osprey, 2010), pp. 6–7</ref> [[Kiev]] sent military assistance to [[Constantinople]]. By the early [[10th century]] Kievan Rus were serving in the Byzantine army. In the [[summer]] of 987 the emperor [[Basil II]] asked for military help from [[Vladimir the Great]], [[Grand prince]] of Kiev.<ref name=DAmato6.7/> Vladimir sent 6,000 men who arrived in the [[winter]] of 987. These were soldiers who had not been paid and wanted to go to Byzantium where they hoped they could get pay. During Basil's [[campaign]]s the Varangians proved to be an excellent fighting force.<ref name=DAmato6.7/> When Basil campaigned in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Armenia]], he took 6,000 Varangians with him. During [[truce]] talks a Varangian and a Georgian got into an [[argument]]. General fighting broke out and m