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The English and Byzantium: A Study of Their Role in the Byzantine Army in the Later Eleventh Century.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 July 2016
Extract
The role of the English mercenaries in the Byzantine army has long been under dispute. A. A. Vasiliev, writing in 1937, gave a very full summary of what was known at that time, and tended to stress their importance to Byzantium in the later eleventh century. However, his article came under brief but formidable attack from the German scholar, F. Dölger, who published a review of Vasiliev's work in 1938. A year later, Dölger's arguments were repeated and amplified by S. Blöndal. Since then, the dispute has hung fire, and a recent historian of the Byzantine army, A. Hohlweg, was justified when, in 1965, he wrote of the problem of the role of the English as umstritten — disputed. What follows is an attempt to reassess the problem and my conclusion is akin to Vasiliev's: there was a significant migration of Anglo-Saxons to the Byzantine Empire around 1080, and in the early years of Alexius Comnenus‘ reign. Further, there is evidence of diplomatic contact between the Empire and the rulers of England, and groups of Anglo-Saxons may have continued to migrate eastward later than has previously been thought. But the value of the English was probably greatest in the early years of Alexius Comnenus’ reign, and may even be compared with that of the Russians who had come to the rescue of the emperor Basil II nearly a hundred years earlier, in about 988.
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References
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155 Gesta Guillelmi Ducis, <e>ed. Foreville, R., Paris, 1952, pp. 144–145; as William subsequently states that ‘Normanni … propugnant Constantinopolim, ingerunt metum Babyloni,’ ibid., 228–229, it appears that the Empire's efforts at recruiting were successful.Google Scholar
156
A seal has been excavated from a late-eleventh or early-twelfth century house in Winchester: it belonged to John Raphael, commander of Varangian mercenaries in Byzantine southern Italy in 1046–7. It has been suggested that the seal is a sign of attempts by Raphael to recruit mercenaries from Anglo-Saxon England: Laurent, V., ‘Byzance et l'Angleterre au lendemain de la conquěte normande,’ Numismatic Circular, 71. No. 5 (May 1963) 93–96. See also von Falkenhausen, V., Untersuchungen über die byzantinische Herrschaft in süditalien vom 9 bis II Jahrhundert (Wiesbaden 1967) 92–93. (For these references, and for much sound advice, I am grateful to Mr. James Howard-Johnston). Further, an anonymous ‘Life’ of Edward the Confessor describes diplomatic contacts between England and the Empire: I hope before long to subject to detailed criticism Professor Barlow's dismissal of the ‘Life's’ account of a vision of Edward about Byzantium as fictitious; The Life of Edward the Confessor, <e>ed. Barlow, F. (London 1962) 66–71. Finally, for a general discussion of contact between England and Byzantium, see Lopez, R., ‘Le problème des relations Anglo-Byzantines du septième au dixième siècle,’ Byzantion, 18 (1948) esp. 156–162.ed. Barlow, F. (London 1962) 66–71. Finally, for a general discussion of contact between England and Byzantium, see Lopez, R., ‘Le problème des relations Anglo-Byzantines du septième au dixième siècle,’ Byzantion, 18 (1948) esp. 156–162.