We are accustomed to think of England in terms of Shakespeare's 'precious stone set in a silver sea', safe behind its watery ramparts with its naval strength resisting all invaders. To the English of an earlier period _ from the 8th to the 11th centuries _ such a notion would have seemed ridiculous. The sea, rather than being a defensive wall, was a highway by which successive waves of invaders arrived, bringing destruction and fear in their wake.??Deploying a wide range of sources, this new book looks at how English kings after the Norman Conquest learnt to use the Navy of England, a term which at this time included all vessels whether Royal or private and no matter what their ostensible purpose _ to increase and safety and prosperity of the kingdom. The design and building of ships and harbour facilities, the development of navigation, ship handling, and the world of the seaman are all described, while comparisons with the navies of England's closest neighbours, with particular focus on France and Scotland, are made, and notable battles including Damme, Dover, Sluys and La Rochelle included to explain the development of battle tactics and the use of arms during the period. ??The author shows, in this lucid and enlightening narrative, how the unspoken aim of successive monarchs was to begin to build 'the wall' of England, its naval defences, with a success which was to become so apparent in later centuries.

England's Medieval Navy 1066-1509

The story of the war at sea in the reign of Edward III, including the important sea battles, and an analysis of the development of the English navy in the period.

Edward III and the War at Sea

How were medieval navies organised, and how did powerful rulers use them? This fascinating account brings vividly to life the dangers and difficulties of medieval seafaring.

Medieval Naval Warfare, 1000-1500

Mariners made a major - but neglected - contribution to England's warfare in the middle ages. Here their role is examined anew, showing their importance. During the fourteenth century England was scarred by famine, plague and warfare. Through such disasters, however, emerged great feats of human endurance. Not only did the English population recover from starvation and disease butthousands of the kingdom's subjects went on to defeat the Scots and the French in several notable battles. Victories such as Halidon Hill, Neville's Cross, Crécy and Poitiers not only helped to recover the pride of the English chivalrous class but also secured the reputation of Edward III and the Black Prince. Yet what has been underemphasized in this historical narrative is the role played by men of more humble origins, none more so than the medievalmariner. This is unfortunate because during the fourteenth century the manpower and ships provided by the English merchant fleet underpinned every military expedition. The aim of this book is to address this gap. Its fresh approach to the sources allows the enormous contribution of the English merchant fleet to the wars conducted by Edward II and Edward III to be revealed; the author also explores the complex administrative process of raising a fleet andprovides career profiles for many mariners, examining the familial relationships that existed in port communities and the shipping resources of English ports. Craig L. Lambert is Research Assistant at the University ofHull.

Shipping the Medieval Military

"Wide-ranging in place and time, yet tightly focused on particular concerns, these new and original specialist articles show how observations on the early history of warfare based on the relatively stable conditions of the late seventeenth century ignore the realities of war at sea in the middle ages and renaissance. In these studies, naval historians firmly grounded in the best current understanding of the period take account of developments in ships, guns and the language of public policy on war at sea, and in so doing give a stimulating introduction to five hundred years of maritime violence in Europe."--BOOK JACKET.

War at Sea in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

This collection of essays and articles from a wide range of journals is intended to make more accessible to students and scholars some of the most important writing in English in this field from the 1950s to the present day. The volume draws attention to work on both the design and the use of ships in warfare in the period c.1000-c.1500. The collection deals with both the Mediterranean and northern waters in this period and not only makes clear what work has been done in this field but indicates areas where more research is needed.

Medieval Ships and Warfare

Commerce, Shipping and Naval Warfare in the Medieval Mediterranean

Lawrence Mott's study of the War of Sicilian Vespers provides an unprecedented view of the internal organization and operations of a medieval fleet. While the conflict of 1282-1302 between France and the crown of Aragon for control of Sicily had broad geopolitical implications, it was also notable for having been fought primarily at sea. Mott draws on previously overlooked archival materials, most notably the battle fleet accounts of Roger of Lauria discovered in the Archives of the Cathedral of Valencia, in order to produce an account of unprecedented detail, full of original insights into the mechanics of naval warfare in this early period. Mott provides detailed information about ship construction, manning, naval tactics and strategy, and especially administration, illustrating how the fleet was created, organized, and maintained despite its composition: a polyglot of different groups, including a significant but previously unknown Muslim contingent. He also offers a military biography of the inexplicably obscure naval commander Roger of Lauria, among the great maritime leaders of all time. Challenging assumptions concerning the war and medieval naval warfare in general, Mott demonstrates that it was remarkable fleet organization and leadership, not "luck" as many have claimed, that defeated the French and ultimately removed them as a major player in the Mediterranean for several centuries. Finally, Mott puts the details and statistical and typological information of his account in perspective with an analysis of the nature of sea power and its changing character over time, challenging the assumption by recent scholars that Mahanian doctrine does not apply to medieval naval warfare.

