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Chargement... Sowing the Dragon's Teeth: Byzantine Warfare in the Tenth Centurypar Eric McGeer
  
Aucun Actuellement, il n'y a pas de discussions au sujet de ce livre.  AndreasJ | May 16, 2017 |    ) Swanduchess | Oct 8, 2008 | aucune critique | ajouter une critique
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The military achievements of the emperors Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, and Basil II brought the Byzantine Empire to the height of its power by the early eleventh century. This volume presents new editions and translations of two military treatises--the Praecepta militaria of Nikephoros Phokas and the revised version included in the Taktika of Nikephoros Ouranos--outlining the tactical system used by Byzantine armies in campaigns against Muslim forces in Cilicia and Syria. Products of experienced soldiers, the texts offer a realistic view of Byzantine warfare and reveal the sophistication of Byzantine military science. Eric McGeer places the treatises in military historical context; explores the factors that led the Byzantine army to fight as it did; and investigates morale, discipline, and leadership--all of which determined the difference between failure and success. Aucune description trouvée dans une bibliothèque |
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 Google Books — Chargement...GenresClassification décimale de Melvil (CDD)355.009495Social sciences Public Administration, Military Science Military Science Biography And History Europe Other CountriesClassification de la Bibliothèque du CongrèsÉvaluationMoyenne: (4)
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The second takes these treatises as the starting point for a wider consideration of Byzantine warfare in the later tenth and early eleventh centuries - a period marked by great reconquests in the Balkans, Anatolia and Syria under the soldier emperors Nikephoros Phokas (yes, the author of one of the treatises), John Tzimiskes, and Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer". Citing many instances from Byzantine and Arab chronicles of Byzantine commanders following the precepts of the treatises, and stressing that both Nikephoroses were veteran commanders who knew very well what they were writing of, McGeer argues that the treatises are eminently practical texts reflecting what was actually done rather than armchair theorizing.
Highly interesting - I wish my edition of the ca AD 600 Strategicon came with this sort of commentary - and an obvious recommendation to anyone interested in the subject. My only complaint concerns the faintly bizarre circumstance that the Arab chronicles are quoted in French translation - a language of which my command is limited to put it mildly.