Publisher's Synopsis
Battles of the Medieval World introduces twenty key battles from Europe and the Near East in an age when traditional chivalric codes gave way to increased professionalism in armies. Beginning in 1066 with the battle of Hastings, where William of Normandy's cavalry successfully defeated Harold's Saxon forces, and finishing with the siege and capture of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II's Turkish army, examples of every type of Medieval warfare are featured. The battles include massed cavalry encounters, such as Bouvines in 1214 and Leignitz in 1241, the employment of the devastatingly effective longbow at Crécy in 1346 and Agincourt in1415, the successful Venetian-Crusader amphibious assault in 1204 on Constantinople, and sea battles at Malta (1283) and Sluys (1340). Colourful accounts of lesser-known encounters are also included, such as Saladin's destruction of a Crusader army at Hattin (1187), the siege of Chateau Gaillard (1203-4), and the victory of the lowly Hussites over their overlords at Vitkov, near Prague (1420), where both wagons and gunpowder were employed to great effect. Each battle includes an introduction to the background, a concise description of the action, and an analysis of the aftermath. A specially commissioned colour map illustrating the dispositions and movement of forces brings the subject to life and helps the reader to grasp the development of the battle at a glance. Included are more than 200 colour and black and white maps, and artworks and photographs illustrating the battles, leading players, and tactics of the era, making Battles of the Medieval World a useful and accessible introduction to some key battles of the time. Designed for both the general reader and enthusiast, the book is an essential companion for anyone interested in the battles and tactics of the Medieval age.
