The Age of Charlemagne (Trade Editions) (Paperback)

by David Nicolle (Author), Angus McBride (Illustrator) "The Carolingian dynasty traced its origins back to a political alliance between Pepin of Landen (called 'the Old') and Bishop Arnulf of Metz in the..." (more)
Key Phrases: mail hauberk, armoured cavalry, oth century, Carolingian Empire, Central Asian, Charles Martel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Carolingian Age has long been known as one of the most decisive turning points in the political and social history of Europe. It can be said with some certainty that early Carolingian military success was built on good leadership, strong administration, and troops whose morale was almost consistently superb. It is also clear that the Carolingian army managed to adapt itself to face many and differing foes. This absorbing text by Dr David Nicolle explores the organisation and history of the Carolingian Empire during the age of one of history's most romanticised and heroic figures - Charlemagne.

From the Publisher
The Bringing History to Life collection is made up of Osprey's all-time favourite titles, re-released with striking new covers - selected titles also include visitor information sections.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (September 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841761257
• ISBN-13: 978-1841761251
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,740,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent concise overview of the period., August 16, 2006

By	oakheart (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Age of Charlemagne (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

_The Age of Charlemagne_ offers an excellent concise overview of the political and military history of the Carolingian Empire. David Nicolle, perhaps Osprey's top author on medieval subjects, gives the usual Osprey coverage of the military development and organization of the era, in this case the gradual introduction of stirrups to western Europe and the rise of early fighting cavalry. However, perhaps due to the paucity of historical material on these topics, Nicolle also includes a brief but thorough history of the Empire itself. The factors cited for its fall in the early 900s CE include encroachment by Saracens and Magyars, raids by Vikings, and the inability of the offense-designed Carolingian military system to adapt to a defensive role. _The Age of Charlemagne_ details the military history of this early medieval period and provides a valuable overview of the political history as well.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect introduction, June 22, 2007

By	K. Murphy "Fortune favors the Bold" (The thriving metropolis of Masury, OH) - See all my reviews

Another wonderful men-at-arms book produced by the union of David Nicolle's detailed examination of politics, military organization, and armament and Angus McBride's flawless and exciting artwork. This book not only discusses the adventures of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th and 10th Centuries, but also looks at its Avar, Slavic, Germanic, Italian, and Muslim foes.