Vardariotai
Encyclopedia
The Vardariotai sometimes Anglicized as Vardariots, were an ethnic and territorial group (probably originally of Magyar origin) in the later Byzantine Empire
, which provided a palace guard regiment during the 12th and 13th centuries.
in the 10th century, and that they had become Christianized
by the century's end.
By the 12th century, the Vardariotai, their Magyar identity by now much diluted, were being recruited into the Byzantine army
, and, at the latest during the latter part of the reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos
(r. 1143–1180), they were formed into a distinct palace guard regiment. Their functions, however, at least in the Palaiologan period, appear to have been more those of a police force than a military unit: Pseudo-Kodinos lists them not with the guards but with the unarmed palace personnel, and states that their duty was "to keep people orderly" during ceremonies. Unlike the armed members of the Varangian Guard
and the Paramonai
regiment, they were equipped only with a whip (the manglabion) and a staff (the dekanikion). Kodinos also records that they wore distinctive red uniforms and a "Persian" hat called angouroton ("cucumber-shaped"), and that the whip, hanging at their belt, was their symbol. This latter reference has led to the hypothesis that the Vardariotai were the replacement of the older Manglabites
guards corps. They were commanded by a primikerios, first attested in the year 1166. The 13th-century historian George Akropolites further states that the Vardariotai accompanied the Byzantine emperor to his military camp whilst on campaign.
It is unclear whether and how the vardarioi, administrative officials of Thessalonica in the 10th–11th centuries known through their seals, are related to the Vardariotai.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, which provided a palace guard regiment during the 12th and 13th centuries.
History
The exact origin and nature of the Vardariotai is uncertain. The name first appears in the 10th century, when a bishopric of the "Vardariotai or Tourkoi" is mentioned as subject to the diocese of Thessalonica. The mid-14th century writer Pseudo-Kodinos calls them "Persians" by race (a typical Byzantine anachronism for "Turks"), and recalls that they were settled in the Vardar river valley by an unnamed Byzantine emperor of old. In both cases, however, "Turks" probably implies the Magyars, who were called "Tourkoi" by the Byzantines in the 10th–11th centuries. Hence it seems that the Vardariotai were Magyars resettled in MacedoniaMacedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
in the 10th century, and that they had become Christianized
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
by the century's end.
By the 12th century, the Vardariotai, their Magyar identity by now much diluted, were being recruited into the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
, and, at the latest during the latter part of the reign of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(r. 1143–1180), they were formed into a distinct palace guard regiment. Their functions, however, at least in the Palaiologan period, appear to have been more those of a police force than a military unit: Pseudo-Kodinos lists them not with the guards but with the unarmed palace personnel, and states that their duty was "to keep people orderly" during ceremonies. Unlike the armed members of the Varangian Guard
Varangian Guard
The Varangian Guard was an elite unit of the Byzantine Army in 10th to the 14th centuries, whose members served as personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperors....
and the Paramonai
Paramonai
The Paramonai were an obscure Byzantine guard regiment of the Palaiologan period.The name derives from the Greek verb παραμένω meaning "to stand near something". Unlike other major guard units in the Palaiologan army like the Varangian Guard, the regiment of the Paramonai was a native Byzantine...
regiment, they were equipped only with a whip (the manglabion) and a staff (the dekanikion). Kodinos also records that they wore distinctive red uniforms and a "Persian" hat called angouroton ("cucumber-shaped"), and that the whip, hanging at their belt, was their symbol. This latter reference has led to the hypothesis that the Vardariotai were the replacement of the older Manglabites
Manglabites
The Manglabites or Manglavites were a corps of bodyguards in the Byzantine Empire.Their name derives from the term manglabion which was also used to designate the entire corps. The origin of the term itself is debated: one theory regards it as deriving from Arabic mijlab , while another from...
guards corps. They were commanded by a primikerios, first attested in the year 1166. The 13th-century historian George Akropolites further states that the Vardariotai accompanied the Byzantine emperor to his military camp whilst on campaign.
It is unclear whether and how the vardarioi, administrative officials of Thessalonica in the 10th–11th centuries known through their seals, are related to the Vardariotai.