Armies of the Medieval Italian Wars 1125–1325
Armies of the Medieval Italian Wars 1125–1325
Description
The great powers of medieval Europe fought continuously in the Italian peninsula between the 12th and 14th centuries as they sought to expand their territory.
Invading armies from Germany – the Holy Roman Empire – saw the creation of the defensive Lombard League of northern Italian city-states. Conflicts between rival confederacies proved to be the catalysts for developments in organisation and tactics. Italian urban militias became better organised and equipped, the Imperial armies became multi-national forces, and both sides became reliant on mercenary forces to prosecute their wars.
After the 1260s, France, relying mainly on armoured cavalry, and Spain, with their innovative light infantry, vied for control of southern Italy. On the seas, the great naval powers of Genoa, Pisa and Venice became fierce rivals, as they created great trading empires, bringing the treasures of the east into feudal Europe.
Using detailed colour plates, this beautifully illustrated book describes the myriad of armies and navies that fought for control of Italy in the Middle Ages.
Table of Contents
Chronology of major wars and battles
The Imperial armies: the forces sent into Italy from the Holy Roman Empire, with emphasis on those of Emperors Frederick Barbarossa and Frederick II
The Lombard League: the forces from northern Italy that resisted Imperial invasions, with emphasis on Milan
The Guelphs and Ghibellines: the forces of the Papal States, Florence, Siena and the Kingdom of Naples, with emphasis on Florence, and the battle of Montaperti
The Maritime Republics: the land and sea forces of Venice, Genoa, Pisa and Amalfi
The Angevin armies: the French forces fighting in southern Italy
The Aragonese armies: the Spanish Catalan forces fighting in southern Italy
Product details
| Published | 21 Feb 2019 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (Epub) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 48 |
| ISBN | 9781472833419 |
| Imprint | Osprey Publishing |
| Illustrations | Colour plates; black & white illustrations. |
| Series | Men-at-Arms |
| Short code | MAA 523 |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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