What was it that made the Varangian Guard an 'elite unit' in the Byzantine army? Was their equipment better? Were the expected to train more diligently? Was it simply the fact that they were considered more loyal?

by heracliusIII
TheBulgarSlayer

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4dfncz/how_did_the_varangian_guards_loyalty_to_the/d1r84n1

An older post of mine isn't the direct answer to this question but I think it touches on part of it