User blog:El Alamein/Varangian Guard vs. Praetorian Guard



It's the battle of the most disciplined and elite guards the Roman empire has ever produced as the Varangian Guard, Viking mercenaries who lent their skill in battle to defend the Byzantine emperor in the Eastern Roman Empire, goes head-to-head with the Praetorian Guard, the deadly shock troops and dedicated bodyguards of the Roman emperor in the West! The exotic combat skills of the savage European wild will go up against the iron will and unbreakable nerve of the Roman military, and bloody battle axes will crash against hard, cold, steel, but when the last blow has been dealt and the swords are sheathed or else discarded in the dust, only one will be the deadliest warrior!

Varangian Guard
"Scandinavians were frightening both in appearance and in equipment, they attacked with reckless rage and neither cared about losing blood nor their wounds."

- Byzantine chroniclers



The Varangian Guards were personal bodyguards of Byzantine Emperors for the majority of the Dark Ages. Mostly hailing from Anglo-Saxon England and Scandinavia, these mercenaries served as both bodyguards and occasional shock troops used by the Byzantines. Originally formed in 988 by Emperor Basil II, these troops were chosen to be his personal bodyguards because of their nearly unwavering loyalty to him.

It wasn't until after William the Conqueror's invasion of Anglo-Saxon England that the Varangians began recruiting from the men from those regions as well. The Varangians were very prominent in the defence of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, and were key in the Battle of Beroia for Byzantine victory. The last historical mention of these axe-wielding mercenaries was in 1400 in Constantinople. The primary role of the Varangians was as bodyguards, performing ceremonial duties and police work in affairs of treason and conspiracy. When utilized on the battlefield, however, their elite status, coupled with their expensive arms and quality armor, made them a fearsome foe to face.

Weapons
|-| Close Range=

Spathi Sword

The Spathi (a Byzantine variant of the Roman Spatha) offered longer reach than the traditional Roman gladius, and was frequently used by cavalry for its power as a hacking weapon. The Varangian Guard were issued such short swords for maneuverability in close-quarters combat, while still retaining enough length to be potent at a distance. It could be thrust forward as a stabbing weapon, or used with an overhand swing for a hacking attack.


 * 0.75-1 m in length (30-39 in.)


 * Thrusting weapon


 * Stabbing/chopping weapon


 * Iron blade


 * -| Mid Range 1=

Dane Axe

The Varangians brought with them the weapons native to their homelands, like the fearsome "Viking" axe. It was a long, two-handed weapon that was used with a massive chopping swing, able to deliver damage through most armor - what the blade wouldn't cut through the force of the blow would take care of.


 * 1.7 lbs (.77 kg)


 * 4-foot wooden handle


 * Single-edged blade


 * Chopping weapon


 * -| Mid Range 2=

Byzantine Spear

The Varangian Guard was also issued with a standard spear, which offered a different approach to combat at medium range - it could hold an opponent at bay, although it lacked the raw stopping power that the Dane Axe offered.


 * 4-foot wooden shaft


 * 1-foot blade


 * 5 lbs


 * -| Special Weapon=

Boss Shield

The Byzantine warrior's shield (made of wood planks reinforced with leather strips and a lacquer coating) had a round iron boss placed on the center of the shield - this served two purposes. It allowed the warrior to ram and batter his opponent, focusing the energy of his attacks on the surface of the shield, and it allowed blows from enemy weapons to glance off the side of the boss (transferring less energy to the warrior's arm behind the shield).

Praetorian Guard
"The Roman praetors were first established in 367 B.C. They evolved into the Praetorian Guard that came to exercise great power, making and unmaking emperors and allowing political and military action outside of the law."

- John Stockwell



The Praetorian Guards were an elite branch of the Roman military dedicated to protecting important Roman figures, especially the emperor. Originally, the Praetorians were the bodyguards of Roman generals during the 2nd century BC (known as praetors). However, by 27 BC, the emperor Augustus created a permanent corps composed of nine cohorts led by two prefects (this was later changed to one). The Praetorian Guard saw especially heavy combat duty against rebellious Germanic tribes during the mid-late 1st century AD, participating in the battle of Bedriacum and in wars in Macedonia and Dacia.

Military roles aside, the Praetorians also played a significant role in the politics of the Roman Empire, being responsible for the accession of Claudius, the murders of Elagabalus and Pertinax, and the lynching of Domitian’s murderers - they made or broke emperors at the height of their power. The Praetorian Guard Corps were disbanded in 312 AD by Constantine the First.