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=A+seal+has+been+excavated+from+a+late-eleventh+or+early-twelfth+century+house+in+Winchester:+it+belonged+to+John+Raphael,+commander+of+Varangian+mercenaries+in+Byzantine+southern+Italy+in+1046–7.+It+has+been+suggested+that+the+seal+is+a+sign+of+attempts+by+Raphael+to+recruit+mercenaries+from+Anglo-Saxon+England:+Laurent,+V.,+‘Byzance+et+l'Angleterre+au+lendemain+de+la+conquěte+normande,’+Numismatic+Circular,+71.+No.+5+(May+1963)+93–96.+See+also+von+Falkenhausen,+V.,+Untersuchungen+über+die+byzantinische+Herrschaft+in+süditalien+vom+9+bis+II+Jahrhundert+(Wiesbaden+1967)+92–93.+(For+these+references,+and+for+much+sound+advice,+I+am+grateful+to+Mr.+James+Howard-Johnston).+Further,+an+anonymous+‘Life’+of+Edward+the+Confessor+describes+diplomatic+contacts+between+England+and+the+Empire:+I+hope+before+long+to+subject+to+detailed+criticism+Professor+Barlow's+dismissal+of+the+‘Life's’+account+of+a+vision+of+Edward+about+Byzantium+as+fictitious;+The+Life+of+Edward+the+Confessor,+
157 Among them was an arm of St. John Chrysostom, which Ulfric presented to the abbey at Abingdon: Historia Monasterii de Abingdon, Rolls Series, <e>ed. Stevenson, J., vol. II (London, 1858) 46–47. It is perhaps worth noting that Ulfric was a native of Lincoln, in the Danelaw, which had been the scene of many of the risings against the Norman régime. The Danelaw may have been the homeland of some of the Varangians described as Danes in the Byzantine army in about 1100: see below, at n. 234.ed.+Stevenson,+J.,+vol.+II+(London,+1858)+46–47.+It+is+perhaps+worth+noting+that+Ulfric+was+a+native+of+Lincoln,+in+the+Danelaw,+which+had+been+the+scene+of+many+of+the+risings+against+the+Norman+régime.+The+Danelaw+may+have+been+the+homeland+of+some+of+the+Varangians+described+as+Danes+in+the+Byzantine+army+in+about+1100:+see+below,+at+n.+234.>Google Scholar
158 Later History of the Varangian Guard, Some notes, Journal of Roman Studies, 37 (1947). 42.Google Scholar
159 Saga Book of the Viking Society (University College, London 1953–1957) 14.249–272.Google Scholar
160 Ibid. 270–271.Google Scholar
161 Ibid. 259–260.Google Scholar
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163 Rogers, , op. cit. 272.Google Scholar
164 Edwardsaga, Orkneyingers' saga, vol. 3; Translated by Dasent, G. W., Rolls Series, Appendix IV, 424–5.Google Scholar
165 For the historicity of these contacts, see Freeman, E., Norman Conquest , 2nd ed. (Oxford 1876) 4.135–136.Google Scholar
166 Edwardsaga, Orkneyingersaga, vol. 3, Appendix IV, 425–427. For what happened to the others, see below, n. 241.Google Scholar
167 Edwardsaga, Orkneyingersaga, vol. 3, Appendix IV, 426.Google Scholar
168 Edwardsaga, 426–427.Google Scholar
169 Alexiad, VIII, 3, (2.134).Google Scholar
170 ‘τὰ παϱὰ θάλατταν ἃπανϊα κατατϱέχοντος,’ Alexiad, VIII, 3, (2.134).Google Scholar
171 Tzachas planned and partly implemented an attack on Abydos, on the Dardanelles, some years later when his power was not what it had been in 1091, Alexiad, IX, 3, (2.165).Google Scholar
172 Alexiad, VIII, 3, (2.133).Google Scholar
173 Ibid. (2.136–144). The Polovtsy seem to have been sent for by Alexius: see V. Vasilievsky, G., Vizantiya i Pechenegi, Trudy , I (St. Petersburg 1908) 76, and n. I.Google Scholar
174 As Vasilievsky notes, Anna is very cursory in her treatment of this crisis, which was in some ways even graver than that of 1081: Vizantiya i Pechenegi, 73–74.Google Scholar
175 Not disheartened by ‘defeat by land and sea,’ he built up a new fleet in the spring of 1092, Alexiad, IX, I, (2.158).Google Scholar
176 Alexiad, VIII, 3, (2.134).Google Scholar
