The guard was first formed under Emperor Basil II's after 988, following the Christianization of Kievan Rus' and the union with Vladimir I of Kiev, who sent 6,000 men to Basil as a part of military assistance agreement.
The guard was first formed under Emperor Basil II's after 988. This was following the Christianization of Kievan Rus' with Vladimir I of Kiev. This was following the Christianization of the union with Vladimir I of Kiev. Vladimir I of Kiev sent 6,000 men to Basil as a part of military assistance agreement.