Norman Knight AD 950–1204

Osprey Warrior #1

by Christopher Gravett, Christa Hook (Illustrator)

Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries the Norman knight was possibly the most feared warrior in Western Europe. He was descended originally from the Vikings who had settled in Northern France under their leader Rollo in or around 911 at the behest of Charles the Simple and throughout the following centuries they remembered and built on their warlike reputation. This book shows how their military prowess was renowned throughout the known world and resulted in Normans conquering Sicily in 1060 and England in 1066, as well as participating in many important battles in Italy and playing a major part in the First Crusade.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Military History, Medieval History, British Literature

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1993

About the author

Chris Gravett is a former Senior Curator at the Royal Armouries, Tower of London, and a recognized authority on the arms, armour, and warfare of the medieval world. He has worked as an advisor for numerous TV and film productions, and has written many books. He currently works as a curator at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire.

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book for a beginner or younger history reader. Nice layout with good pictures throughout. Recommended

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm undertaking a massive research project on the Norman Conquest so I got hold of this book as it looked interesting. I've found it invaluable. I initially thought it was a children's book but it doesn't seem to be, because the breadth of information is excellent.

Everything you want to know about Norman knights is here: what they looked like, where they came from, what they wore, the weaponry they used, how they trained and how they fought. Okay, this is a short book so there isn't a lot of depth, but the level of detail is astounding. Better still, it's very enjoyable to read, with fantastic illustrations.

[Marcus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first volume in Osprey's Warrior series and I have to say that I am underwhelmed. Once again, small format of Osprey books turns out to be both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it is a sweet little volume that provides adequate, albeit brief introduction to the topic. On the other hand, I am a bit suprised over the fact that so much space has been "wasted" on more generic issues such as weapon technology, certain features of defensive equipment and training. All those digressions make this volume into something of a mixed bag.