The Romans= The Byzantines because the proper Romans didn't even fight with the Sasanids. And Julian the Apostate was a Byzantine Emperor.....
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The Romans= The Byzantines because the proper Romans didn't even fight with the Sasanids. And Julian the Apostate was a Byzantine Emperor.....
I'm thonking of buying some of these books, but i dont really no which are good. Please tell me if the following are good.
The Wars of Alexander the Great
The Vikings
The Normans
Saxon, Viking and Norman
Does anybody have these, if so wich ones are the best?
Vikings and Normans are awesome, must-haves. Saxon, Viking and Norman is pretty lame plate-wise, and of course you aren't going to get as much info as in the stand-alone titles (Where's my Angus McBride illustrated Elite Saxons book Osprey?!?). The Wars of Alexander the Great - is that the title that includes the campaign book and the MAA title? The MAA features good McBride plates while the Campaign book features no true stand-alone illustrations. Together however I'm sure they'd provide a detailed yet concise overview of Alexander's campaigns and armies over that 11 year period. If you can get it for less that £20 you're also looking at a bargain as Campaign + MAA = £22 normally.
I'll take another look at the plate commentary and get back to you.Quote:
Since you have obviously read it, can you explain why the Romans are wearing banded armour? The last evidence I know of it is from the time of Septimius Severus, which is rather long in the past for Julian. Of course the ocational armour might have been retained, but this seems odd. The same goes for the helmets, at least to a degree (as I can't see for certain).
Yessss!!!!!
I have received the Osprey catalogue!!!!
Hopefully I have received my books also...
*scrambling to the post office*
Sassanians and romans begun to fight eachother shortly after the Sassanians had overthrown the parthians around the middle of the 3rd century ad. At this time Roma was still the only and unrivalled capital of the empire and even the legions were still scutum equipped.Quote:
Originally Posted by edyzmedieval
Julian Apostata ruled as emperor over the complete roman empire after he was just Caesar in the west. He tried to reestablish the pagan religion and preserves the ancient culture. He was a more proper roman emperor than anyone else in the 4th century.
The term Byzantine empire generally only refers to the eastern roman empire after the final seperation in 395ad in most literature only after 600ad, when Heraclios rforms change the face of the empire completly.
But i don`t think that this is the right thread to discuss this.
Here is the info given about the Roman soldiers in the bottom right of the plate:
So there you have it, this was infact a mistake. The Roman Commander in dark yellow is under a different description BTW.Quote:
Roman soldiers here are depicted with the characteristic deep skull and sloping neck guard. They are armed with Spatha swords and rely on Dura Europos-style shields, complete with a central grip and a pointed boss. The Piazza Armerina mosaic provides a model for the four-colour system and the boar motif. Erratum: Soldiers of this period would almost certainly have worn mail rather than the Iorica segmentata seen here.
Ahhh... Ok. Well that makes sense, and it sounds very much like what I expected.
I'm still at bit at odds with the helmets (they look very Imperial in style) ,but since I can't see them properly I won't fight it.
Well it was a slight disappoinment, but it is still a fine plate nonetheless. Shows why Angus is easily the best in his field.
BKB,
I still have 3 more books to buy.
What WWII books do you reccomend?!
Not my field I'm afraid. I only have 1 (German related, a compilation), that I had to get for Uni work. It doesn't really interest me to be honest. Your best bet is to try and get some compilations as they are cheap and comprehensive. Don't expect the artwork to be as good though. If its just info you want and static artwork you'll be happy.
Now if its Ancient/Medieval you want I can recommend a few I'm sure. ~D
I ahve just ordered:
"Pirate Ship 1660-1730 (New Vanguard S.)"
"German Battleships 1939-45 (New Vanguard S.)"
"German Pocket Battleships 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Heavy Cruisers 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Light Cruisers 1939-45 (Osprey New Vanguard S.)"
"German Destroyers 1939-45 (New Vanguard S.)" There is a book on British Battlecruisers as well, but I was getting hardpressed for money.
"Medieval Scandinavian Armies: 1100-1300 Pt. 1 (Men-at-arms S.)"
"Napoleonic Naval Armaments 1792-1815 (New Vanguard S.)"
"World War II Infantry Tactics (1): Squad to Company (Elite S.)" I have the two others as well, the company to Battalion and the Anti-tank tactics. These books are very good! You really get a feeling of how things were done. Now it isn't so impersonal as it can get in the Campaign series.
"The Ancient Assyrians (Elite S.)"
"The Persian Army, 560-330 BC (Elite S.)"
"Greek Hoplite, 480-323 BC: Weapons, Armour, Tactics (Warrior S.)"
At home I have a number of other books in no particular or special area. Just like these books. I will post them when I get home.
Yeah. I'll stick to this....Quote:
Originally Posted by The Blind King of Bohemia
I want to ask you about other good Medieval books and some books about the Prussians(1700-1850).
Prussians again I can't really help you with. Once I get all the Ancient/Medieval titles (next month?) I plan to move onto 17th century but I won't go beyond that bar personal interest. Which books do you currently have?
Nice broad selection there Kraxis. MSA1 is especially a good shout.
No he was not. Plenty of wars were fought between the Roman empire proper and Sassanid Persia. Wars such as those of Gordianus III and Julianus the Apostate are examples.Quote:
Originally Posted by edyzmedieval
Not until the very end of the wars between the Sassanids and the Romans can one even begin to argue that wars were being fought between the Byzantines in stead of the Romans, and the Sassanids. Heraklios, the last Roman emperor to fight them, and the first (and last as well) Byzantine emperor to fight them, replaced Roman titles (augustus) by Greek ones (basileos) and Latin as court language by Greek. His reign is by far the best period to choose as the end of the Roman empire proper.
