Graham Turner – illustratör

An in-depth look at the US' desperate battle to secure Carentan and support the Normandy invasion and the elite German units that sought to repel them.Although the US Army had successfully secured both Utah and Omaha Beach on D-Day, the next tactical problem was to connect the two beachheads. Utah and Omaha were separated by the Vire River estuary. Carentan was the first major town on the river, and as such was of vital tactical importance. However, this was not lost on the Germans, who dispatched their elite Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 to hold the town. On the US side, the task of capturing Carentan fell to the 101st Airborne Division, and in the week following D-Day, US and German troops waged a battle for Carentan.Here, expert historian Steven J. Zaloga goes in depth into the initial battle on June 10–12 , 1944, the German counterattack and the final Allied victory. With stunning artwork, detailed maps and BEVs, firsthand accounts, and period images, this study brings to life the fierce fighting between paratrooper forces and highlights how this Allied success led onto the next phase of Operation Overlord.

A richly illustrated, compact take on a high-drama battle of the Thirty Years War.The Thirty Years War, a religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants, raged across Europe between 1618 and 1648, devastating huge areas of Germany. By 1632 the Protestant powers were in a desperate situation until King Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden, 'the Lion of the North', came to their rescue.This book describes how, having smashed one of the two main Catholic armies, he faced the other at Lützen near Leipzig in November 1632. In a nightmare battle fought in thick fog, his Swedish troops locked horns with the Imperial army. It was a bloody clash, in which Gustavus himself demonstrated true courage at the head of his cavalry and one for which he would pay the ultimate price.Complete with illustrations throughout, including special battlescene maps, this slim volume lifts the lid on the battle and its outcome.

A detailed, illustrated exploration of the land, sea and air units that defended Malta, and the repeated Axis attempts to bring the crucial Allied island fortress to its knees.On 11 June 1940, the British crown colony of Malta – which dominated the central Mediterranean and all-important sea routes to and from North Africa – was bombed for the first time by aircraft of the Italian Regia Aeronautica. The Italians were joined in their efforts by the German Luftwaffe in January 1941. Malta was effectively beleaguered for nearly two and a half years, dependent for survival on naval supply convoys and reliant for defence on often-outnumbered fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft guns. Anthony Rogers provides a retelling of these events, drawing on accounts from both sides. This work features carefully selected photographic images, some previously unpublished. Seven specially commissioned colour maps explore the strategic situation in the Mediterranean in this period, the military sectors into which Malta's defence was divided, and German minelaying operations around the island. The three stunning battle scene artworks and 3D bird's-eye views show key events from the battle, including the 26 July 1941 German attack on the Grand Harbour, and the major Luftwaffe raid 21 March 1942.

A compact, illustrated volume detailing the capture of Walcheren by amphibious assault.Although the Alllies captured Antwerp in September 1944, the port itself could not be opened due to the continued German presence on the island of Walcheren, which guarded the port entrance. In November, the Allies launched an assault on the island, using a number of Commando units. Supported by warships and assault vehicles, the Allies fought their way ashore and engaged in deadly streets battles with the Germans.Richard Brookes examines the capture and how it would ensure the Allies had sufficient logistic arrangements in place to hold off the German assault in the Ardennes.

A highly illustrated study of the battle of Malplaquet, the last and bloodiest of Marlborough's victories in the 18th century War of the Spanish Succession.In 1709, after eight years of war, France was on her knees. There was not enough money left in the treasury to pay, equip or feed the army and a bad harvest led to starvation throughout the kingdom. Circumstances had worsened to the point that King Louis XIV was forced to offer to end the War of Spanish Succession on humiliating terms for his country. However, the allied powers – Britain, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire – refused Louis’ offer, believing that one more successful campaign would utterly destroy French power. This book examines the campaign of 1709, culminating in the battle of Malplaquet, which would prove Louis’ enemies disastrously wrong. Led by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, the allied armies achieved a tactical victory – but it was a hollow one. The allies suffered 23,000 casualties to the French 11,000 in what was the bloodiest battle of the 18th century. The scale of casualties shocked Europe and led to a reversal of fortunes, with the dismissal of Marlborough and a newly confident King Louis resolving to fight on. When the war finally ended, it did so on terms favourable to France.In this illustrated title, Simon MacDowall examines the campaign in full and shows how, though it is generally accepted that Marlborough was never defeated, the Battle of Malplaquet was ultimately a French strategic victory.

