Yearly Archives: 2014

Approaches to Conflict on the Anglo-Scottish Borders in the late Fourteenth Century

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 31, 2014

Approaches to Conflict on the Anglo-Scottish Borders in the late Fourteenth Century Alastair Macdonald Ships, Guns and Bibles in the North Sea and Baltic States c.1350-c.1700 (2000) In the summer of 1380, a flagrant breach of the Anglo-Scottish truce then in … Continue reading →

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William Wallace’s Invasion of Northern England in 1297

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 30, 2014

William Wallace’s Invasion of Northern England in 1297 C.J. McNamee Northern History: v.26 (1990) In the winter of 1297 William Wallace, fresh from his victory over the English at Stirling Bridge, presided over a ferocious and prolonged devastation of northern England. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, England, High Middle Ages, Politics, Scotland | Comments Off on William Wallace’s Invasion of Northern England in 1297

The Punishment of Pride: Castilian Reactions to the Battle of Aljubarrota

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 26, 2014

The Punishment of Pride: Castilian Reactions to the Battle of Aljubarrota Thomas M. Izbicki Medieval Iberia: Essays on the History and Literature of Medieval Spain On August 13, 1385, the fate of Portugal was decided at the battle of Aljubarrota. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 14C, 15C, battles, Castile, Historiography, Late Medieval, Portugal, Renaissance, Spain | Comments Off on The Punishment of Pride: Castilian Reactions to the Battle of Aljubarrota

The fortunes of war: the military career of John, second lord Bourchier (d.1400)

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 26, 2014

The fortunes of war: the military career of John, second lord Bourchier (d.1400) Michael Jones Essex Archaeology and History: v.26 (1995) ‘And yet time hath his revolution; there must be a period and an end to all temporal things, finis rerun, an … Continue reading →

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Fighting for Land – Fighting for Power: War Aim Making in Renaissance Europe

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 26, 2014

Fighting for Land – Fighting for Power: War Aim Making in Renaissance Europe Harald Kleinschmidt The Way of the Knight and the Aesthetics of Women (2003) 1. Introduction During the twentieth century, war has mainly been equated it with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 14C, 15C, Early Modern, England, Late Medieval, logistics, Low Countries, Renaissance, Technology, Urban Studies | Comments Off on Fighting for Land – Fighting for Power: War Aim Making in Renaissance Europe

The Town In Service Of War In The Medieval Crown Of Aragon

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 23, 2014

The Town In Service Of War In The Medieval Crown Of Aragon Donald Joseph Kagay (Albany State College) De Re Militari (1997) It is the purpose of this paper to explore the role of the town in the medieval Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, 9C, early medieval, High Middle Ages, Islamic, Muslim, Spain, Strategy, supplies, Urban Studies | Comments Off on The Town In Service Of War In The Medieval Crown Of Aragon

The Militarisation of Roman Society, 400 – 700

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 22, 2014

The Militarisation of Roman Society, 400 – 700 Edward James (University of Reading) Military Aspects of Scandinavian Society in a European Perspective AD 1 – 1300  Historians and archaeologists have lavished attention on the new kingdoms established by various barbarian … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 5C, 6C, 7C, 8C, Anglo-Saxon, Bede, early medieval, Italy, Roman Britain, Roman Empire, Spain, Wales | Comments Off on The Militarisation of Roman Society, 400 – 700

The Rouen Riot and Conan’s Leap

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 11, 2014

The Rouen Riot and Conan’s Leap Warren Hollister Peritia: v. 10 (1996) In the course of the eleventh century, and more commonly in the twelfth, many of the growing towns of Western Europe were disrupted by communal riots. The objective … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 11C, 12C, Anglo-Norman, early medieval, England, High Middle Ages, Politics, Robert Curthose, William II of England (William Rufus) | Comments Off on The Rouen Riot and Conan’s Leap

Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the North

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 11, 2014

Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the North Michael Hicks Richard III and the North (1986) Richard III is the only northerner among our late medieval kings. It was because he was a northerner that he became king in the first … Continue reading →

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The War in the Low Countries

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 11, 2014

The War in the Low Countries Jan van Herwaarden Froissart: Historian (1981) As a native of Hainault, Froissart naturally enough showed a keen interest in the history of the Low Countries, an interest stimulated (we may well imagine) by the fact … Continue reading →

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The Mongol Siege of Xiangyang and Fan-ch’eng and the Song military

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 11, 2014

The Mongol Siege of Xiangyang and Fan-ch’eng and the Song military Chris Hanson DeRe Militari (2004) The Siege of Xiangyang and Fan-ch’eng was one of the longest sieges of the medieval world lasting almost 5 years, from 1268 until early … Continue reading →

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The Infamous Svjatoslav: Master of Duplicity in War and Peace?

