Book review: Armies of Medieval Russia 750-1250 by David Nicolle

This is one of the latest in Osprey's magnificent Men-at-arms series. It is unlikely that there is a single wargamer out there that has not come across this series of 48 page, soft-back books, covering the full range of periods from ancients to modern. Each one filled with useful information about the history (both social and military) as well as the various uniforms and equipment of a specific military force.

The author, David Nicolle, has become well known for his work on medieval and Islamic warfare, and has written other books in the Osprey Men-at-arms and Elite series. He has also written a wonderful couple of volumes with the joint title "Medieval Warfare Source Book", published by Arms and Armour Press. All this is to say that David Nicolle is a well qualified author. He has also travelled extensively in Russia doing research - many of the black and white photographs are from his own collection.

The preamble discusses Russia before the Rus - the nomadic hordes, the Slavs and the Ugrians (From beyond the Ural mountains). The latter were considered so terrifying that they had been locked behind a copper gate until judgement day! Perhaps another link to the Apocalyptical Four Horsemen riding horses whose colour relate to the cavalry of the nomadic hordes.

A chronology follows for all those wargamers who like to set up authentic battles. There are many possibilities for battles against the Byzantine empire, the Khazar, the Slavs, Kipchaks, Volga Bulgars, Ugrians, and the Mongols. As well as internecine Rus skirmishes and civil wars.

And thus onto the meat of the book: Pagen Rus, The Golden Age of Kiev and The Armies of Kievan Rus. This section includes such diverse topics as the impact and adoption of Christianity by the Rus and the infamous Black Hoods or Chernye Klobuki who provided an elite cavalry class, which the predominantly infantry based Scandinavian Rus lacked.

There follows a description of costume, arms and armour as it developed over the five centuries detailed by the book, a general discussion of methods of warfare and fortification, which should prove useful for initial strategies on the gaming table, and a final section which deals with the downfall of the Rus and their eventual domination by the Mongol horde

Added to David Nicolle's detailed text are the sumptuous colour illustrations by Angus McBride. These "colour plates" will make you want to get hold of some miniatures and start painting. Although you will have to be an exceptional painter to do these illustrations justice!

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