Henry II: A Medieval Soldier at War, 1147-1189 (History of Warfare)

Intended as a military biography, this book studies the scope of Henry Plantagenet's warfare during his tenure as count of Anjou, duke of Normandy, and king of England. Relying heavily upon medieval documents, it analyzes his generalship and reexamines his place amongst the important military commanders in English history. "There are no book-length studies in any language on the military career of King Henry II of England (1154-1189). Historians have generally regarded his warfare as cautious and limited, and the king himself, while noted for his considerable political and legal accomplishments, is not considered one of the great commanders of the Middle Ages. This book reexamines the medieval evidence and situates Henry II within the context of practiced warfare of the twelfth century. It sketches a narrative of his military activities from boyhood to death and examines his use of fortifications, manpower, strategy, tactics, and weaponry in the prosecution of war. The result is a revision of the king's military legacy: far from a passive or disinterested general, Henry II sought to vanquish his foes and expand his empire by way of direct military confrontation and was, in reality, a proficient commander of men."--BOOK JACKET BRILL CONTENTS 6 List of Maps 8 Preface 10 List of Abbreviations 10 Introduction 14 Chapter One Historiography 22 Chapter Two Henry’s Political and Military Career 50 Chapter Three Military Organization 116 Chapter Four Strategy Tactics, Logistics 138 Chapter Five Castles and Siege Warfar 184 Chapter Six The Great Revolt, 1173–1174 208 Chapter Seven Conclusion: Henry the Soldier 234 Appendix 1: Henry Plantagenet’s Military Campaigns 246 Appendix 2: Laudabiliter 250 Maps 253 Bibliography 258 Index 276 9789004157248 By John D. Hosler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [245]-262) And Index.