Medieval Warfare Source Book: Warfare in Western Christendom

328 Pages·1995·117.49 MB·English

by  David Nicolle

~
In series with the other Source Books on the
Napoleonic Wars, American Civil War,
—
Colonial Wars and World War One, this vol-
ume seeks to provide in a fact-filled narrative
_
a comprehensive reference to its subject in a
more cohesive, valuable style that that offered
4
by an A—Z encyclopedia.
This is the first part of a two-volume work
k
that divides its coverage of" warfare between
the fifth and fourteenth centuries into those-
—
seen in internal Europe and those campaigns
waged by European nations beyond their _
bonndaries and wars in other continents.
The author supplements his informative —
text with illustrations and line drawings,
—
extensive source notes and appendixes. He '
divides his first volume into:
_
‘Barbarian’ invasions'and the .
‘barbarian’ states
Early medieval Europe
The High Middle Ages .
Late medieval Europe
In each sectidn he covers the peeples, cam-
paigns, battles, armies — their recruitment,
organisation, tactics, strategy, weaponry, fortiv
fication, siege warfare and naval campaigns.
This part Of the book is followed by biog-
raphies of the leading characters of the
period.
The volumes, separately or combined, PCP; _
resent quality research diligently compiled
and empathetically presented for the academ-
ic and lay. historian, the modeller or
wargamer and the student of warfare during
this changing, colourful period.
F
I.
-_g .

DAVID NICOLLE
MEDIEVAL WARFARE
SOURCE BOOK
’ Warfare in Western Christendom
Statue of one of thefaunders
or patrons (y'Naumbeyg
Cathedral, mid-13th cmtury,
Germany.
MED‘ifi'i‘WKfiFARE
SOUUR CE B"O K
Warfare in Western Christendom
Arms and Armour Press form or by any means electronic or
All Iropri-nt of the Casse-ll Group mechanical including photocopying
Wellington House, 125 Strand, - recording or any information storage and
London WC2R OBB retrieval system without permission in
writing from the Publisher.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publiration
This edition published 1999 by Brockhampton Press,
_Data: a Catalogue record for this book is
a member of Hodder Headline PLC Group.
available from the British Library
ISBN 1-86019-889-4?
Design-ed and edited by DAG Publications
© David Nicolle, 19-95 Ltd, Designed by David Gibbons; layout by
All rights reserved. No part of this bank Anthony A. Evans; edited by Michael Box»
may be reproduced or transmitted in any all: Printed at Oriental Press, Dubai, U.A.E.
Jacket illustrations:
Front ‘Battle of Stamford Bridge; LEstoire de Saint Aedward 1e Rei by the school of
Matthew Parris; English, c.1245. (MS. Ee359, folio 32v, Cambridge University Library).
Back, top: Wall painting by Altichiero, c.1375, in the chapel of St. james or St, Felix,
the Santo of St. Anthony, Padua. Back, bottom: The fortified port of Aigues-Mortes,
founded by Louis IX of France in 1240 as a base for his crusading expeditions
and completed by his son, Philip the Fair. (DAG)
Medieval Warfare Source Book,
Verizon: 2: Christian Ewope and Its Neighbm
will follow the saute pattern as this first volume, including Biographies,
Sources, Miscellanea, Glossary and Index. The main chapter headings
are planned as
Byzantines, Persians and Muslilns (400—750)
Christian-Muslim Confrontation in Europe, Asia and Africa (750-1050)
Turks, Mongols, Timurids and the Rise of Russia (600—1400)
Crusade, Reconquista and Counter-Crusade (1050—1400)
China and the Far East (400—1400)
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION II. EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE Italy 91
(650-1100) '53 Anglo-Saxon England as
I. ‘BARBARIAN’ INVASIONS Major Campaigns 55 Celtic Regions 933
AND THE ‘BARBARIAN’ ARMY RECRUITMENT 57 The Normans: Normandy and.
