The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth Century to 1340For medieval strategy and tactics there is nothing better than this book. MILITARY HISTORY (US) La traduction integrale en anglais...est la consecration internationale, bien tardive, d'un grand classique du genre. MOYEN AGE Warfare is a major feature of the history of the middle ages, but its study has often been the province of amateurs; only recently have the technical details of warfare and its organisation been subject to proper scholarly investigation. Professor Verbruggen's major work, outstanding in its field, applies rigorous standards in analysing often very obscure surviving evidence, and reaches conclusions very different from earlier generations of military historians. He begins by analysing the sources for our knowledge of the military history of the period, assessing their reliability: some chroniclers exaggerate, others are careful observers or have access to official records. There follows an examination of the constituent parts of the medieval army, knights and footsoldiers, equipment and terms of service, behaviour on the field, and psychology, before the problematic question of medieval tactics is addressed through analysis of accounts of a series of major battles. Strategy is discussed in the context of these battles: whether to seek battle, fight a defensive war, or attempt a war of conquest.Originally published in Dutch in 1954, now translated and updated.J.F. VERBRUGGENis a distinguished Belgian military historian of wide experience. Prisoner of war, student, and a member of the resistance movement during the second world war, he subsequently obtained his Ph.D., with greatest distinction, for research into warfare in the middle ages, and remained in the army as a lecturer at the Royal Military School in Brussels until in 1956 he went to the Belgian Congo. He spent twenty years teaching in Africa, retiring as Professor of History, University of Congo, and University of Bujumbura (Burundi) in 1976. |
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The Art of Warfare in Western Europe During the Middle Ages: From the Eighth ... J. F. Verbruggen No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
allies Annales Gandenses archers armoured cavalry arms Arsuf attack Baldwin banner battle of Arsuf battlefield besieged Bouvines Brabançons Brabant Bruges camp campaign castle Chanson charge Christians chroniclers Chronicon Chronique commander communal armies count count of Flanders Courtrai crossbowmen crusaders defeat defend Delbrück duke emperor enemy England English example expedition fighting Flanders flank fleeing Flemings Flemish followed foot foot-soldiers forces formation fortresses fought France Francorum French knights front Gesta Ghent Grundmann Guiart Guy of Namur Hainault heavy cavalry Heelu Henry Holy Land horsemen horses Ibid Jean le Bel king knightly armies lances leaders Liège lord Louis medieval mercenaries military Mons-en-Pévèle Moslems Namur nobles Oman Paris Philip Augustus Philip of Alsace Philippis prince protected ranks Raymond of Aguilers Renaud de Dammartin reserve retreat scara Scots siege soldiers squires tactics Templars took Tournai tournaments troops units vassals Verbruggen victory warfare William the Breton Worringen