Constantinople AD 717–18: The Crucible of History (Campaign, 347)

very nice.

Like most of Byzantine history, the 717 AD siege of Constantinople is forgotten to western audiences, but this volume helps to rectify that. In particular it highlights exactly how high the stakes of the battle were, especially in comparison to the contemporary and better known battle of Tours/Poitiers. While a treat for Byzantine fans, it is highly recommended for any who have an interest in early Medieval history to help understand how radically different the western world would be if the outcome had been different.

Si Sheppard's "Constantinople AD 717-18" details the tide of Arab Islam that swallowed everything in it's path until it stumbled before Theodosius's walls. It's a typical Osprey title with excellent photos, maps and color plates.Sheppard's work is like all books in this series wherein it lays out the strategic picture, then moves on to the opposing commanders, the respective armies and then into the campaign. This book itself, #347 in the Campaign series, spends a lot of time in the lead up to the subject - as much as the campaign itself. The story is really about the tenets of Islam which places a premium on warfare in the service of the faith and it's ways to reward warfare. Raids, looting, enslaving entire cities of "infidels" was an endemic consequence of Islam. Essentially, the Caliphate made war on everyone, all the time, raiding, enslaving, and destroying civilized life in any region contiguous to Dar-al-Islam.Subsequently, the runup to the campaign is a never-ending story of Arab assaults, raids, victorious battles and losses for "the Romans". The other aspect of the strategic picture is the unbelievably destructive governing system of the Byzantines where anyone who could gather enough troops to his side could - and often would - make a bid for emperorship. As a result, there was constant internecine warfare which weakened their own armies and depleted their own treasury - as well as leaving their borders wide open to invaders.The campaign itself begins as a mighty Arab army, split into several columns, and a great armada of ships heads to Constantinople in the midst of yet another violent transition in emperorship among the Byzantines. The overwhelming advantages of the Arabs are only countered by two Byzantine trump cards - the excellent defenses of the Christian-Roman city and the question mark of what would the Bulgars do.The author gives a concise and detailed account of the campaign with first-hand accounts from both sides of the conflict. The reader gets a good idea of the fighting by land and sea and the strategems, course of events and mistakes by both sides. The author wraps up with his conclusion that the continued existence of the Byzantine Empire, centered on Constantinople, together with Poitiers prevented the Islamization of Europe in the long run - which I don't think any rational person would deny.A good book having few flaws. It's a worthy addition to Osprey's Campaign series. Four stars.

The siege of Constantinople in AD 717-18 by Arabic forces represented a supreme crisis for the Byzantine Empire. Surrounded on land, cut off by sea, and facing internal dissension, Constantinople represented the last bastion of the new Emperor, Leo III. If he failed to defend the city, the empire would be overrun and the European hinterland open to further Arabic conquest. The siege would be a contest of wills, and wiles, between Leo and his Arab opponent Maslama...This new Osprey Campaign Series book, well written by Si Sheppard, captures the drama of a long war and a long siege. The narrative is nicely supported by lots of period art and modern photographs, illustrations, maps and battle diagrams. Not least, the author makes the case that the Muslim conquest of Constantinople in AD 717 instead of 1453 might have meant a very different trajectory for modern Europe and for Christianity. Very well recommended for its concise but dramatic take on a key event in European history.

Like all books of this series, richly illustrated and entertaining to read. A priceless record of one of the most famous sieges in history.

I really like the format of this series of books. Concise descriptions along with illustrations.

Another one of Osprey's helpful "cliff notes" for a military history topic (96 pages, including maps, photos, and illustrations). As is often the case, I'm rounding up: "4.5" is more like it.Sheppard spends quite a bit of space (25 pages worth, including maps and a 2-page chronology) on the "Origins of the Campaign" section, starting with the Sassanid siege of Constantinople in 626, continuing through the ongoing Jihad, all the way up to AD 715. This was great for what I'm looking for, but ymmv.For those who are used to David Nicolle's Arab- and Islamophilia, Sheppard is a change of pace. In his analysis, Sheppard gives Karen Armstrong (I had to look her up) an apparently well-deserved drubbing, twice, on p. 36 and p. 89.Sheppard's "Aftermath" section includes speculation on "What If" the Caliphate had won the siege which I thought was interesting and thoughtful, but ymmv.Quibble: The usual "Campaign Series" 2-page, 3-d maps are attractive and mostly helpful, but the middle of the map, which usually contains the most important area, is unhelpfully wedged between the two pages. As usual. WHY DOES OSPREY DO THAT?!

Well written and concise history.

Los libros de historia militar de Osprey están destinados a un público muy concreto de aficionados a la historia militar entre los que me encuentro. Para mí, que me encanta la historia bizantina, es un libro estupendo, pero claro, para mí.

Very interesting book.