The first comprehensive history of byzantine warfare in the tenth century this book examines the strategies and military tactics of the byzantines and their. It is structured so as to first familiarize the readers with the empires military history, weaponry and tactics and finally describe selected campaigns. Characteristically byzantine manuals were first produced in the sixth century. The romans eventually replaced their citizensoldiers with a paid professional army whose training, equipment, skill at fortification, road building, and siege warfare became legendary. 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 byzantine army evolved from that of the late roman empire. It was among the most effective armies of western eurasia for. 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. Known for his rousing speeches and military triumphs, general george s. 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. Byzantine, byzantine empire, byzantine documentary, roman army documentary, fall of the roman empire, ancient rome, late roman empire, ancient. Byzantine naval warfare, siege weapons, battle tactics. He is professor emeritus of history, the catholic university of america. Editor of the definitive greek text of the strategikon, george t.
It was because of him that the eastern empirebyzantiumbecame a bureaucracy for a thousand years. 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. 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. 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. For example, the byzantine army was the first army in the world to. Aug 14, 2015 byzantine battlefield tactics, although highly flexible and adaptable, were based invariably on archery first, then shock assault as needed. 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. 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. In the second half of the 3rd century bc the fifth book of philo the mechanicus. 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. 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. Handbook of byzantine military strategy philadelphia 1984 178p.
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. 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. 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 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 byzantine empire in the early seventh century suffered a series of disastrous setbacks at the hands of the sassanid persians. 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. Books to read my books military tactics george patton military figures reading rainbow man up german army celebrities. Byzantine naval warfare, siege weapons, battle tactics the.
Which means that they had groups specially train different to help on another. A direct descendant of the legions of the old roman empire, the byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. Romes armies were in nearconstant civil war, and apart f. The late roman, early byzantine infantryman fall of the. Greek history, ancient history, art history, byzantine army, viking character. A direct descendant of the roman army, the byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. Medieval world medieval fantasy military art military history byzantine army byzantine. In this post will describe what army compositions ive been using and some tactics that i learnt. It is primarily focused on cavalry tactics and formations, yet it also elaborates on matters of infantry, sieges, baggage trains, drilling and marching. One of these books was the byzantine wars by john haldon. Byzantine battlefield tactics, although highly flexible and adaptable, were based invariably on archery first, then shock assault as needed. Since everyone in the army except the heavy infantry carried a bow, an incredible amount of firepower could be directed against the enemy.
A direct continuation of the roman army, the eastern roman army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization. Infantry tactics of the early byzantine army byu scholarsarchive. 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. Vasilievs history is wonderfully detailed but is not very strong in military history. A fantastic book for anyone interested in the military tactics of the byzantine empire or anyone interested military history in general. Rufinus was an orator and a lawyer, a master of civil administration and agenda. 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 byzantine emperors studied roman strategy and tactics and wrote some of the first essays on the subject. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century. The book, sowing the dragons teeth, by eric mcgeer contains copies of two similar military manuals, the praecepta, by nikephoros phokas, c. 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 military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the. He has published many books and articles, including byzantium in the iconoclast era ca 680850. Strategikon of maurice project gutenberg selfpublishing.
It was among the most effective armies of western eurasia for much of the middle ages. This book should be in the book case of every any fan of the middle byzantine period, and medieval history. As a veteran campaigner, the byzantine emperor maurice 582602 compiled a unique and influential handbook intended for the field commander. 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. 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. 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. He explains tactics, make up of armies, equipment, and overall strategy. Fall of the byzantine empire by christian jegou during military technology throughout eurasia retained the principal characteristics of earlier times. 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. Military art military history byzantine army historical pictures roman empire deities warfare romans old. It will be of interest to students and scholars of medieval and byzantine institutional history. Otherwise, in terms of organization, tactics and weapons the army was not so different from the 10th century version.
Dennis is the editor and translator also of three byzantine military treatises and the letters of manuel ii palaeologus. Book xi offers an innovative analysis of the fighting methods, customs and habitat of the empires most significant. The byzantine empires height was the classical roman empire, but i assume you mean after the fall of the west. Jan 03, 2001 as a veteran campaigner, the byzantine emperor maurice 582602 compiled a unique and influential handbook intended for the field commander. That a textbook infantry army could be made up of 16 chiliarchies is shown by mcgeer 3. 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. Hetaireia, komnenianera army pronoia, palaiologanera army allagia varangian guard. Byzantine battle tactics military wiki fandom powered by. There are a number of military manuals surviving from the byzantine era. 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.
Describing in detail weaponry and armor, daily life on the march or in camp, clothing. Among the osprey titles there are several relevant books, thought they vary. A large corpus of byzantine military literature survives. By the time of the socalled byzantine era the surviving eastern roman empire true power on the battle field had long. The change in location, leadership, and resources caused the tactics to change from the original roman ones. Iron and steel weapons had long since replaced those made of bronze. The sources ashgate 2001 and state, army and society in byzantium. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the 10th century edinburgh university press, 2018 georgios theotokis interview. At the beginning days, the byzantine army was very much similar to. The sylloge tacticorum is a midbyzantine example of the literary genre of military manuals or taktika which stretches back to antiquity. 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. How was the byzantine army different during the komnenian.
The byzantine art of war explores the military history of the thousandyear empire of the eastern mediterranean, byzantium. The latter often copies the former, word for word, but incorporates changes made during the intervening 30 years, as well as other materials. 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. The byzantines was the first empire to have combine arms in their warfare strategy. List of books and articles about military strategy online. The anonymous byzantine treatise on strategy was written by a retired combat engineer around the middle of the sixth century, while skirmishing and campaign. Approaches to military, social and administrative history, 6th12th centuries ashgate. This article lists and briefly discusses the most important of many treatises on military science. Early byzantine army units byzantine and varangian forces fall of constantinople, 1453. How effective was the byzantine army compared to the 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. Tenth century byzantine military history book byzantine. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. John haldon, warfare, state and society in the byzantine world. Been taking the byzantines out on campaigns during the summer and found out some things that i want to share with my fellow strategoi.
The byzantine navy was the naval force of the east roman or byzantine empire. 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. 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. 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. Byzantine tactics were to immediately collect a force of cavalry from the nearest themes and to trail the invading saracen army. The late byzantine army is a major work of scholarship that fills a gap in the understanding of the late byzantine empire. Byzantine military tactics in syria and mesopotamia in the tenth. 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.
The byzantine army or eastern roman army was the primary military body of the byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the byzantine navy. Stephen biesty has worked as a freelance illustrator since 1985 creating a wide variety of information books for both adults and children. Weapons and warfare throughout history and the analysis of doctrine, strategy and tactics. The military of the byzantines weapons and warfare. 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. List of books and articles about military strategy. While the fleets of the unified roman empire faced few great naval threats, operating as a policing force vastly inferior in. The early middle ages saw a revival of these works in the byzantine empire.
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