Description
Book SynopsisFirst comprehensive study of English artillery in the late Middle Ages, bringing out its full impact on areas beyond the military. One of the most important technological developments of the Middle Ages was the adoption of gunpowder weapons in medieval Europe. From the fourteenth century onwards, this new technology was to eventually transform the conduct ofwarfare beyond all recognition with important implications for European and global history. Guns came to be used in all aspects of military operations, with kings, nobles and burgesses all spending large sums of money on these prestigious weapons. The growing effectiveness of gunpowder artillery prompted major changes in the design of fortifications, the composition of armies, the management of logistics and administrative systems. This book is the first full-length study of the unique English experience of gunpowder weapons, tracing their development from their introduction in the reign of Edward III to the end of the fifteenth century. The rich records of the English Exchequer and urban accounts are used to explore their role in campaigns, in sieges, on the battlefield, at sea and their role in the defence of towns, royal castles and the fortifications of the Pale of Calais. It provides a comprehensive framework for the speed of technological advances and the factors responsible for these changes, as well as an in-depth discussion of individual gun types. DAN SPENCER obtained his PhD from the University of Southampton.
Trade ReviewFor anyone interested in the history of artillery, of the Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses, or in the administrative history of England in these years, this is a valuable, specialized work. [...] The book is a solid foundation for more work in this field. -- H-NET REVIEWS
This is original and high-level scholarship that breaks genuinely new ground and deserves to be read beyond the field of medieval military history. * MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY *
A clear, comprehensive, and detailed study that will no doubt prove influential in encouraging the further examination of these weapons and their use. * JOURNAL OF BRITISH STUDIES *
Table of ContentsIntroduction Royal Guns on Land The Expeditions of 1430-2 and 1497 English Royal Ships Calais Garrison Royal Castles and Guns Towns Southampton Analysis of Guns Conclusion Appendices Bibliography Index
