The Burgundian Knights. Volume 2
199.99 €
In stock
The Burgundian Knights. Volume 2
199.99 €
The main characters of the second volume of the "Burgundian Knights" duology are military and political figures whose biographies coincided with the rise and fall of the House of Burgundy. Enguerrand de Bournonville is a talented military leader and commander of Jean the Fearless's bodyguard, a hero of numerous battles between the opposing Armagnac and Burgundian factions. Jean d'Henin is a knight from Hainaut and a gendarme in a company of noble militia who fought under the banner of Charles the Bold against his numerous enemies and described his actions in detail in his diaries. Olivier de La Marche is a court official, captain of the guard, and a talented writer who left behind a rich literary legacy, including the famous "Memoirs." Jacques de Lalaing is an invincible warrior, an idol of the youth, a hero of tournaments and battles, an impeccable "good knight," who became the most famous fighter of his time. These men, their numerous comrades, and friends lived through a turning point, when the idea of selfless service to one's lord or fair lady collided with the pragmatism of the bourgeois era. Proud knightly mottos crumbled under the onslaught of new ideals, reflected in the famous phrase of the French King Louis XI, "To whom profit comes honor." This ideological collapse coincided with the collapse of the Burgundian state and the death of its sovereign. The narrative concludes with a grim picture of the Battle of Nancy and the final moments of the Burgundian Duke Charles the Bold.
The book, as usual, is richly illustrated, visually immersing the reader in the opulent era of the "autumn of the Middle Ages." The text is accompanied by the author's paintings and numerous reconstructions of the warriors' appearances, their weapons, liveries, and banners. Colorful tablets depict gendarmes, archers, and infantry not only from Burgundy, but also from France, England, the Holy Roman Empire, Switzerland, and the Principality of Liège. Descriptions of battles, sieges, and campaigns are supplemented by detailed maps and diagrams of combat operations, tactical formations, and military organization.
The book offers a wide range of sources: excerpts from Burgundian court registers, ordinances, charters, military treatises, and letters from participants in the events. Tables and diagrams help the reader peer beyond the narrative to assess the true size of the opposing armies, the cost of a military campaign, or the financial price of a tournament victory.
Finally, the true highlight of the second volume of "The Burgundian Knights" is the appendix, which includes articles by renowned Russian medievalists, leading experts in their field. Thus, the book will be of interest to a wide range of readers – those who are just getting acquainted with military affairs of the late Middle Ages, those who are quite immersed in the topic, and those who are studying the problem at an academic level.
The book, as usual, is richly illustrated, visually immersing the reader in the opulent era of the "autumn of the Middle Ages." The text is accompanied by the author's paintings and numerous reconstructions of the warriors' appearances, their weapons, liveries, and banners. Colorful tablets depict gendarmes, archers, and infantry not only from Burgundy, but also from France, England, the Holy Roman Empire, Switzerland, and the Principality of Liège. Descriptions of battles, sieges, and campaigns are supplemented by detailed maps and diagrams of combat operations, tactical formations, and military organization.
The book offers a wide range of sources: excerpts from Burgundian court registers, ordinances, charters, military treatises, and letters from participants in the events. Tables and diagrams help the reader peer beyond the narrative to assess the true size of the opposing armies, the cost of a military campaign, or the financial price of a tournament victory.
Finally, the true highlight of the second volume of "The Burgundian Knights" is the appendix, which includes articles by renowned Russian medievalists, leading experts in their field. Thus, the book will be of interest to a wide range of readers – those who are just getting acquainted with military affairs of the late Middle Ages, those who are quite immersed in the topic, and those who are studying the problem at an academic level.
See also:
- All books by the publisher
- All books by the author
- All books in the series The Old Zeughaus Library