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【簡譯】瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊（Varangian Guard）

2022-10-26 20:37 作者:神尾智代 0人讀過 | 我要投稿

The mercenary Varangian Guard was an elite Byzantine army corps and the personal bodyguard of emperors beginning with Basil II in c. 988 CE. The Viking unit was famous for the stature of its members and their blood-thirsty conduct in battle, where they used their fearsome double-bladed battle-axes to devastating effect. Celebrated recruits include Harald Hardrada, who went on to become the king of Norway, and the Icelandic hero Bolli Bollason. Later, after the 1066 CE Battle of Hastings in England, especially, they became a largely Anglo-Saxon unit. By the beginning of the 14th century CE they had outlasted their usefulness but, for a few centuries at least, the Varangians were probably as shocking a sight to Byzantine enemies as tanks would have been to WWI infantry.

? ? ? ? ? 瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊是拜占庭軍隊中的一支精銳雇傭兵團，也是巴西爾二世（約 988 年）的私人衛(wèi)隊。這支維京人部隊因其成員的身材和他們在戰(zhàn)斗中的嗜血行為而聞名，他們用可怕的雙刃戰(zhàn)斧造成了毀滅性的影響。其成員包括成為挪威國王的哈拉爾三世和冰島英雄博莉·博拉松。后來，特別是在公元1066年英格蘭黑斯廷斯戰(zhàn)役之后，他們主要成為一支盎格魯-撒克遜人的部隊。該部隊一直存在到 14 世紀(jì)初，幾個世紀(jì)以來，瓦蘭吉人對拜占庭的敵人來說就像坦克對第一次世界大戰(zhàn)中的步兵一樣具有威懾性。

巴西爾二世

Basil II reigned as emperor from 976 to 1025 CE, and despite a hugely successful military career which saw the Byzantine empire almost double its territories, he got off to the worst possible start when his army was wiped out in an ambush by Samuel of Bulgaria at a mountain pass known as Trajan's Gate. The defeat encouraged a rebellion back home when two long-time trouble-makers each sought to take the throne from Basil. One of them, Bardas Phokas, even declared himself emperor in 987 CE. Basil, fortunately, could call on the help of Vladimir I of Kiev (r. 980-1015 CE), who obligingly sent a force of 6,000 Rus Vikings to help the young emperor. They would make all the difference in Basil's ambitious plans to forge an even greater Byzantine empire than ever seen before.

? ? ? ? ? 巴西爾二世從公元976年到1025年在位，盡管他的軍事生涯取得了巨大的成功，使拜占庭帝國的領(lǐng)土幾乎翻了一番，但它以最糟糕的方式開始，當(dāng)時他的軍隊在保加利亞塞繆爾的伏擊中被殲滅。這次失敗激起了國內(nèi)的叛亂，兩個長期的麻煩制造者都想從巴西爾手中奪取王位。其中一位名叫巴爾達斯·?？ㄋ梗˙ardas Focas）甚至在 987 年宣布自己為皇帝。幸運的是，巴西爾可以尋求基輔的弗拉基米爾一世（Vladimir I of Kiev，公元980-1015年）的幫助，羅斯的弗拉基米爾慷慨地派出了一支由6000名維京人組成的部隊來幫助這位年輕的皇帝。他們將改變巴西爾雄心勃勃的擴張拜占庭帝國的計劃，甚至比以往任何時候都更偉大。

In return for his 6,000 Norsemen and indicative of their value, Basil offered Vladimir his sister's hand in marriage - an unprecedented step for an emperor to offer a royal person to a barbarian leader - provided he agreed to convert to Christianity. This Vladimir agreed to, indeed he went a whole lot further and for his dedicated sponsorship of the faith throughout his reign he eventually became a saint.

? ? ? ? ? 為了感謝他的6000名北歐士兵，巴西爾把他的妹妹嫁給弗拉基米爾——對于一個皇帝來說，與野蠻人領(lǐng)袖聯(lián)姻是史無前例的一步——只要他同意皈依基督教。弗拉基米爾同意了，事實上他走得更遠，因為他在統(tǒng)治期間堅定地捍衛(wèi)信仰，他被封為圣徒。

The Viking force arrived in Constantinople by sea, and they were a fearsome sight with their long heavy swords and wicked double-headed battle-axes. Basil, after waiting patiently for a year and blockading the rebels, finally made his move and attacked the usurpers' camp. The historian J. J. Norwich continues the story,

? ? ? ? ? In late December 988 the Black Sea lookouts espied the first of a great fleet of Viking ships on the northern horizon; early in 989 CE the whole of the fleet was safely anchored in the Golden Horn and 6,000 burly giants disembarked. A few weeks later, the Norsemen, led by Basil himself, crossed the straits under cover of darkness and took up their positions a few hundred yards from the rebel camp. At first light they attacked, while a squadron of imperial flame-throwers sprayed the shore with Greek fire. Phocas' men, roused from sleep, were powerless: their assailants swung their swords and battle-axes without mercy until they stood ankle-deep in blood. Few of the victims escaped with their lives. (209)