A renowned airpower expert assesses the air campaign fought in France in 1940, explaining why the Luftwaffe was so effective against the French and British. The battle for France and Belgium was one of the most significant moments in modern warfare: the first great clash of modern major powers, where both sides possessed large and capable air forces, and modern combined-arms doctrine. It was in the air that the Germans had a notable advantage in both numbers and quality. But this does not fully explain the victory of the Luftwaffe over the RAF and the French Air Force in 1940.In this book, renowned airpower scholar James S. Corum offers an operational-level history of the air campaign, and explains comprehensively and concisely how the campaign was fought, and why the Luftwaffe made such superior use of their airpower. He explains the importance of the air forces’ leadership and fighting doctrine, and aspects of the campaign often overlooked, such as the dysfunctional organization that kept hundreds of French aircraft out of the battle, and Germany’s pioneering use of radio-equipped air liaison officers that provided the world’s first system of ‘on-call’ close air support.Researched from French, British, and German primary sources, and illustrated throughout with artwork, 3D diagrams, maps and photos, this book distils the author’s decades of scholarship into an essential guide to airpower in the fall of France.

The Kursk campaign was the major German offensive of 1943 and the last strategic offensive the Germans were to launch on the Eastern Front in World War II.Mauled at Stalingrad, the German army looked to regain the initiative on the Eastern Front with a huge offensive launched near the city of Kursk, 280 miles south-west of Moscow. Armed with the new Panther tank, Hitler and Field Marshal von Manstein were confident that they could inflict another crushing defeat on the Soviet Union. What they did not know is that the Soviets knew about the coming attack, and they were ready.This book focuses on the southern front of this campaign, which featured one of the biggest clash of armour of the warin the battle of Prokhorovka which involved over a thousand tanks. It examines in detail the tactics and mistakes of the army commanders as they orchestrated one of the bloodiest battles in World War II.Using campaign maps, stunning photographs and vivid artwork, this new study, a companion to Campaign 272 Kursk 1943: The Northern Front, examines whether that the German offensive was doomed from the start as it takes the reader through this titanic clash of armour.

A detailed, illustrated account of The First Battle of the Marne, which saved France from defeat in the First World War and led directly the establishment of the trenches.In 1914 the Germans launched an offensive that swept through Belgium and into France, threatening to crush French resistance in one fell swoop. However, through careful maneuvering and stubborn resistance, the French Army, aided by the BEF, blunted the assault, winning an important strategic victory that kept France in the war. This victory ensured that Germany would have to fight a two-front war, and the Western Front descended into the stalemate of trench warfare.One of the most important battles in the First World War, the First Battle of the Marne would be the last battle of maneuver to be seen on the Western Front for several years to come.

A comprehensively illustrated history and analysis of 'The Hump' campaign in World War II, the huge and treacherous airlift over the Himalayas to keep China fighting.In World War II, the war in China tied down much of the Japanese Army, and it was crucial to keep China fighting and supplied. But when the Burma Road fell, the only way left was by air, in piston-engined transports, over the Himalayas from India. As Japan captured new bases and stationed fighters to intercept, the possible routes over 'The Hump' became increasingly treacherous. In this book, aviation historian Mark Lardas explains how the campaign was fought. While the effort started with only 25 transports and its original organization was ad hoc, by July 1945 it had grown into a vast and organized air armada, with new airfields, specialized navigation aids, and a force of 640 aircraft. The cost was high, with 594 aircraft lost, and over 1,300 killed. But during the war it hauled nearly 700,000 tons of supplies, keeping China in the war. The India-China Wing of the Air Traffic Command earned a Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts, the first ever awarded to a non-combat unit. Packed with illustrations and maps, this is the story of the first successful strategic airlift in history. The lessons of the Hump fed into the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, and it was the essential forerunner behind the United States' capability to project power in the Cold War.

