by RNS | Dec 24, 2021 | Beating Tsundoku
Michael Fredholm Von Essen, The Lion from the North, The Swedish Army during the Thirty Years War: Volume 2 1632-1648 (Helion, 2020)
This book describes the Swedish army and its battles during the Thirty Years War from 1632 through to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
After the death of Gustavus Adolphus II, his Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna took over command of the Swedish and allied forces in Germany. Essen covers the various phases of the War in Germany, the sieges in the Imperial lands, and the on-off relationship with their French allies in some detail. He describes the main Swedish commanders of the time, their personalities, and how that impacted on strategy and tactics. The reorganisation of the Swedish army in terms of how it was raised and funded, its organisational structure, the weapons, uniforms and equipment and how these ultimately impacted on battlefield tactics are laid out clearly and concisely. In addition, there are chapters on the Swedish invasion of Denmark, the Swedish navy and Sweden’s colonies in North America, and the Gold Coast. Each of which is fascinating in its own right.
The text which is written in a very engaging style and is supported by 8 colour pages showing Swedish uniforms, 23 pages of flags, and a map of the Imperial Circles. There are also numerous black and white images of period paintings and illustrations, some of which are really inspiring. The literature most readily available in English on the Swedish Army of this period tends to concentrate on the Swedish intervention in the Thirty Years War led by Gustavus Adolphus. What we have in both this and the first volume is a far more well-rounded and balanced view of the army, its organisation, and its changing tactics. It shows the brilliance of both Gustavus Adolphus and his Chancellor Oxenstierna, and to my mind is a great example of a well written, illuminating and interesting military history.
Recommended for anyone that has heard of the Thirty Years War, Sweden, or who has just been to IKEA. Buy this book, if it doesn’t spark your interest in the Swedish Army you may need to check if you are still alive.
(Reviewed by Mike Huston)
by RNS | Dec 24, 2021 | Beating Tsundoku
Michael Fredholm Von Essen, The Lion from the North, The Swedish Army During the Thirty Years War: Volume 1, 1618-1632 (Helion, 2020)
This book describes the Swedish army and its battles from Gustavus Adolphus taking the throne in 1611 until his death at Lutzen in 1632.
Essen introduces Gustavus and his character in the prologue. He spends the next 75 pages describing the wars with Denmark, Muscovy, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and finally the war in Northern Germany. There then follows chapters on the structure of the army, how it was raised and organised, and its weapons and uniforms. There is a separate chapter on how the King developed the tactics and style of war that developed into that seen at Breitenfeld and Lutzen. There is also a discussion on the importance of intelligence and counterintelligence in the conflicts. Finally, the author summarises the military legacy of the “Lion of the North”. The text is ably supported by 8 colour pages showing Swedish uniforms, 24 pages of military standards, maps of the battles of Breitenfeld, and Lutzen, and numerous black and white images of period paintings and illustrations spread throughout the book.
Essen puts Gustavus Adolphus and his army in its proper historical context and takes pains to try and separate both of these from the cults that have developed around them. This results in a more nuanced, incremental, and believable story of the development of the army and the King’s undeniable skills both as a reformer and a military commander. Recommended for those with any kind of interest in the Swedish army of the Thirty Years War or if you just want to read a fine example of military history.
(Reviewed by Mike Huston)
by RNS | Dec 22, 2021 | Beating Tsundoku
Rene Chartrand, The Armies and Wars of the Sun King 1643 – 1715 Volume 2: The Infantry of Louis XIV (Helion 2020)
This latest volume of The Armies of the Wars of the Sun King series does what is says on the tin but in the reverse order. It starts by describing the wars and political manoeuvres of the Sun King from 1668 until 1684, pauses briefly to discuss the economics of war in the later 17th Century, and then spends the rest of the book delving into the details of the French Infantry from the Wars of Devolution through to the Spanish War of Succession.
Chartrand initially focuses on describing the primary reasons leading up to the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678) from the Sun King’s perspective, and then spends three chapters taking the reader through the main aspects of the War. These are followed by a chapter on the little known and unsuccessful Sicilian Rebellion. Chartrand rounds off the history lesson by summarising Louis XIV’s political and military manoeuvring up until the close of 1684. One of the challenges of this period is trying to find accessible information for those of us who can only read English, and this certainly piqued my interest.
The main focus of the book is the next 150 pages, which concentrate on the infantry component of the French Army. Chartrand covers the recruitment, organisation, weapons, and uniforms of the line infantry in a comprehensive manner. The text is enhanced by 24 coloured pages of uniform illustrations, 8 pages of flags, and a substantial number of black and white pictures liberally spread throughout the book. These help to demonstrate the stylistic changes that took place over the period, and this is one of the real strengths of the book. The Appendices contains lists for the numerous regiments and their various Commanders. In addition, there are separate lists of known uniform details dating mainly from the 1690’s onwards. The paucity of uniform details for specific regiments in the earliest period is frustrating but understandable as the concept of standard uniforms was in its infancy.
