Podcasts about varangian guard

Harald Hardrada; exiled prince of Norway and mercenary, has landed in the greatest city on Earth: Constantinople. There he joins one of the most prestigious military organisations in the world, the Varangian Guard, charged with protecting the Emperor. Almost the next ten years of Harald's young life are spent at war protecting the city from enslaving raiders. But then, he becomes embroiled in the dark and complex political intrigues and plots of the Byzantine court. Zoe, the formidable wife of the recently deceased Emperor Michael IV, who had been exiled by her husband's successor, recruits Harald to help her seize the throne. Wealthy, influential and renowned in the world's most glittering city, things have never seemed better for Harald. But then, does he overreach and embark upon a dangerous affair with the empress herself? Imprisoned for his crimes, Harald manages to slay the terrible serpent haunting his prison cell, and escape at last back to Kyiv. But his ambitions still lie further north, in Norway, and the throne he is determined to reclaim… Join Dominic and Tom and they discuss Harald Hardrada's astonishing time as a Varangian Guard in Constantinople, his hair-raising escape back to Scandinavia, and his fight for the throne of Norway, on the road to the dramatic climax of his epic life: the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I swear I will not flee from this fight. I will triumph, or I will die!” In the 1066 game of thrones for the crown of England, the most extraordinary of the three contenders is arguably Harald Hardrada: viking warrior, daring explorer, emperor's bodyguard, serpent slayer, alleged lover to an empress, King of Norway, and legend of Norse mythology. How did this titan of a man come to cross the North Sea with his army, and take on Harold Godwinson, in the titanic showdown of Stamford Bridge? His story before this point is so colourful that it may be one the most exciting lives in all history. Fighting from the age of twelve, Harald was born to a petty regional king of Norway, in a Scandinavia of competing religions and kingships. As a teenager, he would then join his fearsome brother Olaf, the man who united Norway but later fell foul of King Cnut, and subsequently sailed the seas and mysterious waterways of Russia, in a mighty battle to take back Norway. Their defeat was terrible and absolute, leaving the young Harald wounded and on the run. A journey of horrors and hardship would then lead him at last to the awe inspiring city of Kyiv, where he would serve as mercenary for the Grand Prince. But still hungry for wealth and glory he then travelled on to the most remarkable city in the world: Constantinople, where his life would take an even more dramatic turn… Join Dominic and Tom as they describe the electrifying early life of Harald Hardrada. From Scandinavian prince, warrior, and would-be usurper, to Baltic mercenary, and member of the elite Varangian Guard, in the glittering Constantinople or Miklagard - Asgard on earth. The stage is set for the greatest adventure of his life so far. But will Harald ever seize his ultimate destiny and become a king? EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/restishistory Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Head to investengine.com/history or use promo code HISTORY for a welcome bonus of up to £100 _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saga Thing returns once again to the tales of Icelanders from the sagas of Norwegian kings with a surprise double feature of tales involving Halldór Snorrason, the son of Snorri goði and longtime companion of King Harald "harðráða" Sigurdsson. We open with The Tale of the Story-wise Icelander [Íslendings þáttr sögufróða], a fun little story about an Icelander who makes a name for himself telling tales and sagas in the court of an older King Harald. But how will the notoriously grumpy king react when the Icelander begins telling the saga of Harald's own adventures as a member of the Varangian Guard in Constantinople? And where might an Icelander who's never met King Harald have learned so many detailed stories about the king's life? But that little þáttr is just an appetizer. The real meal here is The First Tale of Halldór Snorrason [Halldórs þáttr Snorrasonar]. Set during the early years of King Harald's reign in Norway, this tale shows what happens when Halldór steps in to defend an Icelander from Harald's wrath. Then things get real messy when Halldór has a run in with a kinsman of the powerful chieftain Einar Paunch-Shaker [þambarskelfir]. It's a real "out of the frying pan and into the fire" kind of story for Halldór in this one. How will Halldór manage to get out of this mess? Along the way, we talk about the life of Halldór and some of his more noteworthy descendants. We also spend some time discussing his place in the various sagas of King Harald Sigurdsson. If you want to read the infamous Snorri Sturluson's version, which includes several episodes featuring his great-great-great-grandfather Halldór Snorrason, you'll want to pick up a copy of the Heimskringla or the stand-alone Penguin edition King Harald's Saga. We'll be back soon with The Second Tale of Halldór Snorrason where his relationship with King Harald is once again tested. Listen and then share your thoughts on our social media: Sagathingpodcast on Facebook Sagathingpodcast on Instagram Sagathingpodcast on Bluesky Saga Thing's unofficial official Discord Music Credits Intro Music - from “Death Awaits” by Billy Malmstrom Poetry Music - "Morgana Rides " Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outro Music - From “Óðinn” by Krauka