. STATES (400—650) The Carolingian Empire and the British Isles 93
Major Campaigns 1.1 France 57 Scandinavia and the Baltic 94
ARMY RECRUITMENT 13 The Empire: Germany 59 Eastern Europe 194
Romano—Byzantine Armies 13 The Empire: Italy 59 SIEGE WARFARE 913.
Hun and Steppe Invaders 1-4 Southern Italy The Carolingian Empire and.
Germanic Forces 15 Anglo-Saxon England France 98
. Celtic Forces .23 Celtic Regions 61 Other Regions 1.01
MMTARY ORGANISATION "23 The Norman's: Normandy and NAVAL WARFARE 101
s1
Romano-Byzantine Armies 23 the British Isles The Mediterranean 1:01
s2
Hun and Steppe Invaders '24" Scandinavia and the Baltic The Northern Seas 101
52
Germanic Fortes '24 Eastern Europe River Warfare 102
Celtic Forces '25 MIIJTARY ORGANISAnoN
STRATEGY AND TACTICS 26 The Carolingian Empire and III. THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES
103
Broad Strategy '26 France 54 (11 00—12 75)
1.05
Troop Types 28 The Empire: Germany 65 Major Campaigns
105
Battle Tactics 29 The Empire: Italy 65 ARMY RECRUITMENT
105;
Combat Styles 30 "Southern Italy 67 France
109.
Field and Camp Anglo-Saxon England 67 The Empire: Germany
1.11
Fortifications 31 Celtic Regions 69 The Empire: Italy I
112
WEAPoNRY AND HARNESS '31 The Normans: Normandy and Southern Italy
113
Archery 31 the British Isles 71 England
11.5
Swords and Daggers '33 Scandinavia and the Baltic 71 Celtic States
11.5
Spears and Javelins 34 Eastern Europe 73. Scandinavia and the Baltic
117
Other Weapons '34 STRATEGY AND TACTICS 74 Eastern Europe
113
"35 Broad Strategy '74 ORGANIsATIoN
Shields
113
Helmets 37 Troop Types 7.6 France
118
Body Armour 39 Battle Tactics 77 The. Empire: Germany
1-19
Limb Defences / '39 Combat Styles 7'8 The Empire: Italy ..
121
Horse Harness 39 Field and Camp Fo -rtifications 7'8 Southern Italy
121
Horse armour 41 WEAPONRY AND HARNESS 79- England
1,21.
FoRTmCATTON 4—1 Archery 79 Celtic States
122
Romano-Byzantine Armies- 41 Swords and Daggers 80 Scandinavia and the Baltic
123
' Hun ”and Steppe Invaders 46 Spears and javelins 81 Eastern Europe
1-24
Germanic Forces 46 Other Weapons 81 STRATEGY AND TACTICS-
Celtic Forces 46 Shields 83 Broad Strategy 1-24
12-5
49 Helmets 85' Troop Types '
SIEGE WARFARE
123
Romano—Byzantine Armies 49 Body Armour 87 Battle Tactics
1-29
50
Hun and Steppe Invade-rs Limb Defences 8,8 Combat Styles
1-30
50 Horse Harness 88' Field and Camp Fortifitati'ons
Germanic Forces
50 Horse Armour 91 Weaponry and Harness 130
Celtic Forces
130
, NAvAL WARFARE: so FORTIFICATION 91 Archery
so The Carolingian Empire and Swords 13.2
The Mediterranean
132
51 France 91 Spears
The Northern Seas
132
5-2 Germany 91' Other Weapons
River Warfare
6 CONTENTS
Shields 133 Helmets 1 92 Horses, Harness and
233
Helmets 134 Body Armour 195 Land Tran3port
Body Armour 135 Limb Defences 196 Naval Warfare, Water Transport
23-4
Limb Defences 138 Horse Harness and Armour. 197 and Combined Operations
Horse Harness 138 FORTIEICATION 197 Flags and Heraldry 23.5
Horse Armour 138 France 199 Arms, Armour and the
235
FORTIFICATION 138 The Empire: Germany 201 Weapons Trade
