The Lords of Battle: Image and Reality of the Comitatus in Dark-Age Britain (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780851156620)

First study of the Dark Age comitatus, or warband, drawing evidence from literary and historical sources.

The Lords of Battle examines the image of the comitatus, or warband, as it is portrayed in literary and historical sources from Britain's early medieval period, attempting to determine the extent to which it reflectsan historical reality. Through an extensive use of a variety of source material, literary, historical, and archaeological, the book investigates both the structure of the warband, and the practices and institutions which supported it.
After a review of the historical background of Dark Age Britain, Stephen Evans explores the practical characteristics of the comitatus: its military organisation; its internal social structure and its place within society as a whole; and the lord-retainer relationship, its duties and obligations. He also examines the cultural, social, and economic institutions which produced and supported the warband. Overall, the study provides a numberof insights into the ideals and practices of Britain's Celtic and Anglo-Saxon warrior-駘ites during a turbulent period.

Dr STEPHEN EVANS gained his PhD from Temple University.

Author: Stephen S. Evans
ISBN-10: 0851156622
ISBN-13: 9780851156620
Publisher: Boydell Press
Language: English
Published: 09/10/1998
Pages: 180
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 9.17h x 6.12w x 0.55d