Charles Oman

The Art of War in the Middle Ages (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

BETWEEN the middle of the third and the middle of the fifth century lies a period of transition in military history, an epoch of transformations as strange and as complete as those contemporary changes which turned into a new channel the course of political history and of civilisation in Europe. In war, as in all else, the institutions of the ancient world are seen to pass away, and a new order of things develops itself.

The most characteristic symptom of the tendencies of this period is the gradual disappearance of the Roman legion, that time-honoured organisation whose name is so intimately bound up with the story of Roman greatness. In A.D. 250 it was still the heavy-armed infantry of the empire which formed the core of battle, and was the hope and stay of the general. By A.D. 450 the cavalry was all in all, the foot-soldiery had fallen into disrepute, and the very name of legion was almost forgotten. It represented a form of military efficiency which had now completely vanished. That wonderful combination of strength and flexibility, so solid and yet so agile and easy to handle, had ceased to correspond to the needs of the time. The day of the sword and pilum had given place to that of the lance and bow. The typical Roman soldier was no longer the iron legionary, who, with shield fitted close to his left shoulder and sword-hilt sunk low, cut his way through the thickest hedge of pikes, turned back the onset of the mailed horsemen of the East, and stood unmoved before the wildest rush of Celt or German. The old military organisation of Augustus and Trajan began to fall to pieces in the third century; in the fourth it was so weakened and transformed as to be hardly recognisable; by the end of the fifth it had disappeared.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Merkaba Press
• Seitenzahl: 125
• Erscheinungstermin: 5. Juli 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 6610000018345
• Artikelnr.: 59897191

Autorenporträt

Charles Oman, a notable figure in historical scholarship, was a British military historian whose contributions have been widely acknowledged in the field of medieval warfare. Born on January 12, 1860, in India, Oman later moved to Britain, where he was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford. Renowned for his detailed research and engaging narrative style, Oman's works have remained influential among both historians and military enthusiasts. His seminal work, 'The Art of War in the Middle Ages,' first published in 1885 and revised in 1898, offers an incisive analysis of military tactics and strategies from the fall of the Roman Empire to the early fourteenth century. Oman's approach combined a scholarly rigor with a captivating prose style that brought to life the complexities of medieval battlefields. His methodological innovation lay in his ability to examine military history from both a technical and societal perspective, making his insights valuable for understanding the broader cultural and political milieu of the Middle Ages. Beyond his military histories, Oman also held prestigious academic positions, serving as the Chichele Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford and being knighted in 1920 for his academic contributions. He was a prolific author, penning numerous volumes on English and European history, contributing to the field until his death on June 23, 1946.