Bachrach David S. Pořadí knih (chronologicky)

Focusing on the military strategies of the Angevin kings from 1189 to 1307, this collection of essays by David S. Bachrach utilizes previously overlooked administrative records to reveal advancements in military technology, including artillery and missile weapons. It underscores the administrative prowess of the kings in managing vast arsenals and supplies while ensuring the welfare of their troops. Bachrach also shifts the narrative away from the traditional knight-centric view, highlighting the significant contributions of lower social classes who engaged in military service and professional soldiering.

Over half a century, the first two kings of the Saxon dynasty, Henry I (919-936) and Otto I (936-973), engaged in extensive military campaigns across Europe. Their armies operated from the Oder in the east to the Seine in the west, and from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Adriatic and Mediterranean in the south. Through numerous military actions and strategic diplomacy, they recreated Charlemagne's empire and established themselves as dominant rulers in Western Europe. This work explores how Henry I and Otto I accomplished this, providing an in-depth analysis of the organization, training, morale, tactics, and strategy of Ottonian armies during this period. Utilizing a wide range of sources, including significant archaeological findings, it reveals that the Ottonian kings commanded large armies focused on capturing fortifications, particularly Roman-origin fortress cities. Their military success demonstrates that Henry I and Otto I built upon the legacies of their Carolingian predecessors and the late Roman Empire, supported by a well-organized administration and bureaucracy that effectively mobilized resources for warfare. David S. Bachrach is Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire.