Отправлено: 24.02.10 13:49. Заголовок: The Varangians of Byzantium

Sigfús Blöndal, Benedikt Benedikz "The Varangians of Byzantium"
Cambridge University Press, 2007

http://ifile.it/80s9zp6/9780511562365.djvu

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цитата:

The author has done an immense mount of work gathering together the documentary evidence to create a narrative that throws light on this obscure corner of Byzantine history, giving its colourful subjects the recognition they deserve. Ably served by his translator (an under looked skill as a bad one can kill a story), they call their characters from the wings to centre stage at the heart of the Imperial Court. From their early days as the personal bodyguard of germanic warriors, loyal only to the Roman Emperors, the national component may have changed, but the reason for their existence remained. Despite the exotic, almost romantic air that surrounded them, they were the Emperors Life Guards and executioners of his dirty work: from naval squadrons to elite military units to mutilations and killings. A variety of linguistic sources are cited, from Old Norse, Russian, English and French to explain the root, which seems to come from a West German prototype `wareganga', meaning ` a foreigner who has taken service with a new lord by a treaty of fealty', akin to foederati. This adapted or evolved through the great Scandinavian kingdoms and lordships that occupied huge swathes of Russia (another story crying to be told) to Væringjar, `companion'. One who by oath, treaty or contract, gives security, accepts responsibility for his companions, as they accept responsibility for him. The book then gives a regimental biography noting the ethnic eddies and flows in its composition, from the Roman Goth and German personal bodyguard, to the Russian Norse mercenaries to Basil II (the Bulgar-Slayer) regularising them as an Imperial regiment and his complex psychological relationship with them. The appearance of Saxon Englingvarangoi after William the Bastards conquest to the collapse of High Byzantium in 1204 and the final monochrome, grim days of 1453 when as a band of Cretan archers the Varangians fulfilled their duty to the last Emperor. The most famous of them, Harald Sigurðarson (Hardrada) gets a chapter to himself, explaining that most complex of Vikings, giving some idea of what drove him to meet his end in the cold north at Stamford Bridge. A fascinating book, one that takes you off th beaten path of Byzantine Studies, but well worth exploring