The Byzantines had a remarkably sophisticated approach to politics and military strategy. Unlike most of their contemporaries, they learnt very early in their history that winning a battle did not necessarily win a war, and they frequently bought off their enemies with treaties and bribes rather than squander men and matériel in potentially fruitless campaigns. The Byzantine army of the 10th and early 11th centuries, at the height of its power and efficiency, was the best-organised, best-trained, best-equipped and highest-paid in the known world. This splendid book by Ian Heath examines the Byzantine Armies from 886-1118, including the lusty, hard-fighting, hard-drinking 'barbarian' Varangian guard.
The Byzantine Empire's disastrous defeat by the Seljuk Turks at Manzikert in 1071 effectively marked the end of what is often described as the 'middle' period of Byzantine history. Thereafter, surrounded on all sides by younger, more vigorous nations, the once all-powerful Empire slipped into a steady decline which, ultimately, was to prove terminal. However, the Empire's demise was anything but peaceful, and, one way or another, for much of the last four centuries of its existence it was to find itself in a state of virtually constant war. This book examines the fascinating history of the Byzantine Empire and its armies from 1118-1461 AD.
1x General and Huscarls (4Bd)—VIKA02 1x Huscarls (4Bd)—VIKA04 6x Bondi (4Bd)—VIKA03 2x Bondi Archers (3Bw or 2Ps)—VIKA06 1x Laenstroppern (3Kn)—VIKA08 or Huscarls (4Bd)—VIKA05 1x Free Lance Raiders (3Bd)—VIKA03 or Lapp Archers (2Ps)—VIKA06 or Thralls (7Hd)—LASA03 Total Figures: 3 Cavalry and 58 Infantry
**Please note that the picture is not of the contents of the army but simply provided to give a sense of what the figures look like.