The final instalment in Osprey's trilogy on Operation Market-Garden, this is a fascinating account of the British XXX Corps assault towards the Rhine at Arnhem.Field Marshal Montgomery's plan to get Second British Army behind the fortifications of the German Siegfried Line in 1944 led to the hugely ambitions Operation Market-Garden. Part of this plan called for a rapid advance from Belgium through Holland up to and across the lower Rhine by the British XXX Corps along a single road already dominated by airborne troops. Their objective along this road was the bridge at Arnhem, the target of British and Polish airborne troops. Once XXX Corps had reached this bridge it would then make for the German industrial area of the Ruhr. The operation was bold in outlook but risky in concept.Using specially commissioned artwork and detailed analysis, Ken Ford completes this trilogy on Operation Market-Garden by examining this attack which, if successful, could have shortened the war in the west considerably. Yet it turned out to be a bridge too far.

This, the first ever Osprey campaign title to deal with the English Civil War, looks at the battle of Edgehill, the first major clash of the Wars.In 1642 both Royalists and Parliamentarians expected that one great contest of arms would see the crushing of their enemies. When their field armies blundered into contact on the evening of 22 October 1642, Prince Rupert urged King Charles to array his army on the great ridge of Edgehill and give battle. The next day, amidst abject cowardice and absolute courage, the tide of battle swept Rupert's cavalry to triumph, but saw victory snatched away as the Royalist infantry was hurled back by the defiant Parliamentarians.Alongside stunning battlescene artwork, Keith Roberts and John Tincey outline the battle, demonstrating how the chance for decisive victory was lost and the bloody civil war raged on.

The story of General George Washington and the Continental Army's first major campaign, in a slimm detailed volume.General Sir William Howe's New York campaign gave the British their best chance of destroying the Continental Army and George Washington's resistance to colonial power. Howe succeeded in dividing the Continentals, defeated them on Long Island and forced Washington to retreat to Brooklyn Heights. Under siege there, Washington successfully crossed the East River to Manhattan but soon had to fall back on Harlem Heights.After a few weeks Howe forced the Continentals north to White Plains and defeated them again. However, he allowed Washington to withdraw and preserve his army when a more aggressive pursuit could have ended the war. Instead, with the British army rapidly weakening and facing huge manpower shortages, Washington emerged from a succession of defeats to produce what was ultimately a war-winning strategy.The author provides fascinating insights into a unique campaign in which a string of British victories ultimately led to failure and defeat.

A fascinating story of a key turning point in the War in the Mediterranean, as the island of Malta was thrown a vital lifeline. Since 1940, the island of Malta had been a thorn in the Axis' side. It sat astride the direct sea route between Italy and its North African colonies, and from 1941 the Royal Navy had used the island as a base for its attacks on Axis convoys. The island, though, relied on convoys to survive, and from early 1941 these came under increasingly heavy air and submarine attack. As the situation became critical in 1942, the decision was made to send through a heavily protected convoy, carrying fuel and supplies, in an effort to save the island. This mission was codenamed Operation Pedestal. This fascinating work describes how, after leaving Britain on 2 August 1942, the convoy was repeatedly pummeled by Axis air and submarine attacks as it ground its way towards Malta, with most of the merchant ships sunk during the passage, along with an aircraft carrier and two cruisers. It also explores how despite this grim toll, the sacrifice was worth it.The specially commissioned illustrations in this work cover the progress of the convoy step by step, the submarine and surface naval actions during Pedestal’s voyage, the Stuka attack on the carrier Indomitable and the air attacks against the convoy, and the broader strategic situation in the Western Mediterranean. The result is a unique visual exploration of one of the most famous episodes of the war in this theatre.

