The highly trained and disciplined cavalry units, supported by the. As a veteran campaigner, the byzantine emperor maurice 582602 compiled a unique and influential handbook intended for the field commander. List of books and articles about military strategy. In terms of not usurping power, or being able to prevent others from usurping power, it was a significant step up from the armies of the days of rome past. An effective, but risky, tactic was to send a chiliarchia to seize and defend a high position, such as the top of a hill, as a diversion, while the cataphracts or klibanophoroi, supported by the reserve infantry, enveloped the enemys flank. That a textbook infantry army could be made up of 16 chiliarchies is shown by mcgeer 3. Viking life viking art medieval town medieval castle fantasy castle fantasy map viking books age of empires norse vikings. A large corpus of byzantine military literature survives. A comparative study georgios theotokis this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their enemies in eastern anatolia, syria and in upper mesopotamia in the tenth century. Byzantine troops used a new system of defense, greek fire, coupled with successful defensive warfare to survive the attack. The byzantine emperors studied roman strategy and tactics and wrote some of the first essays on the subject. It is primarily focused on cavalry tactics and formations, yet it also elaborates on matters of infantry, sieges, baggage trains, drilling and marching.
Otherwise, in terms of organization, tactics and weapons the army was not so different from the 10th century version. Apr 10, 2019 the byzantine army had to have strong defensive capabilities if it was to survive, and the introduction of these new tactics helped byzantium to endure the arab juggernaut. At the beginning days, the byzantine army was very much similar to. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine. The change in location, leadership, and resources caused the tactics to change from the original roman ones. By 867, the empire had restabilised its position in both the east and the west, and the efficiency of its defensive military structure enabled its emperors to begin planning wars of reconquest in the east. Early byzantine army units byzantine and varangian forces fall of constantinople, 1453. In terms of weapons and armour the only major changes was that byzantine heavy cavalry was rearmed and retrained to fight in the west european tradition, as described by the byzantine writer john kinnamos. In this first complete english translation, the strategikon is an invaluable source not only for early byzantine history but for the general history of the art of war. The byzantine army was the primary military body of the byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the byzantine navy. Byzantine infantry were trained to operate with cavalry at all levels and to exploit any gaps created by the cavalry. How effective was the byzantine army compared to the roman. This book should be in the book case of every any fan of the middle byzantine period, and medieval history.
A fantastic book for anyone interested in the military tactics of the byzantine empire or anyone interested military history in general. The byzantine empires height was the classical roman empire, but i assume you mean after the fall of the west. Mar 01, 2019 byzantine, byzantine empire, byzantine documentary, roman army documentary, fall of the roman empire, ancient rome, late roman empire, ancient roman history, western roman empire, eastern roman. The language of the army was still latin though later and especially after the 6th century greek dominates, as greek became the official language of the entire empire but it became considerably more sophisticated in terms of strategy, tactics and organization. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century. Medieval world medieval fantasy military art military history byzantine army byzantine. Approaches to military, social and administrative history, 6th12th centuries ashgate. Characteristically byzantine manuals were first produced in the sixth century. Weapons and warfare throughout history and the analysis of doctrine, strategy and tactics. The byzantine army had to have strong defensive capabilities if it was to survive, and the introduction of these new tactics helped byzantium to endure the arab juggernaut.
Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the. Feb 11, 2015 as i have written a long post on byzantine military units, this time im again on byzantium though on their navy an battle tactics this time. There are a number of military manuals surviving from the byzantine era. The byzantine art of war explores the military history of the thousandyear empire of the eastern mediterranean, byzantium. He explains tactics, make up of armies, equipment, and overall strategy. Books to read my books military tactics george patton military figures reading rainbow man up german army celebrities.
Greek history, ancient history, art history, byzantine army, viking character. Byzantine battlefield tactics, although highly flexible and adaptable, were based invariably on archery first, then shock assault as needed. Strategikon of maurice project gutenberg selfpublishing. Dec 10, 2012 warfare, state and society in the byzantine world 5651204 by john haldon the most complete survey of military matters the byzantine wars by john haldon analysis of various famous battles and the changing tactics of the army the fortifications and defense of constantinople by byron tsangadas. Jan 03, 2001 as a veteran campaigner, the byzantine emperor maurice 582602 compiled a unique and influential handbook intended for the field commander. Vasilievs history is wonderfully detailed but is not very strong in military history. John haldon, warfare, state and society in the byzantine world. Although the byzantines suffered many attacks, prolonged sieges, internal rebellions, and even a period of occupation in the th century ad by the crusaders in the fourth crusade, constantinoples legendary defences were the most formidable in bot. The early middle ages saw a revival of these works in the byzantine empire.
