George Payne Rainsford James

Chivalry and the Crusades: A History of the European Knights at War George Payne Rainsford James

The knight and the Cross

This excellent and thorough book examines the development of chivalry in tenth century Europe, then goes on to describe how the chivalric code and its development into the fighting practices of the armoured knight progressed in the warfare of the following four centuries. The author concentrates particularly on the era of the crusades in the middle east against the Moslem forces for the dominance of Jerusalem and its surrounding regions. Each campaign is described in some detail and uses contemporary first hand accounts that bring the events of the time clearly into focus. Although primarily about the first to fourth crusades, the narrative concludes with an overview of the activities of religious orders of chivalry and an examination of the battles of the Order of St John the Baptist (Knights Hospitallers) with the Ottoman Turks during the sixteenth century in the Mediterranean. A very well researched book of significant historical value this book is recommended to both serious and casual students of the subject. This book's original title, 'The History of Chivalry,' has been changed by the present publishers to more clearly reflect its true scope.
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