The Varangians - Epic Music

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  • Опубліковано 11 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,3 тис.

  • @faryafaraji
    @faryafaraji  Рік тому +818

    An original composition by Farya Faraji. Please note that this isn’t reconstructed music from the Medieval Norse or Eastern Roman cultures; it’s modern music with a historical theme. Please note this isn't reconstructed historical music, it's modern folk music. The Epic Byzantine Music series is a musical project where I explore various sounds from the ethnomusicological ecosystem of modern traditional music, using sounds from modern folk traditions as they are today as a framing device for themes pertaining to the history of the Eastern Roman Empire. The artwork featuring the human figure is by J.F Oliveras, check out his wonderful historical recreations: www.artstation.com/jfoliveras
    The Varangians were the Vikings (Scandinavian traders and raiders) who specifically operated in Eastern Europe, and would become a foundational turning point in the history of nations such as Russia and Ukraine in their early days. They would make their way to Constantinople where they would become the Varangian Guard, which was an an elite section of the Eastern Roman Emperor’s forces, serving as its bodyguards. They were originally Rus, then mostly Scandinavian Norsemen who effectively fought as mercenaries and later as the Emperor’s personal bodyguards-trusted both for their lack of local political ambitions due to their remote origins, and their strong sense of oath-based loyalty typical of Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures. The Varangians would later also be comprised of other ethnicities like the Anglo-Saxons, but for a good part of its history, the institution was almost exclusively Norse.
    The music utilises elements of both Scandinavian and Greek music; both Medieval and modern. The Scandinavian part uses a modern fiddle, a nyckelharpa which appeared in the 14th century, and a jaw-harp, which was utilised by the Viking-age Norse. The Greek part uses a lauto, byzantine lyra and an oud; the latter two did exist during the Byzantine era, at least from the 800’s onwards.
    The lyrics are in Old Norse and in Greek. The Old Norse lyrics are extracted from the second stanza of the Voluspa, an Old Norse era poem written down soon after the Christianisation of Scandinavia. I used reconstructed Old Norse pronunciation instead of the more typically used Icelandic one, which is similar but not the same; see Jackson Crawford’s excellent channel for more info on Norse language, culture and myths: m.ua-cam.com/users/JacksonCrawford
    Lyrics in Old Norse and Greek:
    Ek man jötna ár um borna,
    þá er forðum mik fœdda höfðu;
    níu man ek heima, níu íviði,
    mjötvið mœran fyr mold neðan.
    Χαίρε, αδελφέ,
    Βορέα, Χειμόνα,
    Έρχεται χειμώνας στην Ρωμανία,
    Χαίρε, Βάραγγε!
    English translation:
    I remember yet the giants of yore,
    Who gave me bread in the days gone by;
    Nine worlds I knew, the nine in the tree
    With mighty roots beneath the mold.
    Hail, Brother,
    Ye Boreas, ye Winter,
    Winter has come upon the land of Rome,
    Hail, Varangian!

    • @CrazyChickenFarmer
      @CrazyChickenFarmer Рік тому +30

      I hope to see your name in the credits of a movie, series or video game one day as the composer of such great and atmospheric music

    • @guydelusignan9561
      @guydelusignan9561 Рік тому +9

      @@GrasmesterTvoegoOhka Rus are that, what we call today norse men/Vikings. The Rus tribes, where from Sweden, they set down around Kiev, they were the founders of a viking kíngdom. Called "the Rus kingdom", in German, we say "Kiewer Rus". Thats the theorie with the highest chance to be true(there r 3 more). the territoy of the rus, includes the actual states Ukraine, Belarus and eastern Russia Russia = land of the Rus. But their capital town, was Kiev. For more information:
      english
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus%27
      german
      de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiewer_Rus

    • @guydelusignan9561
      @guydelusignan9561 Рік тому +5

      great song, i like it, gimmie more

    • @angryas_fok6264
      @angryas_fok6264 Рік тому +2

      Amazing simply amazing, will you apload it on Spotify?

    • @greatsarmatae
      @greatsarmatae Рік тому

      @@guydelusignan9561 there is no investigation to mention "chances of truth", all is known, it is "terra incognita" only for the westerners =)
      Let me provide a brief guide.
      Rus is not Northmen, it was Slavic place in Kyiv region, but Scandinavian dynasty (with it's army) and Northern traders both became part of Rus. It became a symbiosis. And, ultimately, foreigners like early Byzantines or Arabs perceived Rus as Scandinavians, because these gentlemen executed naval voyages, while majority of Slavic people stayed home.
      In Slavic world general Northmen were known as Varyags (source for later Greek "Varangians").
      Also, modern titles "Russia" and "Belarus" have nothing to do with medieval Rus, these names are of much later political and ideological origin.
      Medieval "Rus" consisted only of lands of Kyiv, Chernihov and Pereyaslav, it established empire by conquering other Slavic and Finnic lands. Via Church and law all them could be known as "Rus" for foreigner (as all HRE citizens were known as "Germans" once), yet just Kyiv/Chernihov/Pereyaslav region were actually "Rus" in interior perspective.

  • @jsmoothd654
    @jsmoothd654 Рік тому +2209

    “ Halfdan was here.”

    • @nobodycares6881
      @nobodycares6881 Рік тому +186

      Carved in stone you can see the message still in Istanbul

    • @aarengraves9962
      @aarengraves9962 Рік тому +288

      @@nobodycares6881 At Hagia Sophia, in Constantinople*

    • @Vladobas
      @Vladobas Рік тому +48

      @@aarengraves9962 Constantinople no more.

    • @marcardevol3561
      @marcardevol3561 Рік тому +7

      Has been halfdan redreced yet ??.

    • @Storm-cw6qp
      @Storm-cw6qp Рік тому +101

      ​@@Vladobas but it will be constantinopel in the future

  • @aarengraves9962
    @aarengraves9962 Рік тому +1351

    Fun Fact: The last name *Varangopoulos* exists today in Greece.
    It literally translates to: Son of the Varangian (Varangian's Son)

    • @CatholicSoldierX
      @CatholicSoldierX Рік тому +120

      Blond Greeks with that name 🤩

    • @galenbjorn443
      @galenbjorn443 Рік тому +104

      Well, the Norse/other germanic men that were in the Varangian guard apparently loved the greek woman. So probably many of the had children with greek women and that blood and name still are in greek people these days. Kind of cool to think that

    • @Mumrik93
      @Mumrik93 Рік тому +87

      If WW3 ever breaks out we should found a joint military division called "Legio Varangopoulos".

