Byzantium at War - AD 600–1453

Byzantium survived for 800 years, yet its dominions and power fluctuated dramatically during that time. John Haldon tells the story from the days when the Empire was barely clinging on to survival, to the age when its fabulous wealth attracted Viking mercenaries and Asian nomad warriors to its armies, their very appearance on the field enough to bring enemies to terms. In 1453 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XII, died fighting on the ramparts, bringing to a romantic end the glorious history of this legendary empire.

List of contents

Introduction
Chronology
Background to war
Warring sides
The fighting
Portrait of a soldier
The world around war
Portrait of a civilian
How the war ended
Conclusion and consequences
Further reading

About the author

John Haldon is Professor of Byzantine History at the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on the history of the early and middle Byzantine period, and on medieval state structures across the European and Islamic worlds. He has published many books and articles, including 'Byzantium in the Seventh Century' (Cambridge, 1997), 'Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World' (London, 1999) and 'Byzantium: A History' (Stroud, 2000).

Summary

Byzantium survived for 800 years, yet its dominions and power fluctuated dramatically during that time. John Haldon tells the story from the days when the Empire was barely clinging on to survival, to the age when its fabulous wealth attracted Viking mercenaries and Asian nomad warriors to its armies, their very appearance on the field enough to bring enemies to terms. In 1453 the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XII, died fighting on the ramparts, bringing to a romantic end the glorious history of this legendary empire.

Product details

• Authors: John Haldon
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.09.2002
• EAN: 9781841763606
• ISBN: 978-1-84176-360-6
• No. of pages: 96
• Dimensions: 170 mm x 248 mm x 7 mm
• Weight: 338 g
• Illustrations: 22 b/w; 38 col
• Series: Essential Histories; Essential Histories (Osprey Pu
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; HISTORY / Military / General, HISTORY / Asia / General, HISTORY / Byzantine Empire, CE period up to c 1500, Warfare & defence, c 1000 CE to c 1500, Asian History, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, c 500 to c 1000 CE, European history: medieval period, middle ages, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval, War and defence operations, War & defence operations, Land forces & warfare, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, Byzantine Empire, Land forces and warfare, HISTORY / Military / Land Forces