Böcker av Hans Delbruck

Traces the collapse of the Roman military system and its replacement with barbarian mercenaries by the fourth century, following the invasions by the Germanic peoples. This book offers an examination of the decline of the Germanic-Romanic military system in the Middle Ages and the rise of the feudal system.

Considers developments including the use of gunpowder, the invention of firearms and iron balls. After reviewing the establishment of a European infantry, this work discusses the transformation of loose confederations of knights into cavalry, the organization of fighting mercenaries, and the changing of mercenary bands into standing armies.

From the eighth century through the Middle Ages feudalism determined the nature of European warfare. Medieval Warfare is full of recreations of famous events such as the Battle of Hastings and movements like the Crusades; with the brightest flowers of knighthood, and with the mercenary grandeur of Byzantium.