Description

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.

Table of Contents

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

Product details

Published 22 Sep 2016
Format Ebook (Epub)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781472807304
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 48 col
Series Men-at-Arms
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Raffaele D’Amato

Raffaele D'Amato, PhD, is the author of some 40 bo…

Illustrator

Igor Dzis

Illustrator

Peter Dennis

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazine…

Resources

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