Interesting fact ¹⁾.

Archaeologists searching for traces of Vikings in Istanbul informed about finding a place where the Vikings settled. It turns out that they lived in Bathonea on the shores of Lake Küçükçekmece. The Vikings stayed in Istanbul at different times between the 8th and 11th centuries. Now we know that between the 9th and 11th century they lived in Bathonea.

The Vikings and Varangians - that is, the Vikings who subjugated the Russian lands and created Kievan Ruthenia there over time - were perceived in Byzantium as a threat. They were afraid that they might be tempted to conquer Constantinople. Therefore, they were not allowed to settle there. They were allowed to enter the city in groups of no more than 35 people and had to leave before dusk. Therefore, those who, for example, were involved in trade had to live outside Constantinople.

The Vikings came to Constantinople not only as merchants. From the beginning of the 10th century they served in the army as mercenaries. In 988, the Emperor of Basil II Porphyrogenitus, who wanted to become independent of the bribes and those involved in local military policy, formed his side guard. The Vikings served many more emperors there faithfully.