Great Commanders [Illustrated Edition]

Author: Dr. Christopher Gabel
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
ISBN: 1782894462
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
Includes 3 maps and 7 illustrations The command of military forces in combat is unlike any other field of human endeavor. If war is the ultimate form of human competition, then the commander is the ultimate competitor. The commander operates in an environment of chance, uncertainty, and chaos, in which the stakes are, quite literally, life and death. He or she contends against an adversary who is using every means, fair or foul, to foil his plans and bring about his defeat. The commander is ultimately responsible for every variable that factors into military success or failure-training, logistics, morale, equipment, planning, and execution. The commander reaps the lion’s share of plaudits in victory, but also must accept the blame in defeat, warranted or not. Very often the line that separates fame and ignominy is slender indeed. It is not difficult to identify “great” commanders, though the overwhelming majority of generals who win battles are never considered “great.” Something more than a favorable ratio of wins to losses is needed to establish greatness...The truly great commander is generally considered to be one who attains the unexpected or the unprecedented; one who stands above his contemporaries through his skill on the battlefield, or through the sheer magnitude of his accomplishments. ...The commanders selected were masters of warfare in their particular time and environment. Each capitalized upon the social, political, economic, and technological conditions of his day to forge successful military forces and win significant and noteworthy victories that profoundly altered the world in which he lived.-Dr Christopher R. Gabel. The Great Commanders covered by this volume are Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, John J. Pershing, Erwin Rommel and Curtis E. LeMay

The Longbow

Author: Mike Loades
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1782000860
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 82

Book Description
An iconic medieval missile weapon, the deadly longbow made possible the English victories at Crecy and Poitiers at the height of the Hundred Years' War. The longbow was the weapon at the heart of the English military ascendancy in the century after 1340. Capable of subjecting the enemy to a hail of deadly projectiles, the longbow in the hands of massed archers made possible the extraordinary victories enjoyed by English forces over superior numbers at Crécy and Poitiers, and remained a key battlefield weapon throughout the Wars of the Roses and beyond. It also played a leading role in raiding, siege and naval warfare. Its influence and use spread to the armies of Burgundy, Scotland and other powers, and its reputation as a cost-effective and easily produced weapon led to calls for its widespread adoption among the nascent armies of the American Republic as late as the 1770s.

War Bows

Author: Mike Loades
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472825543
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 314

Book Description
War bows dominated battlefields across the world for centuries. In their various forms, they allowed trained archers to take down even well-armoured targets from great distances, and played a key role in some of the most famous battles in human history. The composite bow was a versatile and devastatingly effective weapon, on foot, from chariots and on horseback for over a thousand years, used by cultures as diverse as the Hittites, the Romans, the Mongols and the Ottoman Turks. The Middle Ages saw a clash between the iconic longbow and the more technologically sophisticated crossbow, most famously during the Hundred Years War, while in Japan, the samurai used the yumi to deadly effect, unleashing bursts of arrows from their galloping steeds. Historical weapons expert Mike Loades reveals the full history of these four iconic weapons that changed the nature of warfare. Complete with modern ballistics testing, action recreations of what it is like to fire each bow and a critical analysis of the technology and tactics associated with each bow, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in ancient arms.

Journal of Medieval Military History

Author: John France
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1783273925
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 293

Book Description
The Journal of Medieval Military History continues to consolidate its now assured position as the leading academic vehicle for scholarly publication in the field of medieval warfare. Medieval Warfare

Swords and Swordsmen

Author: Mike Loades
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1848847033
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 654

Book Description
“A ‘must have’ book for anyone who has an interest in edged weapons . . . Loades holds the reader’s full attention with each sword’s story that he tells.” —The Lone Star Book Review This magnificent book tells the story of the evolution of swords, how they were made, how they were used, and the people that used them. It doesn’t claim to give comprehensive coverage but instead takes certain surviving examples as landmarks on a fascinating journey through the history of swords. Each is selected because it can be linked to a specific individual, thus telling their story too and giving a human interest. So the journey starts with the sword of Tutankhamun and ends with the swords of J. E. B. Stuart and George Custer. Along the way we take in Henry V, Cromwell and Uesugi Kenshin, and there is the most detailed discussion you’ll find anywhere of all of George Washington’s swords. The chapters on these specific swords and swordsmen are alternated with more general chapters on the changing technical developments and fashions in swords and their use. The reader’s guide on this historical tour is Mike Loades. Mike has been handling swords most of his life, as a fight arranger, stuntman and historical weapons expert for TV and stage. As much as his profound knowledge of the subject, it is his lifelong passion for swords that comes through on every page. His fascinating text is supported by a lavish wealth of images, many previously unpublished and taken specifically for this book. “Superb . . . the most breathtaking coverage from the earliest days to modern times. Brilliant.” —Books Monthly

Genghis Khan

Author: Paul Lococo
Publisher: Potomac Books, Inc.
ISBN: 1612340601
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 125