    • @Pavlos_Charalambous
      @Pavlos_Charalambous Рік тому +56

      @@galenbjorn443 many was converting to Greek orthodox and was joining the ranks of the regular army, basically it wasn't uncommon for people of diverse ethnic background to merge into the eastern roman society
      I mean even Turkish nomads was joining the gang - either under their own leaders or as part of the army 😉
      Not to mention that their most legendary giant warrior was " digenis akritas" that can be translated as the mixblooded Border guard since he was half Greek and half Persian

    • @carabcy6526
      @carabcy6526 Рік тому +1

      @@CatholicSoldierX go and visit the Mani peninsula and you will see blond Greeks. Go to Sfakia in Crete and you ll see others.

  • @NDeGeorge1
    @NDeGeorge1 Рік тому +1014

    I’m Greco Norwegian and this is just amazing. Well done as always

  • @justinian536
    @justinian536 Рік тому +2047

    Fun fact: A Varangian vandalised the Hagia Sophia saying "Halfdan was here"

    • @ub3rfr3nzy94
      @ub3rfr3nzy94 Рік тому +402

      Those darn vandals, always messing with Rome!

    • @noqueq9003
      @noqueq9003 Рік тому

      He was a pagan and did not know the importance of what he did. Other so called 'christians' of the west did faaaarrr worse

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +215

      Hálfdán var hérna.

    • @luisoryan3504
      @luisoryan3504 Рік тому +149

      When I saw it with my own eyes, I necessarily had to put a Varangian named Halfdan in the novel I wrote about the fall of Constantinople:D

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +52

      @@luisoryan3504 Na zemlji Slava, a na nebu Valhalla!

  • @sebastianfries274
    @sebastianfries274 3 місяці тому +27

    0:35 how bro looks at me after I find the time traveler’s pogo stick (we’re supposed to be guarding the emperor)

  • @FoakHome
    @FoakHome Рік тому +1885

    As a Norwegian lover of Roman history, I'll always be proud that my people were in the ranks of the Emperor's best protectors. (:
    Going to learn Greek and Latin, and then make the journey they did to Italy and Greece.
    🇳🇴 ❤🇬🇷

  • @ianellenson805
    @ianellenson805 Рік тому +73

    One of the kings of Scandinavia was himself a captain of the Varangian guard. His saga traveled from the sands of the Middle East to the shores of England, as he was the great warrior king of Norway. His name was Harold Sigurdson, but many remember him as Harold Hardrada, “Harold the hard ruler.”

    • @NorwegianSedevacantist
      @NorwegianSedevacantist 5 місяців тому +7

      Hehe, yep. Harald Hardråde was one of our best kings, second to St. Olaf.

  • @Lopate123
    @Lopate123 Рік тому +715

    I've never imagined a norse-byzantine/mediteran mix...
    Excellent work as always! Another addition to my "Eastern Roman games playlist"

    • @radziwill7193
      @radziwill7193 Рік тому +15

      Duh... Russia.

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +2

      @@radziwill7193 ?

    • @ap0calypseduck329
      @ap0calypseduck329 Рік тому +27

      @@Svevladovich "Varangians" is the Slavonic for "Vikings", who descended the Volga River through primordial pagan Russia (then known as the Rus) and settled there. Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Roman Empire, was besieged by these Varangians for a time, until eventually they were hired as mercenaries and called the Varangian Guard- literal Viking mercenaries of the Eastern Roman Empire. The people of the Rus were very similar to their Scandinavian counterparts in all aspects, but eventually Christianized as Orthodox due to Olga of Kiev. Still, that Scandinavian influence did not go away, but instead adapted and changed around its Roman/Orthodox influence. So, the Rus, which would eventually become Russia, is a Norse-Byzantine/mediterranean cultural amalgamation.
      I highly recommend learning about primordial Russia and the Varangians, it's fascinating history!

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +11

      @@ap0calypseduck329 I know it already but thanks for clarifying! Even Harald Hardrada was considered Orthodox but at that time, great schism and division of Christianity didn't occurred yet. Harald, himself, was warmly surprised seeing there's way different Romans with darker skin and culture. Also when they reached Constantinople, they though it was gates of Asgard, that's how it was rich.

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +6

      @@ap0calypseduck329 BTW, huge regards from Serbia! 🇷🇸🇷🇺

  • @alessandrolivi2287
    @alessandrolivi2287 Рік тому +474

    A Masterpiece. Norse Warriors who meet the Greco-Roman and Christian Orthodox Civilization for the first time, and are shocked by the greatness of Constantinople (Miklagard)

    • @Mumrik93
      @Mumrik93 Рік тому +25

      A common conflict that arouse for norsemen who visited for the first time was the Constatines use of money, many fight where started because the norsemen thought they where being cheated when the traders didn't measure the coins weight.

    • @Yusef2066
      @Yusef2066 Рік тому +17

      Most Vangarians would've already been Christian at this point, especially the Saxons, - so they already would've heard of the Great Constantinople.

    • @Boss70305
      @Boss70305 Рік тому +8

      ⁠@@Yusef2066What? Saxon Varangians? Are you sure about that . The Varangians were mostly Swedes, or ‘Rus’ as they were called by the Slavs.

    • @ruviklychee4308
      @ruviklychee4308 Рік тому +18

      ​@@Boss70305 Most varangians were norse at first, then when the profession became very popular over time many other europeans joined. For example, the last varangians to serve consisted of a good amount of british mercenaries. After all, varangians are still mercenaries.

    • @Boss70305
      @Boss70305 Рік тому +2

      @@ruviklychee4308 Didn’t know that actually, interesting!

  • @kalleswediboyy6940
    @kalleswediboyy6940 Рік тому +182

    Im swedish and i haved always loved history especially the roman empire and knowning my ancestors protected the emperor is almost like a dream for me!

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +8

      Til Valholl!