We look at listener questions about this period of narrative. Were the Varangian Guard still employed at Nicaea? Had Greek Fire been lost? How many Emperors are actually Saints? Why did Nicaea win? Should they have moved back to Constantinople? Were the Romans Greeks now? Period: 1204-61 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

English in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The Varangian Guard and Anglo-Saxon Ethnic Consciousness One of the most interesting episodes in Byzantine military history and in medieval English history is the Anglo-Saxon participation and service in the Varangian Guards regiment from the late 11th to the early 13th century. Byzantine army became increasingly dependent upon mercenary forces. into service of the Byzantine Emperor were Anglo-Saxons, who eventually made up the main component of the traditional foreign mercenary force that guarded the person of the Emperor.

Our final batch of questions for this century includes queries about the Hippodrome, diplomatic marriages, national identity and political legitimacy. We also enjoy an update on the Crimea, the Jewish communities of Byzantium and the Varangian Guard. I also talk about the perception of time and rank some dynasties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, thanks to the release of Assassin's Creed: The Golden City by Jaleigh Johnson, we explore the fascinating world of the Varangian Guard, an elite group of Scandinavian and Eastern European warriors who served as bodyguards for the Byzantine emperors from the 10th to the 14th centuries. We dive into the history of the Varangian Guard and their significant impact on the Byzantine Empire, as well as the cultural exchange between the Byzantine Empire and the Scandinavian world. In this episode, you'll find out What the Varangian Guard was and when they were formed How the Varangian Guard were divided What we can learn from the Varangian Guard Want to be part of the brotherhood? There are several ways you can support this podcast: Show your support! ⁠Buy me a coffee⁠ to help fund future episodes. Follow on⁠ Apple Podcasts⁠,⁠ Spotify⁠,⁠ Stitcher⁠, and⁠ iHeart Radio⁠. Leave a review on⁠ Apple Podcast⁠ Check out my TikTok: ⁠@visionsofthepastpodcast⁠ Follow me on Twitter:⁠ @visions_ac⁠ Find me on Instagram: ⁠@visions_ac⁠ Music by:⁠ Joseph McDade

