Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen 925–1025

The Tághmata and Imperial Guard

Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen 925–1025 cover

Description

The hundred-year period ending in 1025, from the reign of the Emperor Constantine VII to that of Basil II 'the Bulgar-Slayer', encompassed the last great era of Byzantine aggression and dominance in the Near East and Balkans. During that time, a succession of soldier-emperors hallenged and defeated an array of opponents on land and at sea and reconquered vast swathes of territory. At the heart of the Emperors' forces were the professional, highly mobile Tagmata or Imperial Guard regiments, originally formed to guard the Emperor¹s person in the capital but invariably deployed as elite combat troops. Joining these heavy cavalry units, were a variety of exotic mercenary units recruited from foreigners, notably the legendary Varangians. Featuring specially commissioned full-colour artwork, this lively study sheds new light on the colourful regiments of the Byzantine Imperial Guard, the formidable warriors who provided the Byzantine emperors with an insurance policy in the capital, and the elite of their field armies when on campaign.

Product details

Published Aug 20 2012
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 64
ISBN 9781849088510
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 8 col
Series Elite
Short code ELI 187
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Raffaele D’Amato

Raffaele D'Amato, PhD, is the author of some 40 bo…

Illustrator

Giuseppe Rava

Giuseppe Rava was born in Faenza in 1963, and took…

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