European Medieval Tactics The Fall and Rise of Cavalry 450-1260

Elite 185
Author: David Nicolle
Illustrator: Adam Hook
About this book
After the fall of the Western Roman Empire there was a decline in "professional" cavalry forces, and infantry dominated in the Germanic successor "barbarian" kingdoms. In the Carolingian and Norman periods from the 9th to the 11th centuries, the cavalry arm gradually expanded from the small remaining aristocratic elite. Even so, the supposedly complete dominance of the "knight" in the 12th and 13th centuries is grossly exaggerated, as integrated cavalry and infantry tactics were nearly always the key to success. This is a two-part treatment of medieval tactics. Throughout the period there was a steady evolution of training in both individual and unit skills, of armour and weapons, and thus of tactics on the battlefield. This book covers Hastings in 1066 to Legnano in 1176. It also details the two key set piece battles of Bouvines in 1214 and Pelagonia in 1259, the former an example of abject failure of cavalry tactics and the latter a stunning success.

Contents
Introduction
Background - tactical impact of fall of Western Roman Empire
Barbarian tactics - cavalry survives as ultimate reserve and battle-decider -the new stirrups and saddles - battle of Lech, 955
Carolingians and Normans - a revival of cavalry and mounted infantry - development of new armour and tactics - Hastings 1066
Combination of cavalry and infantry tactics - importance of northern Italian militia armies - Legnano 1176
"The Knight Dominant" - cavalry vs. cavalry tactics - successes and failures analysed

Paperback; June 2011; 64 pages; ISBN: 9781849085038