‘Steal a loaf of bread and they will cut your hands off, steal an entire country and they will proclaim you their king.' Norse Sagas Don't be fooled by chilly tales of beards and battle-axes. Head east with Paul and Mikey, and discover a whole new (warm!) viking world. Facebook Twitter InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grettir's half-brother goes looking for revenge, and his killer goes to join the Varangian Guard. If you like what you hear and want to chip in to support the podcast, my Patreon is here. I'm on Twitter @circus_human, Instagram @humancircuspod, and I have some things on Redbubble. Sources: Grettir's Saga, translated by Jesse Byock. Oxford University Press, 2009. Grettir's Saga, translated by Denton Fox and Hermann Palsson. University of Toronto Press, 1974. Collingwood, W.G. A Pilgrimage to the Saga-Steads of Iceland. W. Holmes, 1899. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A finales del siglo IX, Basilio II, emperador bizantino, dio forma a uno de los cuerpos de élite más célebres y exóticos del mundo medieval. Con la llegada de 6000 varegos desde las tierras del Rus de Kiev, al norte del Mar Negro, Constantinopla fue testigo del nacimiento de la célebre Guardia Varega. Música empleada: -"Danza Inglesa Siglo XIII", Artefactum -"Tou Glykaios Legomenon O Sourlas (Of the Dulcet, Unto the So-c)", Christodoulos Halaris -"A Border Guard Was Building a Castle", Christodoulos Halaris -"Saltarello I Siglo XIV", Artefactum Bibliografía: -Benedikt, Benedikz y Blöndal, Sigfús (2007). «The Varangians of Byzantium», Cambridge University Press. ISBN-10: 052103552X -Cartwright, Mark (9 de noviembre de 2017). «Basil II». Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Basil_II/ -Cartwright, Mark (10 de noviembre de 2017). «Varangian Guard». Ancient History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Varangian_Guard/ -HistoryExtra (20 de octubre de 2020). "What was the Varangian Guard? A brief history of the Viking warriors of the Byzantine empire". https://www.historyextra.com/period/viking/varangian-guard-byzantine-empire-kievan-rus-vikings-basil-ii-vladimir-great/ -River Editors, Charles (2020). «The Varangian Guard: The History and Legacy of the Byzantine Empire’s Elite Mercenary Unit». ISBN-13: 979-8694528184 -Weapons and Warfare (14 de agosto de 2015). "Varangian Guard". https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2015/08/14/varangian-guard/ Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals

Two noblemen, both born of Viking ancestry, race to the empty throne of England, to take the kingdom for themselves. One of them was a Varangian Guard, serving under the Roman Emperors, and the other was a Bastard, born into a world of Violence. The winner will be the undisputed King of England.The History of Modern Greece Podcast covers the events of the Greek People from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Greek War of Independence in 1821-1832, through to the Greco-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922 to the present day.Website: www.moderngreecepodcast.comMusic by Mark Jungerman: www.marcjungermann.com

Dark Windows Podcast ep. 191: This week we are going back in time to meet the final King of the Vikings, Harald Hardrada. Harald did some bonkers stuff in his life including but not limited to: Going to war super young, Becoming the leader of the legendary Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire, Taking some strongholds very creatively and more that we don't want to spoil here. Grab your mead horn, kick back and enjoy! https://pdcn.co/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/AOR8232334165.mp3?updated=1649389709 Shoot us an email at dwpmerch@gmail.com for some killer merch that's listed on our social medias! If you want more you can go over to https://www.patreon.com/darkwindowspodcast and become a Patron for just $5 a month and get a bonus episode every week! Thanks to our sponsor Sudio Headphones, go check them out here: https://www.sudio.com/us/ and put in DARKWINDOWS at checkout for a 15% off discount on your purchase! Go over to https://www.ageofradio.org/darkwindows/ and check out our shows and our cool sponsors! Find us at: https://www.instagram.com/darkwindowspod/ https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Windows-363596237442341/ Thank you to all our listeners! We literally couldn't and wouldn't do this show without all of you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dark Windows Podcast ep. 190: This week we start off with reviewing a gift from one of our lovely listeners! Then we get into the Varangian Guard, the core of the personal guard of the Byzantine Emperor and what would basically be an early version of a special forces group made up of an entirely mercenary force, mostly The Rus and Scandinavian Vikings. If the emperor wanted clowns killed, the Varangians were sent in to do it. So grab your armor and spears and get in formation! https://pdcn.co/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/AOR8552863637.mp3?updated=1648772805 Shoot us an email at dwpmerch@gmail.com for some killer merch that's listed on our social medias! If you want more you can go over to https://www.patreon.com/darkwindowspodcast and become a Patron for just $5 a month and get a bonus episode every week! Thanks to our sponsor Sudio Headphones, go check them out here: https://www.sudio.com/us/ and put in DARKWINDOWS at checkout for a 15% off discount on your purchase! Go over to https://www.ageofradio.org/darkwindows/ and check out our shows and our cool sponsors! Find us at: https://www.instagram.com/darkwindowspod/ https://www.facebook.com/Dark-Windows-363596237442341/ Thank you to all our listeners! We literally couldn't and wouldn't do this show without all of you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1. Yemen in the 60s  2. Mercenaries in the ancient world   3. Medieval mercenaries    4. Nineteenth Century   5. Twentieth century   6. TodayMercenaries are once again in the news. And Russian use of the Wagner Group in Ukraine has raised everyone's interest.  Yet mercenaries go back a long way, and even a pharaoh used hired help to defeat an aggressor on his boarders.  In the Middle Ages, there was the White Company who helped Florence achieve prominence and dominate the surrounding region. There were too the famed pikemen of Switzerland, who were employed by France and the German states to defeat all adversaries on the battlefield.  In Constantinople, the Varangian Guard helped secure the future of the city state's rulers.  But there is always the risk that the paid foreigner will change sides, and throughout history mercenaries have been used to under mine regimes and mount palace coups.  In the 1960s and 1970s, Africa became the hub for such ventures, and money and blood diamonds were often the key and catalyst for such escapades.  Mercenaries were made famous by the likes of Mad Mike Hoare and captured in best selling thrillers such as Fredrick Forsyth's The Dogs of War.So it goes,Tom Assheton & James JacksonReading reference:The Dogs of War by Fredrick Forsyth read by David HartleySee also:YouTube: BloodyViolentHistoryhttps://www.instagram.com/bloodyviolenthistory/https://www.jamesjacksonbooks.comhttps://www.tomtom.co.uk If you enjoy the podcast, would you please leave a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify or Google Podcast App? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really helps to spread the wordSee https://simplecast.com/privacy/ for privacy information

