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The Luck of the Draw
This miniature from the roughly contemporary ‘History of John Skylitzes’ shows Giorgios Maniakis (‘Gyrger’ to the Norsemen) inflicting in 1038 a heavy defeat on two Arab brothers who had gained control over Sicily, at that time a Greek colony. Court politics saw Maniakis disgraced; the Arabs gleefully returned, and shortly afterwards the Normans swept in, dealing a bitter and lasting blow to the Roman Empire.
Back to text
This miniature from the roughly contemporary ‘History of John Skylitzes’ shows Giorgios Maniakis (‘Gyrger’ to the Norsemen) inflicting in 1038 a heavy defeat on two Arab brothers who had gained control over Sicily, at that time a Greek colony. Court politics saw Maniakis disgraced; the Arabs gleefully returned, and shortly afterwards the Normans swept in, dealing a bitter and lasting blow to the Roman Empire.
Introduction
For a time, exiled Norwegian prince Harald Hardrada captained the Varangian Guard, Scandinavians in the service of the Roman Emperor. In 1038, he helped General Giorgios Maniakis win back Sicily from the Arabs, yet it annoyed Giorgios that Harald’s men always picked the best places to camp, and the matter nearly came to blows.
NOW when Gyrger,* the chief of the army, saw where the Væringers* had set up their tents, he told them to pitch their tents elsewhere, saying he would pitch his tents on their ground. They disputed long and hotly about this, and both sides armed themselves; but men of understanding came between and separated them. They said it would be better to come to an agreement about such questions, so that in future no dispute could arise.
It was determined, with the consent of all parties, that lots should be thrown into a box, and the Greeks and Væringers* should draw which was first to ride, or to row, or to take place in a harbour, or to choose tent ground. Accordingly the lots were made, and marked. Harald said to Gyrger,* “Let me see what mark thou hast put upon thy lot, that we may not both mark our lots in the same way.” Then Harald marked his lot, and put it into the box along with the other.
Giorgios (George) Maniákis, or Gyrger as the Norse chroniclers name him, was Commander-in-Chief of the Roman Imperial army, and a relative of the Empress Zoe. The Sicily campaign made him something of an Imperial hero, but his frank criticisms of his colleague Admiral Stephanos, who let a high-value target escape, offended the Admiral’s wife Maria, sister of a high-ranking courtier. Maniakis was thrown in jail, and by the time Harald left for Norway in 1042 the Greek commander was disgraced. He died in a desperate bid to usurp the Imperial throne a year later.
The personal guard of the Roman Emperor, composed mostly of Scandinavians. Sturluson tells us that Harald claimed precedence on the grounds that “It is the privilege of us Væringers here in the dominions of the Greek emperor to be free, and independent of all but their own commanders, and bound only to serve the emperor and empress.” Translator Samuel Laing’s word ‘Væringers’ reflects the Old Norse Væringjar, but ‘Varangians’ (related to Greek Βάραγγοι, várangi) is more common today. In English the g is soft, like j.
Harald Sigurdarson (1015-1066), nicknamed ‘Hardrada’ (‘stern counsel’), was King of Norway from 1045 to 1066. At fifteen, he barely survived the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 at which his half-brother St Olaf II fell. Nursed back to health by a serf, he went to Kiev and thence to Constantinople, where he joined the Varangian Guard, serving Emperor Michael IV the Paphlagonian (r. 1034-1041) as commander until he set off back to Norway in 1042.
In 1038, Norwegian prince Harald Hardrada found himself fighting in Sicily as captain of the Varangian Guard alongside a Roman general, George. Since the two jockeyed endlessly for position, the others got them to draw lots for top dog status. Each marked his ballot, and to ensure (as he said) that his mark was different, Harald asked to see George’s. (60 / 60 words)
In 1038, Norwegian prince Harald Hardrada found himself fighting in Sicily as captain of the Varangian Guard alongside a Roman general, George. Since the two jockeyed endlessly for position, the others got them to draw lots for top dog status. Each marked his ballot, and to ensure (as he said) that his mark was different, Harald asked to see George’s.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, despite, just, otherwise, since, whereas, who.
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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