A detailed history of some of history's greatest military leaders. William the Conqueror, Frederick Barbarossa, Richard the Lionheart, John Hawkwood, Tamerlane, Henry V--what did these world-famous medieval commanders have in common, and what distinguished them from their opponents on the battlefield and from the lesser commanders of their age? What do their victories--and their defeats--tell us about their skills as soldiers and leaders in the brutal conflicts of their time? Sean McGlynn, in this vivid, accessible, and authoritative study, explores the varied styles of leadership in medieval warfare. He analyzes and compares their effectiveness, failings, advantages, and limitations, and he reassesses each general's reputation--deserved, inflated, or neglected--against the dramatic background of campaigns, sieges, and battles. The generals he has selected represent not only chronological and geographical range but also, crucially, range in ability. Louis IX is included because his preparations for crusade were exemplary, though the campaign itself was a total disaster. Edward II is featured in order to show the calamitous effects of a weak commander. Their failures and the triumphs of other generals he portrays allow the reader to ponder what constituted a good military commander and what constituted a poor one. The absorbing case studies in McGlynn's stimulating book offer real insight into the strategies, tactics, personalities, and leadership qualities of generals from a distant age.

It is fascinating reading for all students of military and medieval history. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.