{"slug": "varangian-guard", "label": "Varangian Guard", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varangian_Guard", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1464130", "qid": "Q1464130", "description": "elite unit of the Byzantine Army from the 10th to 14th century", "entries": 9, "years": 9, "span": [986, 1203], "span_label": ["986 CE", "1203 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 9}], "related": [{"slug": "basil-ii", "label": "Basil II", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "byzantine-empire", "label": "Byzantine Empire", "shared": 3}, {"slug": "constantinople", "label": "Constantinople", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "uskudar", "label": "Üsküdar", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "harald-hardrada", "label": "Harald Hardrada", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "bosphorus", "label": "Bosphorus", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "varangians", "label": "Varangians", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "kingdom-of-norway-8721397", "label": "Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "anatolia", "label": "Anatolia", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "bulgaria", "label": "Bulgaria", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "balkans", "label": "Balkans", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "pechenegs", "label": "Pechenegs", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 986, "year_label": "986 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "August 17", "text": "August 17 – Battle of the Gates of Trajan: Emperor Basil II leads a Byzantine expeditionary force (30,000 men) against the Bulgarians to capture the fortress city of Sredets. After a siege of 20 days, Basil is forced to retreat from the Sofia Valley towards the town of Ihtiman (through a passage known as the Gate of Trajan). The Bulgarians under Tsar Samuel ambush and defeat the Byzantine forces. Only the elite Varangian Guard escapes with heavy casualties and leads Basil to safety through secondary routes.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365272436#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "986", "revid": 1365272436, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 988, "year_label": "988 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Fall – Emperor Basil II, supported by a contingent of 6,000 Varangians (the future Varangian Guard), organizes the defences of Constantinople to meet a threat from the insurgents, Bardas Phokas the Younger and Bardas Skleros. Basil crosses the Bosphorus, and leads a surprise attack on the rebel camp of Kalokyros Delphinas, at Chrysopolis. Delphinas is captured and executed, either by crucifixion or by impalement (approximate date).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364920019#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "988", "revid": 1364920019, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 1017, "year_label": "1017 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Winter – Emperor Basil II (\"the Bulgar Slayer\") replaces Leo Tornikios with the new catapan Basil Boioannes and sends him reinforcements (including a detachment of the elite Varangian Guard) from Constantinople.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342212758#Europe", "title": "1017", "revid": 1342212758, "section": "Events › Europe"}}, {"year": 1041, "year_label": "1041 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Winter – Battle of Ostrovo: The Byzantines, with the help of the Varangian Guard, led by Harald Hardrada (future king of Norway), defeat the Bulgarian troops, near Lake Ostrovo in Greece.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365267586#Europe", "title": "1041", "revid": 1365267586, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1042, "year_label": "1042 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Harald Hardrada, leader of the Varangian Guard in the Byzantine Empire, returns to Norway, possibly because of his involvement in Maniakes' revolt.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350130047#Europe", "title": "1042", "revid": 1350130047, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 1056, "year_label": "1056 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Theodosius, a nephew of the former Emperor Constantine IX, tries to usurp the Byzantine throne, and liberates all the prisoners who flock to his banner. With their support, he marches through the streets of Constantinople to the Palace. There, the Varangian Guard forms outside to stop him. Theodosius loses heart and heads for Hagia Sophia. Later he is captured, and exiled to Pergamon.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1365382431#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "1056", "revid": 1365382431, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 1122, "year_label": "1122 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Beroia: Emperor John II Komnenos transfers the Byzantine field army from Asia Minor (where it has been engaged against the Seljuk Turks) to the Balkans. The Pechenegs who have set up their camp (defended by a circular formation of wagons) near Beroia (modern Bulgaria) are defeated. John orders the Varangian Guard (some 480 men), the elite Palace Guard to hack their way through the Pecheneg circle of wagons, causing a general rout in their camp. Pecheneg survivors are taken captive and enlisted into the Byzantine army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1373038979#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "1122", "revid": 1373038979, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 1190, "year_label": "1190 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Battle of Tryavna: Byzantine forces under Isaac II are ambushed and defeated by the Bulgarians in a mountain pass, near Tryavna. In panic, the Byzantines break up and begin a disorganized retreat. Isaac barely escapes, his Varangian Guard has to cut a path through their own soldiers, enabling their emperor's flight from the rout. The Bulgarians capture the imperial treasure, including the golden helmet of Isaac, his crown, and the Imperial Cross which contains a wooden piece of the Holy Cross.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368650742#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "1190", "revid": 1368650742, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 1203, "year_label": "1203 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "June 23", "text": "June 23 – The Crusader fleet comes within sight of Constantinople, and enters the Bosporus. The Byzantine capital is defended by a garrison of 15,000 soldiers (including 5,000 men of the Varangian Guard), and a fleet of 20 galleys. On June 26, the Byzantine troops skirmish with the Crusader forces, who attack, without success, the cities of Chalcedon and Chrysopolis.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369187440#Fourth_Crusade", "title": "1203", "revid": 1369187440, "section": "Events › By place › Fourth Crusade"}}]}