Medieval Mercenaries: The Business of War - Rilegato

Urban, William

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 1853676977 ISBN 13: 9781853676970

Casa editrice: Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal, 2006

Riassunto

The Middle Ages were a turbulent and violent time, when the fate of nations was most often decided on the battlefield, and strength of arms was key to acquiring and maintaining power. Feudal oaths and local militias were more often than not incapable of providing the skilled and disciplined warriors necessary to keep the enemy at bay. It was the mercenary who stepped in to fill the ranks. In this benchmark work, William Urban explores the vital importance of the mercenary to the medieval power-broker, from the Byzantine Varangian Guard to fifteenth-century soldiers of fortune in the Baltic. Through contemporary chronicles and the most up-to-date scholarship, he presents an in-depth portrait of the mercenary across the Middle Ages. A mercenary was a professional soldier who took employment with minimum concern for the morals, ethics or cause of the paymaster. But within these confines we discover a surprising array of fighting-men, from the lowest-born foot soldier to the wealthiest aristocrat ? the occasional clergyman, even. What united them all was a willingness, and often the desire, to fight for their supper. Shocking, informative and hugely entertaining, Medieval Mercenaries is a compelling account of the business of war in the age of chivalry.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

Medieval Mercenaries puts the events of the 14th century into a vivid historical context. He provides an astonishingly clear overview of the subject of mercenaries with tremendous authority and wit. It makes a thrilling read. --Terry Jones

L'autore:

William Urban is the Lee L. Morgan Professor of History at Monmouth College, Illinois. He is the author of numerous works, including the highly acclaimed The Teutonic Knights.

Terry Jones, best known for his part in Monty Python's Flying Circus, is also a distinguished medieval historian.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Greenhill Books/Lionel Leventhal
• Data di pubblicazione: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1853676977
• ISBN 13: 9781853676970
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 304