The only downside to this book is that it is designed to be part of an integrated series and as such struggles to stand on its own. The information contained in this volume is excellent and well worth reading, but it appears to be a case of go big or go home. The reader really needs to buy all four books to get a comprehensive description of the army as a whole, the organisation, uniforms and equipment that it fought with, and the conflicts that it fought in. Recommended for those who want a detailed description of the infantry of Louis XIV and a panoramic view of his early wars.
(Reviewed by Mike Huston)
by RNS | Dec 19, 2021 | Beating Tsundoku
Michael McNally, St. Ruth’s Fatal Gamble, The Battle of Aughrim 1691 and the Fall of Jacobite Ireland (Helion 2020)
The Battle of Aughrim is the lesser known of the two big battles in the Williamite Wars in Ireland but by far the more decisive. While the book focuses on the battle of Aughrim, it is much more than that.
McNally starts by describing the development of James II’s (VI) military establishment and interweaves this with a more general history that provides the causes of the war and the background for William of Oranges peaceful takeover of the English Throne. This is followed by a brief but informative description of the War in 1689 and 1690, covering the Sieges of Derry and Ennsikillen, the Battle of the Boyne, and the Siege of Limerick.
The main focus of the book is on military campaign of 1691, and there is a chapter on the actions around Ballymore and the Siege of Athlone, the results of which lead to St Ruth’s decision to try and force a battle at Aughrim. McNally is well into his stride now and he provides descriptions of the personalities of both commanders of the Jacobites (St Ruth) and Williamites (Ginkle), the strategic dilemmas that they faced, and a rationale as to why they decided to undertake battle at Aughrim. There then follows detailed descriptions of the topography of the battlefield and McNally’s interpretation of what happened on the day, and in doing so challenges previously accepted views of the battle. The events after the battle, including the second siege and subsequent treaty of Limerick and the flight of the Wild Geese to France, are also covered.
The book is supported by copious black and white pictures of the battlefield as it is today, 8 colour pages of the uniforms and standards of some of the participants at the battle, and six pages showing the flow of the battle at various stages. These are excellent with the exception of the maps of the actual battle, which fall into the category of ‘could do better’. They don’t detract from an otherwise excellent book, but better maps would have really enhanced the overall presentation.
Overall, this is a fascinating study of the war, but it really excels in the description of the events of 1691 and the battle itself. If you have an interest in the period, and the Williamite Wars specifically, this is one to buy. If like me, you have avoided the war so far, this book should change your mind and convince you that it warrants further study.
(Reviewed by Mike Huston)
by RNS | Dec 13, 2021 | Beating Tsundoku
Georgios Theotokis, Bohemond of Taranto (Pen & Sword, 2020)
If you have even a passing knowledge of the Crusades, you will know the name Bohemond of Taranto. But until Georgios Theotokis came along with this book, full-length studies of Bohemond in English have been few and far between. Theotokis concentrates on three aspects of Bohemond’s military career: as a strategist, a tactician, and trans-cultural warrior.
Theotokis begins by describing Bohemond and his Norman background before taking us into the action when Bohemond accompanied his father on the Norman invasion of the Balkans in 1081. That did not go the way they had planned, with Byzantine resistance proving formidable, especially at sea. But the crushing victory over Alexios I Komnenos at Dyrrachium opened the doors of Greece to an army now under the command of Bohemond. He won several subsequent victories but ultimately came undone in battle and through logistical problems. There then followed a succession crisis and civil war at home, but bigger events soon took over.
Bohemond was typically at war, this time in Italy, when the First Crusade swept him along in its tide. Bohemond signed on, and after he and the other leading crusaders had negotiated their passage through the Byzantine Empire, he was on his way to the Holy Land. The sieges and battles with which we are familiar followed. Of particular note was the siege of Antioch in 1097/98 where, Theotokis argues, Bohemond’s strategic and tactical experience had made him the de-facto leader of the Crusade, but that did not make it automatic that he would take control of Antioch over the other crusaders or Alexios.
After much, mainly diplomatic, struggle, Bohemond emerged as the prince of Antioch, and he set about consolidating his new principality. Then in 1100, Bohemond made a terrible mistake, leading to his capture in battle. His ransom paid, Bohemond returned to Antioch and more struggles against the Turks. He nearly lost everything at the Battle of Harran in 1104, continues Theotokis, and the situation certainly deteriorated. Bohemond returned to Europe in 1105 to raise support for a new campaign against the Byzantine Empire in the Balkans. That culminated in the Treaty of Devol in 1108 and also ended Bohemond’s designs in the Balkans. He died quietly three years later. Theotokis concludes by arguing that Bohemond was indeed a great, but flawed, soldier and strategist.
Georgios Theotokis has written an engaging military biography of Bohemond that is anchored in the primary sources and secondary interpretations. His own analysis is forthright and will give students of the Crusades plenty to chew on. Theotokis is adept at describing battles and campaigns, and he provides a balanced analysis of the problems the crusaders faced. However, Theotokis does not fall into the trap of confining Bohemond’s military career to the Crusades, but gives due weight to his other activities, particularly his diplomatic successes and failures. Bohemond was a complex leader and warrior, and this biography does him justice.
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