Warfare in Medieval Europe c.400-c.1453

445 Pages·2016·7.879 MB·English

by  Bernard S. Bachrach, David S. Bachrach

Warfare in Medieval Europe
c.400–c.1453
Warfare in Medieval Europe c.400–c.1453 provides a thematic discussion of the
nature and conduct of war, including its economic, technological, social, and reli-
gious contexts, from the late Roman Empire to the end of the Hundred Years’
War. The geographical scope of this volume encompasses Latin Europe from Ibe-
ria to Poland and from Scandinavia and Britain to Sicily and includes the interac-
tion between Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, particularly in the context of
the crusading movement.
Bernard and David Bachrach explore the origins of the institutions, physical infra-
structure, and intellectual underpinnings of medieval warfare and trace the ways
in which medieval warfare was diffused beyond Europe to the Middle East and
beyond. Written in an accessible and engaging way and including chapters on
military topography, military technology, logistics, combat, and strategy, this is a
defi nitive synthesis on medieval warfare.
The book is accompanied by a companion website which includes interactive maps
of the chief military campaigns, chapter resources, a glossary of terms and an inter-
active timeline which provides a chronological backbone for the thematic chapters
in the book.
Warfare in Medieval Europe i s an essential resource for all students of medieval
war and warfare.
Bernard S. Bachrach is Professor of History at the University of Minnesota. His
numerous publications include Charlemagne’s Early Campaigns (768–777) (2013).
David S. Bachrach is Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire.
His previous books include Warfare in Tenth-Century Germany (2012).

WARFARE IN
MEDIEVAL EUROPE
c.400–c.1453
Bernard S. Bachrach and
David S. Bachrach
First published 2017
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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© 2017 Bernard S. Bachrach and David S. Bachrach
The rights of Bernard S. Bachrach and David S. Bachrach to be identifi ed as authors
of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in
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trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to
infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bachrach, Bernard S., 1939– author. | Bacharach, David S., author.
Title: Warfare in medieval Europe, c.400–c.1453 / Bernard S. Bachrach and
David S. Bachrach.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, [2016]
Identifi ers: LCCN 2016011808 | ISBN 9781138887657 (hardback : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781138887664 (pbk. : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315512655 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Military art and science—History—Medieval, 500–1500. |
Europe—History, Military—476–1492
Classifi cation: LCC U37 .B332 2016 | DDC 355.02094/0902—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2016011808
ISBN: 978-1-138-88765-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-88766-4 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-51265-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Galliard
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
We dedicate this text to all of our students, past, present, and future.

C ontents
Figures and acknowledgements viii
Acknowledgments xii
Maps xiii
Introduction 1
Sources: The writing of medieval military history 6
Military topography 36
Military organization of medieval Europe 93
Military logistics 154
Military technology 213
Medieval combat 274
Strategy 335
Conclusion 389
Index 391
Figures and acknowledgements
Figures
Figure 1.1 A n illustrated page from the Gutenberg Bible.
© Ivy Close Images / Alamy Stock Photo. 15
Figure 1.2 A n annal in a manuscript. MS C IV 2, f. 16v.
By permission of the Royal Irish Academy. © RIA, 2002. 17
Figure 1.3 A provisioning document from the time of Edward I. 24
Figure 1.4 E xcavated weapons from sixth-century Italy.
© The Art Archive / Alamy Stock Photo. 28
Figure 1.5 A bove-ground remains of a fortifi cation in the
Lake District, UK. © Roger Coulam / Alamy Stock Photo. 29
Figure 1.6 E xcavated foundations of a fortifi cation in Northumberland,
UK. © Clearview / Alamy Stock Photo. 29
Figure 2.1 A n example of a Roman milestone. © PhotoStock-Israel /
Alamy Stock Photo. 41
Figure 2.2 A n example of Roman walls in Spain. © Peter Horree /
Alamy Stock Photo. 54
Figure 2.3 C rac des Chevaliers, Syria. © Nick Ledger /
Alamy Stock Photo. 78
Figure 2.4 C onwy Castle in Wales. © robertharding /
Alamy Stock Photo. 79
Figure 2.5 T he fortifi ed village of Fort Bourtange, The Netherlands.
© frans lemmens / Alamy Stock Photo. 85
Figure 2.6 O ffa’s Dyke in Shropshire, UK. © The Photolibrary
Wales / Alamy Stock Photo. 88
Figures and acknowledgements ix
Figure 3.1 S hield insignia of Roman units from
Notitia dignitatum . © Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
München, Clm 10291, fol. 94v. 96
Figure 3.2 L arge numbers of Roman soldiers from the
Arch of Constantine. © PRISMA ARCHIVO /
Alamy Stock Photo. 97
Figure 3.3 T he siege of a fortress from the Carolingian period.
Utrecht University Library, MS. 32, fol. 9r. 102
Figure 3.4 C rusader army from a contemporary illustration.
© The Print Collector / Alamy Stock Photo. 137
Figure 3.5 T wo massed opposing armies from the Hundred Years’
War period. © Niday Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo. 144
Figure 4.1 A depiction of medieval horses. © The Art Archive /
Alamy Stock Photo. 159
Figure 4.2 a ) Example of a Roman road surface. Licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported
license by MM. 163
b ) Example of a medieval road. © Lisa Turano,
reprinted by permission. 164
Figure 4.3 A Medieval ship from excavation. © Jeff Morgan 03 /
Alamy Stock Photo. 166
Figure 4.4 M edieval ship depicted on coin c.1363–1369.
© CNG 2002–2010. 166
Figure 4.5 A mphorae. Licensed under the Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license
by Ad Meskens. 169
Figure 4.6 C ol du Tourmalet mountain pass in the Pyrenees.
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share
Alike 2.5 Generic License by Patrick Giraud. 193
Figure 4.7 A n example of a medieval bridge in France.
Released to public domain by Marion Schneider
and Christoph Aistleitner. 198
Figure 5.1 N orman armour from the Bayeux tapestry.
© GL Archive / Alamy Stock Photo. 216
Figure 5.2 A n example of late Roman mail. © Lanmas /
Alamy Stock Photo. 217