Synopses & Reviews
Military activity was central to Anglo-Scots relations in the first half of the sixteenth century, playing an important role in the formation of the multi-national Tudor state and the process of political union. This book examines both the organisational nature of the two nations' military establishments and provides a detailed operational study of military activity. It challenges notions that the British Isles were peripheral to the trends of mainstream continental warfare through a detailed study of the manner in which both Scottish and English armies demonstrated a commitment to tactical and technological development. The failure of both nations to come up with effective strategies or conclusive successes is addressed, and contributory causes identified. The major engagements at Flodden (1513), Solway Moss (1542) and Pinkie (1547) are examined; attention is also paid to the everyday routines of military activity: garrison duty, chevauchee and siege work. Dr GERVASE PHILLIPS teaches in the Department of History and Economic Historyat the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Synopsis
The centrality of military activity to Anglo-Scots relations in the first half of the sixteenth century has, perhaps, been underestimated. Although there has been much recent interest in the formation of the multi-national Tudor State and the process of political union in the Atlantic Archipelago', historians have had little to say about the role of war in this process or about how war was conducted. This book seeks to place Anglo-Scots conflict firmly in the context of European warfare, examining both the organisational nature of the two nations' military establishments and providing a detailed operational study of military activity. By examining the manner in which both Scottish and English armies demonstrated a commitment to tactical and technological development it challenges notions that the British Isles were peripheral to the trends of mainstream continental warfare. The persistent failure of both nations to formulate or implement realistic strategies, tactical competence notwithstanding, is addressed, and the limitations imposed by poor logistical arrangements and by the inherent weaknesses of armies of levied civilians is emphasised to explain why, whilst both nations frequently resorted to war to further political aims, neither was able to achieve any lasting success. Individual campaigns are examined in some detail, including the major engagements at Flodden (1513), Solway Moss (1542), and Pinkie (1547); attention is also paid to the less exceptional routines of military activity, garrison duty, chevauchee, and siege work. The cessation of hostilities in 1550 marked the effective culmination of a centuries-long conflict between Scotland and England, and the final decades of war are thus an important watershed in Anglo-Scots relations.
Synopsis
A survey of warfare between England under Henry VIII and Scotland from the death of James IV, identifying its objectives and accounting for its inconclusive nature.
Military activity was central to Anglo-Scots relations in the first half of the sixteenth century, playing an important role in the formation of the multi-national Tudor state and the process of political union. This book examinesboth the organisational nature of the two nations' military establishments and provides a detailed operational study of military activity. It challenges notions that the British Isles were peripheral to the trends of mainstream continental warfare through a detailed study of the manner in which both Scottish and English armies demonstrated a commitment to tactical and technological development. The failure of both nations to come up with effective strategies or conclusive successes is addressed, and contributory causes identified. The major engagements at Flodden (1513), Solway Moss (1542) and Pinkie (1547) are examined; attention is also paid to the everyday routines of militaryactivity: garrison duty, chevauchee and siege work.
Dr GERVASE PHILLIPS teaches in the Department of History and Economic History at the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Synopsis
Detailed survey of Anglo-Scots military activity, looking both at the well-known campaigns (Flodden, Solway Moss and Pinkie) and the less glamorous routines of a soldier's life (garrison duty, chevauchee and siege work).
Synopsis
A survey of warfare between England under Henry VIII and Scotland from the death of James IV, identifying its objectives and accounting for its inconclusive nature.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [266]-282) and index.