Book Description
It was through bitter experience growing up on the harsh and unforgiving steppes of Mongolia that Genghis Khan learned to trust few people and to be vigilant of the personalities and events around him. As a result of an early life filled with hardship, betrayals, and constant struggle, Genghis Khan developed into a cunning and effective leader of men in battle. He became an innovative commander who disdained customary tactics when those strategies failed to bring victory.Genghis Khan united the tribes of Mongolia in a way never before seen, leading them to the settled lands of Eurasia and achieving almost super-human victories over vastly larger forces. By the time of his death he had created an empire of immense proportions, larger than anything before in history. Genghis Khan addresses how the teenaged son of a minor Mongol chieftain created a military machine of extraordinary striking power and wielded it to conquer such lands as China, Central Asia, and Persia.Potomac's Military Profiles series features essential treatments of the lives of significant military figures from ancient times through the present. Both the general audience and readers with a professional interest will appreciate each volume's concise blend of analysis and well-crafted writing. These books also serve as a starting point for those who wish to pursue a more advanced study of the subject.

Octopath Traveler: The Complete Guide

Author: Square Enix
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
ISBN: 1506735266
Category : Games & Activities
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Book Description
Master Square Enix's critically acclaimed RPG Octopath Traveler with this comprehensive guide! Explore every corner of Orsterra with the help of this complete guide which includes insight and explanation of the main narrative as well as boss strategies for each of the games' eight protagonists! Dive deeper with detailed environment maps, subquest information, and beautiful illustrations that fully realize Octopath Traveler's HD-2D graphics with exclusive explanations and commentary from the development team. Dark Horse Books and Square Enix present a faithful localization of the original Japanese volume, offered in English for the first time! Whether you're a first-time player or looking to take your game to one hundred percent completion, this guide book is not to be missed!

Out on Blue Six

Author: Ian McDonald
Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.
ISBN: 1625674147
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 379

Book Description
A thrilling early work from the author of the critically-acclaimed New Moon trilogy “For ten years, I’ve been singing the praises of OUT ON BLUE SIX, Ian McDonald’s 1989 science fiction novel that defies description and beggars the imagination... this book is one of those once-in-a-generation, brain-melting flashes of brilliance that makes you fall in love with a writer’s work forever.” —Cory Doctorow Hundreds of years from now, the world is perfect. The Compassionate Society guarantees happiness, peace and total personal fulfillment to its citizens, and those less than satisfied are guilty of Paincrime. Among them, count cartoonist Courtney Hall, who runs afoul of the Ministry of Pain when one of her cartoons hits a little too close to home. Pursued by the relentless Love Police, she drops down a rabbit hole into a counterworld of rebels, artists and enhanced raccoons. Out on Blue Six is a fast, funny, bizarre story of an almost-Utopia–and almost-Utopias make the best dystopias.

War for the Throne

Author: John Barratt
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
ISBN: 1844687961
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 166

Book Description
“Paints a vivid picture of such battles as Pilleth in Wales, Homildon Hill in Scotland and of course Shrewsbury, so bloodily fought at Battlefield.” —Shropshire Weekend The opening years of the fifteenth century saw one of the most bitterly contested political and military convulsions in the history of the British Isles, a conflict that is too-often overlooked by military historians. Henry IV, who had overthrown and probably murdered his predecessor Richard II, fought a protracted and bloody campaign against the most powerful nobles in the land. This war is the subject of John Barratt’s gripping study. The Percy family, the Kings of the North, and their most famous leader Sir Henry Percy Hotspur, whose fiery nature and military prowess were immortalized by Shakespeare stood out against Henry’s rule. And the beleaguered king also had to contend with a range of other unrelenting opponents, among them Owain Glyn Dwr, who led the Welsh revolt against English supremacy. In this graphic account of the first, deeply troubled years of Henry IV’s reign, John Barratt concentrates on the warfare, in particular on the set piece pitched battles fought at Homildon Hill, Pilleth, and Shrewsbury. His story brings to life the embittered politics and the personal and family enmities that gave rise to armed conflict. And he describes in vivid detail the tactics and fighting methods of the day, which were dominated by the devastating power of the English longbow. “Complimented by a wealth of contemporary accounts, supplemented by modern research, maps and illustrations of the battles, the book should appeal greatly to all with an interest in medieval history.” —The Lance and Longbow Society

Elf Warfare

Author: Chris Pramas
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
ISBN: 1508176256
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 74

Book Description
Although few in number, elves produce the most skillful and deadly warriors of all the races. Renowned for their archery and agility, they are mostly associated with hit-and-run tactics; however, they should not be underestimated in open battle. From an initial examination of the fighting methods of the individual elf warrior, this lavishly illustrated volume goes on to reveal how they do battle in small companies and in vast armies. It covers all of their troop types, from their famed bowmen and swordmasters to their lightning-fast cavalry, making special note of regional variations and highly specialized fighters such as war mages and rendering a colorful panoramic view of the elfin way of war.