"English Refugees in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The " Topic

….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. In the 11th century, as a result of crises suffered by the Byzantine state (feudalization of the armed forces, civil-military conflict in the government, the loss of Asia Minor to the Seljuk Turks, the loss of Southern Italy to the Normans, etc.) the Byzantine army became increasingly dependent upon mercenary forces.

[1]Among the troops recruited 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. The crisis in Anglo-Saxon state and society brought on by the Norman Conquest created an Anglo-Saxon emigration, part of which found refuge and employment in Byzantium. Up until the Norman conquest of England, the Varangian guards consisted chiefly of Scandinavian and Kievan Rus' warriors. Important work has been done on the development of the Varangian guard during its others. There are a number of problems that this paper will address…"
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Amicalement
Armand

I read a very interesting story called The Last English King about a soldier in Harold's army in 1066. In it the English/Saxons were defeated by the Normans and in the story the remnants of Harold's army cannot go home. So they leave English shores and travel as displaced mercenaries to Byzantium. Only later can he return home. As a soldier in Harold's army there is a price on his head. A very good read.

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Also I hear that there was a Byzanium/ Norman battle in Italy around this time where Normans and the Saxons had a return match. I believe the Normans won again.

Thanks!.

Amicalement
Armand