Flodden 1513: Scotland's Greatest Defeat

I particularly liked the artwork in this Osprey work,the combat scenes are dramatic and realistic,not at all "cartoonish" as in some of these works.The Scots at Flodden decided to settle some issues with the English believing that Henry the eighth was overextended in his European campaigns. Apparently there were alot of border raids by both sides that seemed interminable and the Scots wanted to give the English a decisive defeat. The English however were to prove their power by defeating the Scots and at the same time fighting European powers on both land and sea. This book has personality as well,the King of Scotland James the fourth comes off as a leader who literally led from the front.While some might see his bravery as wrecklessness one would have to admire his devotion to his cause.The quote,"nobly save or meanly lose" would apply here. The artwork reinforces this.At Flodden the Scots suffered more casualties than at all the previous Scottish vs. English campaigns combined.But for that "marshy dip",the English might well have been defeated by the pikes of the surging Scots.As it was the English bill triumphed.Great maps and displays of equipment.A great description of the battle without getting bogged down in the political causes of the conflict.

Flodden 1513, #168 in Osprey's Campaign series, is an excellent case study in the effects of friction in operational warfare. Author John Sadler has written an informative and insightful narrative of the campaign that provides both sufficient detail and sober analysis. While some medieval military history suffers from a poor sources, there is sufficient material available for the author to get at the key facts without having to guess (which afflicts coverage of over campaigns, like Bosworth). The author is also very even-handed in his coverage of both the English and Scottish viewpoints, although he is perhaps a bit too forgiving of the battlefield conduct of Scottish King James IV. In the opening sections, the author lays out how the Scottish and French made joint plans to deal with expected aggression from England's King Henry VIII in the summer of 1513. Everybody expected the main blow to fall in an English invasion of France and the French asked for a Scottish army to raid across England's northern border as a diversion. Scotland's King James IV reasoned that few English forces would be left to guard the border and that he could accomplish two strategic objectives in this campaign - namely, aiding his French ally and reclaiming several border castles that had been lost in previous warfare. Unfortunately for the Scottish, they did not reckon on England being able to raise a second army to deal with the cross-border invasion. Author John Sadler effectively describes the opening stages of the campaign, in which the Scottish army of at least 40,000 troops captured several castles before the English army of about 26,000 arrived in the vicinity. At this point, the author notes that the campaigning season would be over in another week or two and the Scots had accomplished both strategic objectives - there was therefore no reason to seek battle. Yet James IV decided to occupy a superb defensive position and awaited the approaching English army, a decision which seems perplexing and not fully explained herein. The author does suggest the kingly pride - a desire to win a battle in order to enhance his regal reputation - lies at the root of James' decision to seek battle. As the author describes, the English took one look at the strong Scottish position and decided to outflank it in a night march (reminds me a bit of Chancellorsville, actually). The Scottish, confident of their numbers and position, failed to put out much local security or even watch the English army and were surprised the next day when the enemy started approaching them from behind. Flodden thus went from a set-piece fight to a meeting engagement, with the Scottish army scrambling to turn around and close up on the approaching English. After a brief artillery exchange - that the Scots lost - James IV ordered his three main formations to attack downhill toward the now stationary English. Although the Scottish attack initially went well on their left, the center with the King ra

Osprey Campaign 168, Flodden 1513 proves to be a well written and well researched book. Like all of Osprey Campaign books, this one got less then a hundred pages but the author uses those pages very nicely. The book gives a good background to the campaign, blow by blow of the battle and what happened afterward. For such a short book, it definitely summarized the entire incident very well. Illustrations proves to be useful and maps although not very clear, gave a good account of how the battle unfolded. Considered as "Scotland's greatest defeat", Flodden Field appears to be one of the very few times Scotland had an advantages of numbers, equipments and supplies over their English foes. However, the author made it clear that the battle was sorely mismanaged by King James IV of Scotland who ended up choosing a battlefield unfit for his army who was using the new Swiss pike system tactical formations. Overall, one of the better books from the Osprey Campaign series that covers the battle and the campaign very well.

On 9 September 1513, Flodden field was the site for one of Scotland's most famous battles, often termed their "greatest defeat". The Scottish Army led by their courageous king, James IV, was strong in artillery and trained in new tactics from the Swiss doctrine, whereas the English Army they faced still favoured traditional tactics. Despite the strength of the Scots, the English men-at-arms fought ferociously. By nightfall, the field was strewn with the bodies of the Scottish nobility, and tre tragic figure of their king. This book examines the strategies of both armies and the significant effect of the weapons used, including the longbow and artillery. John Sadler is an excellent author and Stephen Walsh a marvelous illustrator. I don't often buy the Osprey series of books but this one is just too good to pass up. Weither you are a student of Scottish or English history or just of military history this book is one to get.