Polish Armies (1) : 1569-1696 (Men-At-Arms Series, 184) [Paperback]

Richard Brzezinski (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: April 23, 1987

Few people will realise that at one time the Polish state was one of Europe's great powers. One of the chief instruments of her success was undoubtedly her army, which though small can claim many accomplishments and major successes in the 16th and 17th centuries. Richard Brzezinski redresses this imbalance by providing a portrait of Polish armies from 1569-1696, detailing their history, organisation, arms, armour, insignia and dress, accompanied by numerous illustrations and eight superb full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

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

Richard Brzezinski is a young historian and a leading expert on the military history of central and Eastern Europe, greatly admired for his primary research and painstaking work in archives in Sweden, Germany and Poland. His previous titles for Osprey include two Men-at-Arms about the army of Gustavus Adolphus and Campaign 68: Lutzen 1632.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing; First Edition edition (April 23, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 085045736X
• ISBN-13: 978-0850457360
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,199,738 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Polish Armies 17th Century, January 24, 2000

By 

Maciej Dunski (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Polish Armies (1) : 1569-1696 (Men-At-Arms Series, 184) (Paperback)

The book highlights and illustrates one of the most flambuoyant periods in Polish military history. The brief, comprehensive summary and excellent illustrations help the reader to visualise and understand why Poland in the 16th-17th century was a power to be reckoned with. The vast array of military forces - Polish winged hussars, light cavalry, Cossacks, Tartars, Wallahians etc, present a picture of a colourful, highly effective strike force. A must-read for anyone interested in this subject.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Polish Armies, Winged Hussars and More, June 11, 2003

By 

Richard J. Brzostek (New England, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polish Armies (1) : 1569-1696 (Men-At-Arms Series, 184) (Paperback)

"Polish Armies: 1569-1696 (1)" is the first book in a two-part set. Some of the topics covered in this volume are organization and recruitment, types of cavalry and infantry, armor and weapons, flags, command insignia, and field signs. This book is filled with photographs and illustrations that bring to life this period. Eight full-page artworks depict various uniforms with high attention to detail.

The book is very well written, and Polish history is brought to life in words and pictures. Many aspects of this time are concisely described in this volume. After reading this book, you will want to read its second part.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Osprey At Its Very Best, March 5, 2009

By 

Marco Antonio Abarca (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Polish Armies (1) : 1569-1696 (Men-At-Arms Series, 184) (Paperback)

At its peak, the Polish Kingdom stretched from Baltic to the Black Sea and from the Vistula to the gates of Moscow. After France and Russia, Poland had the third largest population in Europe. During its century of greatness, Poland's armies faced Swedes, Turks, Tatars, Russians, Hungarians and Cossacks. With their winged hussars at the lead, Poland's army was made up of that strange and colorful mix of east and west.

Osprey's Men-At-Arms Series by its very nature can only offer a superficial look at the Polish armies of this period. As anyone who reads Osprey books know, the quality of the writing is inconsistent. Fortunately, Richard Brzezinsky is one of their best writers. He loves the topic and his enthusiasm is infectous. For me the only downside are the Angus McBride illustrations. Having finished this book, I am looking forward to reading Brzezinsky's book on the Winged Hussars.