Emperor Basil formed the guard after discovering that his own guards were part of a plot on his life. He reasoned that foreigners would be less likely to take bribes and be involved in court intrigue. The Russian king at the time had just hired 6,000 Scandinavian mercenaries to help cement his rule, and couldn't pay them anymore, so he sent them to Constantinople as a gift to the Emperor. Afterwards, these men went home and told their friends and family about the opportunity they had found. Basil and his successors were only too happy to employ Norse warriors.