    • @GiGi-fu2oy
      @GiGi-fu2oy Рік тому +14

      @@Svevladovich these were orthodox vikings

    • @Igor-my6ml
      @Igor-my6ml Рік тому +3

      @@GiGi-fu2oy Really, they were Orthodox?

    • @GiGi-fu2oy
      @GiGi-fu2oy Рік тому +14

      @@Igor-my6ml Attracted by the riches of Constantinople, the Varangian Rus' began the Rus'-Byzantine Wars, some of which resulted in advantageous trade treaties. At least from the early 10th century, many Varangians served as mercenaries in the Byzantine Army, constituting the elite Varangian Guard (the bodyguards of Byzantine emperors). Eventually most of them, in Byzantium and in Eastern Europe, were converted from Norse paganism to Orthodox Christianity, culminating in the Christianization of Kievan Rus' in 988. Coinciding with the general decline of the Viking Age, the influx of Scandinavians to Rus' stopped and Varangians were gradually assimilated by East Slavs by the late 11th century.
      -wikipedia

    • @solinvictus5349
      @solinvictus5349 Рік тому +1

      @@GiGi-fu2oy Still Nordic

  • @Marcus001
    @Marcus001 Рік тому +454

    I find the fact that literal vikings defended the Roman Empire, and also served as a backbone of their military for a time, to be fascinating.

    • @particanmapper8924
      @particanmapper8924 Рік тому +69

      It is, and thinking that actually all of the current cultures come from roman empire is stunning, think about the russians, byzantine-slavs, so roman slavs, all the gallics and celtics wich fused with romans, the italians being just roman sons, the spanish people that fused in america tpo being also from roman culture... Everthing is so connected

    • @DukeoftheAges
      @DukeoftheAges 6 місяців тому +4

      the ones that destroyed the western roman empire were not vikings but they were related

    • @galenbjorn443
      @galenbjorn443 4 місяці тому +5

      @@DukeoftheAges The ancestors of the vikings

    • @luduvugla
      @luduvugla 2 місяці тому +3

      it's like a fan fiction fan service crossover done right and actually happened irl

    • @Rua-Bnuuy_the_Possessed
      @Rua-Bnuuy_the_Possessed Місяць тому +3

      Them Nords lived and breathed war, just as much if not more than the Romans did, so it's not surprising that they performed well when the Basileus invited them with coin to fight alongside them.
      Though it is indeed truly fascinating to see how intertwined ancient peoples and societies were with each other.

  • @mohammadmahdijalaeipour2387
    @mohammadmahdijalaeipour2387 Рік тому +1809

    They were what the Praetorians wished they could be.

    • @keeshans5768
      @keeshans5768 Рік тому +96

      Mercenaries? Praetorians were emperor-makers.

    • @jakefitzsimmons1213
      @jakefitzsimmons1213 Рік тому +423

      @@keeshans5768 and killers

    • @gigiluigi6359
      @gigiluigi6359 Рік тому +361

      @@jakefitzsimmons1213 praetorians are the first emperor death cause 😂

    • @ommsterlitz1805
      @ommsterlitz1805 Рік тому +32

      Pretorians existed for 1600 years you have to be precise my dude

    • @joaopedroghigiareli3161
      @joaopedroghigiareli3161 Рік тому +153

      Traitors don't deserve musics in their names

  • @ΧαρίλαοςΤρικούπης-σ1ρ

    We haven't forgotten Thank you to all Norsemen and Anglo-Saxons whose ancestors defended the empire
    🇬🇷❤️🇧🇻🇸🇪🇩🇰🇮🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

  • @09stoneheart
    @09stoneheart Рік тому +102

    Imagine being a young adventurous norseman, having just traversed the rivers and roads of eastern Europe, and beholding the splendor of Constantinople for the first time.

  • @user-evil_historian
    @user-evil_historian Рік тому +362

    Now I want 1. HBO series about Eastern Roman Empire 2. All Farya Byzantine tracks in them.

    • @directororsoncallankrennic3531
      @directororsoncallankrennic3531 Рік тому

      @@Cormano980 cuckservitive detected on American soil

    • @TempleofBrendaSong
      @TempleofBrendaSong Рік тому +11

      @@Cormano980 Yep I still havent forgot Game of Thrones season 8

    • @K0EN
      @K0EN Рік тому +17

      @@Cormano980 It has to be historically accurate and not woke for sure. I'm not watching it if it's woke

    • @mattaffenit9898
      @mattaffenit9898 Рік тому +15

      I trust HBO to stick to history about as much as I trust Amazon to stick to Tolkien's works, or Disney to adapt Star Wars.
      I still haven't watched Rings of Power or any of the sequel trilogy out of an overwhelming sense of vengeful spite. Also looming dread. From what I've picked up on second hand, that was the correct decision for both.

    • @mattaffenit9898
      @mattaffenit9898 Рік тому +5

      @cossackbrotherhood5772
      History channel's been in the shitter for over a decade, I don't even like calling them History channel anymore. It's mostly just "reality" shows now.

  • @yllejord
    @yllejord Рік тому +439

    As a Pontian Greek who adopted Sweden as her second homeland, this makes me extremely happy.

    • @dirtyharry0191
      @dirtyharry0191 Рік тому +29

      Välkommen!

    • @yllejord
      @yllejord 8 місяців тому

      @@Tarfiyat I have a home to go to, at least, now that you've collectively decided you hate Sweden as it is and wish with a burning passion to live in a shitty country instead.
      What will you do, now that your wish is becoming true i rasande fart? Vart fan ska ni ta vägen, era stackare?
      I'm fine. Worry about your own sorry asses.

    • @ფარნავაზი
      @ფარნავაზი 5 місяців тому

      You Laz?

    • @AlentoursCalistere
      @AlentoursCalistere 5 місяців тому

      @@ფარნავაზიwhy?pontian Greeks are Greeks

    • @HansChucrute88
      @HansChucrute88 3 місяці тому +2

      Now you can be part of Swedish King bodyguards.

  • @thulios2018
    @thulios2018 Рік тому +138

    Never did I expect to hear Greek and Norse in the same song, Truly remarkable!

  • @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt
    @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt Рік тому +379

    A fine Greco-Scandinavian blend!
    🇬🇷🇩🇰🇸🇪🇸🇯🇫🇮

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +40

      Kievan Rus 🇧🇾☀️🇺🇦☀️🇷🇺

    • @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt
      @CaptainHarlock-kv4zt Рік тому +4

      @@Svevladovich Of course you're right.