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 11, 2014

The Infamous Svjatoslav: Master of Duplicity in War and Peace? Walter K. Hanak Peace and War in Byzantium: Essays in Honor of George T. Dennis, S.J. (Washington: The Catholic University of America Press, 1995) Several decades ago Jonathan Shepard elaborated upon the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 10C, Byzantine, early medieval, Eastern Europe, Kievan Rus, Sviatoslav I of Kiev | Comments Off on The Infamous Svjatoslav: Master of Duplicity in War and Peace?

The Organisation and Support of an Expeditionary Force: Manpower and Logistics in the Middle Byzantine Period

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 10, 2014

The Organisation and Support of an Expeditionary Force: Manpower and Logistics in the Middle Byzantine Period John Haldon  Byzantium at War (1997)  It is generally recognised that the maintenance of its armies and the recruitment and equipping of its military expeditions … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 6C, 9C, Byzantine, Late Medieval, Military Orders | Comments Off on The Organisation and Support of an Expeditionary Force: Manpower and Logistics in the Middle Byzantine Period

Strategies of Defence, Problems of Security: the Garrisons of Constantinople in the Middle Byzantine Period

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 5, 2014

Strategies of Defence, Problems of Security: the Garrisons of Constantinople in the Middle Byzantine Period John Haldon Constantinople and its Hinterland: Papers from the Twenty-Seventh Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, Oxford, April 1993 (1995) The title I have chosen is intended … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged Byzantine, Constantinople, early medieval, High Middle Ages, Strategy | Comments Off on Strategies of Defence, Problems of Security: the Garrisons of Constantinople in the Middle Byzantine Period

Militia and Malitia: The Bernardine Vision of Chivalry

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on May 5, 2014

Militia and Malitia: The Bernardine Vision of Chivalry Areyh Grabois The Second Crusade and the Cistercians: New York (1992) In his treatise, De laude novae militiae,l Bernard of Clairvaux distinguished between the Templars and the entire secular knighthood. The first … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 11C, 12C, Bernard of Clairvaux, chivalry, Crusades, High Middle Ages, Monasticism, Second Crusade, Spain | Comments Off on Militia and Malitia: The Bernardine Vision of Chivalry

Dover Castle and the Great Siege of 1216

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 28, 2014

Dover Castle and the Great Siege of 1216 John Goodall Chateau Gaillard XIX: Actes du Colloque International de Graz, 1998 (2000) Commanding the shortest sea crossing between England and the Continent, Dover Castle was a vital strategic and communication lynch-pin … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 12C, 13C, castle, England, fortifications, France, siege, Siege Warfare | Comments Off on Dover Castle and the Great Siege of 1216

The Career of Robert Guiscard, according to the Annales Lupi Protospatharii

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

Robert Guiscard was one of several brothers who came to Italy from Normandy to work as mercenaries and gain their fortune. After arriving in Italy in 1046, he served in several campaigns before taking the place of his brother Humphrey … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 11C, Italy, Norman Conquest of Southern Italy, Normans | Comments Off on The Career of Robert Guiscard, according to the Annales Lupi Protospatharii

The Battle of the Golden Spurs, 1302

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

On July 11, 1302, the townsmen of Courtrai and other Flemish rebels defeated a French army outside the walls of their city, in what is considered one of the most important battles in the Middle Ages.  The victory of infantryman … Continue reading →

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Journal of the Movements of King Edward I in Scotland, 1296

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

The following account is a short journal that describes the expedition of Edward I into Scotland. Starting on March 25, 1296, it runs to September 16th, and describes the various movements and events very tersely. This was Edward’s first expedition … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, England, Scotland | Comments Off on Journal of the Movements of King Edward I in Scotland, 1296

William the Bastard at War

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

William the Bastard at War By John Gillingham Studies in Medieval History Presented to R. Allen Brown, edited by Christopher Harper-Bill, Christopher Houldsworth and Janet L. Nelson (Boydell, 1989) As Allen Brown observed at the end of his paper on his battle … Continue reading →

