. A history of the art of war, the middle ages from the fourth to the fourteenth century . PLATE VI A nk. IIW I lltK irttK I iV IW I A a p G NEIGHBOURHOODOF Antioch. To illustrate theCampaign oF 1097-98. Sdeuciaii^ St Simeon*Haven 9oo] CRITICISM OF BYZANTINE TACTICS 197 intervals of the second line. Leo intends them to deceive theenemys eye, and to give an impression of continuity andsolidity to the array.^ If the front line is broken, they are toretire, leave the intervals open, and draw up in the rear of thesecond line, and between the two bands of the third line. Therethey are to serve as a
. A history of the art of war, the middle ages from the fourth to the fourteenth century . PLATE VI A nk. IIW I lltK irttK I iV IW I A a p G NEIGHBOURHOODOF Antioch. To illustrate theCampaign oF 1097-98. Sdeuciaii^ St Simeon*Haven 9oo] CRITICISM OF BYZANTINE TACTICS 197 intervals of the second line. Leo intends them to deceive theenemys eye, and to give an impression of continuity andsolidity to the array.^ If the front line is broken, they are toretire, leave the intervals open, and draw up in the rear of thesecond line, and between the two bands of the third line. Therethey are to serve as a rallying point for the broken troops fromthe front, who will form up on each side of them. But inpractical work this retiring to the rear at the moment when theremnants of the shattered first line were tumbling in upon themwould be a very hazardous experiment. There would be a greatchance that, instead of the fugitives rallying upon the support,the support would be carried away by the fugitives, and all gooff the field in disorder. Only the steadiest and coolest troopscould be trusted to carry out the manoeuvre. Still, as we shallsee from the battles which we are about to describe as instancesof
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade189, booksubjectmilitaryartandscience
