They were in Byzantine service from as early as 874 .
The Rus ' ( Norsemen descended from Sweden living in what is now Russia , Ukraine , and Belarus ) provided the earliest members of the Varangian Guard .
Varangian Guard were in Byzantine service from as early as 874 .
The Rus ' ( Norsemen descended from Sweden living in what is now Russia , Ukraine , and Belarus ) provided the earliest members of the Varangian Guard .