James Holloway joins us to talk about the history, myth and reality behind this legendary Byzantine unit   Support the Pod from just £3 a month or drop us a tip at: https://linktr.ee/historyhack Buy our Merch! https://shop.historyhackpod.com/

In this episode, Warfare Through History, we are gonna be talking about the tools, techniques, and practices of a legendary mercenary force in the employ of the Byzantine Empire: the Varangian Guard. Now, before we begin, this episode of the Raven's Grove features the following trigger warnings: · Blood and gore · Death mentions · Battle/War mentions · Dismemberment So if any of those are in any way an issue for you, PLEASE, GIVE THIS EPISODE A MISS.

This week, the LU Boiz explore the life and times of one of history's most overlooked figures: The legendary Viking Age Explorer, Warrior, Poet and King, Hrolf Brownbreeches. Through a close examination of the historical record, notably the 12th Century Icelandic Epic Hrolfingr Saga, we hope to shine some light on a guy who just doesn't get as much attention as he deserves. Follow the Varangian Guard here: @leftunreadpod @poorfidalgo @gluten_yung Theme music courtesy of Interesting Times Gang: itgang.bandcamp.com Any and all emails should be directed here: leftunreadpod@gmail.com

In another short break from the chronological narrative we spend some time in the company of the Varangian Guard who were the elite bodyguards of the Byzantine emperors and who had strong connections to both the Rus and the Anglo Saxons.   if you want to get in touch with a comment or a question you can do so - via the website - https://www.historyofrussia.net  Via twitter @HistoryRussia1  Or via Email - Nordicworld@outlook.com  

‘Steal a loaf of bread and they will cut your hands off, steal an entire country and they will proclaim you their king.' Norse SagasDon't be fooled by chilly tales of beards and battle-axes. Head east with Paul and Mikey, and discover a whole new (warm!) viking world. FacebookTwitterInstagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us again as we finish up our discussion on the Varangian Guard!

Join us this week as we talk about the origins of the Varangian Guard!

