Umar Ibn Ibrahim al-Awsi Al-Ansari, also known as Ibn al-‘Adim, was a scholar and a civil servant in Mamluk Egypt in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Before he died in 1408, he composed a manual on the art of warfare, called the Tafrij al-Kurun fi Tadbir al-Hurub. This work is divided up into twenty books, which deal with various topics, such as the qualities of generals and troops, the use of deception to avoid war, precautions to be taken when marching and setting up c...| De Re Militari
One of the most important battles in European history was fought on September 25, 1396. Nicopolis was the first battle where the Ottoman Turks encountered a Western European army. The Ottomans were led by their sultan, Bayezid I, while the Christian crusaders came from several nations. Among their leaders were several important French and Burgundian figures, namely Philip of Artois, the Constable of France; Jean II le Miengre dit Bouciciault, the Marshal of France; and John the Fearless, Duke...| De Re Militari
Buonaccorso Pitti, who wrote a diary of his life, was a Florentine businessman who went into exile from his city in 1382. His travels took him to the Low Countries and France, where he acted as a money lender and professional gambler, and made strong connections with the French royal court. Pitti also served in several French campaigns, first against Flanders and afterwards against English troops. He also refers to the battle of Courtrai, fought in 1302, which was actually written in th...| De Re Militari
Thomas Walsingham, a Benedictine monk at St Albans Abbey until his death in 1422, was among the most significant chroniclers of the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. Renowned for his detailed historical works, Walsingham’s account of Henry Despenser’s invasion of Flanders offers greater depth than most other sources on these events. Notably, in this excerpt, Walsingham frequently draws upon the writings of classical authors such as Ovid and Claudian, showcasing his erudition and literary...| De Re Militari