Esposito, Gabriele: Armies of Arthurian Britain

Following the withdrawal of Roman troops after AD 410, an era began in Britain characterized by the coexistence of competing military systems. The Britons, having become increasingly "Romanized" over the preceding centuries, retained many elements of the military organization typical of Late Antiquity; however, these merged with key components of pre-Roman Celtic tradition. In Wales, the "Romanization" of the indigenous population had never been fully realized, and the Britons there fought in a manner that had changed little since pre-Roman times. From the early 5th century AD onwards, sub-Roman Britain faced two main groups of adversaries: Celtic peoples from Scotland or Ireland and Germanic communities from the European mainland. Both groups brought with them their own distinct styles of combat and equipment rooted in their respective traditions. Gabriele Esposito provides a detailed account of the military conflicts in Britain from the mid-5th century AD through to the final phase of the Anglo-Saxon settlement. He describes the collapse of the Late Roman defensive system in Britain and explains how the sub-Roman armies of the so-called "Age of Arthur" emerged from its remnants. The author discusses current theories regarding the historicity of the figure of Arthur and presents comprehensive information on the military history of the Britons' adversaries: the Picts, Scots, Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. Particular attention is paid to the detailed description of the organization, equipment, and tactics of the various forces; numerous color photographs illustrate reconstructed weapons, armor, and clothing in practical use.