    • @jericquitoriano2107
      @jericquitoriano2107 Рік тому

      you forgot rome

    • @aidarnabiev9226
      @aidarnabiev9226 Рік тому +9

      ​@@Svevladovich Nowgorod Rus was closer had diplomatic relations and an alliance with the Vikings

    • @Svevladovich
      @Svevladovich Рік тому +13

      @@aidarnabiev9226 Yes, Novgorod was called ''Holmgardr'' and the whole area was called ''Gardarika''. There's even a song ''Gardariki'', you can look it up, it's kind of catchy. :-)

  • @goshlike76
    @goshlike76 Рік тому +175

    Another masterpiece. Mind-blowing use of instruments to mix mediterranean and nordic music.

  • @a.v.j5664
    @a.v.j5664 Рік тому +62

    Finnish translation:
    Muistan vielä menneisyyden jätit,
    Jotka leipää minulle muinoin antoi;
    Yhdeksän maailmaa tiesin/tunsin, (ne) yhdeksän puussa jolla mahtavat juuret oli mullan alla.
    Terve, veli,
    Sinä Boreas, sinä talvi,
    Talvi on tullut Rooman maahan,
    Tervehdys, varjaagi!

    • @tomskowski6239
      @tomskowski6239 Рік тому +3

      Only that Finns aren't Scandinavian.

    • @nihl1005
      @nihl1005 Рік тому +1

      У меня *варяги* перевелось как *лузер*

    • @a.v.j5664
      @a.v.j5664 Рік тому +1

      @@nihl1005 sorry i don’t speak russian

    • @a.v.j5664
      @a.v.j5664 Рік тому +2

      @@tomskowski6239 never claimed so lmao. Also i know that because i am finnish

  • @Boss70305
    @Boss70305 Рік тому +14

    Sweden, the country with the most runestones in the whole world, have many stones with inscriptions of men who died in the east, in ‘Miklagård’. The are also inscriptions telling of men who died as Vikings in Estonia and other Baltic nations.
    One famous example is Ingvar the Far-Travelled, a Swedish Viking who led an expedition to the east during the 11th century. There were many ships and they came all the way to ’Särkland’, which was the Norse name for the lands around the Caspian Sea, so they came all the way to the Middle East. There are at least 26 runestones in Sweden telling of men who joined Ingvar on his expedition, and how they died.

  • @alexanderboukas5388
    @alexanderboukas5388 Рік тому +146

    I am half Greek and half Swedish, this felt very topical for me
    Great job as always!

    • @revert6417
      @revert6417 7 місяців тому +1

      Serb and Danish heritage here,
      I feel the same way.

  • @miastupid7911
    @miastupid7911 Рік тому +49

    Kudos!
    On a side note: to this day, there is a very upscale historic furniture store in Greece, by a family named Varangis.

  • @CONSTANTINEXI63
    @CONSTANTINEXI63 Рік тому +32

    In Scandinavia, the norse have heard tales of explorers heading down south to the capital of a great empire, and come back with more gold and wealth than imaginable. They called it the city of gold. Which later more would head there in search of employment, which they most certainly found. Which created the Varangian Guard

  • @hellenictech
    @hellenictech Рік тому +123

    Very good work! Το καλύτερο βαρύ πεζικό του Βυζαντίου! Excellent combination of byzantine and norse music!

  • @AkolouthosKryos
    @AkolouthosKryos Рік тому +41

    Anyone listening to this if you don’t know who the Varangians are, you have to look them up. They are badass! The history of them is just amazing.

  • @Uriahdoeskendama
    @Uriahdoeskendama 8 місяців тому +40

    0:35 “boing”

  • @stegotyranno4206
    @stegotyranno4206 Рік тому +105

    It will be interesting to see more crossovers, like arab/persian, persian/turkic, chinese/mongol. Reminds me of the "Roma Invicta" guy in Hikantoi

    • @solinvictus5349
      @solinvictus5349 Рік тому +7

      Mongol with Wild West crossover could be sensational

    • @stegotyranno4206
      @stegotyranno4206 Рік тому +12

      @@solinvictus5349 i was in the territory of actual possibilities, but who cares Mongol Bluegrass, Vedic Techno, Celtic carynx vs Australian Digeridoo lets do it

    • @SetuwoKecik
      @SetuwoKecik Рік тому +2

      @@stegotyranno4206 craving for a crossover music that nobody had expected? Makassar Bugis sailors (in Sulawesi, Indonesia) once formed trade relationship with North Australian aborigins in 16-17th century.
      There's this orchestra music named "The Voyage to Marege" which describing the event.

    • @stegotyranno4206
      @stegotyranno4206 Рік тому +3

      @@SetuwoKecik i knew about that before, nlt the ochestra tho. They are the reason why Australian Aboriginal word for soap(jabu) can trace all the way back to Frankish Germanic, long beifre English or even Dutch colonization. Also these traders traded some crops and sea cucumbers with them?

    • @SetuwoKecik
      @SetuwoKecik Рік тому +3

      @@stegotyranno4206 indeed. Sea cucumbers or what they called as tripang was the main commodity to be traded.

  • @Tobbs96
    @Tobbs96 Рік тому +49

    I'm Swedish and I just can't stop coming back to this song. I really feel it does justice to our proud history, good job :)

  • @tatarcavalry2342
    @tatarcavalry2342 Рік тому +88

    Varangians were in Manzikert 1071 too sources say they fought till death by the Emperor even that others fled and they surrounded by Seljuks and killed one by one honorable men indeed greetings from Turkey

    • @Pavlos_Charalambous
      @Pavlos_Charalambous Рік тому +26

      The varangians always kept their word to the bitter end
      Something similar happen at the battle of dirachio - modern day Albania, they fought against the Normands almost to the last men

  • @TheOlgaSasha
    @TheOlgaSasha Рік тому +18

    Varangians called Constantinople as Miklagard ("great city"). They sailed to Byzantia (East Roman Empire) through the Dnieper river root known as "Way from Varangians to Greeks". Most famous Varangians were Varangian Guard of Byzantine Emperor. Greets from Kyiv🇺🇦, main city on that way (known as Konugard for Varangians)

    • @mabeSc
      @mabeSc 10 місяців тому

      We all know that Ukraine is rightful Swedish clay

  • @lucareviews9760
    @lucareviews9760 Рік тому +11

    Youn know its a good day when farya posts

  • @dannymarashi
    @dannymarashi Рік тому +142

    Now this, this hit the spot, man. This blending of genres and cultural motifs is what I'm all about and I'm glad you gave the Varangians the love they deserved. I also really like that it harkens back to the Akritic music you have done but just, more grand in feeling and scope and Dance of the Akritai and Digenis Akritas remain as standouts in your Byzantine catalogue. Keep it up, man. Idk how you do it so consistently, but you do.

