Uesugi Kenshin  | 22 Jul 2008 5:54 p.m. PST |
I'm looking for books on "Arthurian Briton" period armies. I am NOT looking for fictional books or books on a historical Arthur figure. I am just interested in the non-Roman and non-Saxon Armies in Britain circa 450AD-950AD. I already own the Ian Heath Dark Ages Book and Tim Newarks "Celtic Warriors". Thanks for any input. |
| Who asked this joker | 22 Jul 2008 6:00 p.m. PST |
Glutter of Ravens by Dan Mersey would fit the bill. It is both a wargame and a historical resource. Some of the best info around from a military aspect of all of the armies in the British isles up to about 650AD if memory serves. John |
| Tarleton | 22 Jul 2008 11:52 p.m. PST |
I would second Ian Heaths WRG book and Dan Merseys Glutter Of Ravens. I would'nt bother with the Osprey Pictish Warrior book unless you were given it for free. I'll put a list of books up that I would recommend for the Picts later. Need to go and confirm titles etc. |
| Danmer | 23 Jul 2008 1:56 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the Glutter of Ravens votes of confidence chaps. I'd add the Warhammer Age of Arthur book to the list – even if you don't play Warhammer, there's still a lot of useful historical information plus the lovely photos. The authors put a lot of work into the history sections of this book; I had some input – as did the far more eminent Guy Halsall – and enjoyed playing through the scenarios, too, which I believe give a great feel for the period. |
| Frothers Did It Anyway | 23 Jul 2008 2:36 a.m. PST |
Osprey's Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars would be an obvious choice. Nice Angus McBride pictures in it too! If you're interested in an unusual take on the culture of Sub-Roman Britain take a look at Britian AD by Francis Pryor. Pryor is a well known and highly respected archaeologist in the UK who loves undermining established wisdom – his take is bascially that the Saxon "invasion" never happened and that cultural change doesn't have to be imposed by force. Sounds a bit dry but it's a great read. |
| Oh Bugger | 23 Jul 2008 4:37 a.m. PST |
'I'm looking for books on "Arthurian Briton" period armies.' Uesugi, I dont think you will find much with this specific focus except for ill informed speculation. The one exception that I know of is Lords of Battle by Stephen Evans ISBN 0-85115-662-2. There are books that include some of what your looking for although in a wider context. You might like: An Age Of Tyrants Britain and the British 400-600 Christopher Snyder The Britons – Christopher Snyder (Section 3 onwards) The Goddodin various editions (I like the Jackson one) Celt and Saxon – PB Ellis Britain And The End Of The Roman Empire – Ken Dark Much older, I still have The Early Wars of Wessex by Albany Major and the much critiqued but seminal Age Of Arthur by Morris. I do like Ian Heath's Book but imho Osprey's Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars and Tim Newarks Celtic Warriors are not worth the money. Hopefully this thread will reveal more. |
| Who asked this joker | 23 Jul 2008 8:06 a.m. PST |
Age of Tyrants is a great book but not a lot there on the military as it pertains to wargaming. Fantastic stuff for understanding the Dark Age Society Dark Age Britain. |
| Danmer | 23 Jul 2008 9:35 a.m. PST |
Uesugi Kenshin, can you contact me at danielmersey at yahoo dot com? |
| Uesugi Kenshin | 23 Jul 2008 10:31 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the input. I added a few of the books to my amazon list. Daniel, email sent off. |
| Tarleton | 23 Jul 2008 10:32 a.m. PST |
Uesugi, Heres a list of a few books;- The Picts and the Scots. By Lloyd and Jenny Laing. The Picts And Scots At War. By Nick Aitchison. Surviving in Symbols. By Martin Carver.( Picts ). Saints and Sea-kings. By Ewan Campbell.( Dal Riadan Scots ). Angels, Fools and Tyrants. By Chris Lowe. ( Britons and Anglo-Saxons in Southern Scotland ). The last 3 are part of the Making Of Scotland series published, I think, by Historic Scotland. They give a good background and information that is not always easy to find. The are about £6.00 GBP each. My personal favourite is Nick Aitchisons. Well worth getting. Hope you find these useful. |
| Uesugi Kenshin | 24 Jul 2008 1:52 p.m. PST |
"Heres a list of a few books;- The Picts and the Scots. By Lloyd and Jenny Laing. The Picts And Scots At War. By Nick Aitchison. Surviving in Symbols. By Martin Carver.( Picts ). Saints and Sea-kings. By Ewan Campbell.( Dal Riadan Scots ). Angels, Fools and Tyrants. By Chris Lowe. ( Britons and Anglo-Saxons in Southern Scotland )." I'm only missing "Picts and Scots at War" |
| Tarleton | 25 Jul 2008 5:55 a.m. PST |
Great minds hey… What do you think of the Historic Scotland books? I think they're quite good, giving new information that I had'nt come across before. RE: Hillforts for 15mm, you may find something in a fantasy range that fits the bill. |
| Hobhood | 27 Jul 2008 1:08 p.m. PST |
Tarleton – why is the Osprey Picts book so bad? It's the only one I have, apart from sections in other books. I've not read deeply re. the Picts,so I don't know what I'm missing… |
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