Brian Todd Carey, Joshua B. Allfree, John Cairns
Warfare in the Age of the Crusades: The Latin East
(Pen & Sword, 2022), 312pp. $34.95
Professor Brian Todd Carey, the retired U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua Allfree, and the cartographer John Cairns have compiled a single volume of a highly focused and comprehensive military history of the crusading movement. Intended as the first volume in a two-part series, Warfare in the Age of the Crusades: The Latin East covers explicitly in detail the campaigns and engagements of each of the numbered crusades fought in the Middle East, and first called by Pope Urban II in 1095, and ends with the fall of Acre in 1291. (x) The second volume, the recently published Warfare in the Age of the Crusades: Europe, follows the same methodology but instead focuses on the Baltic Crusades, the Reconquista, and the various crusades against declared heretic movements. In other words, the two volumes are meant to be read together, differing only in geographic scope. Even though Carey et al. have a set chronological framework, the book extends further than this. It extends the Crusade campaigns leading up to the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
This book is one of the best overall narrative histories of the Crusading movements, with clear, precise prose, and few digressions considering the complex and rich historiography of Crusades history. It serves as an excellent resource and introduction to the topic for students, wargamers, medieval history enthusiasts, or anyone unfamiliar with the topic of the Crusades. Perhaps best of all, this book is for readers interested only in specific battles or sieges and their tactical layouts and critical associated decisions. Carey et al. have not written a book for other historians, and their study certainly does not present new research, but that in no way diminishes their excellent analysis.
Intended entirely as a meticulous narrative and military examination, Carey et al. do not incorporate many new historical arguments towards the study of the Crusades. Instead, they provide excellent summations of the most significant long-term effects of waging the Crusades. These include strengthening the political role of the papacy, the increase of violent encounters between Christians and non-Christian groups (including Jewish minorities living in Europe), increased Catholic commercial activity in the Mediterranean, centralization of governments under monarchial control, advancement of military technology and predominantly maritime technology that would contribute to European exploration in the Atlantic. (238-240)
The authors also wrote a very brief section at the end of their study, highlighting the various interpretations of the Crusades from the Medieval period and the Renaissance to the present. Given the nature of the Crusades as a flashpoint and extreme clash of cultures at the intersection of violence and religious belief. Carey et al. argue here that, of course, like any controversial and divisive historical topic, “How the Crusades are perceived in history depends on when and where one is standing.” (241) The authors also acknowledge the enormous debt owed to Professors Jonathan Riley-Smith and Steven Runciman for creating the foundation for contemporary professional Crusade studies. Indeed, Warfare in the Age of the Crusades draws heavily from the primary source chronicles for its detailed narrative format and the highly respected secondary scholarship in English on Crusade studies. Besides Riley-Smith and Runciman, notable additions include the works of Thomas Asbridge, Joseph O’Callaghan, Thomas Madden, John France, David Nicolle, Phillip Contamine, and Kelly DeVries. (278-281)
As noted above, the book’s structure aligns closely with each numbered crusade, arranged chronologically. Chapters one, two, three, and four correspond with the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Crusades. Chapter five covers the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Crusades, and chapter six covers the Eighth and Ninth Crusades. The conclusion covers other minor crusades directed against the Byzantines. Of particular note, unlike the rest of the book, the introduction does not begin with military history. Instead, it formulates a tight description of the context of the Crusades in Europe during the Early Medieval period. This includes not just the circumstance of the papal struggle for supremacy with the Holy Roman Empire but also the religious doctrine of just war theory from St. Augustine and the precedent for the crusading ethos under Charlemagne, culminating in the official missive of the Emperor Alexios calling for aid. (1-15)
The book’s heart, chapters one through six, lacks substantial new material for Crusade studies. Its real strength, however, is as a concentrated and compiled resource and reference for comprehending the tactical decisions and layouts of some two dozen specific Crusades’ battles and sieges, especially from the First, Second, and Third Crusades. The illustrated regional, tactical, and strategic maps visualize the different units involved in these engagements, and the helpful list at the beginning of the book makes these maps easy to find and navigate around while reading. (xiv-xv) The map key uses modern NATO military unit visual references (the rectangular boxes with shades and lines). While these appear anachronistic initially, their use makes the interpretation of unit placement and movements clear and easily understood. The additional ephemera of the book continue this pattern of maintaining explicit and valuable reference material, sometimes not articulated or compiled into other Crusades monographs. These include the maps and illustrations, an excellent timeline of Crusade events, and a comprehensive glossary of individuals in the Crusades and military terms. (xvi-xxi, 244-276)
In summary, what sets Warfare in the Age of the Crusades apart is its unique blend of rigorous scholarly research with a clear, engaging presentation that appeals to both seasoned scholars and curious newcomers alike. The detailed narrative of tactical maneuvers, strategic decisions, and the contexts in which these battles occurred offers readers a lens through which to view the Crusades, which is seldom provided by other works. This approach illuminates the era’s military genius and provides insights into the logistical and human elements that influenced the outcomes of these historic campaigns.
Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend Warfare in the Age of the Crusades: The Latin East for its scholarly merit and its capacity to captivate and educate a diverse readership. Its thorough exploration of the Crusading era, combined with its accessible narrative style, ensures that it will be a valued addition to any library. In embracing this work, readers are invited to understand the complexities of medieval warfare and appreciate the Crusades’ lasting legacies. It is a journey well worth taking, illuminated by comprehensive research and engaging storytelling.
Nicholas Wallace
Sam Houston State University
[email protected]