The bombing of Guernica has become a symbol of Nazi involvement in the Spanish Civil War, but the extent of the German commitment is often underestimated.The Luftwaffe sent 20,000 officers and men to Spain from 1936 to 1939, and the Condor Legion carried out many missions in support of the Spanish Nationalist forces and played a lead role in many key campaigns of the war. Aircraft that would play a significant role in the combat operations of World War II (the Heinkel 11 bomber, the Me 109 fighter, and others) saw their first action in Spain, fighting against the modern Soviet fighters and bombers that equipped the Republican Air Force. Condor Legion bombers attacked Republican logistics and transport behind the lines as well as bombing strategic targets, German bombers and fighters provided highly effective close air support for the front-line troops, and German fighters and anti-aircraft units ensured Nationalist control of the air. The experience garnered in Spain was very important to the development of the Luftwaffe. The war allowed them to hone and develop their tactics, train their officers, and to become the most practised air force in the world at conducting close support of ground troops. In effect, the Spanish Civil War proved to be the training ground for the Blitzkrieg which would be unleashed across Europe in the years that followed.In this rigorous new analysis, Legion Condor expert James Corum explores both the history and impact of the Luftwaffe’s engagement during the Spanish Civil War and the role that engagement played in the development of the Luftwaffe strategy which would be used to such devastating effect in the years that followed.

A fascinating dive into the overlooked fight between the British Empire's Egyptian Expeditionary Force and the Ottoman Empire for control of the Suez Canal.The Battle of Romani was fought between Britain's Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and the Ottoman Empire's Sinai Expeditionary Force in the Sinai Desert in early August 1916. The Ottoman objective was to disrupt and cut off the Suez Canal, while the EEF's main objective was to protect the Canal and the flow of materials that were struggling to keep the war economies of Britain, France and Italy working. The two sides came to a head on 4–5 August, resulting in the defeat of the Ottomans. The EEF then continued to advance to the edge of the desert by the end of the year. With this, not only did Britain secure its supply lines, but it was also the first major land victory against the Ottoman Empire. The tide was finally turning in the war between the empires.Historian Stuart Hadaway provides an in-depth look at the much overlooked Sinai Campaign, which was a victory of immense strategic importance in World War I. However, it was a hard-won battle with critical mistakes made on both sides. Illustrated with period photographs, detailed maps and stunning artwork, this book examines the fight for the Canal, the lessons the EEF failed to learn, and how the courage and bravery of the troops, especially the Australians and New Zealanders, saved the situation on many occasions.

As the American Revolution continued, the British refocused their fight on the southern colonies in the hopes of triggering an outbreak of loyalism that would sweep the rebels aside.Under Sir Henry Clinton they captured Savannah at the end of 1778, and Charleston in May 1780, with Lord Cornwallis being left in command with just 8,500 men under him. Too thinly spread to guard the 15,000 square miles he was responsible for, Cornwallis went on the offensive, invading North Carolina and using Camden as a launch pad.This history reveals how Cornwallis was able to use his aggressive strategy to great effect and how the overconfidence of the re-formed American forces under Horatio Gates was to result in a shocking defeat on the night of 15 August 1780 – a defeat that would allow Cornwallis to push deep into North Carolina the following year, where he would only be stopped by the American victory at Yorktown.

