Fortifications in Wessex, c.800-1066 [Paperback]

Ryan Lavelle (Author), Donato Spedaliere (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Fortress | Publication Date: October 22, 2003

The defence of the 9th-century kingdom of Wessex under King Alfred against the 'Great Viking Army' is one of the major military achievements of Early Medieval history. While the guerrilla warfare in the Somerset marshes and the battle of Edington are characteristic of Alfred's military abilities, his definitive physical achievement was a series of some 30 well-structured fortifications (known as burhs) across the kingdom. Many of these fortifications survive to this day and some were even reinforced to stand up to German tanks in the expected invasion of 1940. This title describes their beginnings in the turbulent early years of Alfred’s reign as well as their subsequent development and use.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ryan Lavelle has written on numerous aspects of Anglo-Saxon life and politics, including a study of the reign of Aethelred II 'the Unready'. He holds a PhD from the University of Southampton and currently lectures at King Alfred's College, Winchester.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (October 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841766399
• ISBN-13: 978-1841766393
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting reading material...., July 11, 2010

By 

lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fortifications in Wessex, c.800-1066 (Paperback)

Ryan Lavelle wrote a sweet and short book on how fortification are designed and used during the times of Alfred the Great and two hundred years after. But the book does centered itself around Alfred's period quite a lot. The book proves to be well written and researched with plenty of drawings, maps and photos to further the narrative. I was especially interested in what he had to say about Offa's Dykes, something I saw during my travels in Britain but never really understood it. In my next trip, I would have to study it with more interest (long way from Alaska!). The book also pointed out that Saxons also planned and designed their "burh" in a way that might make the engineers of the Roman legion proud. That is far cry that help dispelled the notion that the "Dark Ages" may not be so dark after all. The book shows how fortification of towns and strategic points affected both the Saxons and their Viking enemies in their wars and peace. I thought the book brought some interesting insights into these matters.

One more thing before I close out here. If anyone reading this is a fan of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon series where the hero Uhtred goes about his adventures, this book definitely helped the visualization of his world.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Burher Kings of Wessex, May 13, 2011

By 

G. Simon (London, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fortifications in Wessex, c.800-1066 (Paperback)

A fairly specialist subject, dealt with in depth, but not for really for idle browsers, only for those prepared to invest some concentration. You can sample the text in the "Look Inside" option above.

Contents:
Introduction - p4
Chronology - p7
Design and Development - p8
- Early fortification of Anglo-Saxon England
- Early fortification of Mercia
- Early West Saxon defences
- ALfred the Great
- 'Private' fortifications: Anglo-Saxon castles?
Fortifications in the l;andscape - p26
[You are never more than 20 miles from a fortification!]
- The principles of defence
The Sites - p33
Town and garrison life - p39
- Religious life
- Warrior elites: the housecarles
- The king and the towns
Campaigns in Wessex and fortifications - p47
- Sieges in Early medieval Wessex
- Defending the walls
Aftermath - p56
Visiting Alfred's Wessex - p58
Further Reading, Glossary & Index - pp62-64

Colour Plates:
1. Colour map - Kingdom of Wessex and its Neighbours
2. Offa's Dyke - a cross-section illustration
3. Construction of a burh
4. Private fortification - of a theign (a wooden stockade, a gate, a stone tower, and a church - all required to qualify as a theign)
5. 'Generic' West Saxon burh - 2 pages - burh with a mixture of wood and stone walls & ramparts.
6. Winchester - 3/4 birds-eye view of the town and landscape
7. Lydford - 3/4 birds-eye view of the town and landscape
8. Assault on a burh - viking attackers' view with traditional hatchet in gate.

Plenty of colour photos mixed in with traditional b&w drawings and photos (though two of the drawings are rather too large - they look like thay have been blown up to fill space). Small font size, so you get more for your money.