The byzantine empire in the early seventh century suffered a series of disastrous setbacks at the hands of the sassanid persians. It will be of interest to students and scholars of medieval and byzantine institutional history. Been taking the byzantines out on campaigns during the summer and found out some things that i want to share with my fellow strategoi. A direct descendant of the roman army, the byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. In the second half of the 3rd century bc the fifth book of philo the mechanicus. Byzantine tactics were to immediately collect a force of cavalry from the nearest themes and to trail the invading saracen army. List of books and articles about military strategy online. Romes armies were in nearconstant civil war, and apart f. I suspect that, in practice, generals tried to make their armies as large as was possible, but that in text books, writers worked with a standard figure of 16,000 soldiers. The late byzantine army is a major work of scholarship that fills a gap in the understanding of the late byzantine empire. While the fleets of the unified roman empire faced few great naval threats, operating as a policing force vastly inferior in. It was among the most effective armies of western eurasia for.
For example, the byzantine army was the first army in the world to. That military strategy has become national strategy, involving complex assessments of technological resources, politics, and national priorities, was made clear in the vietnam war and afghanistan war where superior strategies and tactics allowed small nations to defeat great powers armed with the. Hetaireia, komnenianera army pronoia, palaiologanera army allagia varangian guard. While trajans force would have been more professional than the byzantine army in the thematic period, by basils day fully professional soldiers again made up most of the army. The sylloge tacticorum is a midbyzantine example of the literary genre of military manuals or taktika which stretches back to antiquity. The text consists of 12 chapters, or books, on various aspects of the tactics employed by the byzantine army of the 6th and 7th century a. The byzantines was the first empire to have combine arms in their warfare strategy. Throughout its history the empire faced a multitude of challenges from foreign invaders seeking to plunder its wealth and to occupy its lands, from the deadly hunnic hordes of attila, to the arab armies of islam, to the western crusaders bent on. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century edinburgh university press, 2018 georgios theotokis interview. Through a summary of their strategies, tactics, and innovations in the tools of war, the book closes with an analysis of the contributions of this remarkable empire. The military of the byzantines weapons and warfare. Georgios theotokis this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their enemies in eastern anatolia, syria and in upper mesopotamia in the tenth century. The latter often copies the former, word for word, but incorporates changes made during the intervening 30 years, as well as other materials.
Handbook of byzantine military strategy philadelphia 1984 178p. The warfare tactics of the byzantines is a lot more complex than roman military tactics such as the wedge and the tortoise. By the time of the socalled byzantine era the surviving eastern roman empire true power on the battle field had long. Aug 14, 2015 byzantine battlefield tactics, although highly flexible and adaptable, were based invariably on archery first, then shock assault as needed. The late roman, early byzantine infantryman fall of the. Dec 27, 2018 tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century edinburgh university press, 2018 georgios theotokis interview. That military strategy has become national strategy, involving complex assessments of technological resources, politics, and national priorities, was made clear in the vietnam war and afghanistan war where superior strategies and tactics allowed small nations to defeat great powers armed with the latest weaponry. Byzantine, byzantine empire, byzantine documentary, roman army documentary, fall of the roman empire, ancient rome, late roman empire, ancient. I dont know enough about the justinianic army to really compare it, so ill compare the army under basil ii to the army under trajan. The first comprehensive history of byzantine warfare in the tenth century this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their enemies in eastern anatolia, syria and in upper mesopotamia in the tenth century. Books to read my books military tactics george patton military figures reading rainbow man up german army celebrities known for his rousing speeches and military triumphs, general george s.
The book, sowing the dragons teeth, by eric mcgeer contains copies of two similar military manuals, the praecepta, by nikephoros phokas, c. Byzantine battle tactics the byzantine army evolved from that of the late roman empire. Like the empire it served, it was a direct continuation from its imperial roman predecessor, but played a far greater role in the defence and survival of the state than its earlier iteration. Which means that they had groups specially train different to help on another. Military art military history byzantine army historical pictures roman empire deities warfare romans old. One of these books was the byzantine wars by john haldon. This book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their enemies in eastern anatolia, syria and in upper mesopotamia in the tenth century.