Anyways, high time for a new Osprey book. I have (finally) selected a few and come out with:
So, thoughts? I'm personally gunning for either Armies of the Caliphate (as far as I have seen the best plate-wise), The Late Byzantines or The Early Russians.
- The Normans Elite
- The Early Russians Men-at-arms
- Armies of the Muslim Conquest Men-at-arms
- Armies of the Caliphate Men-at-arms
- The Late Byzantines Men-at-arms
- Carolingian Cavalryman Warrior
~Wiz
I'd personally go for The Normans, quite possibly the best Osprey book I have. Amazing and varied plates and good info on a quite extraordinarily ambitious people.
Well, I'm not too interested in the Normans and their English escapades; what is the skinny on their Mediterranean adventures?
~Wiz
I hope to get the Sassanid book soon. Wiz, the Late Byzantines is excellent, as is the Early Russians.
Well the plates offer such a diverse range of Norman adventures including an awesome Battle of Hastings, landing in Sicily, being ambushed by Gaelic Warriors, repelling French opposition at the Fall of Normandy and fighting Muslims in the Holy Land. Plus another 8 besides!Quote:
Well, I'm not too interested in the Normans and their English escapades; what is the skinny on their Mediterranean adventures?
If not, Steppe stated my 2nd and 3rd choices. All great books.
The Normans is definitely worth the money (the Hastings and the sicilians plates are stunning), and the Early Russian MAA is quite nice too.
Hmm, I guess I'll have to buy two then. I've seen a couple of Reynold's excellent Armies of the Caliphates plates, and I must say, I must have it! So I guess it's that one with either the Normans, the Late Byzantines or the Early Russians.
I've seen a lot of the Early Russians plates, but what is the masterpiece of the Late Byzantines?
~Wiz
Its actually Graham Turner. ~;)Quote:
I've seen a couple of Reynold's excellent Armies of the Caliphates plates, and I must say, I must have it!
Hah, I was guessing ~D
So, how about that Byzantine most attractive plate? ~;)
~Wiz
Thanks for that Wiz...
But what do you mean by Late Byzantine because I haven't found it....
:confused:
Thanks BKB, i plan on getting the first three on my list. ~:)Quote:
Vikings and Normans are awesome, must-haves. Saxon, Viking and Norman is pretty lame plate-wise, and of course you aren't going to get as much info as in the stand-alone titles (Where's my Angus McBride illustrated Elite Saxons book Osprey?!?). The Wars of Alexander the Great - is that the title that includes the campaign book and the MAA title? The MAA features good McBride plates while the Campaign book features no true stand-alone illustrations. Together however I'm sure they'd provide a detailed yet concise overview of Alexander's campaigns and armies over that 11 year period. If you can get it for less that £20 you're also looking at a bargain as Campaign + MAA = £22 normally.
edit-yep, just ordered them free of shipping charge. ~:)
I received "The Moors - The Islamic West 7th-15th Centuries AD" this morning. Only half of it is about Dark Age, but I wanted to get something else than Norman and Viking stuffs ~D
I'd like Osprey to release a book which would be both about Dark Age and Steppe people, like Armies of the Khazar, but it's unlikely to happens. People prefer books about WWII.
I have read Hungary and the Fall of Eastern Europe...
Well... it was rather dissappointment, mainly because I was lookingfor more information about Balcan armies after 1480 and I didn't get really anything - one plate ~:confused: - It should be called differently, because there is nothing about Haiduks and such like in the book, so earlier ending date in the title would be better, I believe.
Most unfortunate it was that about 10 pages are used for the Byzantines, who later got their own book ( later armies).
Generally I am looking forward to a new one describing ONLY Balcan armies, but how long can I wait ? ~;)
BKB this is for you,
Have you got the "Warriors and Warlords:The Art of Angus McBride" book?!
Hell yeah! And what the hell is with all those damn WW2 books? It's boring, there are guns, no horses, and they've had a million.Quote:
I'd like Osprey to release a book which would be both about Dark Age and Steppe people, like Armies of the Khazar, but it's unlikely to happens. People prefer books about WWII.
We need a book about Khazars, a book about Avars, and mabye a book about the Qipchaqs, or the Seljuqs.
Yeah. And everybody learn WWII at school anyway. The good won, the bad lost, and that's all.
There's a lot of book about the Khazar in France, but sadly, they don't have Angus McBride plates ~;)
There is far too much modern stuff yes, but I fear they sell better - just look at the range in Osprey's polls every month. Its clear what there main audience is.
Attila and the Nomad Hordes and Mounted Archer of the Steppe seemed quite adequate to me. I suppose I could go for either a Armies of the Seljuk Turks and Armies of the Khazar Khaganate or two Steppe Armies volumes, but I feel there are more important medieval ones that have yet to be covered - North-Eastern Europe and Africa (non-Muslim) for example. Then there are areas I'd like to see delved deeper into - Iberia, the Balkans and even Britain. The Scottish and Welsh Wars is awful. Ireland, Scotland and Wales, even England I feel, have been ignored.
Thanks Ed but I've known about this for a while. Its merely a compilation featuring some of his best pieces, most of which I have, and none are exclusive. I'll pass but for anyone wanting to know why he is rated so highly they need only look at the brilliance and range on offer.Quote:
Warriors and Warlords:The Art of Angus McBride