Osprey Elite 189 - European Medieval Tactics (2) 1849087393 2012.pdf

European Medieval
Tactics (2)
The Revival of Infantry 1260–1500
DAVID NICOLLE ILLUSTRATED BY ADAM HOOK
© Osprey Publishing •
Elite • 189
European Medieval
Tactics (2)
New Infantry, New Weapons 1260–1500
DAVID NICOLLE ILLUSTRATED BY ADAM HOOK
Series editor Martin Windrow
© Osprey Publishing •
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 4
THE 13TH–14TH CENTURY INFANTRY REVIVAL 10
From feudal militias to ‘mercenaries’ Italian armies and tactics The British Isles The Empire
and Scandinavia France
THE CHALLENGE OF BOW & CROSSBOW 21
The 14th to mid-15th centuries: Italian urban militias and condottieri – Venice
France: indentured troops – urban forces The British Isles: coastal militias The Empire and
Scandinavia: local forces – urban militias – leagues –‘free knights’– crossbowmen Diversity of
troop types and tactics: elite infantry – professional men-at-arms – Flemish mixed-arm infantry –
archers – Scottish and Swiss spearmen
FROM KNIGHT TO MAN-AT-ARMS 34
The 14th to mid-15th centuries: France: the arrière ban and panies
England: mixed panies –‘hobelar’ light cavalry Italy: mercenary knights – the
ian army – Angevin and Spanish southern Italy The Empire and Eastern Europe: Western
and Eastern influences Strategy and tactics: French defensiveness and English aggression
FORTIFICATIONS & FIREARMS 41
Up to the mid-15th century: Defensive co-operation between French works –
blockades and convoys Field fortifications: bastides, stakes, and ‘wagon forts’
Firearms: effectiveness and limitations of artillery – cost – the spread of handguns
THE DAWN OF MODERN WARFARE 48
The second half of the 15th century: Infantry development Attitudes to war: Italy – France
Continuing importance of armoured cavalry – skill-at-arms Italian tactics Firearms
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES 58
Warfare on the frontiers of Western Christendom: The Baltic Hungary Spain
BIBLIOGRAPHY 62
INDEX 64
© Osprey Publishing •
EUROPEAN MEDIEVAL TACTICS (2)
NEW INFANTRY, NEW WEAPONS 1260–1500