Just wars and moral victories : surprise, deception and the normative framework of European war in the later Middle Ages / by David Whetham.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Whetham, David.

Series:

History of warfare ; v. 55.

History of warfare, 1385-7827 ; v. 55

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Military art and science--Europe--History--To 1500.

Military art and science.

Surprise (Military science)--History.

Surprise (Military science).

Deception (Military science)--History.

Deception (Military science).

Chivalry--Europe--History--To 1500.

Chivalry.

Middle Ages.

Europe--History, Military--To 1500.

Europe.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (276 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

While recognising the sophistication of the practice of medieval warfare, many people still have problems reconciling the widespread use of surprise and deception with the code of chivalric warfare. Was chivalry really just a meaningless veneer? If true, perhaps more perplexing are the many cases where surprise or deception were not employed and advantages were therefore sacrificed. This work argues that understanding these apparent inconsistencies requires an appreciation of the moral and legal context of medieval strategic thought. Through taking this approach, chivalric warfare can be seen for what it was - a very real framework or system of rules that allowed a result or decision to be reached which could be accepted by both sides.

Contents:

Introduction

Metaphysical and moral context

The role of war as a legal instrument in the Middle Ages

The epitome of military science

The works of Geoffroy de Charny

Froissart : the management of chivalric expectation

Conclusion.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-282-40041-X

9786612400414

90-474-2485-9

OCLC:

567645000

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004171534.i-268 DOI