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War and Chivalry in the History of William the Marshal

by DRM_peter Posted on April 23, 2014

War and Chivalry in the History of William the Marshal By John Gillingham Thirteenth Century England v.2 (1988) Ever since the History of William the Marshal was discovered in the late nineteenth century it has been universally recognized as a document … Continue reading →

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The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 13, 2014

The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317 Irish Historical Studies: v. 24 (1984-85) Abstract The document printed below has been preserved, somewhat unexpectedly, among the series of Ministers’ Accounts in the Public Record Office, London. it is the account … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, Primary Sources | Tagged 14C, Dublin, England, Ireland, Late Medieval, Robert the Bruce, Scotland | Comments Off on The Campaign against the Scots in Munster, 1317

Anna Comnena, the Alexiad and the First Crusade

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 13, 2014

Anna Comnena, the Alexiad and the First Crusade John France  Reading Medieval Studies: v.10 (1984) Abstract By her own account Anna Comnena began to write the Alexiad shortly after the death of her husband, Nicephoros Bryennios, in 1137. He had … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 11C, 12C, Constantinople, Crusades, First Crusade, High Middle Ages, The Alexiad | Comments Off on Anna Comnena, the Alexiad and the First Crusade

Charles the Bald and the small free farmers, 862-869

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 13, 2014

Charles the Bald and the small free farmers, 862-869 Carroll Gillmor Military aspects of Scandinavian society in a European perspective, AD 1-1300, May (1996) In response to the Viking invasions, Charles the Bald in 862 ordered the construction of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 9C, Carolingian Empire, Carolingians, early medieval, Vikings | Comments Off on Charles the Bald and the small free farmers, 862-869

Oliver of Paderborn and his siege engine at Damietta

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on April 13, 2014

Oliver of Paderborn and his siege engine at Damietta Dominic Francis Nottingham Medieval Studies: v.37 (1993) In the hot weeks of August 1218, the soldiers of the German and Frisian contingents involved in the Fifth Crusade laboured hard to build an … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, Crusades, Frisian, Germany, manuscript, Oliver von Paderborn, Siege Engines, Siege Warfare, Strategy | Comments Off on Oliver of Paderborn and his siege engine at Damietta

A Plea Roll of Edward I’s Army in Scotland, 1296

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

A Plea Roll of Edward I’s Army in Scotland, 1296 Edited by Cynthia J. Neville From: Miscellany of the Scottish History Society, vol. XI (1990) The following record, classified in the Public Record Office, London, as E39/93/15 is an army … Continue reading →

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Medieval warfare from The King’s Mirror, a thirteenth century Norwegian text

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

This Norwegian work, written in the mid-13th century, is in the style of a son asking his father various questions, ranging from the reasons for the shorter days in Scandinavian lands to the power and authority of kings.  Halfway through chapter 36, … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, Norway, Siege Engines | Comments Off on Medieval warfare from The King’s Mirror, a thirteenth century Norwegian text

Philippe de Remy’s description of a fictionalised tournament at Ressons-Gournay (c.1241)

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

Translated by David Crouch Philip de Remy (d.c.1264) was a poet, novelist and knight from the region of the northern Ile-de France. He was in royal service by the 1230s, being bailiff of the Gatinais from Count Robert of Artois, … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, France, literature, Tournaments | Comments Off on Philippe de Remy’s description of a fictionalised tournament at Ressons-Gournay (c.1241)

Jacques de Vitry: Sermons to a Military Order

by DRM_peter Posted on April 12, 2014

Translated by Helen J. Nicholson Sermons 37 and 38 from his sermon collection, Sermones Vulgares, ‘Sermons to the People’, published by J. B. Pitra, ed., Analecta novissima spicilegii Solesmensis: altera continuatio 2, Tusculana (Paris, 1888). This translation is copyright H. … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Termes (1210), according to the Historia Albigensis

by DRM_peter Posted on April 3, 2014

Peter of les Vaux-de-Cernay is one of the most important sources for the Albigensian Crusades. It is likely that he traveled with the Crusader armies of Simon de Montfort, and was an eyewitness to many of the events he describes. … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Termes (1210), according to the Song of the Cathar Wars

by DRM_peter Posted on April 3, 2014

The flourishing of a dualist heresy in Languedoc at the end of the twelfth century, known as Catharism, led to conflict with the Catholic Church. After the murder of a Papal legate in 1208, Pope Innocent III ordered a crusade … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Three Fortresses: Controversies Surrounding the Turkish Conquest of Smerderevo, of an Unnamed Fortress at the Junction of the Sava and Bosna, and of Bobovac