177 Siward Barn appears to have been ‘a member of the family of Northumbrian earls’: F. Scott, S., ‘Earl Waltheof of Northumbria’ Archaeologia Aeliana , 30 (1952) 172. See also Chibnall, M., op. cit. 2.194, n. 4.Google Scholar
178 Domesday Book, vol. 1 (London 1783) 168–169; see also the Rev. Taylor, C. S., The Domesday Survey of Gloucester (Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society 1890) 160.Google Scholar
179 Chronicle, Peterborough, in Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 208.Google Scholar
180 On Florence's value as a source for this period, see R. Darlington, R., Anglo-Norman historians , (London 1947) 13–15; F. Stenton, M., Anglo-Saxon England, 682.Google Scholar
181 Florence of Worcester, Chronicon, <e>ed. Thorpe, B., (Oxford 1849) 2.9, 20.ed.+Thorpe,+B.,+(Oxford+1849)+2.9,+20.>Google Scholar
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183 H. Rogers, L., ‘Icelandic Life, 249’, 266.Google Scholar
184 According to Raymond of Aguilers, the fleet initially consisted of thirty ships, but by the end of the 1090s only nine or ten were left. Raymond states that the fleet reached Laodicea before the Crusaders, Historia Francorum, Recueil des Historiens des Croisades. Hist. Occidentaux, III, (Paris 1866) 290–291. Cf. the letter of the citizens of Lucca, in Hagenmeyer, H., Die Kreuzugsbriefe, (Innsbruck 1901) 165. Other English ships may have participated in the Crusades — for example, a fleet of ships from Flanders, Normandy and England ferried between Cyprus and the Holy Land: William of Tyre, Historia, Recueil des Historiens des Croisades, Hist. Occidentaux (Paris, 1844) 1. 310, 146.Google Scholar
185 Runciman, S., History of the Crusades (Harmondsworth 1965) 1.228, n. 1.Google Scholar
186 The English are said to have ‘turned into money all the estates that they had in England’ before leaving, Edwardsaga, Orkneyingers’ Saga, 3. Appendix IV, 426.Google Scholar
187 See above, at n. 155.Google Scholar
188 Temporary exile on the Continent was sometimes meted out by William I, for example in February 1067, Florence of Worcester, Chronicon, <e>ed. Thorpe, B. (Oxford 1849) 2.1.ed.+Thorpe,+B.+(Oxford+1849)+2.1.>Google Scholar
189 Alexiad, V, ch. 5, (2.23).Google Scholar
190 Zonaras, John, Epitome , III, <e>ed. T. Büttner-Wobst, (Bonn 1897) 763–764. By that time, the imperial bodyguard was regarded as consisting mainly of Englishmen, John Cinammus, Epitome, <e>ed. Meineke, A., (Bonn 1837) 8.ed.+T.+Büttner-Wobst,+(Bonn+1897)+763–764.+By+that+time,+the+imperial+bodyguard+was+regarded+as+consisting+mainly+of+Englishmen,+John+Cinammus,+Epitome,+ed.+Meineke,+A.,+(Bonn+1837)+8.>Google Scholar
191 Anna Comnena remarks that they were as keen on war as the Normans, ‘and by no means their inferiors.’ Alexiad, IV, 6, (1.160).Google Scholar
192 Alexiad, VII, 3, 2.97.Google Scholar
193 Alexiad, II, 9, (1.92); Historia ecclesiastica, 2.172–173; Chibnall, 2.202–205.Google Scholar
194 The Byzantines seem to have been well aware of the danger of mercenaries leaving the Empire's service because of inadequate pay. See the warning by the author of the Νουθετικός, etc., in Cecaumeni Strategicon et incerti scriptoris de officiis regiis libellus, <e>ed. Vasilievsky, V. and Jernstedt, V. (St. Petersburg 1896) 94. The Nouthetikos's author was, in fact, probably Cecaumenos writing between about 1075 and 1078; see Lemerle, P., ‘Prolégomènes à une édition critique et commentée des ‘Conseils et Récits” de Kècaumène,’ Académie royale de Belgique, Classe de Lettres 54 (1960) 5–8.ed. Vasilievsky, V. and Jernstedt, V. (St. Petersburg 1896) 94. The Nouthetikos's author was, in fact, probably Cecaumenos writing between about 1075 and 1078; see Lemerle, P., ‘Prolégomènes à une édition critique et commentée des ‘Conseils et Récits” de Kècaumène,’ Académie royale de Belgique, Classe de Lettres 54 (1960) 5–8.