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De Re Militari | Book Reviews

David Nicolle

Crusader Castles in Cyprus, Greece and the Aegean 1191-1571

Fortess 59 (Botley, Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 2007). 64pp. US $ 16.95 / $ 23.95 CAN. ISBN 9781841769769.

David Nicolle needs no introduction to medieval military historians. One of the leading experts in the field, his studies are widely known and highly appreciated.

In this volume of Osprey series “Fortress”, Nicolle examines the castles held by the Crusaders States and the Italian maritime republics in Cyprus and around the Aegean, an area which,  though politically more complex, have been less studied than the Middle East. It is true that some states proved ephemeral, but others lasted longer.

Often short of money, the Crusader States made use of earlier defences and preferred to strengthen what existed. The castles were old-fashioned in their design and, in military terms, a backwater of Western European civilization. Most of them who worked on such buildings were locals or prisoners-of-war. Relying on local masons and architects, the Crusaders could not build in the styles of their homeland, and the result was a late-Romanesque style with Byzantine elements.

When used as residences, the fortresses could be pleasant to live in. Accommodating  a refined culture and society, some castles were richly decorated, others contained fireplaces, latrines and water cisterns. The Crusader rulers kept their customs and expressed literary works similar to those written in their homelands. Strong were also the interest in the history of the Crusades, Arthurian legends and ancient Greek myths.

Outnumbered and suffering from shortage of manpower, the Crusaders and the Italian colonies used their castles much more as bases for defensive rather than for offensive operations. To force most of the mainland castles to surrender it was often enough to conquer the surrounding countryside, while things were different for coastal enclaves, which could be supplied by ship.

As always with Osprey, this book is a concise, accurate work which both scholars and non-specialists will find an enjoyable read.

Sergio Montovani

Independent Scholar <[email protected]>

Page Added: July 2007