Men At Arms Medieval Polish Armies 966-1500 Osprey Books

The history of Poland is a subject that has been largely ignored by Western historians but is in fact a fascinating study of a people struggling to achieve nationhood despite both internal and external enemies. Although only becoming a unified Christian state in 966 AD by the 12th century a true knightly class had emerged consisting of noblemen with household troops. These forces would form the vanguard as Poland had to increasingly defend herself against foreign incursions. The arrival of the Crusading Orders saw prolonged internal and defensive campaigns as Poles were pitted against Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic knights. These elite soldiers of the medieval world were determined to crush the rival pagan and Christian states of Eastern Europe in the name of their one true faith. But a series of increasingly powerful Polish kings thwarted their intentions and consolidated Poland's position. Other medieval campaigns saw Polish armies battling against invading Mongolian hordes in the 13th century and fighting the Turks in the 15th century. Throughout these bloody medieval wars the Polish armies would emerge stronger and better organised as the military system was slowly transformed from medieval to early modern with sophisticated arrangements and tactics. This book reveals the organization, equipment and battle histories of the medieval Polish armies as they battled against Crusader knights and invading Mongols to emerge as one of the dominating powers of Eastern Europe.