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By John Haldon
Osprey Publishing
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This
book provides a definitive guide to the organisational, logistical and strategic
development of the Byzantine army, its weaponry and its technology, offering
important information on Byzantium's political, social and cultural history.
Short Synopsis
Byzantium
survived for 800 years, yet its dominions and power fluctuated dramatically
during that time. John Haldon tells the story from the days when the Empire was
barely clinging on to survival, to the age when its fabulous wealth attracted
Viking mercenaries and Asian nomad warriors to its armies, their very appearance
on the field enough to bring enemies to terms. In 1453 the last emperor of
Byzantium, Constantine XII, died fighting on the ramparts, bringing to a
romantic end the glorious history of this legendary empire.
Contents
The book is copiously illustrated with both, colour and black and white, contemporary illustrations and art, as well as photographs of Byzantine sites, and archeological finds. In addition there are useful maps and some intriguing diagrams of military camps, battle plans and orders of march.
Author
John
Haldon is Professor of Byzantine History at the University of Birmingham. His
research focuses on the history of the early and middle Byzantine period, and on
medieval state structures across the European and Islamic worlds. He has
published many books and articles, including 'Byzantium in the Seventh Century'
(Cambridge. 1997), 'Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World' (London.
1999) and 'Byzantium: A History' (Stroud, 2000).
Although
no longer a wargaming, John Haldon was a keen Ancient and Napoleonic wargamer in the late
1960s and one of the founder members of the Birmingham
Wargames Society.
Specification
David Millward.
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