Militärgeschichte des Mittelalters

This military history of the Middle Ages provides an overview of the period from approximately 500 to 1500. It illuminates a world where war was omnipresent: no empire or social group remained permanently or long-term untouched by it; the Middle Ages did not experience centuries-long periods of peace, such as in the Italian heartland of the ancient Roman Empire. War shaped the social structure of this era since the beginnings of the so-called royal military leadership; the medieval nobility was always tied to warfare, and the knightly bellatores were the most influential group in both military and societal matters. This volume discusses who was involved in warfare, how recruitment mechanisms functioned, the strategies, tactics, and weaponry that were employed, and the state of war casualties. It also addresses religious, social, and cultural historical questions that arise in connection with the military history of the Middle Ages. The history of the military in the Middle Ages is presented in this volume in a vivid and precise, engaging and comprehensive manner. Readers can expect a broad panorama—from the Merovingians to the conquest of Constantinople, from the Crusades to the Hundred Years' War, from shield and sword to the invention of gunpowder, the decline of knightly culture, and the rise of mercenary armies.