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 25, 2014

A Tale of Three Fortresses: Controversies Surrounding the Turkish Conquest of Smerderevo, of an Unnamed Fortress at the Junction of the Sava and Bosna, and of Bobovac John V.A. Fine Peace and War in Byzantium: Essays in Honor of George … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 15C, Eastern Europe, Late Medieval, Serbia, Slavic, Turks | Comments Off on A Tale of Three Fortresses: Controversies Surrounding the Turkish Conquest of Smerderevo, of an Unnamed Fortress at the Junction of the Sava and Bosna, and of Bobovac

The Siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 25, 2014

The Siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194 Trevor Foulds Transactions of the Thoroton Society of Nottinghamshire: v.95 (1991) The last years of King Henry II’s reign were troubled by fierce family squabbles between him and his sons, Henry, Richard, Geoffrey and … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 12C, Battle, England, High Middle Ages, Richard I, Siege Warfare, sieges | Comments Off on The Siege of Nottingham Castle in 1194

The Siege of Toulouse in 1217-18, according to The Chronicle of William of Puylaurens

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

William of Puylaurens covered events relating to the history of Languedoc from the twelfth century to the mid-1270s.  The main subject of his history is the Albigensian Crusade, which lasted from 1209 to 1229.  Along with the Historia Albigensis of … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, Albigensian Crusades, France, sieges | Comments Off on The Siege of Toulouse in 1217-18, according to The Chronicle of William of Puylaurens

The Battle of Lincoln (1217), according to Roger of Wendover

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

Roger of Wendover (d.1236) was a monk at St.Alban’s monastery in England.  His work, Flores historiarum (Flowers of History) is a chronicle that starts at creation and goes to 1235.  From 1201 to 1235 his work is original.  In the … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, battles, England, William the Marshal | Comments Off on The Battle of Lincoln (1217), according to Roger of Wendover

The Battle of Bouvines (1214)

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

On July 12, 1214, Philip II Augustus, the King of France, defeated the combined forces of emperor Otto IV, the count of Flanders, and King John of England, near Bouvines in northern France. The Marchiennes account of the Battle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, battles, England, Flanders, France, Germany, Holy Roman Empire, Philip Augustus | Comments Off on The Battle of Bouvines (1214)

Warfare in Normandy, 1201-1204, according to Rigord’s Deeds of Phillip Augustus

by DRM_peter Posted on March 24, 2014

The portion given below gives his account of Phillip’s conquest of Normandy from King John of England from 1201 to 1204. Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 13C, England, France, Normandy, Philip Augustus | Comments Off on Warfare in Normandy, 1201-1204, according to Rigord’s Deeds of Phillip Augustus

Raiding and Warring in Monastic Ireland

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 24, 2014

Raiding and Warring in Monastic Ireland Liz FitzPatrick History Ireland: Vol.1 (1993) The historiography of Irish monasticism emphasises the glory and piety of this enlightened era, with its myriad of saints espousing high art and learning, and not only moulding this … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 6C, 7C, early medieval, Historiography, Ireland, Monasticism, Vikings | Comments Off on Raiding and Warring in Monastic Ireland

The Origin of the Second Crusade

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 24, 2014

The Origin of the Second Crusade George Ferzoco The Second Crusade and the Cistercians (1992) In seeking to establish the formal origin of the Second Crusade, one finds that in Vetralla on December 1,1145, Pope Eugenius III issued the crusading … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 12C, Bernard of Clairvaux, Crusades, France, Italy, Jerusalem, Monasticism, Otto of Freising, Pope Eugenius III, Second Crusade, Steven Runciman, Turkey, Urban II | Comments Off on The Origin of the Second Crusade

The Battle of Kosovo: Early Reports of Victory and Defeat

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 16, 2014

The Battle of Kosovo: Early Reports of Victory and Defeat Thomas A. Emmert Kosovo: Legacy of a Medieval Battle In popular interpretation it was defeat at the Battle of Kosovo which brought about the disintegration of the medieval Serbian empire. … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, 14C, Asia, Byzantium, Eastern Europe, Macedonia, Nemanjic Dynasty, Ottoman, Ottoman Turks, Serbia, Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia, Stephen Uroš V of Serbia, The Battle of Kosovo, Turkey, Turks | Comments Off on The Battle of Kosovo: Early Reports of Victory and Defeat

