Author John Sadler reassesses the causes of the conflict and reconsiders the chain of events that preceded the Towton campaign, paying close attention to the topography of the battlefield, the manoeuvres of the opposing armies and the conduct of the commanders.
The Nature of Medieval Warfare
The book opens with a study of what warfare was like in the Middle Ages. Sadler examines the way in which men were compelled to take on military service, from contract systems which bound a man to his lord, to paid soldiers, local levies and even those men who joined an army simply to fulfil a need for violence and revenge.
In examining the conflicts which preceded Towton, Sadler builds up a picture of the nature of medieval warfare and the various strategies which armies employed to gain the upper hand, such as employing spies and scouts who would assess the weaknesses of the enemy.
The Background to the Wars of the Roses
In the second part of Towton, the author examines the events which led to the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses. The difficulties and problems of the reign of Henry VI are examined, including the king’s childlessness, money problems, and internal divisions within the court. All of which were played out against a background of growing discount among feuding gentry families.
Account of the Battle of Towton
Perhaps this book’s greatest strengths is the author’s ability to help the reader to understand just what it was like to take part in the battle. He describes the thoughts and feelings the men might have had whilst preparing for the fighting to start, what they would have heard, seen and smelt as the battle got underway, and even what traumas would have been endured by those fortunate enough to have survived.
The fighting didn’t end at the battlefield as even when men fled the field, they were relentlessly pursued by the enemy for miles and often killed. Others sheltered with anyone able to take them in and the injured had to rely on the mercy of comrades of nearby villagers.
Sadler provides a clear description of how the opposing armies faced each other, and the manoeuvres they made as the battle progressed, each army hampered by the atrocious conditions on that snowy Sunday. The effect of the arrow storm is described, along with the brutality of hand-to-hand combat and the fate of the wounded left lying on the field
Summary
Towton is a masterful account of a subject which had been much written about over the years. Author John Sadler sets his book apart from the rest by bringing his own background research and imagination into play, bringing a battle which took place over 500 years ago vividly back to life. The index is detailed, there is an extensive bibliography as well as a glossary and appendices.
Publication Details
Towton: The Battle of Palm Sunday Field, 1461 John Sadler [Pen & Sword, 2011]
Rachel Bellerby - I am an experienced UK writer with two non-fiction books and more than 100 articles published in the UK and US. As a mum of three young ...
