Η βυζαντινή πολεµική τακτική εναντίον των Φράγκων κατά τον 13ο αιώνα και η µάχη του Tagliacozzo

Abstract

ΒYZANTINE BATTLE TACTICS AGAINST THE FRANKS IN THE 13th CENTURY AND THE BATTLE OF TACLIACOZZO

In 1268 Charles I of Anjou (1266-1285) confronted the army of Conradin (1254-1268) in Tagliacozzo, achieving a victory that established his position in Sicily. The prince of Morea William II of Villehardouin (1246-1278), took part in the battle with 400 knights levied from the principality. The Chronicle of the Morea attributes the victory of Charles I to William II’s advice to fight using similar tactics applied by the Byzantines and the Turks in the Greek mainland. The prince had acquired important experience of the war conditions in Morea and Greece before the battle of Tagliacozzo fighting against the Byzantines. Hereof, it is possible that William II took advantage of this experience and played an important role in the positive outcome of the battle, even though not as crucial as the Chronicle tries to ascribe to him. On the other hand, it is proven by close examination of other Byzantine and western sources of the period that the battle description of the Chronicle is an authentic testimony of the Byzantine battle tactics exercised against the Franks during the 13^th century and especially the way these tactics were seen through the eyes of the latter.