Sieges of the English Civil War

Sieges of the English Civil War Book Description

"Sieges determined the course of the English Civil Wars, yet they receive scant attention ... From the start of the Civil Wars sieges of cities, towns, ports, castles, manor houses and religious buildings were crucial to the conduct of the fighting ... Between 300 and 450 sieges took place, and at least a quarter of all wartime casualties were incurred during these clashes ... As John Barratt shows, possession of key strategic locations, towns and garrisons was of vital importance to all sides in the war, and frequently exerted a much wider influence on their strategies and campaigns. As well as looking at the theory and practice of siege warfare and fortification ... Barratt considers the often-devastating human impact. Using a selection of graphic examples, he shows how siege warfare could ruin the lives of the soldiers -- and the civilians -- caught up in it. He examines in detail a dozen sieges, using a combination of eyewitness accounts, other contemporary sources, archaeological surveys, and other modern research. His study provides a detailed reconstruction of these often neglected episodes of civil war history"--Jacket.