The landsknechts

Author: Luca Stefano Cristini
Publisher: Soldiershop Publishing
ISBN: 8893271699
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 110

Book Description
The German Landsknechte (German plural, singular Landsknecht), meaning "servants of the land", were colourful mercenary soldiers with a redoubtable reputation, who took over the Swiss forces' legacy and became the most formidable military force of the late 15th and throughout 16th century Europe, consisting predominantly of German and Swiss mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers, they achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of early modern Europe. Was Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1493 to 1519, the founder of the first mercenary Landsknecht regiments in 1487. He called upon Georg von Frundsberg (1473–1528), known by many as the Father of the Landsknechte, to assist him in their organization. Our book, cover all the history of this soldiers with finest illustration and 16 colour plates.

The Landsknechts

Author: Douglas Miller
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9780850452587
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The Landsknechts were German mercenaries who served during the reigns of Maximilian I and Charles V in the sixteenth century. Having signed up, these Landsknechts were read a very detailed code of conduct, organized into companies, paid one month in advance, and sent into battle! Their major weapon was the pike, which could be up to 18 feet in length, but those whose duty it was to advance in the front line carried instead the fearsome Zweihänder; an enormous battle-sword around 66 inches in length! Douglas Miller describes in detail the organisation, tactics, weapons, uniforms and history of these remarkable soldiers.

Landsknecht Soldier 1486–1560

Author: John Richards
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781841762432
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The Landsknecht (meaning 'servant of the country') flourished during a key period for military organisation and practice. In the late 15th century, the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, recruited thousands of mercenaries from Central and Northern Europe, with the aim of creating a reliable source of men for his armies – and the Landsknecht were born. This book reveals the true-life experiences of the Landsknecht soldier during conflicts such as those of the Italian Wars (1494-1559), using numerous first-hand accounts. It takes a close look at the recruitment, training, daily life and and careers of these formidable soldiers, and examines in detail their clothing, equipment and weaponry. Many fine, contemporary illustrations, some drawn by Landsknecht themselves, accompany the text.

Landsknechts on Campaign

Author: Marion McNealy
Publisher: Nadel Und Faden Press LLC
ISBN: 9780998597744
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 300

Book Description
The 16th century was a time of change in the methods and tactics of war, caused in large part by the Landsknecht. These woodcuts show the Landsknecht and their opponents in battle, presented as a whole, and then shown magnified for better viewing. There is also a brief description of the battle, and an explanation of the scenes in the woodcuts.

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

The New Wars

Author: Herfried Münkler
Publisher: Polity
ISBN: 0745633366
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 189

Book Description
This important new book deals with the changing nature of war in the post-Cold War era and the emergence of new forms of warfare in which warlords, mercenaries and terrorists play an increasingly important role. In the modern era, warfare came to play a crucial role in the formation of states, whereas the new wars emerging at the beginning of the 21st century have mostly gone together with the failure or collapse of states. The author draws out the key shifts involved in this process: from symmetrical conflicts between states to asymmetrical global relationships of force; from national armies to increasingly private or commercial bands of warlords, child soldiers and mercenaries; from pitched battles to protracted conflicts in which there is often little fighting and most of the violence is directed against civilians. Changes in weapons technology have combined with complex economic factors to make the prospect of endlessly simmering wars a real danger in the years to come. Against this background, the author outlines the rise of a novel form of international terrorism, conceived more as a political method of communication than as an element in a military strategy. The resulting challenges faced by Western governments, and the costs and benefits associated with any response, are taken up in a concluding section that contrasts the characteristic European and American approaches and examines the implications for the future of international law. This book will be of important to students of political science, international relations, war and peace studies, conflict studies and peace studies. It will also appeal to the general reader with an interest in this topical subject.