An in-depth look at the battle that saw the American Overmountain Men come together and defeat the British Loyalist army, turning the tide of the war.By 1780, the British strategy of subduing the South by mobilizing Loyalist forces appeared to be working following the capture of Charleston and the destruction of General Gates' Grand Army at Camden. Major Patrick Ferguson was appointed to raise forces and soon amassed a small army of more than 4,000 men, with which the South Carolina backcountry was cowed. It appeared Britain had a firm grip on South Carolina and Georgia, prompting a move into North Carolina.Ferguson, commanding only a fraction of his Loyalists, was given the job of screening the advance of the main British army under Cornwallis, but his actions in the backcountry caught the attention of the fiercely independent "Overmountain Men." Roused into action by a handful of charismatic leaders, the Overmountain Men joined forces with Patriot militia and set off to find the Loyalists. After a grueling march of more than 300 miles, they caught up to them at Kings Mountain and annihilated Ferguson's command.With detailed maps, diagrams, and illustrations, this well-researched book by expert author David Smith dives into Britain's plans for the area, the events that drove the Overmountain Men to band together and the final battle that saw the Loyalists defeated.

A compact study of one of the less well-known campaigns of the Pacific War, which featured complex Japanese and Allied operations, and included the first use of airborne troops in the war.Imperial Japan's campaigns of conquest in late 1941/early 1942 were launched in order to achieve self-sufficiency for the Japanese people, chiefly in the precious commodity of oil. The Netherlands (or Dutch) East Indies formed one of Japan's primary targets, on account of its abundant rubber plantations and oilfields.The Japanese despatched an enormous naval task force to support the amphibious landings over the vast terrain of the Netherlands East Indies. The combined-arms offensive was divided into three groups: western, centre and eastern. The isolated airfields and oilfields were, however, picked off one by one by the Japanese, in the rush to secure the major islands before major Allied reinforcements arrived. This superbly illustrated title describes the operational plans and conduct of the fighting by the major parties involved, and assesses the performance of the opposing forces on the battlefield, bringing to life an often-overlooked campaign of the Pacific War.

An in-depth look at a critical battle of the Wars of the Roses, which decisively ended the Yorkist cause and ensured the Tudor dominance that followed.The Battle of Stoke is popularly considered to be the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. Less than two years previously, King Henry VII had been crowned on the battlefield following his victory over Richard III at Bosworth. Henry soon took steps to secure his crown, and made certain to keep control of any potential rivals. Despite these efforts, a plot soon emerged against his rule, which culminated in the crowning of a rival king in Ireland. Launching an invasion of England, the rebels had a number of early successes but failed to secure widespread support for their cause. Moving south, they met the hastily assembled but more numerous army of Henry VII outside the village of East Stoke, four miles south of Newark.With stunning artwork and detailed maps, this expertly written title offers in-depth coverage of the battle that secured the new Tudor dynasty's hold on the throne. It is one of the least well documented conflicts of the period, but remains highly interesting and significant, not only as the final decisive action in the bloody Wars of the Roses, but also due to the nature of the soldiers present on the battlefield. This book explores the role these various factions played and how that contributed to the final victory.

A detailed look at the battle of Bouvines, which saw Philippe II of France defeat the German and English coalition forces, changing the history of Europe forever.In early 1214, a coalition of forces led by Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV and bankrolled by King John of England was assembled to challenge France's King Philippe Augustus. Its aim was to reclaim the empire that John had lost to Philippe over the past decade. A campaign was planned on two fronts: John's army in Poitou and Otto's army in northern France. The battle of Bouvines took place in Flanders in July 1214 – and it was a crushing defeat for the coalition armies. The French knights outmatched them at every turn.Here, medieval historian James Titterton looks at how Philippe's victory changed European history – not only did the coalition lose the lands they had hoped to reclaim, but Otto was deposed as Holy Roman Emperor and John's position was so weakened that he was forced into issuing the Magna Carta in 1215. The Flemish leaders were captured and imprisoned and Philippe set out to expand his authority unopposed. Bouvines was one of the most significant battles in European history, helping to establish the nation of France as it is today and resulting in the brutal defeat of the coalition leaders. With stunning artwork, detailed maps and period images, this book charts the clash of European chivalry and two crowned kings on the field of battle.

