European Medieval Tactics 1: The Fall and Rise of Cavalry 4501260 (Osprey Elite #185)

Osprey's elite title on the rise and fall of European medieval cavalry during an 800 year period. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire there was a decline in professional cavalry forces, and infantry dominated in the Germanic successor barbarian kingdoms. In the Carolingian and Norman periods from the 9th to the 11th centuries, under the impact of Viking, Saracen and Magyar advances, the cavalry arm gradually expanded from the small remaining aristocratic elite. Even so, the supposedly complete dominance of the knight in the 12th and 13th centuries is grossly exaggerated, as integrated cavalry and infantry tactics were nearly always the key to success. This is the first in a two-part treatment of medieval tactics, covering developments in both cavalry and infantry tactics. Throughout the period there was a steady evolution of training in both individual and unit skills, of armor and weapons, and thus of tactics on the battlefield. This book covers key moments in this story of evolution from Hastings in 1066 to Legnano in 1176. It also details the later development of cavalry versus cavalry tactics and the two key set piece battles of Bouvines in 1214 and Pelagonia in 1259, the former an example of abject failure of cavalry tactics and the latter a stunning success. Undersøgelse af udviklingen af taktiske principper anvendt af rytteri over en 800 årig periode efter det vestromerske riges fald, der tillige betød en tilbagegang i anvendelsen af både rytteri og infanteri. Bogen indeholder beskrivelser af det østromerske riges og germanernes anvendte taktik samt den taktik, der blev anvendt af karolingerne i det 9. og 10. århundrede, da de blev truet af nordiske vikinger og andre indtrængende rytterfolk, der havde andre taktiske traditioner, og den indflydelse disse rytterfolk havde på den vestlige taktik "Medieval cavalry tactics: Europe AD 450-1250".