Medieval Polish Armies 966-1500

Description

The history of Poland is a fascinating story of a people struggling to achieve nationhood in the face of internal and external conflict. Poland became a unified Christian state in AD 966 and by the 12th century a knightly class had emerged - a force that was integral to the defence of Poland against increasingly frequent foreign invasions. Intent on crushing rival Christian states, the Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights all mounted attacks but were beaten back by the Poles, as were invading Mongols and Turks. This book reveals the organisation, equipment and battle histories of the medieval Polish armies as they developed and modernised to emerge as one of the dominant powers of Eastern Europe.

David Nicolle worked in the BBC Arabic service for a number of years, before going 'back to school', gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He later taught world and Islamic art and architectural history at Yarmuk University, Jordan. He has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years. Witold Sarnecki is a Polish museum curator who specialises in the medieval armies of Poland. Gerry is an internationally respected authority on military costume and material culture, in particular the 15th and 18th centuries. He has illustrated more than 40 Osprey titles. His company Time Machine AG has made 3D life sized historical figures for more than 60 museums world-wide. He and his son Samuel Embleton have collaborated on several works but this is Sam's first Osprey title.

"This is a superb book for anyone interested in the medieval period, covering an often-neglected area. Western, particularly German, styles of arms and armour mixed with those of eastern areas to produce a fascinating variety, and they're all well-illustrated and described here. We also get a potted history of Poland and its fights against foreign invasion over the centuries... Very highly recommended." --John Prigent, Internet Modeler (March 2008) "Supplied with a wealth of illustration, Medieval Polish Armies pulls out all the stops; a clear and concise reference guide, it provides extensive detail regarding the source of its material, including tomb effigies, etchings, and contemporary art that often becomes the best source for determining what types of weaponry and armor were in use in a specific time and location...Far more than the historian's equivalent of Cliffs Notes, this book, like its companions, is an invaluable addition to any medieval library; its value to re-enactors, writers, modelers and scholars alike far outstrips the slim volume's weight in gold." --Richard MacKenzie, Renaissance Magazine (January 2009) "In all, Sarnecki and Nicolle's volume on this important part of history is not only the first done in English, but is a fascinating look into the events of the time. A book you'll be sure to find fascinating." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (May 2008)