Towns and Defence in Later Medieval Germany

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 16, 2014

Towns and Defence in Later Medieval Germany David Eltis Nottingham Medieval Studies: v.33 (1989) The future pope Pius II was astonished to discover how militarised a society urban Germany was. As he observed in 1444, ‘not only every noble, but even … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 14C, 15C, 16C, artillery, Germany, Late Medieval, Pope Pius II, Strategy, Urban Studies | Comments Off on Towns and Defence in Later Medieval Germany

Horses and Crossbows: Two Important Warfare Advantages of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 16, 2014

Horses and Crossbows: Two Important Warfare Advantages of the Teutonic Order in Prussia Sven Ekdahl The Military Orders, Volume 2: Welfare and Warfare (1998) The thirteenth-century conquest of Livonia and Prussia by the Order of the Swordbrothers and its successor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, Crossbows, Genoa, High Middle Ages, Islamic, Italy, Livonia, Muslim, Papacy, Prussia, Strategy, Teutonic Knights | Comments Off on Horses and Crossbows: Two Important Warfare Advantages of the Teutonic Order in Prussia

Pagan Peverel: An Anglo-Norman Crusader

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 16, 2014

Pagan Peverel: An Anglo-Norman Crusader Susan Edgington Crusade and Settlement: Papers read at the First Conference of the Society for the Study of the Crusades and the Latin East and presented to R.C. Smail (1985) Thousands of men participated in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 11C, 12C, Anglo-Norman, Crusaders, Crusades, England, First Crusade, High Middle Ages, Pagan Peverel | Comments Off on Pagan Peverel: An Anglo-Norman Crusader

Looking Back on the Second Crusade: Some Late Twelfth-Century English Perspectives

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 16, 2014

Looking Back on the Second Crusade: Some Late Twelfth-Century English Perspectives Peter W. Edbury The Second Crusade and the Cistercians It was as long ago as 1953 that Giles Constable published his seminal study, “The Second Crusade as seen by … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 12C, 13C, Bernard of Clairvaux, Crusaders, England, France, Germany, High Middle Ages, Jerusalem, Louis VII, Monasticism, Normans, Second Crusade, Third Crusade, Wales | Comments Off on Looking Back on the Second Crusade: Some Late Twelfth-Century English Perspectives

Two Poems by the Twelfth-Century Knight-Troubadour Bertran de Born

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

Bertran de Born (c.1140-1202), lord of Autofort, was one of the most famous French troubadours of the Twelfth century. His poetry covers a wide variety of topics, including warfare. Be’m plai lo gais temps de pascor[1] Well do I love … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Gisors, 1198, according to Roger of Hoveden

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

The Annals of Roger of Hoveden provide an account of the Battle of Gisors between Richard I of England and Philip Augustus of France, which took place in 1198. Hoveden writes down two versions of this battle, and includes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 12C, battles, France, Philip Augustus, Richard I | Comments Off on The Battle of Gisors, 1198, according to Roger of Hoveden

Warfare in England and France in 1173-74, according to William of Newburgh

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

William of Newburgh (d.1198) was one of England’s most important historians in the twelfth century.  In the following section, he details the war that broke out in 1173 between Henry II against his son, Henry, called ‘The Younger’.  Henry II … Continue reading →

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Warfare between Henry I and Robert Curthose, according to Wace’s The Roman de Rou

by DRM_peter Posted on March 13, 2014

Following the death of William Rufus in 1100, his younger brother Henry took the English crown, spurning the claim of his elder brother, Robert Curthose, duke of Normandy. Continue reading →

Posted in Primary Sources | Tagged 12C, England, Normandy | Comments Off on Warfare between Henry I and Robert Curthose, according to Wace’s The Roman de Rou

Hales — Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour (Walton)

by Steven Walton Posted on March 11, 2014

Robert Hales Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A Lifetime’s Passion London: Robert Hales, 2013, 400 pp., £85 [note 1] ISBN 978-0-9926315-0-5 This gorgeous collector’s volume of arms and armour covering most of Asia is a stunning book. It includes numerous … Continue reading →

Posted in BookReview | Tagged arms and armor, Islamic, Oriental, Technology | Comments Off on Hales — Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour (Walton)

