Bohemond of Taranto, Lord of Antioch and unofficial leader of the First Crusade, was a man of boundless ambition and inexhaustible energy - as Romuald of Salerno said, "he was always seeking the impossible." Although he failed in his attempt to secure the Byzantine throne, he succeeded in establishing the most enduring of all the Crusader states. However, few substantial references to the life of this remarkable warrior have been written, and none have been published in English for over a century - which is why this absorbing new study by Georgios Theotokis is of such great value.

It focuses on Bohemond as a soldier and commander, covering his contribution to the Crusades, but paying particular attention to his strategic successes in Italy, Sicily, the Balkans, and Anatolia. Given that medieval commanders are not usually given much recognition for their strategic understanding, it examines Bohemond's war plans in his many campaigns, describes how he adapted his battle tactics when facing different opponents, and considers whether his approach to warfare was typical of Norman commanders of his time.

Pages: 208, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm