Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-26 (Men-at-Arms) [Paperback]

Douglas Miller (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: February 19, 2003

In the 1520s, a brief but savage war broke out in Germany when various insurgent groups rose to overthrow the power structure. The movement took as its emblem a peasant's shoe and the collective title of 'Bundschuh', and this became known as the Peasants' War (1524–1526) - although the rebel armies actually included as many townsmen, miners, disaffected knights and mercenary soldiers as rural peasants. The risings involved large armies of up to 18,000 men, and there were several major battles before the movement was put down with the utmost ferocity. This book details the armies, tactics, costume, weapons, personalities and events of this savage war.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author

Douglas Miller researches and models broadly in the period of the German Renaissance and Reformation. He has previously written two Men-at-Arms titles for Osprey Man-at-Arms 58: The Landsknechts and Men-at-Arms 94: The Swiss at War 1300-1500. Doug is married with three children and currently works for an international trade union organisation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (February 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841765074
• ISBN-13: 978-1841765075
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brief but savage war of the Reformation era, February 21, 2004

By 

Eduardo J. Tellez A (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-26 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

The First Great conflict of the Reformation era was the German Peasants Revolt,the war was actually not one seamless event,but a series of essentially uncoordinated regional revolts inspired by radical preachers, many peasants bands across southern Germany rose up becoming small armies sometimes with the help of some Landsknechts,disaffected knights and mercenary soldiers, at the end the ill-equipped and the short of mounted men help the Swabian League to suppress the revolt.

Excellent plates by Angus McBride of the Peasant Banners as well of the League,photographs of costume and armour, it's all here,this is a useful addition to the library of anyone interested in the "BUNDSCHUH" conspiracy(the shoe was the symbol of the Rebels),this is a simply wonderful book, small but the content by Mr. Miller is an excellent introduction, this is a most interesting and rewarding read of a less know Revolt of the Renaissance,highly informative.

Related Books "Landsknecht Soldier 1486-1560"(Warrior 49)by John Harald Richards for tactics of the Renaissance are check "Pavia 1525,The Climax of the Italian Wars"(Campaign 44)by Angus Konstam, another one is "The Renaissance At War" by Thomas Arnold is a look into the major conflicts,wars,tactics and a little bit of everything fron the series Cassell's History of Warfare, more campaign books by Osprey treat Renaissance Warfare like "Fornovo 1495,France's Bloody Fighting Retreat"(Campaign 43).

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The German Peasants' War, January 15, 2008

By 

K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-26 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

This book is an absorbing summary of an obscure, yet savagely fought series of conflicts fought in the mid 1520's in Germany. As always, Mr. McBride's artwork is top-notch, and depicts the soldiers of both the peasant and Loyalist armies doing battle, as well as the flags of the various participating factions. As with the contemporary Landsknechts, many of the warriors on both sides were known especially for their malice, debauchery, and their colorful (and sometimes grotesque) clothing styles.