The Medieval Soldier in the Wars of the Roses: Men Who Fought the Wars of the Roses - Softcover

Boardman, A.W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1803990317 ISBN 13: 9781803990316

Publisher: The History Press, 2022

Synopsis

‘An essential part of the library for anyone interested in the great political and military upheavals in the 15th century.’ – Graeme Rimer, Retired Former Academic Director of the Royal Armouries

‘A creditable effort to examine a neglected aspect of medieval warfare.’ – Jim Bradbury, Cambridge University Press

‘Everything you need to know about being a soldier in the Wars of the Roses.’ – The Mail Bookshop

What was it like to fight in a Wars of the Roses battle? What kind of men fought at St Albans, Northampton, Wakefield, Towton, Tewkesbury and Bosworth? How was the medieval soldier recruited, paid, equipped, fed and billeted? And how was a battle contested once both sides resorted to all-out conflict?

First published in 1998, this classic study of the medieval soldier in the Wars of the Roses examines these and other questions using various documentary sources and recent evidence. Eyewitness accounts, contemporary chronicles, personal letters, civic records, archaeology and surviving military equipment are used to paint a fascinating picture of the medieval soldier. Evidence gleaned from the mass war grave found close to the battlefield of Towton in North Yorkshire sheds new light on those that lived and died in the civil wars. But what do we know about the psychology of those involved? And how did soldiers feel about killing their fellow Englishmen?

Andrew Boardman explores the grim reality of medieval soldiering on land and sea during this crucial period of aristocratic violence and dynastic upheaval. He makes us question the current historical record, such as it is, and our perceptions of chivalry and warfare in Lancastrian and Yorkist England. The text is supported by many contemporary illustrations, diagrams and maps, making this updated work an indispensable guide to medieval soldiering in the late fifteenth century.

About this title

About the Author

A.W. BOARDMAN is a medieval military historian who specialises in the Wars of the Roses and whose previous books include St Albans 1455 (The History Press, 2023), Hotspur: Henry Percy, Medieval Rebel (The History Press, 2022), Towton 1461 (The History Press, 2022) and The Medieval Soldier in the Wars of the Roses (The History Press, 2022). He also appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Blood Red Roses on the Battle of Towton and contributed to the archaeological report of the Towton excavations. He lives in Yorkshire.

Edition details

• Publisher: The History Press
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1803990317
• ISBN 13: 9781803990316
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224