varjag, hanseatic league and Variags of Khand....

 Does anyone on the list know whether or not Tolkien
drew on the Swedish/Gotlandic word "varjag" which was
used to refer to Guilds or Groups of
Merchants/Soldiers in the Baltic area before the
foundation of the Hanseatic league? It seems like
there could be a connection here to the Variags of
Khand, one of the subjugated peoples under Mordor's
rule.

 Any references ?

thanks,
 -elliott

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