“Vikings that made it all the way to Istanbul. “
The Byzantines used Vikings as a mercenary force. They were called the Varangian Guard. They were some of the most feared soldiers in the near east who used two-handed, double-bit axes rather than swords or spears.
Yeah, it’s true there were Vikings in Constantinople!
I wonder if they had to convert to Islam before serving? I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when a Turk tried to force a Norseman to convert to Islam.