The Art Of War In The Middle Ages A.D. 378-1515

The Art of War in the Middle Ages A.D. 378-1515 by C. W. C. OmanThe Transition from Roman to Medival forms in War (A.D. 378582).Disappearance of the Legion.--Constantines reorganization.--The German tribes.--Battle of Adrianople.--Theodosius accepts its teaching.--Vegetius and the army at the end of the fourth century.--The Goths and the Huns.--Army of the Eastern Empire.--Cavalry all-important The Early Middle Ages (A.D. 4761066).Paucity of Data for the period.--The Franks in the sixth century.--Battle of Tours.--Armies of Charles the Great.--The Franks become horsemen.--The Northman and the Magyar.--Rise of Feudalism.--The Anglo-Saxons and their wars.--The Danes and the Fyrd.--Military importance of the Thegnhood.--The House-Carles.--Battle of Hastings.--Battle viof Durazzo The Byzantines and their Enemies (A.D. 5821071). 1. Character of Byzantine Strategy. Excellence of the Byzantine Army.--Scientific study of the art of war.--Leos Tactica.--Wars with the Frank.--With the Turk.--With the Slav.--With the Saracen.--Border warfare of Christendom and Islam.--Defence of the Anatolic Themes.--Cavalry as a defensive force.--Professional and unchivalrous character of Byzantine officers 2. Arms Organization and Tactics of the Byzantines. Reorganization of the Army of the Eastern Empire by Maurice.--Its composition.--Armament of the Horseman A.D. 6001000.--Armament of the Infantry.--Military Train and Engineers.--The Officers.--Cavalry tactics.--Leos ideal line of battle.--Military Machines and their importance The Supremacy of Feudal Cavalry (A.D. 10661346).Unscientific nature of feudal warfare.--Consequences of headlong charges.--Tactical arrangements.--Their primitive nature.--Non-existence of strategy.--Weakness of Infantry.--Attempts to introduce discipline.--Rise of Mercenaries.--Supreme importance of fortified places.--Ascendency of the defensive.--The Medival siege.--Improvement of the Arts of Attack and Defence of fortified places.--General character viiof Campaigns.--The Crusades The Swiss (A.D. 13151515). 1. Their Character Arms and Organization. The Swiss and the Ancient Romans.--Excellence of system more important than excellence of generals.--The column of pikemen.--The halberdier.--Rapidity of the movements of the Swiss.--Defensive armour.--Character of Swiss armies 2. Tactics and Strategy. The Captains of the Confederates.--The Echelon of three columns.--The Wedge and the Hedgehog formations 7073 3. Development of Swiss Military Supremacy. Battle of Morgarten.--Battle of Laupen.--Battle of Sempach.--Battle of Arbedo.--Moral ascendency of the Swiss.--Battle of Granson.--Battle of Morat.--Wars of the last years of the fifteenth century 4. Causes of the Decline of Swiss Ascendency. The tactics of the Swiss become stereotyped.--The Landsknechts and their rivalry with the Swiss.--The Spanish Infantry and the short sword.--Battle of Ravenna.--Fortified Positions.--Battle of Bicocca.--Increased use of Artillery.--Battle of Marignano.--Decay of discipline in the Swiss viiiArmies and its consequences The English and their Enemies (A.D. 12721485).The Long-bow and its origin Welsh rather than Norman.--Its rivalry with the Cross-bow.--Edward I and the Battle of Falkirk.--The bow and the pike.--Battle of Bannockburn and its lessons.--The French Knighthood and the English Archery.--Battle of Cressy.--Battle of Poictiers.--Du Guesclin and the English reverses.--Battle of Agincourt.--The French wars 14151453.--Battle of Formigny.--Wars of the Roses.--King Edward IV and his generalship.--Barnet and Tewkesbury.--Towton and Ferrybridge