The Struggle over control of Kiev in 1235 and 1236

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 9, 2014

The Struggle over control of Kiev in 1235 and 1236 Martin Dimnik Canadian Slavonic Papers: v.21 (1979) Abstract The years 1235 and 1236 are important in the history or Kievan Rus’ because they witnessed a major reorientation in the status quo between … Continue reading →

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Foundations of Venetian Naval Strategy from Pietro II Orseoto to the Battle of Zoncho, 1000-1500

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 9, 2014

 Foundations of Venetian Naval Strategy from Pietro II Orseoto to the Battle of Zoncho, 1000-1500 John E. Dotson Viator: Medieval and Renaissance Studies v.32 (2001) For Venetians during the Middle Ages the sea was life. The prosperity, the very existence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 15C, 16C, Battle of Zonchio, Byzantine, Constantinople, Crusades, Early Modern, Italy, Late Medieval, Naval Warfare, Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503), Renaissance, trade, Venice | Comments Off on Foundations of Venetian Naval Strategy from Pietro II Orseoto to the Battle of Zoncho, 1000-1500

Bremen Piracy and Scottish Periphery: The North Sea World in the 1440s

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 9, 2014

Bremen Piracy and Scottish Periphery: The North Sea World in the 1440s David Ditchburn Ships, Guns and Bibles in the North Sea and the Baltic States, c.1350-c.1700 (2000) Bremen and Hamburg were the eyes through which medieval Saxony viewed the North … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 11C, 13C, 14C, 15C, Baltic, Black Death, Denmark, England, Germany, Hanseatic League, Netherlands, Scandinavian, Scotland, Third Lateran Council, trade | Comments Off on Bremen Piracy and Scottish Periphery: The North Sea World in the 1440s

Teenagers at War During the Middle Ages

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 9, 2014

Teenagers at War During the Middle Ages Kelly DeVries (Loyola University, Maryland) The Premodern Teenager: Youth in Society, 1150-1650 (2002) Early in 1212 a young man from western Germany, whose name has come down through history only as Nicholas, became … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 13C, 14C, 15C, Black Prince, Crusaders, Crusades, Early Modern, England, Germany, High Middle Ages, Hundred Years War, Islamic, Late Medieval, logistics, Muslim | Comments Off on Teenagers at War During the Middle Ages

The Use of Gunpowder Weaponry by and Against Joan of Arc During the Hundred Years War

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 9, 2014

The Use of Gunpowder Weaponry by and Against Joan of Arc During the Hundred Years War Kelly DeVries (Loyola University) War and Society: v.14 (1996) Abstract This article explores the possibility of a link between Joan of Arc and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | Tagged 15C, England, France, gunpowder, Siege Warfare, sieges | Comments Off on The Use of Gunpowder Weaponry by and Against Joan of Arc During the Hundred Years War

The 1165 Levy for the Army of Wales

by DRM_peter Posted on March 5, 2014

From the article, “Henry II’s Campaign against the Welsh in 1165” by Paul Latimer The Pipe Rolls, which are limited as a source in being primarily concerned with the financial interests of the exchequer, reveal four origins of resources for the … Continue reading →

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The Genoese expedition to Almeria (1147)

by DRM_peter Posted on March 5, 2014

The Amloravid empire collapsed in 1145, leading to al-Andalus fragmenting into a new collection of taifa states. Alfonso VII was able to exploit this situation by capturing Cordova in 1146. He then organized another expedition with Genoa and Pisa to … Continue reading →

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Geoffrey of Mandeville’s rebellion in 1143-44

by DRM_peter Posted on March 5, 2014

This account, from The Book of the Foundation of Walden Monastery, of the military actions of Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, during the reign of King Stephen. In 1143, Stephen imprisoned Geoffrey, forcing the earl to surrender various castles. … Continue reading →

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The Battle of Lincoln (1141) from five sources

by DRM_peter Posted on March 5, 2014

One of the most important events in this war was the battle of Lincoln, fought on February 2, 1141, where Stephen was defeated and captured by Robert, Earl of Gloucester. Continue reading →

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Contemporary Views of Edward III’s failure at the Siege of Tournai

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 2, 2014

Contemporary Views of Edward III’s failure at the Siege of Tournai Kelly DeVries Nottingham Medieval Studies: v.39 (1995) The naval battle of Sluys, the first major conflict of the Hundred years War, was fought on 24 June 1340. By the … Continue reading →

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God, leadership, Flemings and Archery: Contemporary Perspectives of Victory and Defeat at the Battle of Sluys 1340