? ? ? ? ? ?維京人的部隊通過海路抵達君士坦丁堡，他們帶著長長的重劍和邪惡的雙頭斧頭，讓人望而生畏。巴西爾在耐心等待了一年并封鎖了叛軍之后，終于有所行動，他襲擊了篡位者的營地。歷史學(xué)家約翰·朱利葉斯·諾威奇繼續(xù)講述了這個故事：

? ? ? ? ? ?公元988年12月底，黑海的瞭望員在北方的地平線上發(fā)現(xiàn)了第一支維京人的大艦隊；公元989年初，整個艦隊安全地停泊在金角灣，6000名魁梧的巨人下了船。幾周后，由巴西爾親自率領(lǐng)的北歐人在黑暗的掩護下越過海峽，在離叛軍營地幾百碼的地方擺開陣勢。他們在黎明時分發(fā)動攻擊，同時一隊帝國弓箭手發(fā)射燃燒箭，使用“希臘火”攻擊海岸。?？ㄋ沟氖窒聫乃瘔糁畜@醒，卻無能為力。攻擊者毫不留情地揮舞著劍和斧頭，將戰(zhàn)場變成了血腥地獄，很少有人能逃過一劫。(209)

Basil restored order by 989 CE and was so impressed by the exploits of his new Viking army that he made them, first the elite shock troops of his army, and then, his personal bodyguard. The Viking corps became known as the Varangian Guard (“men of the pledge”) and, besides being a tremendously useful unit on the battlefield, they protected many subsequent emperors to the death, much like the elite unit which protected the Roman emperors, the Praetorian Guard. The Varangians were stationed as a distinctive and permanent fixture of the Great Palace of Constantinople. Their arms are described by the 11th-century CE historian Michael Psellos, thus:

? ? ? ? ? These men are, without exception, armed with shields and the rhomphaia, a one-edged sword of heavy iron which they carry suspended from the right shoulder. (359)

? ? ? ? ? 巴西爾在公元989年恢復(fù)了帝國秩序，他對維京人軍隊的功績印象深刻，因此他首先讓其成為軍隊的精銳突擊部隊，然后是他的私人警衛(wèi)。維京人軍團被稱為瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊（“誓約之人”），他們在戰(zhàn)場上是一支極具價值的部隊，還為后來的許多皇帝提供了關(guān)鍵保護。他們與禁衛(wèi)軍一起成為皇帝的禁衛(wèi)軍守衛(wèi)。瓦蘭吉軍團一直駐扎在君士坦丁堡大皇宮，作為其獨特的元素存在。公元11世紀(jì)的歷史學(xué)家米海爾·普塞洛斯（Michael Psellos）這樣描述他們的武器：

? ? ? ? ? 這些人無一例外地配備了盾牌和長柄逆刃刀，這一種沉重的鐵制單刃劍，他們把它掛靠在右肩上。(359)

The Varangians were certainly effective and dutiful in their responsibility to protect the Byzantine throne, whoever its occupant might be, but the service did not come cheap. One peculiar tradition for services rendered is described by the historian L. Brownworth:

? ? ? ? ? On the night of their sovereign's death, they had the curious right to run to the imperial treasury and take as much gold as they could comfortably carry. This custom enabled most Varangians to retire as wealthy men and ensured a steady stream of Norse and Anglo-Saxon recruits. (212)

? ? ? ? ? 瓦蘭吉人確實有效地履行了保護拜占庭王位的責(zé)任，無論王位的占有者是誰，但這種服務(wù)并不便宜。歷史學(xué)家拉爾斯·布朗沃思描述了一個特殊的獎勵服務(wù)傳統(tǒng)：

? ? ? ? ? 在君主死后的那個晚上，他們有特殊的權(quán)利進入帝國國庫，并盡可能多地拿走他們能攜帶的黃金。這種習(xí)俗使大多數(shù)瓦蘭吉人能夠以富人的身份退休，并確保挪威和盎格魯-撒克遜新兵永久供應(yīng)。212)

著名的瓦蘭吉軍團成員

One of the most famous warriors and leaders of the Varangians was Harald Hardrada who spent a decade in the service of his emperor. Besides many other adventures, he and his fellow Varangians fought alongside the great Byzantine general George Maniakes in Sicily in 1038 CE, capturing both Messina and Syracuse. Exiled under suspicion of plotting an uprising in 1042 CE, Harald fled to Kiev and then returned to Norway where he reigned as King Harald III between 1046 and 1066 CE. Harald, championing his own claim to the English throne, fought and died at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 CE against his namesake, the English king Harold Godwinson.

