Customer Reviews

Byzantine Infantryman: Eastern Roman Empire c.900-1204 (Warrior)

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Just finished it and couldn't put it down. Please promise there is more on its way! The section on training the troops is an area often overlooked. I especially agreed with the observations on the realism of the rosette casket ivory figures and believe closer study of the many of these still extant could by a process of "reverse engineering" elicit an almost complete Byzantine Fechtbuch. Great material on archery and in particular the solenarion. The materials on Campaign Life, Medical Treatment, Siege Warfare and re-enactment groups were bonuses.Given this current and up to date scholarship this should be an excellent read and remedy a lot of the material in earlier works by Osprey based on redundant scholarship.

In Osprey's Warrior No. 118, Byzantine Infantryman: Eastern Roman Empire c. 900 - 1204, classics scholar Dr. Timothy Dawson outlines the capabilities and character of the soldiers who formed the bulwark of the Byzantine Empire. This is a subject area that has been neglected for decades due to a dearth of source material and biases against the Byzantines, as the author notes. Dr. Dawson's work sheds considerable light on this oft-neglected subject and he provides an insightful look at the Byzantine soldier.

Byzantine Infantryman consists of sections on recruitment, appearance, equipment, training, conditions of service, belief and belonging, on campaign and experience of battle. Color plates by Angus McBride include: Byzantine infantry at the beginning of the 10th Century; training; equipment in the late 10th to 11th centuries; battlefield formation in the late 10th century; camp life on campaign in Armenia; siege warfare; medical treatment and super heavy infantry of the 12th Century. The author also provides a 2-page glossary and a detailed bibliography.

The author lays out the subject methodically, covering all the critical areas from recruitment, to training, to combat and then retirement. He also makes some interesting comments about the effect of Orthodox Christianity upon Byzantine soldiers - who were told that even killing a non-Christian foe was a sin. The Church and society thus regarded the Byzantine soldier as something of an outcast, which helps to explain the problems in maintaining large armies. Unlike the earlier Roman Army, the Byzantines also allowed soldiers to serve as long as they were physically able, with no set terms of service. The only shortcoming in this work is its inability to convey why the Byzantine soldiers were able to prevail against the long odds they faced in this period - the secret of their "eliteness" is alluded to, but not really explained. Overall, a good volume in the Elite series.

Dawson approaches the subject with a variety of relevant source materials, including art, textual evidence, archaeological remains and his own experience in re-enactment. The book is fairly well-rounded, discussing topics such as equipment, encampment and training.

The books does have a few flaws. While Dawson may be an expert on 10th-13th century weapons and armour, this book strongly suggests that he is much less knowledgable about 10th-13th century textual history. The various military manuals are referenced incessantly, but the sources of the period such as Leo the Deacon, Niketas Choniates, and Ionnes Skylitzes are largely ignored, especially when it comes to discussing the actual army in battle. Most of Dawson's information in the latter half of the book on training and actual campaigning are primarily drawn from the military manuals, and thus reflect the ideal. The references are pretty standard for Osprey books, but it constantly makes me wish that it was better cited so that I can see which manual, for example, some diagram or quote comes from. Osprey books can be loaded with citations - look at some of Waldemar Heckel's.

The book also doesn't give a very detailed or clear explanation of the thematic/tagmatic system. For someone unfamiliar with the Byzantine Empire, this could be problematic. I'm also not very fond of his unusual but accurate transliteration style, but that is just a minor quibble.

Nonetheless, this is an excellent book on the period, especially in the aspects of arms and armour. The illustrations are quite good. The organization and daily life of the soldiers is well described, although the section pertaining to the army on campaign is lacking.

Also recommended for such an audience is Timothy Dawson's BYZANTINE INFANTRYMAN: EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE C.900-1204. The Byzantine Army was built on a belief system emphasizing overwhelming force and infantrymen were trained on fighting in formation. Dawson is an expert researcher on the topic and here chronicles a typical infantryman's daily experiences and engagements.

This title, by far the most worthy Osprey has yet published on the Byzantine Army, presents a fresh and lively new look at this confused topic and supports it with lovely plates by Angus McBride. Like all warrior titles, it examines the chronology, recruitment, appearance, equipment, training, conditions of service, belief and belonging, on campaign, and experience of battle of the topic and also has a detailed glossary. Also included are some neat black and white pics of modern reenactors using the spears and solenarion of the Byzantine infantryman.

One of the Ospreys better jobs, especially with the Late Angus McBride doing the illustrations. I must also mention that the Text was much better than usual. Altogether, a fitting Tribute to the fighting men of the Eastern Roman Empire!

BYZANTINE INFANTRYMAN: EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE C. 900-1204
TIMOTHY DAWSON
OSPREY PUBLISHING, 2007
QUALITY SOFTCOVER, $17.95, 64 PAGES, ILLUSTRATIONS, CHRONOLOGY, GLOSSARY, PHOTOGRAPHS


The Byzantine Army evolved from that of the late Roman Empire. The standard language of the army was still Latin (though later and especially after the 6th Century AD Greek dominates, as Greek became the official language of the entire empire), but it became considerably more sophisticated in terms of strategy, tactics, and organization. For example, the Byzantine Army was the first army in the world to adopt combined arms task force as part of its regular doctrine. Unlike the Roman legions, the core of its strength was its heavy cavalry, the Cataphracts, which evolved from the Clibanarii of the late empire. Infantry was still used but mainly in support roles and as a base of maneuver for the cavalry. Most of the infantry of the empire were the heavy infantry Skutatoi and, later on, Kontarios, with the remainder being the light infantry and archers of the Psiloi. Byzantine soldiers were often depicted by Westerners as effeminate and reluctant to fight, but this was a false image. The Byzantines valued intelligence and discipline in their soldiers far more than bravery or brawn. The "Pouaoia otpatiootai" were a loyal force comprised of citizens willing to fight to defend their homes and their state to the death, augmented by mercenaries. Infantry conscription was still practiced, as in the Roman Army, with every citizen eligible to serve. The training was very much like that of the legionaries, with the soldiers taught close quarter melee techniques with their swords. But, as in the late empire, archery was extensively practiced and emphasized. The Byzantine Army was the closest thing that the Middle Ages came to in producing a superpower. Built on a strong belief system emphasizing stealth, surprise, swift maneuver, and overwhelming force, the Byzantine infantryman was trained in survival, sword, spear, and archery techniques as well as in land and sea combat and fighting within the foulkon 'turtle' formation. The Byzantine Army of the 10th and 11th Centuries, at the height of its power and efficiency, was the best-organized, best-trained, best-equipped, and highest paid in the known world. Author Dr. Timothy Dawson, an expert in the training and techniques of the Byzantine Army, expertly writes of the everyday experience of the infantryman from his recruitment, through his twice-a-day training regime to his encounters with his enemies. Richly illustrated, BYZANTINE INFANTRYMAN: EASTERN ROMAN EMPIRE C. 900-1204 shows an incredible warrior society and gives the reader a real insight into how they lived and fought.


Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida

I found it enlightening since little, in historical literature, covers this important period of history. This is an academic work, and brief, but provides interesting information on the continuing Roman Empire. The Roman Empire didn't cease to exist in 476 A.D. but continued till 1453 A.D. but it becomes overshadowed by other events, e.g., the Crusades, Turks, Arabs, Normans, etc.