Sea Power in the Medieval Mediterranean

The formidable force of the Normans at sea has been frequently overlooked. This volume shows their dominance over the Mediterranean, and its far-reaching effects.

Norman Naval Operations in the Mediterranean

In Ports, Piracy, and Maritime War Thomas K. Heebøll-Holm presents a study of maritime predation in English and French waters around the year 1300. Heebøll-Holm shows that piracy was often part of private wars between English, French, and Gascon ports and mariners, occupying a liminal space between crime and warfare.

Ports, Piracy and Maritime War

For most of the Renaissance period, naval warfare in the Mediterranean was dominated by the war galley, a unique naval vessel for a momentous age. During the struggle for supremacy between Christian and Muslim powers, war galleys formed the backbone of the rival battlefleets. Different regions of the Mediterranean produced their own versions of the war galley, thereby producing a number of variants on the basic design tailored to the needs and resources of particular nations. This book examines the development of the war galley from its classically inspired resurrection in the 15th century until its demise in the early 17th century, providing the first ever in-depth study of this remarkable war machine.

Renaissance War Galley 1470–1590

In medieval Europe, water transport was paramount, on inland waterways, along the coast and overseas. In the period covered here (1000-1500) many important ports were developed, shipbuilding designs and techniques changed - as didi navigation - and international traffic flourished. All these changes are described and placed in their social and economic context in this comprehensive synthesis.

Medieval Ships and Shipping

"Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare" analyzes the tactics, techniques, and weaponry of naval warfare from the ancient period to the modern day. Beginning with Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses III's victory over the piractical Sea Peoples in 1190 BC, and coming up-to-date with the use of aircraft carriers and the latest computerized weapons technology, the book covers every significant development in naval warfare over the last 3000 years. The first chapter covers some of the major naval engagements of the ancient era, including the Greeks' emphatic victory over the Persians at Salamis (480 BC) and Octavian's decisive defeat of Mark Anthony at Actium (31 BC). The use of galleys as the premier fighting ship for more than 2000 years is explored in detail. The second chapter investigates the development of new types of fighting vessels, such as the northern European cog, at battles such as Sluys (1340 AD), which also offering expert analysis of the introduction of cannon at Hansando (1592) and the spectacular use of fireships against the Spanish Armada at Gravelines (1588). The third chapter examines the age of sail, from the early seventeenth century to the late eighteenth century, through famous encounters at the Downs (1639), Medway (1667), and Quiberon Bay (1759). The chapter rounds off with the Russo-Swedish battled of Svensksund (1790), demonstrating one of the last uses of galleys in European naval warfare. The fourth chapter surveys the transformation from the employment of the last great fighting sailing ships at battles such as Copenhagen (1801) and Trafalgar (1805) to the advent of steam-powered ironclads at Mobile Bay (1864). The final chapter covers the development and use of armored battleships at Tsushima (1905) and Jutland (1916), and the revolutionary introduction of aircraft carriers at Cape Matapan (1941) and Midway (1942). Using specially-commissioned color maps and black-and-white artworks, "Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare" is an essential companion for anyone interested in naval warfare.

Fighting Techniques of Naval Warfare, 1190 BC - Present

Medieval naval warfare, spanning roughly from the 5th to the 15th century, was a critical aspect of military strategy that evolved significantly over time. Initially, naval engagements were largely extensions of land battles, with ships used primarily for transporting troops. However, with the rise of powerful maritime republics like Venice and Genoa, ship design and naval tactics advanced considerably. The development of specialized warships, such as galleys equipped with rams and later artillery, transformed naval warfare into a more sophisticated and strategic endeavor. Key battles, like the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, marked the culmination of these advancements and set the stage for future naval conflicts. This era laid the foundation for modern naval warfare, reflecting a period of significant technological and tactical innovation on the seas.

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Medieval Naval Warfare

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