Today I chat with Dr. Raffaele D’Amato about the Varangian Guard. Support this podcast by visiting our sponsor http://curiositystream.com/viking (CuriosityStream) P.S. - You can save 25% off of your annual subscription by following the link or using the coupon code ''VIKING'' at checkout. Referenced in Today’s Episode: https://amzn.to/3u0LwBP (The Varangian Guard 988-1453) Feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, suggestions or inquiries noah@thehistoryofvikings.com Music:https://danheimmusic.com/ ( Danheim – Framganga & Folkvangr)

Sophie (age 7) and Ellie (age 5) tell the history of how the Vikings built kingdoms, explored continents and worshipped their Norse gods. ----more---- In our first episode on the Vikings they had invaded England and England was now divided between a Saxon and a Viking Kingdom. Here we see how the Vikings repeatedly invade France. Eventually, the French give the Viking, Rollo, land to keep Paris safe from other Vikings. The land is called the land of the Northman, or Northmandy, eventually just Normandy. Other Vikings sail to the Mediterannean Sea. They are paid by the nobles of Italy to fight their wars. When the nobles can’t pay they give the Vikings land instead. Eventually the Vikings own so much land and so many castles that they just take over the whole country and make a Viking Kingdom. Other Vikings explore the Russian rivers. They get to a hill called Kiev which they think is a good place for a city. They capture it and build an empire which today we called Kievan Rus. Some Vikings even made it as far as the powerful city of Byzantium. There they become the bodyguards to the Emperor of Byzantium. They are called the Varangian Guard and were loyal to the Emperor. However, other Vikings look West. They take their ships across the sea to Greenland and make a settlement. One day a ship is blown off course thousands of miles and accidentally discovered North America. Other sailors follow until settlements are founded in what the Vikings called Vinland, which is in North America. The settlements do not survive though so when Columbus eventually makes it there, he if the first European to make permanent settlements. We also learn about the Norse gods. We learn of Odin, Frigg and Thor. We also learn how Friday is named after Frigg and Thursday is named after Thor. Finally we return to England. At first the Saxons defeat the Vikings and reconquer their lands. However, the powerful Viking, King Canute, decides to conquer England. The English kings are useless or unready as they were called. Canute becomes King. We tell his story of how he showed that Kings do not have the power by failing to turn back the tide. The Saxons become King again. However, William of Normandy attacked the English at Hastings and makes himself King. Although history records him as a Frenchman. He was actually descended from the Vikings who were given Normandy to live in. PATRONS’ CLUB If you liked this episode you might to join our Patrons’ Club. You can find us at www.patreon.com/historystorytime.

Daniel Maynard from Eastern Roman history on Youtube joins us in this episode to discuss the Vikings who came to The Byzantine empire. Who were they? What were their jobs? How were they viewed by the emperor himself? Find out in this weeks episode of "Well That Aged Well", with "Erlend Hedegart".This is a colaboration with Eastern Roman History. If you want to see part 2 head over to his channel on Youtube to fiind out more about the viking siege of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. Part 2 will not be avalible on this podcast. ONLY on Eastern Roman History on Youtube.Link to Eastern Roman Historys Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/EasternRomanHistory/videos Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/well-that-aged-well. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/well-that-aged-well. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most effective warriors of the King should be the sons (or disciples) of the King's current warriors. This is the beauty of discipleship, of passing down fortified manhood. It is the greatest of honors to serve the King; and it is the dearest of responsibilities to pass that task down, generation by generation. DISCIPLESHIP DEBRIEF: (1) For the teen, what pressure do you feel in your home/society to become a true man of God? Once you've discussed this, come back in a few days for #2. (2) For the Dad/Discipler, bring a list of things you deal with on a weekly basis. Begin to talk through these items, one by one. Be honest and real, fielding questions, connecting as much as you can to Scripture and the gospel.

For centuries, the Varangians were the cream of the crop of the Byzantine army. As Scandinavian warriors in a foreign land, they were ruthlessly efficient and loyal to a man. In Episode 3: Norsemen, I tell the history of the Varangian Guard and the most famous Varangian, Harald Hardrada. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/badassbyzantium)