An illustrated account of the dramatic crossing of the Delaware that established George Washington's reputation as a commander of daring and ability.Pursued by British forces, Washington and his remaining 5,000 men resolved on a risky strike against the British and Hessian positions across the Delaware River. Crossing the river, Washington took the Trenton garrison for the loss of only four men, before outflanking Cornwallis' 8,000-strong force and marching on Princeton.His military reputation established, Washington's victory restored American morale, giving the battered continental army a pair of much needed victories, and turned the tide of the war. Accompanied by maps and illustrations, this slim yet detailed volume is ideal for anyone interested in American military history and modern warfare.

The siege of Constantinople in AD 717–18 was the supreme crisis of Western civilization. The Byzantine Empire had been reeling under the onslaught of Arabic imperialism since the death of the Prophet, whilst Jihadist armies had detached Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Carthage from imperial control and were in the process of imposing their ascendancy at sea. The Empire had been reduced to its Anatolian and Balkan heartland, and Arab incursions threatened even this – Arab naval forces had appeared under the walls of Constantinople every year from AD 674 to 678. But all this was only a prelude to the massive combined-arms invasion force that advanced on the capital in 717. This volume offers a comprehensive study of the ensuing clash between the ascendant Caliphate and the Empire at bay. It details the forces available to each side, with their respective advantages and vulnerabilities, evaluating the leadership qualities of the rival commanders and assessing their strategic and tactical initiatives. It also accounts for the trajectory and outcome of the campaign and emphasises the fundamental significance of the struggle. By holding the line, the Byzantines gave Europe enough time to develop at its own pace and emerge strong enough to face down its Islamic counterpart on equal terms.If Constantinople had fallen in 717, could Europe have endured as an independent entity? Could Christianity have survived as major religion? What would the future course of world history have been?

A compact, illustrated account of the Duke of Marlborough's feat of strategy at Blenheim.Combining one of history’s most audacious strategic manoeuvres with perhaps the greatest military victory ever won by a British commander, the Blenheim campaign is rightly considered the pinnacle of the career of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. On 13 August 1704, Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy faced a Franco-Bavarian army threatening to knock Austria out of the War of the Spanish Succession. In a hard-fought battle Marlborough won a resounding victory, capturing Marshal Tallard and over 14,000 men.In this book John Tincey describes how Marlborough’s victory crushed his enemies, shattered the myth of French invincibility and laid the foundations for two centuries of British world dominance.

A highly illustrated study of this unique and bitter struggle in the far North, an epic battle between two elite forces fighting in a demanding environment.Petsamo and Kirkenes 1944 examines the bitter conflict between two highly tactical armies as they battled across challenging terrain to gain control of strategically significant Northern Finland. On the one side were the invading Soviet troops, hoping to liberate an area full of rich resources and littered with bases that that would enable the arrival of Arctic convoys from Britain. They employed naval infantry in abundance, not only to make amphibious landings to capture strategically significant port facilities, but also on deep outflanking manoeuvres inland. Their opponents were the elite Gebirgsjäger from XIX Gebirgskorps; trained to be self-sufficient and resourceful and equipped with a range of bespoke weaponry, this mountain division was ideally suited to operate in the harsh climate. Combat conditions were unique: the extremely rough terrain, laced with bogs, streams, boulder fields, and large rivers, presented a significant challenge in its own right, even without the added threat of attacks by highly trained soldiers.With bird's-eye views and maps of key battlefields, this is a comprehensive guide to one of the most challenging campaigns of the Eastern Front.

A detailed, illustrated look at arguably the first modern battle, marking the rise of hand held weapons as a tool of warfare.In this titanic clash the most decisive of the Italian Wars, caused by French territorial ambitions in first the Kingdom of Naples and then the Duchy of Milan the French troops were smashed by the Spanish Imperial Army. King Francis I was captured, and the cream of his nobility slaughtered. France's greatest defeat since Agincourt, the battle dramatically swung the balance of power in Western Europe.Complete with battlescene maps and stunning artwork throughout, Angus Konstam describes the battle and its significance to modern-day warfare.

