Explanation: In 1066 AD, the Anglo-Saxon Harold Godwinson and the Norwegian Harald Hardrada fought a bloody war over the control of England. Godwinson won against Hardrada, and then lost against William of Normandy.
The Byzantine Empire, centered in modern-day Greece and Turkiye, had a bodyguard unit for the emperor known as the Varangian Guard. For a number of reasons, they were recruited primarily from Germanic peoples, especially Scandinavians. The Varangians were renowned for their skill and bravery, but also, unusually for Byzantine military units, also their loyalty. After the Norman conquest of England, large numbers of Anglo-Saxons fled Norman rule, many finding their way to the Byzantines.
A particularly large influx of Anglo-Saxons into the Varangian Guard was noted in 1088, and did not seem to affect the cohesion or efficacy of the Varangians. Apparently, whatever bad blood between the Norse and Anglo-Saxons paled in comparison to the notion of being shield-brothers in service to the King of the Greeks!
Harald Hardrada is easily the most interesting character in that story. He was the chief of the Varangian Guard before it was cool.
Destiny is all.
