Varangian

The Varangians (Old Norse: Væringjar, Greek: Varangoi) were guards stationed in Constantinople and Derinkuyu. They were the Byzantine equivalent of Italian Seekers, and fought with halberds and spears.

Varangians also wielded pistols once they were disarmed in combat, or when the Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze fled to an inaccessible position.

Trivia

Historically, the Varangians hailed from Scandinavia, parts of Medieval Russia, and England, and consisted primarily of Norse and Anglo-Saxon recruits. From the 9th to 14th century, they served as the personal guard of the Byzantine Emperor, functioning similarly to the personal guard of the Ottoman Sultan, the Janissaries.
- Their name comes from Old Norse compound væringi, from vár "pledge" and gengi "companion", i.e. "a sworn person" or "a foreigner who has taken service with a new lord by a treaty of fealty to him, or protégé."
Historically the Varangians were famous for wielding axes, and actually more resemble the in-game Almogavars, and vice-versa.
- In the artbook of Assassin's Creed: Revelations, concept art of the Varangians showed that they were supposed to wield one-handed swords.
Looting or stealing from Varangians would give Ezio smoke screen or smoke decoy bombs should his tactical or diversionary pouches be empty.
Varangians wear szyszak style helmets, however, this is historically inappropriate as this type of helmet was used by the Polish winged hussars in the 17th century.
Varangians wear lamellar armor which is appropriate for the Byzantine context.
Historically, Varangian equipment would likely have been along the lines of their Scandinavian heritage - large round shields, axes, swords and the famous Daneaxe.
The name of these guards is wrong, they are actually Almogavars. They are troops of the Kingdom of Aragon; mostly Catalans and Navarre, recruited as mercenaries by the Byzantines to fight against the Muslims during the Crusades until the fall of Constantinople. Basically they are mountain troops and shepherds with some experience in combat against the Kingdom of France, whose life at the summits has made them hard and dangerous guerrillas with good survival training, experts in surprise attacks. This could have been a mistake of the programmers when it comes to naming soldiers that has not been corrected and can lead to historical confusion.