Byzantine Armies AD 1118-1461 (Men-at-Arms) [Paperback]

Ian Heath (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: November 13, 1995

The Byzantine Empire's disastrous defeat by the Seljuk Turks at Manzikert in 1071 effectively marked the end of what is often described as the 'middle' period of Byzantine history. Thereafter, surrounded on all sides by younger, more vigorous nations, the once all-powerful Empire slipped into a steady decline which, ultimately, was to prove terminal. However, the Empire's demise was anything but peaceful, and, one way or another, for much of the last four centuries of its existence it was to find itself in a state of virtually constant war. This book examines the fascinating history of the Byzantine Empire and its armies from 1118-1461 AD.

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

Ian Heath is a highly respected author, and has written a number of Osprey titles, including MAA 89 Byzantine Armies 886-1118, MAA 287 Byzantine Armies 1118-1461 and MAA 275 The Taiping Rebellion 1851-66. He is also currently working on a five-volume project covering the armies of 19th-century Asia. Ian lives and works in Cambridgeshire, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (November 13, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1855323478
• ISBN-13: 978-1855323476
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #444,711 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Osprey is the cliff notes to history, June 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Byzantine Armies AD 1118-1461 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

Osprey has done it again. These guys are the masters of finding good pictures to print in their books. I find the time lines they put in their books a invaluable resource. About the only dissapointment i find in these books is the lack of color when they show the actual plates. The source materials are good also. They find information in a varied assortment of histories and have a complete bibliography at the end. Good book, as expected.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last!Something worthing about Byzantine armies., August 31, 2006

By 

Angelos Papoutsis "The difficult path to crea... (Greece) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Byzantine Armies AD 1118-1461 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

The book for me is a treasure box.I didn't know that it has with so much detail the description of the Byzantine Armies.It is so easy reading and with the pictures of course and the fantastic illustrations.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Later Byzantine Armies, April 16, 2007

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: Byzantine Armies AD 1118-1461 (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

Usual great text and plates, and the usual immensely useful at-a-glance timeline towards the front of the book. The plates alone capture how far the Byzantine Empire had fallen, ultimately from its Roman past, but even from its pre-Manzikert ancestors. The army consisted almost entirely of Nomad and European mercenaries. This book goes through the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the Ottoman Turks to the last eight years of a surviving Byzantine state, the 'Empire' of Trebizond, which finally fell to the Ottomans in August of 1461.