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The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy, 1363-1477 (Armour and Weapons)

by Robert Douglas Smith, Kelly DeVries (Author)

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1821,196,520 (4)3
The four Valois Dukes of Burgundy created, in little more than a century, a fabulously wealthy and independent state. Their centralised control and chancellery have bequeathed to us a vast treasure trove of documents, including accounts and inventories of the Masters of the artillery under the later Dukes. Although many of these were extracted and transcribed in the late nineteenth century, modern historians have largely ignored their unprecedented insights into fifteenth-century guns and their use. When Charles the Bold, the last Valois Duke, took on the combined Swiss confederate forces in 1476 he lost not just the battles and his personal fortune, but much of his artillery train as well. Of the dozens of cannons captured, at least 25 pieces survive in Swiss museums. The documents that survive from the Valois state give us, almost for the first time in medieval Europe, the ability to see the course of history in a period when Europe was undergoing some of the most profound changes before the 20th century. The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy is the first attempt to combine all these sources, bringing new and fresh insights into the development and use of artillery in the fifteenth century. Moreover this is the first modern study of medieval cannon, one of the most important discoveries of the post-classical world. KELLY DeVRIES has authored numerous books and articles on medieval warfare. ROBERT DOUGLAS SMITH formerly Head of Conservation in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, is an acknowledged expert on medieval artillery. This study is the first major fruit of their combined researches.… (more)
  1. 00
    Medieval Handgonnes: The First Black Powder Infantry Weapons by Sean McLachlan (jcbrunner)
    jcbrunner: For those interested in the bigger/smaller sisters of those firearms.
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Perhaps because of the dual authorship, the book has a strange disposition: the first part is a history of gunpowder weapons with a focus on Burgundy, while the second part is a military history of Burgundy with a focus on gunpowder weapons. Much repetition results. The third part then consists of a survey of the information available in Burgundian records about various sorts of guns (which is often sketchy or ambiguous, not helped by the customary obscurity and inconsistency of medieval technical terminology), while the fourth is an illustrated catalogue of surviving gunpowder weapons of certain or probable Burgundian origin (mostly pieces taking as booty by the Swiss after the battles of Grandson and Murten/Morat).

A book, obviously, only for those with a great interest in military history. But if one has, don't let the organizational weakness deter you - the subject is dealt with in as much depth as one could hope for.
  AndreasJ | Sep 24, 2017 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Robert Douglas Smithprimary authorall editionscalculated
DeVries, KellyAuthormain authorall editionsconfirmed
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The four Valois Dukes of Burgundy created, in little more than a century, a fabulously wealthy and independent state. Their centralised control and chancellery have bequeathed to us a vast treasure trove of documents, including accounts and inventories of the Masters of the artillery under the later Dukes. Although many of these were extracted and transcribed in the late nineteenth century, modern historians have largely ignored their unprecedented insights into fifteenth-century guns and their use. When Charles the Bold, the last Valois Duke, took on the combined Swiss confederate forces in 1476 he lost not just the battles and his personal fortune, but much of his artillery train as well. Of the dozens of cannons captured, at least 25 pieces survive in Swiss museums. The documents that survive from the Valois state give us, almost for the first time in medieval Europe, the ability to see the course of history in a period when Europe was undergoing some of the most profound changes before the 20th century. The Artillery of the Dukes of Burgundy is the first attempt to combine all these sources, bringing new and fresh insights into the development and use of artillery in the fifteenth century. Moreover this is the first modern study of medieval cannon, one of the most important discoveries of the post-classical world. KELLY DeVRIES has authored numerous books and articles on medieval warfare. ROBERT DOUGLAS SMITH formerly Head of Conservation in the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, is an acknowledged expert on medieval artillery. This study is the first major fruit of their combined researches.

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