Varangopouloi Axe Retinue

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[They] regarded their loyalty to the Emperors and their protection of the imperial persons as a pledge and ancestral tradition, handed down from father to son.

— Anna Comnena, The Alexiad, Cap II

In game

Varangois icon.png
Varangopouloi Axe Retinue — Vital statistics
Varangopouloi Axe Retinue

Heavy "semi-mercenary" unique axe infantry unit, slower but stronger and tougher than normal Galloglaich Infantry.

Prereq: Build time HP LOS Attack Attack speed Movement
speed
Upgrade of


  • Monarchy Politics
  • Imperial Mandate Attrition
11.3s
(170t)
160 7 22 2.1s
(32t)
17

Gallogass1.png


Cost Created from Armour Weapon range Specialty
Base Ramp Pop
Wealth.jpg: 170
Wealth.jpg: 90
1 Outpost.jpg 4 Melee
  • Strong versus cavalry
  • Small attack bonus versus buildings.
  • Defensive penalty versus ranged units

Byzantines.jpg

Overall strategy

Vikings didn't merely make their reputation as cunning traders or ferocious self-serving pirates, but were also willing to fight for others if it served their interests to do so. As such, they and their children eventually settled down and served as mercenaries for a variety of leaders in different capacities in a wide number of European areas for an equally variegated roster of masters. In Southern Europe and the Near East, they were called "Varangopouloi" — meaning "Viking children" or "Varangian children", because these men were either emigrés from Scandinavia and Russia, or were themselves descended from the same.

In any case, blood remains true with these men, for they continue using the old Viking weapons of roundshield and greataxe, although their armour and accoutrements are based on Byzantine fashion. Varangopouloi retain the anti-cavalry competencies of both the Scots Cliarthaire and the more cosmopolitan Galloglaich Infantry (from which they are descended), but while being tougher and stronger they are less mobile, thus making them best used for defence. Their cost and slow movement range, however, means that they should not be trained in large numbers, because they will sap most of your wealth — and if facing archer civilisations like China or the Italians, will certainly die horribly and quickly as well. So the best use for the Varangopouloi is always as a stay-at-home or van unit, meant to protect your cities and slower units from cavalry raids. Alternatively, they can be used as a heavy "spearhead" meant to deliver a knockout blow to enemies, if escorted by more mobile units such as Akritae, Mounted Rangers and Composite Bowmen.

Unit summary

  • A Cut Above The Rest — Palatinate Burgmänner have some enhanced armour and very good training time, making them less fragile and more efficient in combat, although knights can still easily kill them.
  • Mercenary Hunter — The anti-mercenary attack of Palatinate Burgmänner makes them useful against factions dependent on mercenaries like Scotland and Burgundy, even if such factions train mercenary cavalry.

History

Most famous of all Viking mercenaries were the Varangoi or Varangian Guard, picked for their bravery and their loyalty (which lasted as long as the Byzantines had sufficient money to pay them), being known as men who "cheerfully hacked" their foes to pieces. Not all Varangoi were Norse, however — there is some evidence to show that non-Norse peoples who nevertheless had the same propensity as Norse-born warriors were also admitted into their ranks, such as members of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy displaced from England by Normans in the 11th and 12th centuries.