  • @HerculesMays
    @HerculesMays Рік тому +20

    Ahhh, me and Harold Hardrada partied to this music on our longships while sailing to Miklagard in 1033, good times when men were men.

    • @ghouldr1964
      @ghouldr1964 Рік тому +1

      Listen to Hulkoff's song "Hardrádi" and you'll remember it all once again.

  • @pseudomonas03
    @pseudomonas03 Рік тому +26

    Immagine a Basileus of Rhomaion named Basil, of Spartan descendence (from his mother's Theofano part), leading 6.000 Vikings in a battle against the usurpers of the throne, while having this epic music on your head! Excellent work again!

  • @ghjo_10
    @ghjo_10 4 місяці тому +7

    Я как русский я рад что мой народ русов был первым народом в варяжской гвардии и как Византия подарила нам богатую культуру вместе с христианством! Я рад что нас русов и викингов и англов объединала честь служить в такой гвардии. Я фанат Римской империи и я мечтаю съездить в Италию Грецию и Константинополь!

  • @ap0calypseduck329
    @ap0calypseduck329 Рік тому +57

    I made an entire civilization in my friend's D&D campaign who are heavily inspired by the Byzantines and Varangians. I've been listening to your stuff for a while and was thinking how amazing it'd be to have something from you that captures that essence in musical form. This is it.
    Thank you so much!

    • @yes-par2983
      @yes-par2983 Рік тому +2

      My i ask some of the fluff you made for your friend's campaign

    • @ap0calypseduck329
      @ap0calypseduck329 Рік тому +3

      @@yes-par2983 "In the Second Age, when the Father became as one, and Night first touched the plane, the wayward son of Kierkegaard held fist in Aerlion. With it, he built up a great city and gave the Jallstan Kobolds a future as members of the great Clan Stonefist. There they made way as their own culture, serving the peoples of Erdemel by providing educated skills. In the proceeding decades, after its founder had passed the threshold, the Dragonborn would be discovered and with the Kobolds make the first Stoneborn, cementing the three draconic races of the people now known as the Kierks. Their clans would become Tarva, and each would focus on the betterment of their host countries towards a balanced ideal in Jallvera. By the temple of body and mind, they will be Unbound"
      The Kierks started out as an ancient clan of Dwarves from the Jallstan mountains, and became obscure over time. However one of its last members (my character), a Dwarf-sized Kobold who left Jallsta after a civil war, restarted the clan to protect the Kobold population of the human city he settled in. After a demonic invasion, the city was in ruins, and he spent a decade rebuilding it while also building up his family clan. He structured the clan like a crafts guild, believing that society would find it hard to oppress the Kobolds again if they were educated and useful. So with his intellect and resources he did just that. The Stonefists would eventually form other clans, also predicated on staking their claim in a country by providing it with statesmen, artisans, blacksmiths, writers, etc.
      The Dwarves in the world are Scandinavian inspired, which, due to the Kierks' dealings and mingling with the Northern Elves, formed an architectural and cultural aesthetic I extrapolated into a Rus appearance (Hyperboria is a major fantasy inspiration for their look). So the Kierks doubled down on that and formed an entirely unique culture inspired by the likes of the Byzantines and Varangians, primarily, with a little Persian, Mongolian, and Chinese. While there is much more I can say, that's a pretty good gist and I hope you found it interesting.

    • @ap0calypseduck329
      @ap0calypseduck329 Рік тому +3

      @@yes-par2983 When I set out to make my own culture in the campaign world, I decided on Rus because there are not many fantasy cultures who are inspired by those ancient peoples. You have Anglo-Saxons, Germans, French, Scandinavians, Egyptians, and sometimes Japanese- where are all the Eastern Steppe peoples? It's either far-Western Europeans, Japanese Samurai, or some really hokey Egyptian knock-offs it seems. Barring historical inspiration, most fantasy writers just rip off Tolkien and call it a day. So I wanted to go somewhere few had, and make something much more memorable.
      Closest thing in fantasy media that comes close to the Kierks is Kislev from Warhammer Fantasy, except the Kierks are more Mediterranean and are obsessed with Draconic aesthetics, whereas Kislev is more Russian and obsessed with polar bear aesthetics.

    • @yes-par2983
      @yes-par2983 Рік тому +3

      @@ap0calypseduck329your right about eastern europen in fantasy would be nice if we had more stuff there.
      I love kislev in w kislev arhammer, tho CA/ Total war, made to magical and bear like in my onpion.
      (Manly looking at the Gryphon Legion and all the sledges)

    • @eindalton2638
      @eindalton2638 Рік тому +2

      Also used Byzantium as an inspiration for a culture in my setting, but I kind of melded it with medieval Bulgaria and kind of wanted to represent the whole medieval Balkan/Eastern Europe feel, which is seldom seen in fantasy.

  • @underlander
    @underlander Рік тому +13

    I am from Greece and I have always felt an attraction to the north. I have been listening to traditional Scandinavian music and studying Norse mythology for years now. I can't help but get chills every time I listen to this song. I have been a long time viewer of your channel and really appreciate the attention to detail of your videos and music. And a word in Greek "Να είσαι καλά και να μας φτιάχνεις πάντα τέτοιο ποιοτικό περιεχόμενο" !

  • @justinianthegreat1444
    @justinianthegreat1444 Рік тому +25

    This is like the epic sequel to your Old Norse Song that sounds jolly

  • @АндраникЧилингарян-г9п

    Wonderful! Greetings from your Armenian brother! Thank you for your brilliant work, brother. After listening to this song, I felt like Emperor Vasily the Bulgar-Slayer, who led the Varangians and led them into battle.

