The Khazars: A Judeo-Turkish Empire on the Steppes, 7th-11th Centuries AD

by Mikhail Zhirohov, David Nicolle, Christa Hook (Illustrator)

Overview

Fully illustrated with detailed color plates, this is a fascinating study into the armies, organization, armor, weapons, and fortifications of the Khazars.

The Khazars were one of the most important Turkic peoples in European history, dominating vast areas of southeastern Europe and the western reaches of the Central Asian steppes from the 4th to the 11th centuries AD. They were also unique in that their aristocratic and military elites converted to Judaism, creating what would be territorially the largest Jewish-ruled state in world history. They became significant allies of the Byzantine Empire, blocking the advance of Islam north of the Caucasus Mountains for several hundred years.

They also achieved a remarkable level of metal-working technology, and their military elite wore forms of iron plate armor that would not be seen in Western Europe until the 14th century. The Khazar state provided the foundations upon which medieval Russia and modern Ukraine were built.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472830135
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	01/22/2019
Series:	Men-at-Arms
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

MIKHAIL ZHIROHOV was born in eastern Ukraine, in 1974. He was educated in Donetsk State University in the History Department. He is author of a number of articles on various aspects of Ukrainian and military history for popular magazines in Russia, Ukraine, France, UK and other countries since 1998.

David Nicolle is Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Medieval Studies, Nottingham University. He is the author of numerous books on aspects of medieval military history, including many for Osprey.

CHRISTA HOOK began her illustrating career in 1986, after studying under her father Richard Hook. Her work has featured extensively in the worlds of publishing and television. She has established herself as one of Osprey's most popular artists, having illustrated multiple series titles. Her illustrations combine the historian's attention to detail with the artist's sense of drama and atmosphere, and they are sought after by collectors worldwide. Christa lives and works in East Sussex, England.

Table of Contents

Historical Background 3

Origins

Expansion

Decline and fall

Chronology 8

Events

Khazar rulers

Campaigns And Battles 10

Arab-Khazar Wars, 7th-8th centuries: Emergence of Derbent frontier zone, Ad 642-692 - Khazar successes and failures, Ad 721-764

Byzantine-Khazar Wars, 8th-10th centuries: Abkhazia and Crimea, Ad 760s-early 800s - Campaigns also invoking the Alans, c. Ad 900-932 - Campaigns also involving the Rus, Ad 939-965

Russian-Khazarian Wars, 10th century

Pecheneg-Khazar Wars, 9th-10th centuries

Armies of The Khaganate 18

Character, strengths and organization

The 'feudal' core, mercenaries and vassals

Arms And Armour 21

Offensive weapons: Bows and arrows - swords - daggers and fighting knives - spears - axes - war-flails

Defensive equipment: Body armour - helmets - shields

Horse harness

Fortifications 39

Classification

The evidence from Sarkel

Select Bibliography 43

Plate Commentaries 44

Index 48