Battles of the Crusades

When Pope Urban II called European Christianity to capture Jerusalem and stem the expansion of Islamic states into Europe, he set off a train of events that would last many hundreds of years and have far reaching political and economic consequences. Battles of the Crusades introduces 20 key battles from this key period of religiously-inspired conflict in Europe and the Middle East. Beginning with the battle of Dorylaeum (1097), where Anglo-French heavy cavalry decisively defeated a much larger army of Turks, and finishing with the battle of Varna (1444), where Sultan Murad II’s Ottoman army destroyed a combined Hungarian and Polish force, examples from every era and campaign are featured. Battles from the Reconquista of Spain (Las Navas, 1212) and the expansion of the Teutonic Knights (Lake Peipus, 1242, and Grunwald, 1410) make this a rounded account of 500 years of religious conflict.Each battle includes a contextual introduction, a concise description of the action, and an analysis of the aftermath. A specially-commissioned, colour map illustrating the dispositions and movement of forces brings the subject to life and helps the reader to grasp – at a glance – the development of the battle. With more than 200 colour and black-and-white maps, artworks, and photographs illustrating the battles, leading players, and tactics of the era, Battles of the Crusades provides a useful and accessible introduction to some key battles of the Medieval era. Designed for both the general reader and enthusiast, the book is an essential companion for anyone interested in battles and tactics in the Medieval age.