Henry VIII's Army (Men-At-Arms Series, 191) [Paperback]

Paul Cornish (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 26, 1987 | Series: Men-at-Arms (Book 191)

Military affairs occupied a very significant place during Henry VIII's reign, with English armies seeing action against two main enemies: the French and the Scots, of which France was undoubtedly viewed as the principal foe. Henry nursed grandiose ambitions to be acclaimed as the arbiter of European politics, and whilst intervention in European affairs did not necessarily dictate a policy of hostility towards France; England was invariably to be found in league with her enemies in time of war. This absorbing text by Paul Cornish deals with the history, uniforms and equipment of King Henry VIII's army.

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

Paul Cornish was born in Devon in 1959. He graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1981 and has since pursued a career in museums - firstly at the British Museum, and subsequently at the Imperial War Museum, where he is a curator. Apart from the military history of the early Sixteenth Century, his specialist interests include modern firearms and the material culture of war. He has written a number of articles on military history and lives in Kent, England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; 1ST edition (November 26, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 085045798X
• ISBN-13: 978-0850457988
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.1 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,242,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The English Army c. 1511-1544, January 22, 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: Henry VIII's Army (Men-At-Arms Series, 191) (Paperback)

This book examines the army of England as it appeared in the first half of the 16th Century, and looks at certain climatic battles like the Battle of the Spurs and the Battle of Flodden, fought in France and Scotland respectively, and both in 1513. During this era the Scots and especially the French were considered England's worst enemies; the author explains that the English were not usually deliberately out to provoke France, but the two nations had common interests on the Continent and so confrontation was inevitable.

Although gunpowder weapons were indeed common throughout the Old World by this point in history, for most of this book's period the English soldier was still much more likely to fight with a longbow or bill/halberd. The armament and armor of the cavalry and infantry are discussed in detail after a summary of Henry's wars and the organization of his army. Uniforms and flags are also studied.

The illustrator, Angus McBride, maintained a reputation as one of the greatest illustrators for military history, wargaming, and fantasy warfare books from the early 1970's up to his death in 2007. Although one time or another I have probably seen most of his artwork, I have to say this here is some of his best. McBride illustrates the English soldiers, with their Irish and Landsknecht allies, with breathtaking color and detail, and captures them in such lifelike poses and expressions they can remind you of people you know. The uniforms and appearances of the English soldiers make the artwork even more interesting; most of these men wore their hair very long and wore all sorts of colorful, garish, and sometimes plain bizarre uniforms and outfits.

As with most Osprey books illustrated by McBride, but even more so than usual, the color plates alone make this book worth every cent. The text, however, would be valuable to the wargamer, historian, or history teacher as well. In short, I could hardly think of a better book to flesh out the appearance of late medieval English troops, or a better introduction to their arms, organization, and most famous battles.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great military supplement to the many biographies of Henry VIII, January 10, 2009

By 

William J. Shepherd (Crofton, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Henry VIII's Army (Men-At-Arms Series, 191) (Paperback)

Great supplement to the many biographies of Henry VIII that tend to focus on the political, social, and religious aspects of the reign of this controversial King of England. There is a natural fascination with the story of his six wives and the beginning of the Reformation so that Henry's military campaigns are little known now.