Fortifications in Wessex c. 800–1066

Fortifications in Wessex c. 800–1066 PDF

Author: Ryan Lavelle

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2012-10-20

Total Pages: 160

ISBN-13: 178200551X

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The defence of the 9th-century kingdom of Wessex under King Alfred against the 'Great Viking Army' is one of the major military achievements of Early Medieval history. While the guerrilla warfare in the Somerset marshes and the battle of Edington are characteristic of Alfred's military abilities, his definitive physical achievement was a series of some 30 well-structured fortifications (known as burhs) across the kingdom. Many of these fortifications survive to this day and some were even reinforced to stand up to German tanks in the expected invasion of 1940. This title describes their beginnings in the turbulent early years of Alfred's reign as well as their subsequent development and use.

Fortifications in Wessex c. 800–1066

Fortifications in Wessex c. 800–1066 PDF

Author: Ryan Lavelle

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2012-10-20

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13: 1849080135

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The defence of the 9th-century kingdom of Wessex under King Alfred against the 'Great Viking Army' is one of the major military achievements of Early Medieval history. While the guerrilla warfare in the Somerset marshes and the battle of Edington are characteristic of Alfred's military abilities, his definitive physical achievement was a series of some 30 well-structured fortifications (known as burhs) across the kingdom. Many of these fortifications survive to this day and some were even reinforced to stand up to German tanks in the expected invasion of 1940. This title describes their beginnings in the turbulent early years of Alfred's reign as well as their subsequent development and use.

The Anglo-Saxons at War, 800–1066

The Anglo-Saxons at War, 800–1066 PDF

Author: Paul Hill

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 1781598940

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The historian and archeologist presents a vivid and comprehensive account of warfare in early Medieval England. In this compelling new study, Paull Hill reveals what documentary records and the growing body of archaeological evidence can tell us about war and combat in the age of the great Anglo-Saxon kings. The violent centuries before the Norman Conquest come to life in this detailed account of how and why the Anglo-Saxons fought, how their warriors were armed and trained, how their armies were organized, and much more. The role of combat in Anglo-Saxon society is explored, from the parts played by the king and the noblemen to the means by which the men of the fyrd were summoned to fight in times of danger. Land and naval warfare are both explored in depth. Hill also covers the politics and diplomacy of warfare, the conduct of negotiations, the taking of hostages, the use of treachery, and the controversial subject of the use of cavalry. The weapons and armor of the Anglo-Saxons are described, including the spears, scramsaxes, axes, bows, swords, helmets, shields and mail that were employed in the close-quarter fighting of the day. Drawing on this wealth of information, Hill presents a vivid recreation of the actual experience of fighting in the campaigns against the Danes; the battles of Ashdown, Maldon and Stamford Bridge; and the sieges at Reading and Rochester.

British Fortifications Through the Reign of Richard III

British Fortifications Through the Reign of Richard III PDF

Author: Jean-Denis G.G. Lepage

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2011-12-08

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 078646254X

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From the time the Romans first set foot on England's shore in 55 B.C., the British Isles have faced a constant threat of foreign invasion. As a result, the landscapes of England, Scotland, and Ireland are dotted with ancient defensive fortifications as varied as their makers. Iron Age Celtic "hill forts," Roman castra and Hadrian's Wall, Anglo-Saxon dykes and Alfredian burhs, Norman mottes and stone-keeps, Edwardian castles, Irish tower houses--they all served to repel ancient intruders and many still stand as tangible relics of a remarkable past. This study chronicles the development of British fortifications from prehistoric times through the end of Richard III's reign in 1485, providing the history of each type of structure, relevant examples, and information on weapons and siege warfare. More than 250 illustrations vividly detail each ediface's construction and configuration.

The Fortress Kingdom

The Fortress Kingdom PDF

Author: Paul Hill

Publisher: Pen and Sword Military

Published: 2022-10-21

Total Pages: 421

ISBN-13: 139901062X

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In this the second part of his four-volume military and political history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Paul Hill follows the careers of Æthelflæd, Alfred the Great’s eldest daughter, and Edward the Elder, Alfred’s eldest son, as they campaigned to expand their rule after Alfred’s death. They faced, as Alfred had done, the full force of Danish hostility during the early years of the tenth century, a period of unrelenting turbulence and open warfare. But through their military strength, in particular their strategy of fortress building, they retained their hold on the kingdom and conquered lands which had been under Danish lords for generations. Æthelflæd’s forces captured Derby and Leicester by both force and diplomacy. Edward’s power was always immense. How each of them used forts (burhs) to hold territory, is explored. Fortifications across central England became key. These included Bridgnorth, Tamworth, Stafford, Warwick, Chirbury and Runcorn (Æthelflæd) and also Hertford, Witham, Buckingham, Bedford and Maldon (Edward), to name a few. Paul Hill’s absorbing narrative incorporates the latest theories and evidence for the military organization and capabilities of the Anglo-Saxons and their Danish adversaries. His book gives the reader a detailed and dramatic insight into a very sophisticated Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

Castrum to Castle

Castrum to Castle PDF

Author: J. E. Kaufmann

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2018-10-30

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 1473895820

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A richly illustrated history of military fortifications in ancient and medieval times. For over a thousand years, from the time of the Roman Empire to the classic period of castle-building in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, fortified sites played a key role in European warfare. This highly illustrated history gives a fascinating insight into their design and development and into the centuries of violence and conflict they were part of. The study traces the evolution of fortifications starting with those of the Romans and their successors. Included are the defenses erected to resist Islamic invasions and Viking raids and the castles built during outbreaks of warfare. As the authors demonstrate, castles and other fortifications were essential factors in military calculations and campaigns. They were of direct strategic and tactical importance wherever there was an attempt to take or hold territory. The factors that influenced their location, layout, and construction are analyzed in this fascinating book, as is the way in which they were adapted to meet the challenges of new tactics and weapons.

Vikings

Vikings PDF

Author: W. B. Bartlett

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2019-11-15

Total Pages: 612

ISBN-13: 1445665956

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A comprehensive new history of the infamous Vikings. Those men and women raided and traded their way into history whilst at the same time helping to build new nations in Scandinavia and beyond.

As Told in the Great Hall

As Told in the Great Hall PDF

Author: Martin Hackett

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2013-10-15

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 1445621460

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The second in Amberley Publishing's wargaming series covers the Dark Ages.

Edward the Elder

Edward the Elder PDF

Author: Michael John Key

Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited

Published: 2019-03-15

Total Pages: 561

ISBN-13: 1445684780

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The first biography of Alfred the Great's son, the forgotten king who was crucial to uniting England.

American Civil War Fortifications (2)

American Civil War Fortifications (2) PDF

Author: Ron Field

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2013-08-20

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13: 1849080372

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The American Civil War saw a massive development in the use of field fortifications, the result of the practical application of antebellum West-Point teaching, and the deadly impact of rifled infantry weapons and artillery. Both the Federal and Confederate armies began to develop far more sophisticated systems of field fortification, and the larger field works and fortifications surrounding Washington, DC and Richmond, VA were redesigned and rebuilt several times. This volume explores the role of land and field fortifications in the eastern and overland campaigns of the Civil War between 1861 and 1865. Particular attention is devoted to the nine-month siege of Petersburg, where daily life within the redoubts, lunettes, redans, bomb-proofs, trenches and rifle pits is vividly described.