Sean McGlynn, in this vivid, accessible, and authoritative study, explores the varied styles of leadership in medieval warfare. He analyzes and compares their effectiveness, failings, advantages, and limitations, and he reassesses each general's reputation - deserved, inflated, or neglected - against the dramatic background of campaigns, sieges, and battles. Their failures and the triumphs of the generals he portrays allow the reader to ponder what constituted a good military commander and what constituted a poor one. The absorbing case studies in McGlynn's stimulating book offer real insight into the strategies, tactics, personalities, and leadership qualities of generals from a distant age. It is fascinating reading for all students of military and medieval history. Print run 8,000.

Generals and Scholars is the first work in English to examine fully military rule during the Koryo. Although it lasted for only a century, the period was one of dynamic change--a time of institutional development, social transformation, and the reassertion of the civil service examination and Confucian ideology coupled with the flowering of Son (Zen) Buddhism. (When confronted with fundamental matters of rule, however, Ch'oe leaders frequently opted for the status quo and in the end aligned with many traditional civil elites to preserve their power.) The traditional tension between civilians and the military was eased as both came to accept the primacy and necessity of civilian values. Koryo generals, unlike those in Japan, learned they could govern more readily by relying on civil leaders administering a strong central government than on a call to arms. Institutional innovations from this period survived well into the next and Son Buddhism continued to flourish throughout the country.

Which was the most brilliant of Hannibal's three crushing defeats of Roman armies? What tactics did Julius Caesar employ to defeat Pompey at Pharsalus? How was Alexander the Great able to command sufficient loyalty from his troops to lead them across half of the Asian landmass in search of new territories to conquer? What qualities made Attila the Hun a strategist of genius? How did Henry V of England achieve victory at Agincourt for the loss of a few hundred of his men, when the mounted French knights suffered casualties in the thousands?The answers to these and a myriad other fascinating questions can be found in The Art of War, a sumptuous chronological survey of the 50 greatest commanders of the ancient and medieval worlds. Compiled by an distinguished team of historians (including such names as Robin Lane Fox, Tom Holland, John Julius Norwich, Jonathan Sumption and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto) working under the general editorship of the Andrew Roberts, The Art of War is an authoritative and beautifully illustrated account of the lives and careers of the 50 greatest military commanders of the period, from Julius Caesar to Judas Maccabeus, from Belisarius to Bohemond, and from Trajan to Tamerlane. Every commander is profiled in a concise and informative 3000-word article which not only brings its subject vividly to life via a lively, fact-driven narrative, but also analyses and assesses his tactical and strategic gifts. Each biography is accompanied by a 'battle feature' or 'campaign feature' - embellished by a full-colour battle plan or campaign map - focusing on the commander's greatest battlefield achievement.As accessible and informative as it is rigorous and scholarly, The Art of War is the perfect introduction to its subject for the layperson - but also a stimulating and thought-provoking read for those with greater knowledge of military history. With its companion volume Born to Command, it forms an indispensable guide to the greatest generals the world has seen.

Combines material previously published as Warrior 29: Ashigaru 1467-1649, Warrior 64: Ninja AD 1460-1650, Warrior 70: Japanese Warrior Monks AD 949-1603, with a new section on Samurai, new images, and a new introduction and conclusion. Driven by strict codes of honour and bound by deep allegiances of rank, family or religion, the elite warriors of medieval Japan were bold fighters, loyal comrades and deadly enemies, With rare material from Japanese sources and lavish artwork and photography, this book examines the military lives, beliefs and battle experience of four formidable warrior types – samurai, ninja, warrior monk and ashigaru foot soldier – resulting in a highly authoritative account of Japan's warrior elite.

What qualities made Attila the Hun a strategist of genius? How did Henry V of England achieve victory at Agincourt for the loss of a few hundred of his men, when the mounted French knights suffered casualties in the thousands? Why was Hernán Cortés able to lead a ragged band of men to bring down the extraordinary power of the Aztec empire? The answers to these and a myriad other fascinating questions can be found in Great Commanders of the Medieval World, a sumptuous chronological survey of the 25 greatest commanders of the medieval world. Compiled by an distinguished team of historians (including such names as Jonathan Sumption, Felipe Fernández-Armesto and John Julius Norwich) working under the general editorship of Andrew Roberts, Great Commanders of the Medieval World is an authoritative and beautifully illustrated account of the lives and careers of the 25 greatest military commanders of the period, from William the Conqueror to Genghis Khan, from the Black Prince to Tamerlaine, and from Joan of Arc to Süleyman the Magnificent. Every commander is profiled in a concise and informative 3000-word article which not only brings its subject vividly to life via a lively, fact-driven narrative, but also analyses and assesses his tactical and strategic gifts. As accessible and informative as it is rigorous and scholarly, Great Commanders of the Medieval World is the perfect introduction to its subject for the layperson - but also a stimulating and thought-provoking read for those with greater knowledge of military history. With its companion volumes, focusing on the great commanders of the ancient, early modern and modern eras, it forms an indispensable guide to the greatest generals the world has seen.

Contrary to prevalent military historical thinking, the early medieval general was not an ignorant warrior chieftain, but an able, astute, intelligent, and often very cunning commander. Through the use of contemporary literature, art, and archaeological evidence, this study argues that these generals could and did effectively exercise command control before, during, and after battle. Using the examples of a dozen or so leaders and drawing upon over 60 battles, this study brings to light the genius and the adaptability of medieval generals.

How did Henry V of England achieve victory at Agincourt for the loss of a few hundred of his men, when the mounted French knights suffered casualties in the thousands? Why was Hernan Cortes able to lead a ragged band of men to bring down the extraordinary power of the Aztec empire? The answers to these and a myriad other fascinating questions can be found in Great Commanders of the Medieval World, a sumptuous chronological survey of the 25 greatest commanders of the medieval world.