Vikings: Valhalla season 3 caught up with its main characters seven years after the end of season 2, and thanks to Harald (Leo Suter), it introduced the Varangian Guard. Vikings: Valhalla season 2 saw Harald and Leif (Sam Corlett) traveling from Novgorod to Constantinople so Harald could get the funds to form his army. At the end of Vikings: Valhalla season 2, Harald and Leif were greeted by Emperor Romanos, and Harald was granted whatever he wanted. Vikings: Valhalla season 3 caught up with Harald and Leif in Constantinople, where they stayed for seven years.

During that time, while Leif continued to learn about science and more, Harald served Emperor Romanos, taking part in many battles alongside George Maniakes (Florian Munteanu). Harald became the leader of the Varangian Guard of the Byzantine Empire, leading him to many victories which, in turn, allowed him to get the funds he needed for his army. However, Harald’s time with the Varangians took a sinister turn when Maniakes framed him for the Emperor’s murder. The Varangian Guard was real and Harald was part of it, but not all of their story in Vikings: Valhalla was true.

Who Were The Varangian Guard In The Byzantine Empire?

The Varangians Served As The Emperor’s Bodyguards

Vikings: Valhalla season 3 saw Harald and Maniakes fighting other armies and making sure Emperor Romanos was safe. Maniakes and Harald led different groups, with Harald being the leader of the Byzantine Varangian Guard. In real life, the Varangian Guard was an elite unit of the Byzantine army between the 10th and 14th centuries. The Varangian Guard served as the Byzantine emperors’ personal bodyguards and was composed mostly of recruits from Northern Europe, mainly Norsemen from Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxons from England (via De Re Military).

The decision to recruit foreigners from distant lands was a deliberate policy as they lacked local political loyalties and could be counted upon to deal with the revolts of disloyal Byzantine factions. The Varangian Guard was formally constituted under Emperor Basil II in 988, after the Christianization of Kieven Rus’ by Vladimir I of Kiev, who usurped power in Kiev with an army of Varangian warriors. As part of a military assistance agreement, Vladimir sent 6000 men to Basil, who already distrusted Byzantine guardsmen, and as the Varangians proved their loyalty, he employed them as his personal guardsmen.

In addition to providing security for the emperors, the Varangian Guard was used in battle during critical moments or when the battle was fierce, as they were known for their brutality, recklessness, and rage. It’s believed that the Varangian Guard existed until at least the mid-14th century, though in 1400 some people still identified themselves as Varangians in Constantinople (via The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society).

Harald Sigurdsson Led The Varangian Guard During His Time In Constantinople

Harald Hardrada Fought Alongside George Maniakes

Vikings: Valhalla wasn’t far off when it revealed Harald had become the leader of Emperor Romanos’ Varangian Guard. The real Harald Hardrada was in the army of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, leading his forces, where he took part in Yaroslav’s campaign against the Poles, the Chudes in Estonia, the Pechenegs, and more. A couple of years later, Harald and around 500 of his men moved to Constantinople, and he joined the Varangian Guard. As the leader of the Varangians, Harald took part in campaigns to capture Arab strongholds, against the Pechenegs, and he’s even reported to have fought in Jerusalem.

In 1038, Harald and the Varangians joined the Byzantines’ expedition to Sicily, in Maniakes’ task to take the island from the Arabs, during which Harald fought alongside Norman mercenaries such as William Iron Arm. Harald reportedly captured four towns in Sicily, and in 1041, he led the Varangian Guard when a Lombard-Norman revolt erupted in southern Italy. Harald fought with Michael Dokeianos, the Catepan of Italy, but the Byzantines were defeated by the Normans. Harald and the Varangians were called back to Constantinople after Maniakes’ imprisonment, and were sent to fight in Bulgaria.

Did Harald Have An Affair With The Empress Zoe?

Vikings: Valhalla Gave Harald An Affair With The Empress

In Vikings: Valhalla season 2, Harald met Eleana, who traveled with him, Leif, and their crew to Constantinople undercover. Harald and Eleana became very close, and when they arrived in Constantinople, she was revealed to be a gift to Emperor Romanos and thus his new wife. However, Harald and Eleana, now Empress Zoe, continued their affair in season 3, and it was key to Harald’s transformation into Harald Hardrada. The Emperor revealed to Harald that he tasked Zoe with seducing him as he couldn’t give her a child, but he was killed seconds after this confession.

Harald was framed for the Emperor’s murder by Maniakes, who used his affair with Zoe to get him imprisoned and killed. In real life, some sources say there were rumors among the Varangians that Empress Zoe wanted Harald, but there’s nothing that can confirm this (via The Viking Network). However, Harald did get into trouble with one of the Emperors and Zoe, leading to his imprisonment, though for very different reasons than in Vikings: Valhalla.

Was Harald Imprisoned For Killing The Byzantine Emperor?

Harald Hardrada Was Imprisoned For Other Reasons

Maniakes’ plot in Vikings: Valhalla was to kill Emperor Romanos in front of Harald and then bring the Emperor’s guards in as Harald tried to help the Emperor so he could frame him for his murder. As mentioned above, Maniakes also used Harald’s affair with the Empress to get him a death sentence, but as admitting to the affair would have also affected Zoe, Harald said he had forced her into it, thus saving her but leading to his death sentence.

Harald came up with a plan to escape right before his execution and confronted Maniakes, killing him in a battle in front of the Empress, and escaping immediately after. The real Harald Hardrada was also imprisoned during his time in Constantinople, but he never tried to kill the Emperor nor was he framed for his murder. After returning to Constantinople with the Varangian Guard, his favor at the imperial court declined quickly after the death of Michael IV and the rise of Michael V. Harald was arrested and imprisoned during Michael V’s reign, though the reasons vary depending on the source.

The sagas say Harald was arrested for defrauding the emperor of his treasure and requesting marriage with an apparently fictional niece or granddaughter of Zoe called Maria. Historian William of Malmesbury said Harald was arrested for defiling a noble woman, while the Saxo Grammaticus says he was imprisoned for murder. Harald escaped from prison in the midst of a revolt by the people of Constantinople against Michael V, and while some of the Varangians guarded the emperor, others sided with Harald to support the revolt.

Michael V was dragged out of his sanctuary, blinded, and exiled to a monastery, with some of the sagas claiming it was Harald himself who blinded Michael V. After that, Zoe and her sister, Theodora, were crowned, but they only ruled together briefly as Zoe married a former lover who went on to become Emperor Constantine IX.

How Much Of Vikings Valhalla’s Constantinople Story Is True?

Vikings: Valhalla Made Many Changes To Its Constantinople Story

Unsurprisingly, not much of Vikings: Valhalla’s Constantinople story is true. Harald and Maniakes did fight together in the Byzantine army, but there are no historical records of enmity between them, and they didn’t work for Emperor Romanos. There might or might not be some truth to the affair between Harald and Empress Zoe, but that wasn’t the reason for his imprisonment, nor was Maniakes involved in it. Harald was the leader of the Varangians and is said to have made a big fortune during his time in Constantinople, and he went on to become King of Norway after that.

Harald never traveled to Constantinople with Leif Erikson because they never met, and so the latter never used his knowledge of science for the Byzantines to win battles. Vikings: Valhalla made many changes to the Constantinople storyline for dramatic purposes, but it did take many elements from the real life stories of Harald Hardrada, George Maniakes, and Empress Zoe.

Sources: De Re Military, The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society.