The Varangian Guard was a mercenary bodyguard unit in the Byzantine empire. Mostly made out of Vikings, and among Vikings you where a noble if you held enough land for farming and maintaining men and ships. Um, not sure if I am helping here. But basicly.
Viking noble gather his men on his longboat, goes to Turkey, serves as bodyguard for a couple of years, get paid richly, returns home and increases his land.
**edit** And they were active during 10th to the 14th century.
