Warrior Byzantine Infantryman - Eastern Roman Empire c.900-1204 Osprey Books

The Byzantine Empire was the closest thing to a military superpower in the early Middle Ages, with a complex and effective military system. These warriors were recruited from a hereditary service of landowners and directly recruited from a well-to-do free peasant class. The Byzantine army had a strong belief system and doctrine that emphasized stealth, surprise, swift manouevring and overwhelming force. A new recruit would undergo training twice a day in both fitness and fighting skills. The infantryman would be trained in survival, phalanx formation, spear and archery as well as the ability to fight on land and at sea. He would be able to employ sophisticated sword and shield techniques as well as moving and fighting within a 'foulkon', also known as a turtle formation. The infantry would constantly be engaging in practice battles in order to maintain the skill and swift deployment. The Byzantine infantryman was taught to be accustomed to hardship. He would travel in an 8-man unit and live off a diet of grains and pulses, supplemented by whatever fresh meat and produce could be obtained by foraging or purchase when on campaign. The infantry would mainly be deployed in areas that the heavy cavalry could not reach, particularly mountainous regions, and often functioned as a mobile fortress base for cavalry units. This title will not only detail the everyday experience of the infantryman from his recruitment, through training, to facing such enemies as the caliphate and later the Seljuk Turks. It will also give a fascinating insight into the 'minds and hearts' of the Byzantine warrior as he sought to adhere to his Orthodox Christian beliefs, and will explore how the rise of Islam and jihad affected his battle against the Arabic enemy.