2237
France 141 The Empire: Italy 204 Firearms
23s
The Empire: Germany 142 England and the Celtic States 204 Miscellaneous
The Empire: Italy 142 Scandinavia and the Baltic 204
Southern Italy 146 Eastern Europe 204 239
England 146 SIEGE WARFARE 206 LAWS OF WAR 241
Celtic States 146 Towers 8c ‘Cats’ 206 VICTORS AND VANQUISHED 246'
Scandinavia and the Baltic 146 Stone-Throwing Engines 207 Distribution of Booty 246
Eastern Europe 147 Espringals, Great Crossbow and Prisoners, Enslavement and the
SIEGE WARFARE 147 Cannon 207 Treatment of Non-combatants 2'46
France 151 Rams, Mining and Scaling— INTELLIGENCE AND ESPIONAOE 249
The Empire: Germany and Italy 152 Ladders 208 TRAINING 250
Southern Italy 152 Incendiary Devices 208 THE SINEws or WAR _ 252
OtherRegions 152 NAVAL WARFARE 208 Taxation and Pay 252
NAVAL WARFARE 152 The Mediterranean 21 1 Feeding an Army 255
The Mediterranean 153 The Northern Seas 212 MEDICAL SERVICES 255
The Northern Seas 154 River Warfare 212 MORALE 256
River Warfare 154 Religion 256
V. BIOGRAPHIES 213 Literature and Literacy 260
IV. LATE MEDIEVAL EUROPE Alfred the Great 215 Music 261
(1275-1400) 155 Attila the Hun 215 LONG-DISTANCE
Major Campaigns 157 Bertrand du Guesclin 215 COMMUNICATIONS 265
ARMY RECRUITMENT 159 Boleslaw I Chobr‘y 215 TRANSPORT 266
France 160' Brian Béru-mha 216 Land Transport 266
The Empire: Germany 161 Catwallaun In Cadfan 216 River Transport 269
The. Empire: Italy 162 Charles Martel 216 COMBINED OPERATIONS 271
Italy: Venice and the South 163. Edward the Black Prince 216 Raiding 271
England 165 Gedymin 217 Horse Transports 271
Celtic States 166 George of Antioch 217 Coastal Landings 274
Scandinavia and the Baltic 166 Harald Hardradi 217 FLAGS AND HERALDRY 275
Eastern Europe- 166- Sir John Hawkwood 217 Banners, Totems and Symbols 275
ORGANISATION 168 Henry the Lion 218 Origins and Development Of
France 168 Krum 218 Western Heraldry 278
The Empire: Germany 170 Matilda 218 The Spread and Uses of
The Empire: Italy and Othon de Grandson 218 Heraldry 279
the Papal States 170 Robert I Bruce 219 Other Insignia 281
Italy: Venice and the South 173 Stefan Du§an 219 UNIFORMS: THEIR DECIJNE
England and the Celtic States 173 Theodoric the Great 219 AND RISE 283
Scandinavia and the Baltic 174 William Duke of Normandy 219 THE MEDIEVAL ARMS INDUSTRY 284
Eastern Europe 175 William Marshal the Elder 220 Mining, Materials and
Strategy and Tactics 178 Techniques 284
Broad Strategy 178 VI. SOURCES 221 Arms Manufacture 290
Troop Types 180 General Works 223 The Arms Trade 291
Battle Tactics 183 ‘Barbarian’ Invasions and FIREARMS: THEIR ORIGINS AND
Combat Styles 187 ‘Barbarian’ States 223 DEVELOPMENT 294
Field and Camp Fortifications 18.7 Early Medieval Europe 224 Gunpowder 294
WEAPONRY AND HARNESS 188 The High Middle Ages 227 Cannon 296
Archery 188 Late Medieval Europe 228.. Handguns 297
Swords and Daggers 190 Fortifications and Siege Warfare 230
Spears and Javelins 191 Laws of War and Prisoners 232 VIII. GLOSSARY 299
Other Weapons 191 Military Theory and Training 232
Shields 192 Morale and Motivation 233 INDEX 313