A detailed study of the Syrian and Lebanon campaign of World War II.In June 1941, Australian, British, Indian and Free French forces invaded the Vichy French-controlled mandate of Syria and Lebanon. They faced an enemy that had more artillery, tanks and aircraft. They fought in rocky, mountainous terrain, through barren valleys and across swollen rivers, and soon after the initial advance faced a powerful Vichy French counter-attack on key strategic positions. Despite these difficulties, the Allies prevailed, and in doing so ensured that the territory did not fall into German or pro-German hands, and thus provide a springboard from which Axis forces could attack British oil interests in Iraq, the key territory of Palestine or the Suez Canal. This book examines the high military and political strategy that lay behind the campaign, as well as the experiences and hardships as endured by the men on the ground.The battles in Syria and Lebanon were complex actions, often at the battalion level or below, and this work uses extensive war diaries and available records to make sense of the actions and examine how they affected the wider campaign.

A highly illustrated study of the battle of Malplaquet, the last and bloodiest of Marlborough''s victories in the 18th century War of the Spanish Succession.In 1709, after eight years of war, France was on her knees. There was not enough money left in the treasury to pay, equip or feed the army and a bad harvest led to starvation throughout the kingdom. Circumstances had worsened to the point that King Louis XIV was forced to offer to end the War of Spanish Succession on humiliating terms for his country. However, the allied powers – Britain, the Dutch Republic and the Holy Roman Empire – refused Louis'' offer, believing that one more successful campaign would utterly destroy French power. This book examines the campaign of 1709, culminating in the battle of Malplaquet, which would prove Louis'' enemies disastrously wrong. Led by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy, the allied armies achieved a tactical victory – but it was a hollow one. The allies suffered 23,000 casualties to the French 11,000 in what was the bloodiest battle of the 18th century. The scale of casualties shocked Europe and led to a reversal of fortunes, with the dismissal of Marlborough and a newly confident King Louis resolving to fight on. When the war finally ended, it did so on terms favourable to France. In this illustrated title, Simon MacDowall examines the campaign in full and shows how, though it is generally accepted that Marlborough was never defeated, the Battle of Malplaquet was ultimately a French strategic victory.

A detailed look at the battle of Bouvines, which saw Philippe II of France defeat the German and English coalition forces, changing the history of Europe forever.In early 1214, a coalition of forces led by Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV and bankrolled by King John of England was assembled to challenge France's King Philippe Augustus. Its aim was to reclaim the empire that John had lost to Philippe over the past decade. A campaign was planned on two fronts: John's army in Poitou and Otto's army in northern France. The battle of Bouvines took place in Flanders in July 1214 and it was a crushing defeat for the coalition armies. The French knights outmatched them at every turn.Here, medieval historian James Titterton looks at how Philippe's victory changed European history not only did the coalition lose the lands they had hoped to reclaim, but Otto was deposed as Holy Roman Emperor and John's position was so weakened that he was forced into issuing the Magna Carta in 1215. The Flemish leaders were captured and imprisoned and Philippe set out to expand his authority unopposed. Bouvines was one of the most significant battles in European history, helping to establish the nation of France as it is today and resulting in the brutal defeat of the coalition leaders. With stunning artwork, detailed maps and period images, this book charts the clash of European chivalry and two crowned kings on the field of battle.

The Tudor period was a time of massive social change in England with growing cities, increasing trade, and growing stability after the chaos of the Wars of the Roses. Despite military preparations in every county, and the establishment of a new navy, the country was generally at peace, and England and Wales were becoming more closely integrated. Religious changes affected every person, with the Reformation bringing change to most corners of the country, and the dissolution of the monasteries allowing those with cash to build new estates, and removing the traditional schools and hospitals. Suzannah Lipscomb offers insight into the world of Tudor England - revealing what it was really like to live in a period of great growth, and the difference between living in the city and the country.