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=The+Byzantines+seem+to+have+been+well+aware+of+the+danger+of+mercenaries+leaving+the+Empire's+service+because+of+inadequate+pay.+See+the+warning+by+the+author+of+the+Νουθετικός,+etc.,+in+Cecaumeni+Strategicon+et+incerti+scriptoris+de+officiis+regiis+libellus,+ed.+Vasilievsky,+V.+and+Jernstedt,+V.+(St.+Petersburg+1896)+94.+The+Nouthetikos's+author+was,+in+fact,+probably+Cecaumenos+writing+between+about+1075+and+1078;+see+Lemerle,+P.,+‘Prolégomènes+à+une+édition+critique+et+commentée+des+‘Conseils+et+Récits”+de+Kècaumène,’+Académie+royale+de+Belgique,+Classe+de+Lettres+54+(1960)+5–8.>Google Scholar
195 And some of them successfully did so, e.g. Harold Hardraada, though significantly, the emperor tried to stop him, Cecaumenos, ibid, 97.Google Scholar
196 Anna Comnena states that, faced with the demands of mercenaries for higher pay, the government was forced to melt down Church plate: Alexiad, V, 2, 2.10–12.Google Scholar
197 It should, however, be noted that Russians continue to be listed first in the exemption-charters up to 1088, the date of the last known charter to contain such lists: Dölger, Regesten, No. 1147; Acta et Diplomata, <e>ed. Miklosich, F. and Müller, I. (Vienna 1890) 6.47.ed.+Miklosich,+F.+and+Müller,+I.+(Vienna+1890)+6.47.>Google Scholar
198 For this notion, see G. Vasilievsky, V., Varyago-Russkaya druzhina , 317, 354.Google Scholar
199 See De administrando imperio, ch. IX, <e>ed. Moravscik, G. and Jenkins, R., (Washington 1967) esp. 63, ‘There at last [Mesembria in Thrace] their voyage, fraught with such travail and terror, such difficulty and danger, is at an end.’ed.+Moravscik,+G.+and+Jenkins,+R.,+(Washington+1967)+esp.+63,+‘There+at+last+[Mesembria+in+Thrace]+their+voyage,+fraught+with+such+travail+and+terror,+such+difficulty+and+danger,+is+at+an+end.’>Google Scholar
200 <e>Ed. Adrianova, A.-Peretts and Likhachev, D., Moscow, 1950, vol. I, s.a. 1022, p. 99; s.a. 1024, p. 99; s.a. 1064, p. 110; s.a. 1079, p. 135; s.a. 1080, p. 135; s.a. 1081, p. 135; s.a 1083, p. 135; s.a. 1094, p. 148.Ed.+Adrianova,+A.-Peretts+and+Likhachev,+D.,+Moscow,+1950,+vol.+I,+s.a.+1022,+p.+99;+s.a.+1024,+p.+99;+s.a.+1064,+p.+110;+s.a.+1079,+p.+135;+s.a.+1080,+p.+135;+s.a.+1081,+p.+135;+s.a+1083,+p.+135;+s.a.+1094,+p.+148.>Google Scholar
201 Povest', s.a. 1082, Likhachev, 1.135.Google Scholar
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203 Anna Comnena noted the irresistible impact of their heavy cavalry charge, Alexiad, V, 6 (2.28–29).Google Scholar
204 They were called ‘a people treacherous [ἄπιστον] by nature’ by Michael Attaleiotes, Historia, 125; Cf. ibid. 123–4; Skylitzes Continuatus in Cedrenus, Compendium Historiarum, <e>ed. Bekker, I. (Bonn 1839) 2.545–546; Cf. ibid. 679.ed.+Bekker,+I.+(Bonn+1839)+2.545–546;+Cf.+ibid.+679.>Google Scholar
