Description

Meticulously researched, this book examines the evidence for the post-Roman military forces of France and Britain during the 'Dark Ages', reconstructing their way of life and the battles they fought in compelling detail.

The collapse of the former Western Roman Empire during the so called 'Dark Ages' c. AD 410 was gradual and piecemeal. Out of this vacuum arose regional tribes and leaders determined to take back kingdoms that were theirs and oust any Roman presence for good. However, the Roman guard was tenacious and survived in small pockets that emerged in both Gaul and Britain. These areas of Romano-Celtic resistance held out against the Saxons until at least the mid 6th century in Britain and against the Visigoths and the Merovingian Franks until the late 8th century in France.

Drawing on archaeological finds, contemporary sculpture and manuscript illuminations, Dr Raffaele D'Amato presents contemporary evidence for 5th to 9th-century Gallic and British 'Dark Age' armies and reconstructs their way of life and the battles they fought. The text, accompanied by photographs and colour illustrations, paints an intricate picture of how these disparate groups of Roman soldiers survived and adapted on the fringes of the Roman Empire.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
Sub-Roman and post-Roman - Sources
SELECT CHRONOLOGY
POST-ROMAN GAUL
Historical background: the Patricii - Armorica - The Arborychi - Southern Gaul
Military organization - Armies of the Patricii - Armorica and Brittany - Post-Roman enclaves and cities
POST-ROMAN BRITAIN
Historical background: the warlords - Ambrosius - Arthur
Kingdoms - Bryneichn - Reghed and Cumbria - Elmet - Gododdin - Strathclyde - Gwyned, Dyfed and Powys - Dumnonia - Other Romano-British enclaves
Military organization - Warlord armies - Romano-British kingdoms - Teulu, Gosgordd and Nifer - Size of armies
EQUIPMENT, ARMS & CLOTHING
Gallo-Roman Patricii armies - Helmets - Body armour - Weapons - Other equipment - Military dress - Germanic equipment
Brittany and Armorica - Helmets - Armour and shields - Weapons - Horse equipment - Military dress
British warlord armies - Helmets - Body armour - Shields - Military belts - Weapons: Spears - Swords - Daggers and knives - Axes
Cavalry warfare and equipment - Standards
Post-Roman kingdoms - Helmets - Armour - Shields - Weapons - Cavalry warfare - Military dress
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX