Castles and Crusaders

Medieval concepts of politics, honour and religion

Medieval soldiers - from princes to peasants - have had a bad press from historians for over a hundred years. In films and novels too knights in armour are all spurs and moustaches with no thoughts of strategy or tactics.
The truth, as Matthew Bennett reveals in this fascinating new book, is very different. Medieval concepts of politics, honour and religion were so far from those of today that it is quite wrong to judge them by contemporary standards. Seen in their own terms, the medieval armies and their commanders were no less capable than those of ancient times or the renaissance.

Matthew Bennett

Dr Matthew Bennett teaches War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He is one of Britain’s leading experts on the warfare of the Middle Ages, and author of the volume on Castles and Crusaders in John Keegan’s prestigious History of Warfare series.