? ? ? ? ? 最著名的瓦蘭吉戰(zhàn)士和領(lǐng)袖之一是哈拉爾德·哈德拉達，他為他的皇帝服務(wù)了十年。除了許多其他的冒險之外，他和他的瓦蘭吉同胞于公元1038年在西西里島與偉大的拜占庭將軍豪爾赫·馬尼亞斯并肩作戰(zhàn)，征服了墨西拿和錫拉丘茲。公元1042年，哈拉爾德因被懷疑策劃叛亂而被流放，他逃到基輔，然后返回挪威，在公元1046年至1066年期間以哈拉爾德三世的身份在位。哈拉爾德為爭取英格蘭王位，在公元1066年的斯坦福橋戰(zhàn)役中與同名的英國國王哈羅德·戈德溫森交戰(zhàn)，戰(zhàn)死。

Another illustrious one-time member of the Varangian Guard was the 11th-century CE figure of Bolli Bollason. According to the Laxdaela Saga, Bolli, like his fellow Varangians, was paid handsomely for his troubles and came home to Iceland dressed in such fine gold-embroidered purple robes he earned the nickname of “Bolli the Elegant”.

? ? ? ? ? 瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊的另一位著名成員是博利·博拉松（11 世紀(jì)）。根據(jù)《拉克斯谷人傳》，博利和他的瓦蘭吉亞同伴一樣，因其努力而獲得了豐厚的報酬，并在回到冰島的時候穿上了精美的繡金紫袍，贏得了“優(yōu)雅的博利”的綽號。

Following the defeat of the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE, many soldiers travelled to Constantinople to seek a better fortune. More northern mercenaries came from Iceland, Norway and other parts of Scandinavia, attracted by the exploits of men like Harald and Bolli. Byzantine emperors were only too happy to incorporate these travellers into the Varangian Guard although, by the 13th century CE, the majority of its members were English and the Guard used their own language when they acclaimed their adopted ruler.

? ? ? ? ? 諾曼軍隊在公元1066年黑斯廷斯戰(zhàn)役中擊敗盎格魯-撒克遜人后，許多士兵前往君士坦丁堡尋求更豐厚的財富，還有來自冰島、挪威和斯堪的納維亞其他地區(qū)的北歐雇傭軍，他們被哈拉爾德和博利等人的功績所吸引。拜占庭皇帝很樂意將他們并入瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊，盡管到了公元13世紀(jì)，大多數(shù)成員都是來自英格蘭的士兵，而且衛(wèi)隊使用自己的語言來贊美其統(tǒng)治者。

從 11 世紀(jì)開始，來自西歐的兇猛戰(zhàn)士開始與斯堪的納維亞人和俄羅斯人一起在瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊服役。加入精英部隊的有盎格魯撒克遜人、法蘭克人和德國人。

衰? ? ?落

The Varangians might have enjoyed a fearsome reputation, but they were not infallible. In 1081 CE, for example, when Alexios I Komnenos was defending Dyrrachion in Dalmatia, he positioned his Varangian troops at the front of his lines, but they were nearly annihilated by an enemy cavalry charge. They did not prove much use in 1204 CE either when knights of the Fourth Crusade attacked Constantinople, although their reason for fleeing the scene might well have been due to their lack of payment. These defeats as warfare and technology moved on may explain why the Varangians became mere palace guards and prison guards from the mid-13th century CE.

? ? ? ? ? 瓦蘭吉人可能享有令人生畏的聲譽，但他們并不是無懈可擊的。例如，在公元1081年，當(dāng)阿萊克修斯一世·科穆寧在達爾馬提亞的迪拉希恩進行防守時，他將瓦蘭吉部隊安排在防線的最前面，但他們幾乎被敵人的騎兵沖鋒殲滅。公元1204年，當(dāng)?shù)谒拇问周姈|征的騎士們進攻君士坦丁堡時，他們也沒有發(fā)揮什么作用，盡管他們逃離現(xiàn)場的原因很可能是由于他們沒有得到報酬。隨著戰(zhàn)爭和技術(shù)的發(fā)展，這些失敗可能解釋了為什么從公元13世紀(jì)中期開始，瓦蘭吉人就變成了單純的宮殿衛(wèi)兵和監(jiān)獄看守。

A reference to English axe-bearing guards at the Byzantine palace springs up in the work of chronicler Adam of Usk in 1404 CE, but thereafter the Varangians disappear from the historical record. A lasting effect of their presence in Byzantine affairs was the influence of that culture on the guard's homelands, for when they returned after their years of service laden with riches they also carried with them ideas of art and architecture. Finally, there are many rune stones still standing today across Scandinavia which were set up and carved to commemorate the great martial deeds of illustrious members of the Varangian Guard.

? ? ? ? ? 公元1404年，在編年史家厄斯基的亞當(dāng)（Adam of Usk）的作品中提到了拜占庭宮殿中的英格蘭持斧衛(wèi)兵，但此后瓦蘭吉人就從歷史記錄中消失了。他們在拜占庭帝國存在的一個持久影響是這種文化對他們祖國的影響，因為當(dāng)他們返回家鄉(xiāng)時，不僅帶來了財富，還帶來了他們對藝術(shù)和建筑的理念。最后，今天在斯堪的納維亞半島上仍有許多符文石，它們是為了紀(jì)念瓦蘭吉衛(wèi)隊杰出成員的偉大事跡而雕刻與建立的。