Charlemagne's army enabled him to create what he and his contemporaries regarded as a 'reborn' Western Roman Empire. Charlemagne revolutionised the organisation, logistics, indoctrination and training of his army. His troops seemed able to fight on indefinitely, even when they were thousands of miles away from Frankish territory. This title explores the role of the cavalry, the essential striking force of Charlemagne's army. In many respects the cavalrymen were the fore-runners of medieval Western European knights, yet the author shows how their recruitment, organisation, armament and tactics were still rooted in the medieval past. This book shows how the Carolingian armoured horseman played an important role in the development of European warfare.

Author Biography

Born in 1944, David Nicolle worked in the BBC's Arabic service for a number of years before going 'back to school', gaining an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, and a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He has written numerous books and articles on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has been a prolific author of Osprey titles for many years. Wayne Reynolds attended art college in Middlesborough and has worked as a professional artist since 1991, providing illustrations and source material for many gaming companies, creating figures, landscapes and interiors, as well as core characterisation. He is best known for his work on titles such as '2000AD', 'Slaine', and 'Judge Dredd'. Wayne is also a keen modeller and historical re-enactor.