So on this other forum I frequent, the question came up: why, historically, was the Varangian Guard so loyal to the Byzantine Emperors? It got the wheels turning, I haven't posted a decent AH here in eons, and I wondered, what would it take to get a Varangian Guard that behaves the way, say, the Praetorian Guard did in OTL? You know, supporting usurpers and conspirators, killing emperors and auctioning the throne or putting their own guy in charge? How do we get a Varangian Guard that would be willing to do this, or is it even plausible?
As a quick add-on, why do you think the Varangian Guard was as loyal as it was in OTL? I have my own opinions that I've made known on said other forum, but I'm wondering what the take here is, and whether my thoughts jive with it.