Fight For Profit Soldiers in the Middle Ages fought for King and Country. But what did they do when the wars ended? Not all soldiers retired back to a life of farming or trade. Some men wanted to continue fighting and they fought for profit Medieval Mercenaries rose to prominence in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Mercenary Companies were made up of men from every corner of Europe; Germany, France, England, Spain, Scandinavia, Italy. Mercenary Companies The Mercenaries formed companies, small (and in some cases large) armies of men who would fight for the right price. The Catalan Company, always outnumbered but never at a disadvantage counted around 8,000 men in its ranks.   The White Company led by the infamous Sir John Hawkwood, employed over 15,000 men at its peak. Hawkwood was a longbowman for Edward III in the Hundred Years War and fought at both the Battle of Crécy and Poitiers. Further Reading If you are interested in learning more about Medieval Mercenaries below is a list of books I used while researching this episode. Caferro, William. John Hawkwood: an English Mercenary in Fourteenth-Century Italy. Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2015 Cooper, Stephen. Sir John Hawkwood: Chivalry and the Art of War. Pen & Sword Military, 2008 D’Amato, Raffaele, and Giuseppe Rava. The Varangian Guard: 988-1453. Osprey, 2010 Deiss, Joseph Jay. Captains of Fortune: Profiles of Six Italian Condottieri. New York, 1967 Keen, Maurice Hugh. Medieval Warfare: A History. Oxford University Press, 1999   Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used on this site. While they don’t cost you anything when you purchase through them they help support Medieval Archives. Lesson Notes In today's lesson we discuss: John Hawkwood and the White Company Albert Sterz Werner von Urslingen and the Great Company Konrad von Landau The Varangian Guard Roger de Flor and the Catalan Company

Kris samples a fruity mead from Schramm's Meadery, in celebration of a long awaited topic Scott has been wanting to discuss, the Varangian Guard. For our Star Wars listeners, they're like the Norse version of the Mandalorians. But before jumping into the main topic, it wouldn't be Skal Podcast without some Norse News! Check the Facebook page for those news articles and more while enjoying the latest episode! Skal! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/skalpodcast/support

Come and join us for a delve into what is new from a week in tabletop gaming as we sit down to discuss the News, Kickstarters and more.  Make sure to join in with the discussion down in the comments and let us know what you think about everything we're talking about today on The Weekender. Firelock Games Week We've got some neat stuff for you to explore from this week as we looked back at all of the games that Firelock have been working on. We had a full week of content talking about Blood & Plunder, Blood & Valor and Oak & Iron. Also, you can join the Cult Of Games and check out our ace VLOG series where we built a wonderful table to suit the Golden Age Of Piracy.  D-Day Campaign - Final Week! Another reminder that you need to get your Battle Reports logged and delve into more of Flames Of War as the D-Day Campaign from Battlefront Miniatures is heading into its final week on Tuesday. Let us know how things have been going for you as the Allies and Axis clash across our own take on Europe. News We've got some goodness from the week to delve into... Blood Of Baal - See what you think of the news for Warhammer 40,000 and its skirmish games Star Wars Skirmish - A new set of rules have been included in the mix by Fantasy Flight Games Godtear Releases - See what you make of the new Starter Sets and Add-Ons from Steamforged Games Creature Caster - There are two big demons for you to check out from them as December begins Back To Gotham - Delve into some Batman-based goodness with their 3rd Edition set RelicBlade 2nd Edition - Explore this awesome skirmish game from Metal King Norman Archers - See what you think of these new digitally sculpted soldiers Sexy Harald - V&V Miniatures has been tinkering away on some epic Varangian Guard models! Was there anything from this week which particularly caught your eye? Kickstarter What do you make of these new campaigns? Dawn Of Madness - Diemension Games has been showing off their haunting delve into horror Magnate: The First City - Become a devious property magnate in this highly strategic board game Let us know if you'll be backing either of these projects below... Have a great weekend!

Today I had a chat with Dr. James Montgomery of Cambridge University about medieval Arabic traveler Ibn Fadlan. Ibn Fadlan’swriting is an interesting source for the Viking Age and provides a foreigner’s perspective on the people he called the Rus’. Referenced in Today’s Episode: JORVIK Viking Festival Follow The History of Vikings on YouTube, Twitter,…

What can the sex lives of Byzantines tell us about court eunuchs? Find out today in these sizzling chariot-cab confessions. Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/deadideaspod to get your portrait drawn! Music and graphic design by Rachel Westhoff. Maps, pics, references and more at www.deadideas.net.