  • @hypersp3ce596
    @hypersp3ce596 Рік тому +22

    I've recently fell in love with this type of music, really amazing stuff. Greetings and love from Turkey!

  • @somerandomrpgenthusiast8451
    @somerandomrpgenthusiast8451 Рік тому +15

    Definitely one of the most chilled out songs about the Norse I've heard.

    • @faryafaraji
      @faryafaraji  Рік тому +27

      I agree, though the funny thing is that it’s not even that chilled out by most cultures’ standarts, but I think we’re so used to the usual “Norse” sound with the hyper-dark Mongolian throat singing aesthetic (which is a modern pop culture invention) that something based in actual Scandinavian tradition comes across as comparatively tame, which is pretty ironic. I think actual Norse music wouldn’t have come across as Norse enough to us.

  • @ahmetfarukkoc8125
    @ahmetfarukkoc8125 Рік тому +68

    I wish all your music was available on spotify :( Great music as always tho! Love your work

  • @finnilebo5067
    @finnilebo5067 Рік тому +33

    Farya, İ don't know If you remember but a lot of months ago, İ wrote a comment asking if you could compose a track for the Varangians because you could fuse nordic with east-mediterranean Influences. You answered such a Track is definitley on your list.
    Now you delivered and it's a true masterpiece 🙏🏼

  • @justinianthegreat1444
    @justinianthegreat1444 Рік тому +40

    I wish I had them as my bodyguards 🥲
    Beautiful work Farya Faraji!

    • @saikrishnak8631
      @saikrishnak8631 Рік тому +8

      why ? your reign was 38 years which was highly uncommon at that circumstances.

    • @СвпетарГајтан
      @СвпетарГајтан Рік тому +1

      Belisarius } varangians !

    • @Bruh-cg2fk
      @Bruh-cg2fk 3 місяці тому +3

      ​​@@saikrishnak8631but Basil II reigned for way more years than Justinian and he made the deal with Vladimir from the Rus to create the varangian guard and also marrying Basil's sister and christianize the rus

  • @javikus
    @javikus Рік тому +14

    "The Varangians were the Vikings (Scandinavian traders and raiders) who specifically operated in Eastern Europe, and would become a foundational turning point in the history of nations such as Russia and Ukraine in their early days. "
    And Belarus (White Rus, greek tradition geography)

  • @deathisdeadd
    @deathisdeadd Рік тому +23

    its not even fair how blessed we are to get these tracks. farya legit the greatest of all time

  • @uberfeel
    @uberfeel Рік тому +77

    Everytime I read about the varangians and their history, they always fascinates me because a whole new culture was created between them Kievan Rus Vikings and Greek Romans.

    • @Pavlos_Charalambous
      @Pavlos_Charalambous Рік тому +7

      And Saxons..! 😉

    • @turkcukayi
      @turkcukayi Рік тому +5

      Greek Romans? Congratulations my friend, you have brought a new definition to history. 🤣🤣

    • @the_kimchi_kommandant2603
      @the_kimchi_kommandant2603 Рік тому +23

      @@turkcukayi Least historically illiterate turk:

    • @ΚΑΣΕΛΟΥΡΗΣΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ
      @ΚΑΣΕΛΟΥΡΗΣΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ Рік тому +1

      @turkcukay9277 idiot turkmongol en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire

    • @turkcukayi
      @turkcukayi Рік тому +1

      @@ΚΑΣΕΛΟΥΡΗΣΔΗΜΗΤΡΗΣ There is no such empire as the Byzantine Empire. The Roman Empire we are talking about.

  • @telreyne
    @telreyne Рік тому +35

    I have been looking for more Varangian content and as a fan of both Norse and Byzantine culture, thank you so much!

  • @giannisch95
    @giannisch95 Рік тому +144

    Χαίρε αδελφέ, βορέα χειμώνα !
    Greetings brother, northen winter !
    Έρχεται χειμώνας στην Ρωμανία !
    Winter is coming to Romania (Eastern Rome) !
    Χαίρε Βαραγγε !
    Greetings Varangian !
    From 🇬🇷 with ❤️ to all 🇮🇸🇸🇯🇸🇪🇫🇮🇩🇰

    • @arsenicos576
      @arsenicos576 Рік тому +6

      And what is the Finnish flag doing here? They lived in the forests, not swam on drakkars

    • @flori5296
      @flori5296 Рік тому +6

      Finland isn't nordic it's uralic

  • @HighLordoftheBathroom
    @HighLordoftheBathroom Рік тому +29

    Farya, I'd just like to thank you. Your songs (especially those in Latin) always seem to put me in a good mood whenever I'm down.

  • @nopenada7015
    @nopenada7015 Рік тому +45

    Imagine finishing off the last of what you think is the last of the byzantine soldiers but then, you notice that the air becomes colder, you look to the west to see soldiers that you have never seen before accompanied by this song in the distance
    To all my Norse brethren, Skål!
    and to my greek allies, στην υγεία μας

  • @024Nimma
    @024Nimma Рік тому +28

    The history of the Byzantine Empire and The Varangians are so impressive; I can't get enough of it. Neither of these beautiful songs with amazing backgrounds. Well done Farya, again! Love from The Netherlands. ✝☦

  • @bigsillyman423
    @bigsillyman423 Рік тому +31

    Another great piece Farya! Really love to hear your stuff at the gym and I'm looking forward to getting this one going too!

  • @Elreysilente
    @Elreysilente Рік тому +15

    Es un placer para los sentidos escuchar estas canciones

  • @balkanmountains2103
    @balkanmountains2103 Рік тому +96

    Okay, this is my new favourite song of yours! This music blending came out really good. I love the winter theme too. Plus, who doesn't love the Varangian guard? One of my best friends actually has the last name 'Βαραγκός' which means 'Varangian' in Greek. I've heard that some of the Varangians carried shields and banners with Odin's raven. It must have been pretty cool seeing these along with the hundreds of orthodox banners.

  • @mattaffenit9898
    @mattaffenit9898 Рік тому +10

    _OOHOOHOOOH YEAH I LIKEY_
    The Varangian Guard are one of my favorite military units. It tickles me deeply to get hybridized music about them.

