War and Border Societies in the Middle Ages

The frontier or `marcher'' societies flourished in the Middle Ages and their influence has lasted well into modern times. In this study of Anglo-Scottish relations and of border society, the contributors examine the infrastructure beneath societies which were permanently `organized for war''. They draw on Anglo-Scottish archival material to argue that the issues which feature in other frontier societies - acculturation and the creation of special institutions - appeared also on the Anglo-Scottish frontier. The book uses the celebrated Battle of Otterburn as a starting-point for a major reassessment of border society, challenging the view put forward in popular ballads that the borders were isolated and self-contained.