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206 See de la Force, Marquis, “Les conseillers latins d'Alexis Comnène,” Byzantion II (1936) 157, 160–163. Cf. William of Grantemauil, who, about 1094, received an unfavorable judgment in a legal dispute over his lands in Sicily. He went with his wife to Byzantium, ‘ubi aliquantisper commoratus, tandem, cum multa pecunia rediens … terram quam amiserat …, recepit.’ Malaterra, Geoffrey, De rebus gestis, <e>ed. Muratori, 101. C f. Janin, R., ‘Les Francs au service des Byzantines,’ Echos d'Orient, 29 (1930) 68.ed. Muratori, 101. C f. Janin, R., ‘Les Francs au service des Byzantines,’ Echos d'Orient, 29 (1930) 68.' href=https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=See+de+la+Force,+Marquis,+“Les+conseillers+latins+d'Alexis+Comnène,”+Byzantion+II+(1936)+157,+160–163.+Cf.+William+of+Grantemauil,+who,+about+1094,+received+an+unfavorable+judgment+in+a+legal+dispute+over+his+lands+in+Sicily.+He+went+with+his+wife+to+Byzantium,+‘ubi+aliquantisper+commoratus,+tandem,+cum+multa+pecunia+rediens+…+terram+quam+amiserat+…,+recepit.’+Malaterra,+Geoffrey,+De+rebus+gestis,+ed.+Muratori,+101.+C+f.+Janin,+R.,+‘Les+Francs+au+service+des+Byzantines,’+Echos+d'Orient,+29+(1930)+68.>Google Scholar
207 For the British exiles ‘coherence,’ see infra at n. 234.Google Scholar
208 Cecaumenos approved of the granting of high titles to Harold Hardraada, who was of royal blood. Cecaumeni strategicon et incerti scriptoris de officiis regiis libellus, <e>ed. Vasilievsky, V. and Jernstedt, V. (St. Petersburg 1896) 97.ed.+Vasilievsky,+V.+and+Jernstedt,+V.+(St.+Petersburg+1896)+97.>Google Scholar
209 ‘Miracula Augustini S. Episcop. Cantuariensis’, Acta Sanctorum, Maii, 6.410. Its author, Joscelin, probably wrote this about 1094. See Barlow, F., Life of Edward the Confessor , 110.Google Scholar
210 See supra at n. 28.Google Scholar
211 Anna calls him ‘τὸν ἄϱχοντα Βαϱαγγίας’, Alexiad, VII, 3, (2.97).Google Scholar
212 ‘Nabites the Varangian,’ Classica et Mediaevalia 2.(1939) 147–150.Google Scholar
213 ‘Cum multis Optimatibus patriae profugis,’ Acta Sanctorum , Maii, 6, 410.Google Scholar
214 Historia Ecclesiastica, 3.169. Chibnall, 4.16–17.Google Scholar
215 The English fleet is said to have been headed by ‘three earls and eight barons,’ Edwardsaga, 425.Google Scholar
216 Paris, Matthew, Lexicon , quoted in Annotationes to Cedrenus' Compendium, 2.885. I have been unable to find the original reference to this.Google Scholar
217 That groups of exiles came from a common district is indicated by Joseph the Monk's recognition of his old friends together at Constantinople: presumably they were all from the district of Canterbury: see Infra at n. 237.Google Scholar
218 It is perhaps worth noting that above an icon of St. Augustine on the church's south side was an inscription in Greek, ‘Agios Augustinus, Anglorum Apostolus,’ and that Greeks went into the church of the English, including an irreverent matron who noticed that Augustine's right eye in the icon had suffered from damp, ‘Miracula Augustini, S. Episcopi Cantuariensis,’ in Acta Sanctorum, Mai, 6.410. On the church, see Janin, R., ‘Le siège de Constantinople et le Patriarchat oecuménique: les églises et les monastères,’ La géographie ecclésiastique de l'Empire byzantin I. 3. (Paris 1953) 591.Google Scholar
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220 Hohlweg, A., Beiträge zur Verwaltungsgeschichte des Oströmischen Reiches unter den Komnenen (Munich 1965) 51, 5257.Google Scholar
221 Hohlweg, A., Ibid. 61–62.Google Scholar
222 Attaleiotes, Michael, Historia , 295.Google Scholar
223 Zonaras, John, Epitome , 3.763.Google Scholar
224 It is, therefore, only in specific instances, such as the events around 1081, that ‘Varangians’ becomes virtually co-terminous with Anglo-Saxons: see supra, at n. 56.Google Scholar
