Byzantine Armies 886 to 1118 - Osprey

Byzantine Armies 886 to 1118 - Osprey
48 pages - PDF - 18Mb

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 material 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.

Contents

• Organization
• The Tagmata
• The Varangian Guard
• The Theme System
• The Terrible Day: Manzikert 1071
• The Post-Manzikurt Period
• The Plates