The Middle Byzantine Military (610-1204)

Hello

Originally posted by Mameluke Hello        I am looking for some literature on the campaigns of Belisarius. Can someone recommend a good book on the subject?

Originally posted by Brainstorm And here is a representation of a Varangian Guard.(1000-1050) This man is of Scandinavian origin ,migrated in Kievan Rus kingdom. The shield depicts the crow-symbol of god Odin and he holds Danish Axe. Greaves,hand protection ,chest leather strips and pteryges ,are obviously Byzantine,borrowed by the imperial arsenal.

Awesome picture, but I'm 1000% sure that Odin's symbol are ravens, not crows. The names of his two ravens are Huginn and Muninn.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin

Hi!

Here are some cavalry men. The first from the right is a standard bearer(11th-12th century), the second is a katafract (10th century) and the third is also a katafract e.1050 A.D. 

I think the Byzantine Empire was the biggest FLOP militarily. They are probably the greatest empire with the worst army ever. Basically the empire never expanded but kept only to its traditional borders, which it couldn't hold, lossing to so called "Barbarians" if thats not enough to prove they were bad militarily i dont know what is. I mean come on they saw "Barbarians" as uncultured people but hey they were kicking there little buts all the way to Constaninople. I think the problem with the Byzantines was that like the Athenians they cared more about culture than warfare. They would have spent more funds building schools than building a professional army. Half their army in the Middle ages were mercenaries. There really wasnt a warrior code like in the west with the tribes, a man only learnt to become a honorable warrior. In Byzantium they could go 2 school and learn everything and they became sissys. Greeks have always been too cultured, thats what did them in I think they never really had sort of a warrior attitude or chararcteristsics about them. I know people would say hoplites but that was Sparta and Sparta owned Athens u know y because Athens read there books to much.

 It's true the byzantine armies past the 6oo's were inferior on avarage than the arabs,franks ect,the only reason the byzantines were not conqered was that the walls of Constantinople were so thick, not the effectiveness of their armies.

 I think for some members it;s hard to reconcile how powerful the Romans were with how weak the east Roman/Byzantines were, the Byzantines still called themselves Romans after all,but they just followed the nateral course and fell from power as all countries do.

Originally posted by Brainstorm The most Glorious Era of Byzantine History. This is a place for posting everything related to middle Byzantine period,and its military aspect. Military organization ,tactics,strategy,arms,armor,battles,units..etc.

How can anyone call this the most glorious era of Byzantine history ehen this is the era when everone kicked their asses, and they were militarily weak?