Medieval Armies and Weapons in Western Europe

Historian, writer and illustrator Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage is the author of numerous books. His interests include World War II and medieval and French history. He lives in Groningen, Netherlands.

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionPART I. THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES (6TH–11TH CENTURIES)1. Late Romans, Germanic Invaders, and ByzantinesThe End of the Western Roman EmpireThe Late Roman Imperial ArmyThe HunsThe Germanic Invasions The Byzantine Empire2. The FranksThe MerovingiansIslamThe Carolingians3. Vikings and HungariansThe VikingsThe Hungarians4. Anglo-Saxons and Normans in EnglandAnglo-Saxon ConquestAlfred and Knut Norman Conquest Norman England The Norman Army 5. Feudal LordsOrigin of FeudalismHeredity of Fiefs Feudal Obligations Peace and Truce of GodCastellany Principalities 6. Knights and ChivalryOrigins of Knighthood Training of Candidate KnightsAdubmentChivalryTournaments and Jousts HeraldryPART II. THE HIGH MIDDLE AGES (11TH–13TH CENTURIES)7. Knight’s War EquipmentOffensive WeaponsDefensive EquipmentSpeed and Mobility: The Horse 8. InfantrymenInfantryPole WeaponsLong-Range WeaponsManufacture of Weapons9. Land WarfareNumber of Fighting ForcesVarious Forms of WarPitched Battle Ransom Dead, Wounded, and InvalidsWritings about Medieval Warfare10. Siege and Naval WarfareSiege WarfareNaval Warfare11. Crusaders in PalestineChurch and ViolenceThe First Crusade The Kingdom of OutremerSaladin’s Reconquest The Third and Fourth CrusadesThe Last Crusades The Opposing ArmiesOther Minor Crusades 12. Templars and HospitalersMilitary Religious Orders TemplarsThe HospitalersOther Minor Military OrdersSecular Orders of Chivalry13. Reconquista in SpainThe Arab Occupation of Spain The ReconquistaWeapons and Tactics The Iberian Military OrdersThe End of the Reconquista14. The Teutonic KnightsCreation and StructureBrethren of the Sword and DobrzynApogee and Decline of the Teutonic OrderWeapons and TacticsTeutonics and NazismPART III. THE LATE MIDDLE AGES (14TH–15TH CENTURIES)15. Evolution of Armor and WeaponsMixed Armor, 1250–1410 Full-Plate Armor, 1410–1600Evolution of Armor after 150016. The Hundred Years’ War (1340–1453)Causes Opposing ForcesFirst Part of the War, 1337–1388Second Part of the War, 1415–1453Aftermath17. European MercenariesDecay of Feudalism Urban MilitiaItalian Condottieri HussitesSwiss InfantryGerman Landsknechten Spanish Tercios18. FirearmsGunpowder Early Artillery Pieces Cannons and Handguns Influence of Firearms on Siege Warfare Influence of Firearms on FortificationsNaval Warfare with Firearms Evolution of the Cavalry19. Conclusion BibliographyIndex

“LePage’s drawings and sketches prove to be invaluable”—Mediaevistik.