Warfare under the Anglo-Norman kings, 1066-1135 - Stephen Morillo

This is a study of warfare waged between 1066 and 1135 by the Anglo-Norman kings of England - William the Conqueror, William Rufus and Henry I. Bringing together the major trends in recent medieval military history, the study of military organizations and the study of campaigns, Morillo sets out to illuminate the interrelationship of military organization and social and political structures. The "familia regis", the king's military household, emerges in a central role: its influence extended from castle garrisons, engineering, and supply to the organization of armies; its permanence and professionalism dictated tactical practices in battle. By contrast, the traditional estimate of the military importance of the feudal system is considerably reduced.;Within the author's discussions of this field of study are an explanation of the Anglo-Norman knights' tendency to dismount and fight as infantry; and a dismissal of the widely-held view that the use of the stirrup was the fundamental reason for the tactical dominance of medieval cavalry. This work is a restatement of the nature of medieval warfare in the 11th and 12th centuries.