Transcriber's note: Transliterations of Greek were added by transcriber and are enclosed in {curly braces}. Some devices will substitute question marks or other placeholders for Greek letters they cannot display. Lothian Prize Essay 1884 THE ART OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES Oxford PRINTED BY HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY THE ART OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES A.D. 378-1515 BY C. W. C. OMAN, B.A. FELLOW OF ALL SOULS COLLEGE _WITH MAPS AND PLANS_ OXFORD B. H. BLACKWELL, 50 BROAD STREET LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN, 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1885 [_All rights reserved_] The Author desires to acknowledge much kind help received in the revision and correction of this Essay from the Rev. H. B. George, of New College, and Mr. F. York Powell, of Christ Church. CONTENTS. PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER I. THE TRANSITION FROM ROMAN TO MEDIÆVAL FORMS IN WAR (A.D. 378-582). Disappearance of the Legion.--Constantine’s reorganization.-- The German tribes.--Battle of Adrianople.--Theodosius accepts its teaching.--Vegetius and the army at the end of the fourth century.--The Goths and the Huns.--Army of the Eastern Empire.--Cavalry all-important 3-14 CHAPTER II. THE EARLY MIDDLE AGES (A.D. 476-1066). Paucity of Data for the period.--The Franks in the sixth century.--Battle of Tours.--Armies of Charles the Great.-- The Franks become horsemen.--The Northman and the Magyar.-- Rise of Feudalism.--The Anglo-Saxons and their wars.--The Danes and the Fyrd.--Military importance of the Thegnhood.-- The House-Carles.--Battle of Hastings.--Battle of Durazzo 15-27 CHAPTER III. THE BYZANTINES AND THEIR ENEMIES (A.D. 582-1071). § 1. _Character of Byzantine Strategy._ Excellence of the Byzantine Army.--Scientific study of the art of war.--Leo’s ‘Tactica.’--Wars with the Frank.--With the Turk.--With the Slav.--With the Saracen.--Border warfare of Christendom and Islam.--Defence of the Anatolic Themes.-- Cavalry as a defensive force.--Professional and unchivalrous character of Byzantine officers 28-38 § 2. _Arms, Organization, and Tactics of the Byzantines._ Reorganization of the Army of the Eastern Empire by Maurice.-- Its composition.--Armament of the Horseman, A.D. 600-1000.-- Armament of the Infantry.--Military Train and Engineers.-- The Officers.--Cavalry tactics.--Leo’s ideal line of battle.--Military Machines and their importance 38-48 CHAPTER IV. THE SUPREMACY OF FEUDAL CAVALRY (A.D. 1066-1346).