225 The lack of saga evidence for that period may be accidental, because of the loss of material, or it may result from the lack of fit subject-matter, such as journeys to Byzantium, during that period. See Riant, P., Scandinaves en terre sainte , 125. At the beginning of the twelfth century, King Sigurd of Norway was urged to lead a band to the Holy Land by way of Constantinople, where ‘it was said … that Northmen got any wealth they would to bless them withal, they who would go into warwage.’ Pressure on Sigurd arose because there ‘came back from Jerusalemland, and some from Micklegarth, those men who had fared out with Skopti Ogmundson.’ Heimskringla, <e>transl. by Magnusson, E. and Morris, W., 3.247–248. For the reliability of Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla as a source, see de Vries, J., Altnordische Literaturgeschichte , 2nd ed. (Berlin, 1967) 2.293–295. This reference to Jerusalem pilgrimages is a reminder of the role which Jerusalem played in attracting potential recruits to the Byzantine Empire's sphere of influence. There may be a connection between the apparent decline in the number of Scandinavians entering the Empire's service in the late 1070s and 1080s and the difficulties that beset pilgrims to Palestine at about that time. See Runciman, S., History of the Crusades, 1.49, 75–76.Google Scholar
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232 But the Scandinavians, too, had a church in Constantinople, dedicated to St. Olaf; see Riant, P., Scandinaves en terre sainte , 122.Google Scholar
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236 English pilgrimages were not in one direction only: Joscelin states that the ‘vir honorificus’ who settled at Constantinople spent fourteen months away from his new home on a pilgrimage to Rome and St. James of Compostella; Miracula, 410–11.Google Scholar
237 The English Varangians were not the first hereditary corps of soldiers in the imperial army. The Maniaketes, who appear from time to time in sources for the later eleventh century, were descendants of Frankish mercenaries who had served under Maniaces in the 1030s and early 1040s. But note that they were stationed in Illyria, and not as imperial guards in the capital. See Janin, R., ‘Les Francs au service des byzantins,’ Echos d'orient , 29 (1930) 69.Google Scholar
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241 There may well be truth in the concluding section of the Edwardsaga. This tells how a number of the English who went with Sigurd, together with Sigurd himself, reconquered on behalf of the emperor a territory to the north of Constantinople ‘six days and nights’ sail across the sea in the east and north- east of Micklegarth.’ They are said to have settled in this newly conquered land. The role of the English is probably much exaggerated by the saga, but the date and area which it seems to indicate coincide with evidence from other sources that the Byzantines recovered their influence in the region of the Sea of Azov at about the end of the eleventh century. The saga's evidence is corroborated by toponomy and by later travellers' accounts, as I hope to suggest in an article to be entitled ‘Another New England?’ In the meanwhile, see V. Soloviev, A., ‘Domination byzantine ou russe au nord de la mer noire à l'époque des Comnènes?’ Akten des XI Internationalen Byzantinistenkongresses, (Munich 1960) 569–580, passim; G. Litavrin, G., ‘A propos de Tmutorokan,’ Byzantion 25 (1965) 221–234, passim.Google Scholar
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