I was a guest on the Dead Ideas podcast to discuss the Varangian Guard. We talk about their role in the palace and the field armies and contrast their role to Eunuchs in Byzantium. Do check out Dead Ideas for episodes covering Titoism, Serfdom, Cuneiform, Vikings and many other fun topics. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

47:16 clean The Eastern Empire: 855 - 1043 AD In this episode, we cover the exploits of the Varangian Guard and Harald Hardrada between 1034 and 1043. But, before that, we see how the Macedo

Over the past few years, listeners have often asked us to do something with runes.  And who doesn't love runes?  Whether it's a fascination with the runic inscription as a point of contact with another time or a sense that the runes themselves are more than a mere phonetic symbol, there's something magical about them.  Even the word, rúnar carries with it layers of meaning, at times denoting "secret, hidden lore, or wisdom" and others referring to the written characters themselves.  In this Saga Brief, John and Andy investigate the history, forms, and functions of runes with the help of Dr. Ragnhild Ljosland, linguist and runologist from the University of the Highlands and Islands' Centre for Nordic Studies in Orkney.   While you may think of runes as the alphabet of the Vikings, it's important to remember that runes come in many different forms and date back at least to the 2nd century CE.  In fact, some point to the inscription on the controversial Meldorf fibula, a kind of brooch for pinning clothes, as evidence of runic writing in the early 1st century.   The Meldorf Fibula The runic alphabet most of you will be familiar with is the futhark, named for the first six letters of the alphabet.  With some minor variation, depending on region and date, the futhark was used by Germanic peoples throughout the early to late Middle Ages.  This alphabet was designed for cutting or carving simple strokes into wood, leather, bone, metal, and stone.  Each letter is drawn by combining verticle strokes (staves) and diagonal protrusions (branches).  In the pre-Viking era, the dominant form of the futhark consisted of 24 letters representing the particular sounds of early Germanic languages.   The Elder Futhark The opening of the Viking Age saw the emergence of a simplified 16 character alphabet, known as the younger futhark.  Like its predecessor, the younger futhark's exact look was largely determined by the region.  On the top here, you can see the long-branch (Danish) version of the younger futhark.  The second row features the short-twig runic alphabet, a variant most often linked to Sweden and Norway.  The short-twig variant is obviously much easier to carve than the long-branch. The Younger Futhark Wherever the Germanic and Scandinavian people went from the 2nd century to the early modern period, they left traces of their presence in the form of runic inscriptions on monuments, artifacts like jewelry, tools, and weapons, and other everyday materials.  While the majority of their efforts have been lost, more than 6,000 items with runic inscriptions of one form or another survive.  Most of these are from the period of the younger futhark.  Below you'll find a sampling of some of the items we reference in this episode. "Alu" inscription on Bracteate G 205 (ca. 400CE) The Ribe Skull Fragment (mid-8th century) We don't mention this example, but it's worth including here.  On the top floor of the southern gallery of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul there is a parapet with a faded runic inscription dated to the 9th century featuring the name of the carver, Halfdan.  John and I love to talk about the Varangian Guard, the Byzantine Emperors' personal bodyguards.  We'd like to imagine that Halfdan was a member of this elite unit.  The plaque above the inscription suggests a date in the 800s, but don't believe everything you read.    The Halfdan Runic Graffiti in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey  Near the end of the interview, we discuss ciphers.  Really clever rune masters sometimes used these ciphers or cryptics to disguise their messages.  The cryptic runes replace the letter with a picture containing a series of carefully plotted strokes.  The simplest of these is the tree or branch runes, which can be seen on this image of the Hackness Cross: The Hackness Cross from Hackness, Scarborough, North Yorkshire There are tent cryptics, fish cryptics, and many others, but our favorite is the bearded face cryptic from a runic stick recovered from a site at Bergen, Norway.  How could it not be?  Runic stick from Bergen, Norway We hope you enjoy the interview and this brief introduction to runes.  There's plenty of good information out there if you're interested.  Dr. Ljosland recommends Bernard Mees and Mindy MacLeod's Runic Amulets and Magic Objects. If you're interested in learning how to read runes, we recommend picking up a copy of Jesse Byock's Viking Language 1 & 2.  It's an excellent introduction to Old Norse, runes, and the Icelandic Sagas!  Visit http://www.vikingnorse.com/ for more information or click on the images below for links to purchase the books on Amazon.       As always, thanks for listening! Music:  Intro to Saga Brief - from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur Transition Music from "Two Icelandic Lullabies on the Langspil" performed by Ian Summers  Outro - Ólafur Liljurós