The standard language of the army was still latin though later and especially after the 6th century greek dominates, as greek became the official language of the entire empire, but it became considerably more sophisticated in terms of strategy, tactics and organization. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the tenth. Known for his rousing speeches and military triumphs, general george s. The empire from constantine the great to justinian constantine and christianity arianism and the council of nicaea the church and the state at the end of the fourth century theological disputes and the third ecumenical council.
He is professor emeritus of history, the catholic university of america. This article lists and briefly discusses the most important of many treatises on military science. They greatly proliferated in the tenth century, when the byzantines embarked on their conquests in the east and the balkans, but production abated after the early eleventh century. Book xi offers an innovative analysis of the fighting methods, customs and habitat of the empires most significant. The romans eventually replaced their citizensoldiers with a paid professional army whose training, equipment, skill at fortification, road building, and siege warfare became legendary. The byzantine army or eastern roman army was the primary military body of the byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the byzantine navy.
Just as they had an interesting, powerful, and multicultural army, their navy was quite fascinating too and their siege weapons even more. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th. Editor of the definitive greek text of the strategikon, george t. The first comprehensive history of byzantine warfare in the tenth century this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their. He has published many books and articles, including byzantium in the iconoclast era ca 680850. The anonymous byzantine treatise on strategy was written by a retired combat engineer around the middle of the sixth century, while skirmishing and campaign. The sources ashgate 2001 and state, army and society in byzantium. The first comprehensive history of byzantine warfare in the tenth century this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their en. Byzantine naval warfare, siege weapons, battle tactics the. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia. This volume presents a selection of articles dealing with key aspects of byzantine attitudes to war and violence, with military administration and organization at tactical and strategic levels, weapons and armaments.
Rufinus was an orator and a lawyer, a master of civil administration and agenda. Byzantine battle tactics military wiki fandom powered by. Byzantine naval warfare, siege weapons, battle tactics. It is structured so as to first familiarize the readers with the empires military history, weaponry and tactics and finally describe selected campaigns. Iron and steel weapons had long since replaced those made of bronze. Describing in detail weaponry and armor, daily life on the march or in camp, clothing. Since everyone in the army except the heavy infantry carried a bow, an incredible amount of firepower could be directed against the enemy. Fall of the byzantine empire by christian jegou during military technology throughout eurasia retained the principal characteristics of earlier times. It was one of a number produced during the tenth century ce, a period when the byzantine empire enjoyed a large measure of success in its wars against its traditional enemy, the arabs. How was the byzantine army different during the komnenian. Mar 04, 2016 in terms of not usurping power, or being able to prevent others from usurping power, it was a significant step up from the armies of the days of rome past.
A direct continuation of the roman army, the eastern roman army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. In this post will describe what army compositions ive been using and some tactics that i learnt. Dennis is the editor and translator also of three byzantine military treatises and the letters of manuel ii palaeologus. Infantry tactics of the early byzantine army byu scholarsarchive. The byzantine army evolved from that of the late roman empire. It was because of him that the eastern empirebyzantiumbecame a bureaucracy for a thousand years. Deckers the byzantine art of war offers a historical analysis of the eastern roman army throughout its duration and is aimed at a wide audience of hobbyists and students.
A direct descendant of the legions of the old roman empire, the byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. Sep 03, 2016 byzantine tactics and reinforcments saga september 3, 2016 october 18, 2016 dwellstrom leave a comment been taking the byzantines out on campaigns during the summer and found out some things that i want to share with my fellow strategoi. It was among the most effective armies of western eurasia for much of the middle ages. The byzantine navy was the naval force of the east roman or byzantine empire. Such a force might have been too small to seriously challenge the invaders, but it deterred small detachments of plunderers from breaking away from the main army. Warfare was an integral part of the operations of the medieval eastern roman, or byzantine, empire, both in its organization, as well as in social thinking and political ideology. The general principle of the military defence of the empire in the 4th century consisted in large forces stationary on the frontiers, and reserve forces, stationed in the interior. After rome fell, the byzantine empire continued to survive for hundreds of years. Under the emperor heraclius the byzantine army reorganized its tactics and strategy to inflict a series of crushing defeats on the sassanids that culminated at nineveh in 629.
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