John France

There is a great deal about the politics of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the Ayyubid possessions in this book, and about the ramifications of the engagement. The tactical description is incisive but not prolix. The book has a very interesting third chapter dealing with the importance of Reynald de Chatillon, and more coverage than usual of the prior career of Balian II d'Ibelin. The final chapter deals with modern uses of the battle in Islamic politics. Thus this evenings' read is worth your time but not the definitive work on the battle.… (mer)

Professor France’s fascinating study of warfare in the Middle Ages covers a great deal of ground. He begins by insisting (rightly) that warfare was primarily proprietary: lord against lord for the control of property. As the survey continues on to such topics as technology, weaponry, the use of castles, etc., France establishes that the typical medieval army was a conglomeration of troops loyal to various leaders, which made controlling the army or even just holding it together problematic.


Employing hundreds of examples from the three centuries under study, the author shows that most warfare consisted of raiding and pillaging, although peasants were rarely harmed, because they were necessary for tilling the soil. Professor France also discusses the use of castles in Europe as ways for lords to protect their scattered holdings. Finally, he shows how unusual was the army of the 1st Crusade—unusual in size, in motivation, in its ability to hold together.

For anyone interested in medieval warfare, this is a must read.… (mer)

Deliberately avoiding the tendency to consider the First Crusade from a primarily religio-ideological perspective, France adopts a military one instead. Religious fervour was of course of importance, but France is interested in its military effect, not its social origin.

After an introductory chapter about the state of the military arts in late 11C Western Europe, the bulk of the book is a narrative account of the various crusader contingents making their way to Constantinople, the siege of Nicaea, the trek accross Asia Minor with the major battle at Dorylaeum, the epic sieges of Antioch - the city first being held by a Turkish garrison against the crusaders, then by the crusaders against a would-be relief force from Iraq -, the capture of Jerusalem, and finally the battle of Ascalon. Recurrent themes include the initial amorphousness of the crusader force and its partial welding together by ideological purpose and common suffering, and the importance of the major leaders in providing leadership and direction. The People's Crusade failed, acc'd to France, precisely with because unlike the "official" First Crusade it included no princes with the stature to provide cohesive leadership.

I liked it a lot.… (mer)