Ragnar Lothbrok and the Byzantine Varangian Guard

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising connection between the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and the Byzantine Empire's elite Varangian Guard. While Ragnar himself likely never served in Constantinople, his sons and later Norse warriors from Scandinavia and the Rus became the emperor's personal protectors. Lucas explains how the Varangian Guard was formed in 988 CE when Byzantine Emperor Basil II recruited Varangians from Kyiv, and traces the earlier encounters between Norse traders and raiders and the Eastern Roman Empire, including the 860 and 907 Rus attacks on Constantinople. The discussion delves into the daily life of a Varangian, their iconic Dane axes, and their role in Byzantine ceremonies and battles. Lucas also examines the historical evidence for Norse figures who served in the guard, such as Harald Hardrada, and the legendary accounts of Ragnar's own eastern adventures in the sagas. The episode ends with the mystery of runic inscriptions carved by Varangians in the Hagia Sophia and the fading of the guard after the Fourth Crusade.

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