Flodden 1513: Scotland's greatest defeat (Campaign) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Stephen Walsh (Illustrator)
Key Phrases: flank march, master gunner, border fortresses, Royal Armouries, Edmund Howard, King James (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Scottish and English armies clashed on 9 September 1513 at Flodden. The Scots were superior in terms of artillery and well-trained in the new Renaissance tactics, whereas the English deployed more traditional methods. Historically, this battle is well-known as the last in which the longbow played a role and the first in which artillery had a considerable effect. Recognized as the greatest Scottish defeat in history, it resulted in the death of Scotland's king. It plunged the country into mourning and extinguished Scotland's threat to Henry VIII's reign for the next three decades. This book examines battle, the different tactics of the opposing armies and the personalities of the commanders.

From the Publisher

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841769592
• ISBN-13: 978-1841769592
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #812,177 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flodden 1513, June 4, 2006

By	Spacy Bickerson (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews

On 9 September 1513, Flodden field was the site for one of Scotland's most famous battles, often termed their "greatest defeat". The Scottish Army led by their courageous king, James IV, was strong in artillery and trained in new tactics from the Swiss doctrine, whereas the English Army they faced still favoured traditional tactics. Despite the strength of the Scots, the English men-at-arms fought ferociously. By nightfall, the field was strewn with the bodies of the Scottish nobility, and tre tragic figure of their king. This book examines the strategies of both armies and the significant effect of the weapons used, including the longbow and artillery.

John Sadler is an excellent author and Stephen Walsh a marvelous illustrator. I don't often buy the Osprey series of books but this one is just too good to pass up. Weither you are a student of Scottish or English history or just of military history this book is one to get.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars worth it for the artwork alone!, March 27, 2008

By	Douglas E. Libert "howitt" (parkersburg wv) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I particularly liked the artwork in this Osprey work,the combat scenes are dramatic and realistic,not at all "cartoonish" as in some of these works.The Scots at Flodden decided to settle some issues with the English believing that Henry the eighth was overextended in his European campaigns. Apparently there were alot of border raids by both sides that seemed interminable and the Scots wanted to give the English a decisive defeat. The English however were to prove their power by defeating the Scots and at the same time fighting European powers on both land and sea.
This book has personality as well,the King of Scotland James the fourth comes off as a leader who literally led from the front.While some might see his bravery as wrecklessness one would have to admire his devotion to his cause.The quote,"nobly save or meanly lose" would apply here. The artwork reinforces this.At Flodden the Scots suffered more casualties than at all the previous Scottish vs. English campaigns combined.But for that "marshy dip",the English might well have been defeated by the pikes of the surging Scots.As it was the English bill triumphed.Great maps and displays of equipment.A great description of the battle without getting bogged down in the political causes of the conflict.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scotland's mismanagement, July 3, 2006

By	lordhoot "lordhoot" (Anchorage, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Osprey Campaign 168, Flodden 1513 proves to be a well written and well researched book. Like all of Osprey Campaign books, this one got less then a hundred pages but the author uses those pages very nicely. The book gives a good background to the campaign, blow by blow of the battle and what happened afterward. For such a short book, it definitely summarized the entire incident very well. Illustrations proves to be useful and maps although not very clear, gave a good account of how the battle unfolded.

Considered as "Scotland's greatest defeat", Flodden Field appears to be one of the very few times Scotland had an advantages of numbers, equipments and supplies over their English foes. However, the author made it clear that the battle was sorely mismanaged by King James IV of Scotland who ended up choosing a battlefield unfit for his army who was using the new Swiss pike system tactical formations.

Overall, one of the better books from the Osprey Campaign series that covers the battle and the campaign very well.