After the recapture of Constantinople, Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos was determined to bring glory back to the Byzantine Empire. To achieve this, he established an Imperial Fleet and raised new regiments of elite marine troops. This work provides a comprehensive, illustrated guide to the unit history and appearance of these men, who were at the cutting edge of the last great flourish of Byzantine naval power. They won victory after victory in campaigns throughout the 1260s–70s, and though successive periods of decline and partial resurrection followed, these marine units survived until the very last flickers of Byzantine resistance were extinguished. Drawing upon early literary sources, the rich evidence of period illuminated manuscripts, frescoes and other iconography, Raffaele D'Amato details the lasting legacy of the swansong of Byzantine naval power.
By:
Raffaele D’Amato
Illustrated by:
Peter Dennis,
Igor Dzis
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Volume: 502
Dimensions:
Height: 248mm,
Width: 184mm,
Spine: 5mm
Weight: 188g
ISBN: 9781472807281
ISBN 10: 1472807286
Series: Men-at-Arms
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 28 September 2016
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Introduction /Chronology /The Regiments: the Gazmouloi, the marine Tzakones, and the Proeselentai /Provincial fleets /Fleet of the ‘Trebizond empire’ /Unit structure and organization, character and social role /Dress, equipment, armour and weapons /Flags and blazons /Ships /Bibliography /Glossary /Plate commentaries /Index
Dr Raffaele D'Amato is an experienced Turin-based researcher of the ancient and medieval military worlds. After achieving his first PhD in Romano-Byzantine Law, and having collaborated with the University of Athens, he gained a second doctorate in Roman military archaeology. He currently works as vice-head of the Laboratory of the Danubian Provinces at the University of Ferrara, under Professor Livio Zerbini. Igor Aksent Jevich Dzis was born in 1968 in Ukraine, and studied both at Simferopol Art College in Crimea and as a costume designer at the University of Cinematography in Moscow. He has worked on several historical films, and since 1992 has been illustrating military historical subjects for Russian and international magazines and publishing houses. He currently lives and works in Crimea. This is his first book for Osprey.
Reviews for Byzantine Naval Forces 1261–1461: The Roman Empire's Last Marines
An interesting read on a very, very obscure subject. - Sea Classics. . . anyone interested in exploring an area of history which is not commonly covered would do well to pick up this title - Warship International
