Armies of the Middle Ages
Volume I

book

review by Dr. George Schneider

The Hundred Years War, The War of the Roses and the Burgundian Wars, 1300-1487

This volume by Ian Heath, a Wargames Research Group publication, 1982, admirably continues the survey of medieval armies begun in the ARMIES OF THE DARK AGES, and continued in the ARMIES OF FEUDAL EUROPE and the ARMIES AND ENEMIES OF THE CRUSADES. The author explains in his preface that additional materials researched for this period will be covered in a companion volume on Germany, eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Western European armies in the 14th and 15th centuries are examined in this volume. Countries covered include England, Burgundy, France, the Low Countries, Granada, Spain, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Navarre and Switzerland; the Free Companies also receive attention in a separate section. Major sections are organized according to the following headings: Organization; Tactics; Major Battles of the Period; Dress and Equipment; Artillery and Appendices. Sub-sections of the Appendices include: the banner, the standard, and other flags; coats-of-arms of the Hundred Years' War; liveries,- Orders of Chivalry; and select bibliography. The author relates a tremendous amount of detail about this subject matter in a concise and easy-to-follow manner.

When alternative interpretations exist on specific items, he refers to the major authors in question and draws a logical conclusion based upon his own prodigious reading of the literature. There are 150 illustrations of troops presented in sketch form drawn from major primary sources, manuscripts and drawings, and even taken from later reproductions of earlier literature, such as 15th century renditions of accounts by Froissart covering the first phase of the Hundred Years' War. Naval warfare of this period receives its fair share of attention alongside the more numerous land encounters. The erosion of the feudal system into more structured, centralized, mercenary and professional state armies is described, and the author goes to great length to explain the interrelationships that influenced the parallel development of many military characteristics in this period.

Ian Heath has produced a book which, when taken together with past and projected volumes covering major military history between the fall of Rome and the end of the 16th century, ought to earn for him the everlasting gratitude of the world's wargaming and historical communities. Wargamers of the Middle Ages have the most comprehensive resource base possible for the enjoyment of their hobby with Heath's magnum opus.

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