Join us for the thrilling conclusion of The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong.  In the first part of this episode, we discuss Finnbogi's evolving relationship with the Norwegian Earl Haakon, his trip to Constantinople, and his pursuit of Alf's daughter Ragnhild.  Yes, Finnbogi's got his eye on the daughter of the man he killed on the way to Haakon's court.  The second part of this episode takes us back to Iceland, where Finnbogi finds that fame isn't all its cracked up to be.  With rivals emerging everywhere he goes, Finnbogi is forced to move from district to district in search of peace.  That turns out to be a real challenge after he crosses a powerful lunatic like Jokul Ingimundarson, who you might remember from the second part of our episode on Vatnsdæla saga.  There are many many feuds and fights in this part of the story.  We do our best to cover the ones that really matter.  We hope you enjoy this final part of our summary of The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong.  It was a lot of fun for us, which is why this episode ended up so long. Incidentally, since Finnbogi does make his way down to Constantinople and we often find ourselves in Byzantium, our listeners might be interested in The History of Byzantium podcast.  He hasn't covered Emperor John yet, but he's getting closer to the period of the Varangian Guard.  We're looking forward to that.  In the meantime, check out his special episode on the city of Constantinople.  It covers the founding of the city, it's geographical significance, and the daily life of its people.  Great stuff!

In the thrilling conclusion to Grettir’s Saga, we follow the slender armed Thorstein Dromund on his quest to avenge his brother.  Thorstein’s adventures carry him from the shores of Norway to the bustling city of Constantinople, where the exiled King Harald Hardrada leads a rag tag bunch of Scandinavians called the Varangian Guard.  And if you thought the Grettir’s Saga author would pass up the chance to throw in another giant of saga literature, you were sorely mistaken.  Sadly, Harald is only featured in a cameo.  The real story of the Grettir’s Saga epilogue is the love affair of Thorstein and Spes.  Often referred to as the Spésar þáttr (The Tale of Spes “Hope”), the epilogue contrasts the epic ethos of the saga world with the more playful spirit of the continental romances.  If you have ever encountered the famous story of Tristan and Isolde, where the two lovers consistently outwit Isolde’s bumbling husband, King Mark, you’ll feel right at home in the Spésar þáttr.  Join us as we review this deceptively simple epilogue and discuss its potential value for understanding the rest of Grettir’s Saga. Along the way, we make reference to a few items of interest.  First among these are the blog sites featuring Drangey Island.  There are some pretty impressive pictures on these blogs and stories about Drangey: 1.      http://stuckiniceland.com/north/the-outlaws-paradise/ 2.      http://fooface.blogspot.com/2006/07/epic-climb.html And if you want to take our advice and visit Drangey for yourself, tours are available here: http://www.drangey.net/ Interested in the Brother Robert's 13th century Saga of Tristram and Isond?Or perhaps you'd like to start with Béroul’s The Romance of Tristan:And finally, we make reference to one of our favorite scholarly articles on Grettir's Saga, Kathryn Hume's "The Thematic Design of Grettis Saga" from The Journal of English and Germanic Philology 73.4 (1974): 469-86.  It's quite fascinating and worth a read.  Free to everyone with access to JSTOR.

Gary Butterfield and Kole Ross read your responses to the Scholar of the First Sin remake of Dark Souls II. LINKS OF NOTE: Oh god, the Fireys Family Guy is so adult and edgy, I just can't stand it Varangians Scholar Changes Spoilers aren't bad