Byzantine Armies 886–1118Bloomsbury USA, 1979 M07 5 - 40 pages The Byzantines had a remarkably sophisticated approach to politics and military strategy. Unlike most of their contemporaries, they learnt very early in their history that winning a battle did not necessarily win a war, and they frequently bought off their enemies with treaties and bribes rather than squander men and matériel in potentially fruitless campaigns. The Byzantine army of the 10th and early 11th centuries, at the height of its power and efficiency, was the best-organised, best-trained, best-equipped and highest-paid in the known world. This splendid book by Ian Heath examines the Byzantine Armies from 886-1118, including the lusty, hard-fighting, hard-drinking 'barbarian' Varangian guard. |
Common terms and phrases
10th century 11th-12th centuries addition Akhlat Alexius Alp Arslan amongst Anatolikon appear Arab archers Armenian armour arms aventail banda bandon Basilikoi Battle of Durazzo Biblioteca Byzantine army Byzantine employ called campaign carried cavalry units cavalrymen circular shield cloak commanded comprised Constantinople corselet Cumans depicted earlier Strategicon Eastern Themes Emperor Empire's equipment figure greaves guardsmen heavy cavalry helmet Hetaereia horsemen Ibn Khordadbah Imperial infantrymen javelins Joshua Roll kandidatoi Kappadocia Kataphractos kite-shields klibanion klibanophoroi Kodama kontarion lamellar armour lamellar corselets lance lancers late 10th century leather Leo VI's Leo's Madrid mail corselet Manzikert mercenaries Michael VII moirai NAPOLEON'S Nikephoros nomismata Norman officers Optimaton Patzinaks pictorial sources probably provincial pteruges rank retinue Romanus Scandinavian Scholae Scylitzes seems Seljuk servants skuta skutatoi sling Soundaq spatharioi spear strategoi sword Sylloge Tactica Tagmata Tagmata regiments thematic soldiers thematic troops thureos Turkish Turks turmai unarmoured Varangian Guard wahrscheinlich waren weapon wear worn wurden