Description

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The history of Poland is a fascinating study of a people struggling to achieve nationhood in the face of internal and external enemies. Poland became a unified Christian state in AD 966 and by the 12th century a knightly class had emerged - a force that was integral to the defense of Poland against increasingly frequent foreign invasions. Intent on crushing rival Christian states, the Templars, Hospitallers and Teutonic Knights all mounted attacks but were beaten back by the Poles, as were invading Mongols and Turks. This book reveals the organization, equipment and battle histories of the medieval Polish armies as they developed and modernized to emerge as one of the dominant powers of Eastern Europe.

About the Author

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David Nicolle is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, Nottingham University. He is the author of over a dozen books on medieval military history.

Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects for more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular. He lives in Switzerland, where since 1988 he has also become well known for designing and creating life-size historical figures for museums.

Praise For…

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“This is a superb book for anyone interested in the medieval period, covering an often-neglected area. Western, particularly German, styles of arms and armour mixed with those of eastern areas to produce a fascinating variety, and they're all well-illustrated and described here. We also get a potted history of Poland and its fights against foreign invasion over the centuries... Very highly recommended.” —John Prigent, Internet Modeler (March 2008)

“Supplied with a wealth of illustration, Medieval Polish Armies pulls out all the stops; a clear and concise reference guide, it provides extensive detail regarding the source of its material, including tomb effigies, etchings, and contemporary art that often becomes the best source for determining what types of weaponry and armor were in use in a specific time and location...Far more than the historian's equivalent of Cliffs Notes, this book, like its companions, is an invaluable addition to any medieval library; its value to re-enactors, writers, modelers and scholars alike far outstrips the slim volume's weight in gold.” —Richard MacKenzie, Renaissance Magazine (January 2009)

“In all, Sarnecki and Nicolle's volume on this important part of history is not only the first done in English, but is a fascinating look into the events of the time. A book you'll be sure to find fascinating.” —Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (May 2008)