  • @simone_casti86
    @simone_casti86 4 місяці тому +5

    i sleep with ur music in my headphones at night this make me so confortable and relax me.

  • @Agro-yt8yg
    @Agro-yt8yg Рік тому +124

    As a Greek, i thank all the Varangians who fought with us, we are brothers from the Ancient times, thank you all, Spartans of the North.

    • @oktayaydin7143
      @oktayaydin7143 Рік тому +3

      I hope you know the rumors that Germanic paganism is similar to old Turkish belief and that Odin is Turkish. İnformation source:Prof. Sven Lagerbring

    • @SwedishNationalist
      @SwedishNationalist Рік тому +2

      @dieuleroi3759love the comment and the profile pic. We are brothers

    • @g1u2y345
      @g1u2y345 Рік тому +2

      @@oktayaydin7143 Germanic paganism isn't turkic, Odin isn't turkic, you aren't even Turkic.. (Try a dna test?)

    • @fantom_rr595
      @fantom_rr595 Рік тому

      @@g1u2y345lol, a pretty popular myth among us turks, the word “odin” just sounds like the turkic word “od” which means fire. tho the stupid “TuRkS aRE rMenian kRudish GeEeRsks” is bs, assimilation touched almost everyone.

    • @BroadwayRonMexico
      @BroadwayRonMexico 10 місяців тому +1

      @@ioannisamartias3060 But *many* ended up going back to the north as Christians (even among those who werent already Christianized before going to Constantinople)

  • @AI_Futurism
    @AI_Futurism Рік тому +9

    Great music! Really capturing the best of norse and byzantine tunes and blending it into someting new and unique. Well done!

  • @Aimothewizard
    @Aimothewizard Рік тому +12

    Its very cool seeing this as a swede. And for those who dont know, the Varangians from the norse side were mostly and mainly present day Sweden.

  • @emilyrobinson6080
    @emilyrobinson6080 Рік тому +4

    Idk why but I keep coming back to listen to this several times a day since finding it.

  • @_TheUnknown_
    @_TheUnknown_ Рік тому +64

    Excellent! 🇬🇷☦

  • @nikolaoskouvatsos9222
    @nikolaoskouvatsos9222 Рік тому +24

    I can’t get enough of your Eastern Roman songs, keep up the great work my friend!

  • @ΚωνσταντίαΠανάγου

    My mom' s surname is Varangoulis. She was born in Corfu island, Greece. After Constantinopolis was conquered by Frankish demons in 1204, some members of Varangian Guard didn' t return to their homeland but they moved into several regions of Greece!
    Beautiful music Farya 🙂

    • @elliottbaker201
      @elliottbaker201 Рік тому +2

      So basically, you're saying it was written that Frankland came and took what was rightfully theirs

    • @ΚωνσταντίαΠανάγου
      @ΚωνσταντίαΠανάγου Рік тому +25

      @@elliottbaker201 So basically, you are off topic! Varangians hadn't nothing to do with Frankish. What was rightfully 🤪🤣 theirs???? (Eastern) Roman Empire???? From what point of view?? I think you 're trolling me

    • @elliottbaker201
      @elliottbaker201 Рік тому +2

      @@ΚωνσταντίαΠανάγου Constantinople couldn't defend itself properly. So they promised gold to real warriors to defend the realm. You brought up the Frankland, not I. I was just finishing your statement for you

    • @arcotroll8530
      @arcotroll8530 Рік тому

      Φίλε είναι η μάνα σου από Άγιο Ματθαίο μήπως;

    • @niklask8753
      @niklask8753 Рік тому +2

      All members of the varangian guard didn't return to their homelands

  • @50shekels
    @50shekels Рік тому +20

    The good old days. Greetings from Denmark

  • @KanavVashisht
    @KanavVashisht 9 місяців тому +7

    We hit 1M! Nice!

  • @jordirey4002
    @jordirey4002 Рік тому +31

    A new idea for the Byzantine series could be a song of the Catalan mercenaries who fought against Turks in Anatolia and after turned against Byzantines.

  • @ghalilaelsimanjuntak6886
    @ghalilaelsimanjuntak6886 Рік тому +13

    Excellent! Loved the transition from Norse to Eastern Roman theme

  • @pedroalzidy5038
    @pedroalzidy5038 Рік тому +10

    هذه ليست المرة الأولى التي اسمع فيها هذا النوع من الأغاني القديمة ونادرآ ما تعجبني أغنية من هذا النوع
    وبصراحة هذه الأغنية اعجبتني كثيراً جداً
    اتمنى لك التوفيق في مسيرتك ♥️

  • @williamgunderson7365
    @williamgunderson7365 Рік тому +14

    As someone with both Norse and ancient Greeks/Romans in my family tree 🌳 I feel at home with this one. North meets South. Byzantine style. This is a beautiful piece by the way!

  • @rusinvelikiy
    @rusinvelikiy Рік тому +19

    Просто шикарно! Благодарю за работу. Best cool, Farya!

  • @breburdax4132
    @breburdax4132 Рік тому +33

    Great as always! Btw Farya, have you ever considered doing some Georgian music? The ancient and medieval themes from Civilization VI's Georgia (Shen Khar Venakhi) in particular are true masterpieces, you might want to check them out if you haven't.

  • @SidheKnight
    @SidheKnight Рік тому +7

    You have incredible talent, Farya.

  • @jackwhitehead5233
    @jackwhitehead5233 Рік тому +101

    Amazing tune. Love from an Anglo-Saxon, proud of the English Varangians' contribution to the Empire, and honoured to be remembered by the descendants of the Eastern Romans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤🇬🇷🇳🇴🇸🇪🇩🇰

    • @warthunderenjoyer8542
      @warthunderenjoyer8542 Рік тому +7

      Saxons were at the Heteraia guards i believe.

    • @americancaesar4715
      @americancaesar4715 Рік тому +11

      @@warthunderenjoyer8542 Imagine being a battle scarred Anglo Saxon seeing Constantinople for the first time!? On your way you are tired, angry, saddened, drained, etc. cursing the Normans for taking your homeland, your lands, and your fellow warriors after Hastings. You make your way to the Hagia Sophia and all of a sudden you see Danes in the halls with the markings on their shields, the same Danes your ancestors fought over a hundred years ago. You want to spite them, lash out at them, but then the Danes embrace you as brothers understanding how it feels to lose something you cherished.