Mercenaries: A Guide to Private Armies and Private Military Companies

Author: Alan Axelrod
Publisher: CQ Press
ISBN: 1483340309
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 441

Book Description
Mercenaries have been active in battle from the beginning of military history and, as private armies and military support firms, they are a major component of warfare today. Security, military advice, training, logistics support, policing, technological expertise, intelligence, transportation—all are outsourced to a greater or lesser degree in the U.S. military. However, privatization is not a uniquely American phenomenon. Countries as diverse as Saudi Arabia and Australia rely on privatization in one form or another. Historically, heads of state, politicians, and other administrators have justified use of mercenaries on the basis of their effectiveness, and cost-savings. These reasons and others continue to serve as rationales for use of private military companies in military strategy. Mercenaries: A Guide to Private Armies and Private Military Companies provides a comprehensive survey and guide to mercenary forces, entrepreneurs, and corporations active on the international military scene today, including a concise history of mercenaries and private armies on land, sea, and in the air. Narrative chapters are amply supplemented by sidebars including biographies of major figures, key statistics, historical and current documents, contracts, and legislation on private armies and outsourced military services. Each chapter includes a bibliography of books, journal articles, and web sites, and a general bibliography concludes the entire work.

False Prophets and Preachers

Author:
Publisher: Penn State Press
ISBN: 0271091266
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 348

Book Description
In February 1534, a radical group of Anabaptists, gripped with apocalyptic fervor, seized the city of Münster and established an idealistic communal government that quickly deteriorated into extreme inequality and theocratic totalitarianism. In response, troops hired by the city's prince-bishop laid siege to the city. Fifteen months later the besieged inhabitants were starving, and, in the dead of the night, five men slipped out. Separated from his fellow escapees, Henry Gresbeck gambled with his life by approaching enemy troops. Taken prisoner, he collaborated with the enemy to devise a plan to recapture Münster, and later recorded the only eyewitness account of the Anabaptist kingdom of Münster. Gresbeck's account, which attempts to explain his role in the bizarre events, disappeared into the archives and was largely ignored for centuries. Before now, Gresbeck's account was only available in a heavily edited German copy adapted from inferior manuscripts. Christopher S. Mackay, who previously produced the only modern translation of the main Latin account of these events, has adhered closely to Gresbeck’s own words to produce the first complete and accurate English translation of this important primary source.

Roxanne of Dark Energy

Author: Dean Marquis
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1491762373
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 479

Book Description
Corporal Budo Gresham and the other men of the US Eleventh Armored Calvary Regimenta.k.a. the Black Horse Regimentare serving on the border between East Germany and West Germany during the eighties, keeping a watchful eye on their Soviet counterparts on the other side. In the midst of a combat action, they are hit by what seems to be a nuclear explosionand find themselves suddenly transported to another dimension. There, the men of the squad encounter strange creatures and living machines. They also meet Roxanne, who seems to be a little girl but is in fact an electromagnetic entity who guides them in this new place. Whats more, they soon learn that in this dimension, machines of destruction conquer worlds and turn life into one of three elemental states, each with a specific purpose. The machines recruit the squad members, giving them nine swords of dark energy to help fight their enemiesbut only time will reveal the true intentions of the machines. In this epic work of science fiction, a group of men ripped through time and space to another dimension must make their way together with the help of an unlikely ally if they are to survive.

Renaissance Military Memoirs

Author: Yuval N. Harari
Publisher: Boydell Press
ISBN: 9781843830641
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 246

Book Description
Renaissance military memoirs studied for what they reveal of contemporary attitudes towards war, selfhood and identity. This is a study of autobiographical writings of Renaissance soldiers. It outlines the ways in which they reflect Renaissance cultural, political and historical consciousness, with a particular focus on conceptions of war, history, selfhood and identity. A vivid picture of Renaissance military life and military mentality emerges, which sheds light on the attitude of Renaissance soldiers both towards contemporary historical developments such as the rise of the modern state, and towards such issues as comradeship, women, honor, violence, and death. Comparison with similar medieval and twentieth-century material highlights the differences in the Renaissance soldier's understanding of war and of human experience.