Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524-26, MAA384

Armies of the German Peasants' War 1524 - 26
(Men-at-Arms 384)

Author: Douglas Miller
Illustrator: Angus McBride

Paperback; February 2003; 48 pages

About this book:
In the 1520s, a brief but savage war broke out in Germany when various insurgent groups rose to overthrow the power structure. The movement took as its emblem a peasant's shoe and the collective title of 'Bundschuh', and this became known as the Peasants' War - although the rebel armies actually included as many townsmen, miners, disaffected knights and mercenary soldiers as rural peasants. The risings involved large armies of up to 18,000 men, and there were several major battles before the movement was put down with the utmost ferocity. This book details the armies, tactics, costume, weapons, personalities and events of this savage war.

The Authors:
Douglas Miller researches and models broadly in the period of the German Renaissance and Reformation.

Angus McBride was one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, who contributed to more than 90 Osprey titles over three decades. Born in 1931 of Highland parents but orphaned as a child, he was educated at Canterbury Cathedral Choir School. He worked in advertising agencies from 1947, and after national service, emigrated to South Africa where he lived for several years before relocating to Ireland. Angus sadly passed away in 2007.

Contents:
# Historical background
# Chronology of events
# Organisation of the armies: Upper Swabia - Allgäu, Lake Constance, Baltringen, Leipheim, Wurzach. Lower Franconia - Taubertal, Neckartal Odenwald, Bildhäuser. The Swabian Alliance
# The commanders
# Major battles - weapons and tactics
# Costume & armour: peasants and townsmen - Landsknechts and Swiss mercenaries - knights
# Flags & recognition marks