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 2, 2014

God, leadership, Flemings and Archery: Contemporary Perspectives of Victory and Defeat at the Battle of Sluys 1340 Kelly DeVries American Neptune: v.55 (1995) Most historians of the Hundred Years War see the battle of Sluys, fought on June 24, 1340, … Continue reading →

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Byzantine Heavy Artillery: The Helepolis

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 2, 2014

Byzantine Heavy Artillery: The Helepolis George T. Dennis Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies: v.39 (1998) Abstract The military manual (Strategikon) attributed to the emperor Maurice stipulated that the infantry contingents should be followed by a train of wagons, some of which … Continue reading →

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The Byzantines at Battle

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 1, 2014

The Byzantines at Battle George T. Dennis Byzantium at War (1997) Although the Byzantines were constantly under attack or under threat of attack, they regarded warfare as the least desirable method of defending themselves. Leo VI prefaced his Tactical Constitutions … Continue reading →

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A Reassessment of Some Medieval and Modern Perceptions of the Counter-Crusade

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on March 1, 2014

A Reassessment of Some Medieval and Modern Perceptions of the Counter-Crusade By Hadia Dajani-Shakeel The Jihad and its Times: Dedicated to Andrew Stefan Ehrenkreutz, edited by Hadia Dajani-Shakeel and Ronald A. Messier (1991) In an article entitled, “The Use by Muslim … Continue reading →

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The Nationality of Men-at-Arms serving in English Armies in Normandy and the pays de conquete, 1415-1450: A Preliminary Survey

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on February 23, 2014

The Nationality of Men-at-Arms serving in English Armies in Normandy and the pays de conquete, 1415-1450: A Preliminary Survey Anne Curry (University of Reading) Reading Medieval Studies: 18 (1992) This article is based on a computer assisted study of muster … Continue reading →

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Sex and the Soldier in Lancastrian Normandy, 1415 – 1450

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on February 23, 2014

Sex and the Soldier in Lancastrian Normandy, 1415 – 1450 Anne Curry (University of Reading) Reading Medieval Studies: v.14 (1988) When the US House Committee on Military Affairs discussed in 1941 the formulation of an Act to prohibit prostitution within … Continue reading →

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The Frankish Tribute Payments to the Vikings and their Consequences

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on February 23, 2014

The Frankish Tribute Payments to the Vikings and their Consequences Simon Coupland Francia: v.26 n.1 (1999) “They ransom with tributes what they should defend with arms, and the kingdom of the Christians is laid waste.”2 “Ransom and tribute have now not … Continue reading →

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The Siege of Worcester in 1139

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

The Chronicle of John of Worcester is the only source that records the attack on Worcester in 1139, by Miles of Gloucester, who rebelled against King Stephen earlier that year.  In retaliation, Waleran, count of Meulan, sacked Sudelely. One morning … Continue reading →

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The Sieges of Bristol and Bath in 1138 from the Gesta Stephani

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

This section of the Gesta Stephani deals with events in Bristol in 1138.  Geoffrey Talbot had just lost his bases of Hereford and Weobley to Stephan, while Gilbert de Lacy was an enemy of Miles of Gloucester, who at that … Continue reading →

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Description of a Motte and Bailey Castle from Flanders, from the 12th century

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

Walter, archdeacon of the diocese of Thérouanne, spent his youth among the regular canons of Saint Martin of Ypres whence he was called by John of Warneton, bishop of Thérouanne in 1115. John made him archdeacon of Flanders in 1116 … Continue reading →

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Warfare in Flanders, according to Walter of Thérouanne

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

Walter, archdeacon of the diocese of Thérouanne, spent his youth among the regular canons of Saint Martin of Ypres whence he was called by John of Warneton, bishop of Thérouanne in 1115. John made him archdeacon of Flanders in 1116 … Continue reading →

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Carolingian Arms and Armor in the Ninth Century

by Sandra Alvarez Posted on February 23, 2014

Carolingian Arms and Armor in the Ninth Century Simon Coupland Viator: Medieval and Renaissance Studies: v.21 (1990) This study seeks to ascertain the nature of the armament carried by the Carolingian army in the ninth century by examining the written, … Continue reading →

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Warfare in Flanders, according to Herman of Tournai

by DRM_peter Posted on February 23, 2014

Herman of Tournai provides an invaluable account of the history his monastery and the events of Flanders and Hainaut during the late eleventh and first half of the twelfth centuries. Continue reading →

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