Western Warfare In The Age Of The Crusades, 1000-1300

In 1095 the First Crusade was launched, establishing a great military endeavour which was a central preoccupation of Europeans until the end of the thirteenth century. In Western warfare in the age of the Crusades, 1000-1300 John France offers a wide-ranging and challenging survey of war and warfare and its place in the development of European Society, culture and economy in the period of the Crusades. Placing the crusades in a wider context, this book brings together the wealth of recent scholarly research on such issues as knighthood, siege warfare, chivalry and fortifications into an accessible form. Western warfare in the age of the Crusades, 1000-1300 examines the nature of war in the period 1000-1300 and argues that it was primarily shaped by the people who conducted war - the landowners. John France illuminates the role of property concerns in producing the characteristic instruments of war: the castle and the knight. This authoritative study details the way in which war was fought and the reasons for it as well as reflecting on the society which produced the crusades.

Acknowledgements -- Plates and plans -- 1 Proprietorial warfare -- 2 The weapons of war -- 3 War, society and technology -- 4 Warfare and authority -- 5 Men of war: cavalry -- 6 Men of war: infantry -- 7 The nature of the castle -- 8 Castles and war -- 9 Fortifications and siege -- 10 Armies -- 11 Commanders -- 12 Campaign, battle and tactics -- 13 Battle and the development of war -- 14 Europe, ideology and the outsider -- 15 Crusading and warfare in the Middle East -- 16 Perspectives -- Appendix I: The Battle ofBouvines, 21 July 1214 -- List of Abbreviations -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.

John France is Senior Lecturer in Flistory at the University of Wales, Swansea.