The art of Renaissance warfare : from the fall of Constantinople to the Thirty Years War
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Details the changes in warfare that occurred between the fall of Constantinople in 1453 to the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War in 1618. The years between these two events were a time of transition and innovation; a time when military technology was advancing in accomplishment and military thinking was devolving in morality. The author's approach will be to examine evidence for military development within the context of an overlapping narrative history, identifying periods of accelerated change during a long term revolution in military affairs that started before 1453 and continued for centuries after 1618. Other aspects of warfare and technology were the evolution of mounted armored knights into cavalry troops, drill manuals of the early seventeenth century, the spread of gunpowder technology as well as developments in weapon accuracy, and advancements in fortifications. Galleys at Lepanto -- 7. ' ... And the land to the Muslims'. Hungary on the front line -- The road to Mohacs -- Christian disunity -- The reckoning at Mohacs -- The dismemberment of Hungary -- The siege of Vienna -- The siege of G?ns -- Bull's blood -- The end at Szigeth -- 8. The bastion wars. The development of the angle bastion -- The bastions of Cyprus -- The siege of Nicosia -- The siege of Famagusta -- 9. Knights old and new. The Chevalier Bayard -- The field of the cloth of gold -- Blaise de Monluc -- The camisade de Boulogne -- The siege of Siena -- The French wars of religion -- Fran?ois de la Noue -- 10. Black knights and devilish weapons. The wheel-lock pistol -- The pistol and the caracole -- Giving up the lance -- The reiter in battle -- The wheel lock in the French wars of religion -- 11. Fire, ice and flood. The Dutch revolt -- Goes and the weapon of the sea -- Naarden and the weapon of fire -- Haarlem and the weapon of ice -- Alkmaar and the weapon of flood -- Mookerheyde and the weapon of gold -- The great siege of Leiden -- The relief of Leiden -- 12. Innovators and enemies. The battle of Gembloux -- The siege of Antwerp -- The diabolical machine -- The Kowenstyn Dyke -- The Dutch Infantry reformers -- 13. Cavalry and curiosities. Ivan the Terrible -- The siege of Pskov -- The relief of Pskov -- 14. The shock of the new. The challenge from Sweden -- The time of troubles -- The second death of Dimitri -- The battle of Klushino -- The retreat from Moscow -- 15. Mercenaries and marvels. The battle of Kerestes -- Castles and mercenaries -- John Smith's flaming dragons -- John Smith the champion -- Epilogue. 'Some new trick ... '.