Osprey Men-at-Arms №089. Ian Heath. Byzantine Armies 886-1118

Osprey Publishing, 1979. — 40 p. — ISBN: 0-85045-306-2.The Byzantines had a remarkably sophisticated approach to politics and military strategy. Unlike most of their contemporaries, they learnt very early in their history that winning a battle did not necessarily win a war, and they frequently bought off their enemies with treaties and bribes rather than squander men and matériel in potentially fruitless campaigns. The Byzantine army of the 10th and early 11th centuries, at the height of its power and efficiency, was the best-organised, best-trained, best-equipped and highest-paid in the known world. This splendid book by Ian Heath examines the Byzantine Armies from 886-1118, including the lusty, hard-fighting, hard-drinking 'barbarian' Varangian guard.Contents:

Organization
Pay.
Equipment
Armour.
Shields.
Weapons.
The Tagmata
The Varangian Guard
The Theme System
Mercenaries.
The Terrible Day: Manzikert 1071
The Poat-Manzikert Period
The Plates