    • @jackwhitehead5233
      @jackwhitehead5233 Рік тому +2

      ​@@warthunderenjoyer8542they were the majority of the Varangians for a while, recorded conquering Crimea and defending the walls of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.

  • @EpicMusic1994
    @EpicMusic1994 Рік тому +4

    Fantastic music and amazing vocals !

  • @diezelfunk
    @diezelfunk Рік тому +10

    That intro really reminds me of the theme of the Vikings from Age of Empires 2. Wonderful work here!

  • @theshadowsagas3617
    @theshadowsagas3617 Рік тому +37

    "Epic Byzantine Norse Music"
    Never have I clicked faster

  • @mitrahispana4119
    @mitrahispana4119 Рік тому +38

    Foreign body guards were attractive not because they were exotic or “cool”, but because their loyalty was easier to secure. Foreigners, isolated and far from home, were less likely to scheme. Even a Norse king was once a Varangian!

    • @jacksonkalvin1205
      @jacksonkalvin1205 Рік тому +6

      They also happened to be pretty damn cool as well, so that’s a plus

    • @mitrahispana4119
      @mitrahispana4119 Рік тому +11

      @@jacksonkalvin1205 call it a “feature” 😊

    • @TheAchilles26
      @TheAchilles26 Рік тому

      Multiple Norse kings did stints as Varangians.

  • @klakwey9852
    @klakwey9852 Рік тому +11

    Another Byzantic masterpiece! Thank you.

  • @iberius9937
    @iberius9937 Рік тому +19

    In a perfect world, this would be a top ten on the radio, getting repeated airplay and blasting out of people's cars.

  • @korisnicilec5265
    @korisnicilec5265 Рік тому +9

    My mother was Varangia , Estonian, Icen by father ❤

  • @zoroaster5353
    @zoroaster5353 Рік тому +2

    Seeing an upload from you INSTANTLY makes my entire WEEK

  • @goneintodarkness8095
    @goneintodarkness8095 Рік тому +116

    Путь из Варяг в Греки. Привет южным братьям и братьям-скандинавам из России 🇷🇺❤️🇬🇷🇧🇻🇸🇪🇩🇰

    • @arsenicos576
      @arsenicos576 Рік тому +20

      Ну, хоть кто-то не влепил финский флаг к варягам

    • @goneintodarkness8095
      @goneintodarkness8095 Рік тому +14

      @@arsenicos576 финны не относятся к ним никак. Они являются финно-уграми, когда как условные варяги являются германцами (этногруппа)

    • @arsenicos576
      @arsenicos576 Рік тому +8

      @@goneintodarkness8095 чел, по моему комментарию должно быть ясно, что я в курсе этого, раз я обрадовался, что ты не добавил финский флаг

  • @hyoga4345
    @hyoga4345 Рік тому +27

    Icelandic and self diagnosed Philhellene,
    This is the greatest thing I've seen all day!
    skál! χαίρε! 🇮🇸❤️🇬🇷

  • @franciscolivino7843
    @franciscolivino7843 Рік тому +11

    This is just so beautiful... My favorite one was always Hikanatoi, which was also the first one I listened to, but this one is making me question that. At this point I think I've heard pretty much all of them lol. But this one is just different, man... It has to be my favorite vocals from you.

  • @ΝικοράσουΜουνόζ

    Farya Faraji Una canción sobre los ataques vikingos a las costas de Galicia o Las Taifas en Al Andaluz Seria de lo mejor, un Saludo

  • @MedjayofFaiyum
    @MedjayofFaiyum Рік тому +6

    It was one of those Varangians that went by the name of Harold Hardrada that would go into have a famous career in the Empire yet met an infamous end at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066

    • @TheAchilles26
      @TheAchilles26 Рік тому +3

      And then many of the Anglo-Saxon Huscarls went and joined that same Varangian Guard after Hastings

    • @MedjayofFaiyum
      @MedjayofFaiyum Рік тому

      @@TheAchilles26 exactly!

  • @legocitykilldozer
    @legocitykilldozer Рік тому +3

    I was waiting for this specifically, so glad it's here

  • @CaganHart
    @CaganHart Рік тому +13

    greetings from Türkiye

  • @katerinavikings
    @katerinavikings 10 місяців тому +2

    Amazing job Farya!!! Thank you.. Ευχαριστώ 👏🏼

  • @ae-jo5gc
    @ae-jo5gc Рік тому +3

    I read a book called Swedens long history. Reading about the journey from today Sweden down to Miklagård was the best part.

  • @grandadmiralsteel1989
    @grandadmiralsteel1989 Рік тому +27

    I’m American but I have strong Swedish descent and I’m proud knowing that there’s a chance that my ancestors were part of the Varangian guard.

  • @captaincole4511
    @captaincole4511 Рік тому +12

    *(adds to workout playlist)*

  • @lurker69420
    @lurker69420 Рік тому +34

    I can tell this is about to be good from the title

    • @lurker69420
      @lurker69420 Рік тому +9

      50 seconds in and i was correct

    • @bloodangel19
      @bloodangel19 Рік тому +3

      You can tell it's good from the artist

    • @lurker69420
      @lurker69420 Рік тому +1

      @@bloodangel19 And that, Farya makes masterpiece after masterpiece

  • @hora213
    @hora213 Рік тому +7

    As always masterpiece!!! Keep on the good work!!!

  • @fleisttt2442
    @fleisttt2442 8 місяців тому +7

    The first prince in Russia was the Varangian Rurik, who is said to have come from Norway or some other Scandinavian country

    • @weeweeiam
      @weeweeiam 7 місяців тому +1

      Yep, Novgorodian knyaz

    • @dolgiykateryna
      @dolgiykateryna 4 місяці тому

      ​@@weeweeiamMunsö dynasty of Olaf Tryggvason was of Varangian origin. Rurik was related to them, but he had other origin.

  • @anta2030
    @anta2030 Рік тому +8

    YES, finally song about the varangians

  • @epicmusicmix7696
    @epicmusicmix7696 Рік тому +2

    The world needs more music like this! Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us!