- Military History, Aviation, South African history, Hungarian history, Steppe Nomads, History of minority groups (especially Hungarians) in South Africa, and 14 moreFlorin Curta, Education, History, Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Nomads, Horse, Peoples, Settlement Patterns, Eurasian Nomads, and Early Medieval And Medieval Settlement (Archaeology)edit
- I'm a British-born Hungarian who lives in South Africa. I developed an interest in the "Conqueror Hungarians" or Old ... moreI'm a British-born Hungarian who lives in South Africa. I developed an interest in the "Conqueror Hungarians" or Old Magyars (or however one calls them) of the ninth and tenth centuries and am greatly interested in the culture and history, especially the military history of the steppe peoples. I completed an M.A. in Military History at the University of Birmingham in order to learn the methodology of history-writing and to study steppe peoples in more detail. I hope to continue studying and publishing on the Magyar "raids", which I consider to have been military campaigns.edit
A 101. önálló harckocsiszázadot a 1/I Párkány-nánai harckocsi zászlóalj hozta létre 1942 október, vagy novemberében és a Magyar Megszálló Erők részeként tervezte a bevetését. (Párkány-nána ma Sturovó, Szlovákiában.) Az alakulat nem volt... more
A 101. önálló harckocsiszázadot a 1/I Párkány-nánai harckocsi zászlóalj hozta létre 1942 október, vagy novemberében és a Magyar Megszálló Erők részeként tervezte a bevetését. (Párkány-nána ma Sturovó, Szlovákiában.) Az alakulat nem volt az állandó hadrend része, hanem csak a harcok tartamáig állították fel.
Research Interests:
A 101. önálló harckocsiszázadot a 1/I Párkány-nánai harckocsi zászlóalj hozta létre 1942 október, vagy novemberében és a Magyar Megszálló Erők részeként tervezte a bevetését. (Párkány-nána ma Sturovó, Szlovákiában.) Az alakulat nem volt... more
A 101. önálló harckocsiszázadot a 1/I Párkány-nánai harckocsi zászlóalj hozta létre 1942 október, vagy novemberében és a Magyar Megszálló Erők részeként tervezte a bevetését. (Párkány-nána ma Sturovó, Szlovákiában.) Az alakulat nem volt az állandó hadrend része, hanem csak a harcok tartamáig állították fel.
A század levéltára a háború alatt vagy után elveszett, és ezért csak kevés irattári anyag létezik támpontot adni a történtekhez, ezért főleg visszaemlékezések és a magasabb egységekre való figyelemmel lehet rekonstruálni a század vázlatos történelmét.
A század levéltára a háború alatt vagy után elveszett, és ezért csak kevés irattári anyag létezik támpontot adni a történtekhez, ezért főleg visszaemlékezések és a magasabb egységekre való figyelemmel lehet rekonstruálni a század vázlatos történelmét.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The military operations of the Magyars in the ninth and tenth centuries have, until recently, been seen as mere ‘raids’ for plunder, but discoveries by archaeologists and scientists have shown the definite existence of agriculture and... more
The military operations of the Magyars in the ninth and tenth centuries have, until recently, been seen as mere ‘raids’ for plunder, but discoveries by archaeologists and scientists have shown the definite existence of agriculture and viticulture and a rich diet, which are inconsistent with the concept of ‘wandering nomads’. Further discoveries, such as fortress and dyke-type construction, impossible to people on the move, as well as a flourishing trade network with the east have forced Hungarian
scholars to re-evaluate their views on their ‘nomadic’ ancestors. In the light of these discoveries, a complex society, which had a pastoral nomadic element, but was not as a whole nomadic, emerged. Evidence for a ‘steppe state’ was found, and the Magyar’s very active diplomacy, usually including a member of the royal family, indicate the existence of a central authority. The Magyar military actions in this period were found not to be merely raids for plunder but carefully calculated actions,
based on a strategic objective (of preserving the new Magyar homeland). They divided their potential enemies by sending long-range cavalry campaigns against those who threatened them. In many cases, after defeating an enemy’s army, that prince or king would seek peace with them for a price, which they accepted, because it prevented the Magyar homeland being attacked. The preponderance of the evidence points to the existence of a military force which carried out well-planned,
well-organised campaigns with the necessary logistical and diplomatic preparation.
scholars to re-evaluate their views on their ‘nomadic’ ancestors. In the light of these discoveries, a complex society, which had a pastoral nomadic element, but was not as a whole nomadic, emerged. Evidence for a ‘steppe state’ was found, and the Magyar’s very active diplomacy, usually including a member of the royal family, indicate the existence of a central authority. The Magyar military actions in this period were found not to be merely raids for plunder but carefully calculated actions,
based on a strategic objective (of preserving the new Magyar homeland). They divided their potential enemies by sending long-range cavalry campaigns against those who threatened them. In many cases, after defeating an enemy’s army, that prince or king would seek peace with them for a price, which they accepted, because it prevented the Magyar homeland being attacked. The preponderance of the evidence points to the existence of a military force which carried out well-planned,
well-organised campaigns with the necessary logistical and diplomatic preparation.
Research Interests:
Western authors still use medieval topoi to relegate nomad armies to the rank of what are essentially vast groups of bandits. This article investigates why, above certain numbers, bandit groups cannot be equated with armies, as well as... more
Western authors still use medieval topoi to relegate nomad armies to the rank of what are essentially vast groups of bandits. This article investigates why, above certain numbers, bandit groups cannot be equated with armies, as well as looking at political as over against purely monetary gain,
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Online International Conference devoted to the Archaeology, the History and Philosophy of War in Byzantine and Mediterranean Contexts (9th-16th c.), to be held virtually via Zoom from 8 to 10 December 2023, seeks to illuminate aspects... more
The Online International Conference devoted to the Archaeology, the History and Philosophy of War in Byzantine and Mediterranean Contexts (9th-16th c.), to be held virtually via Zoom from 8 to 10 December 2023, seeks to illuminate aspects of war in medieval and early modern period. Our Conference does not aim at exhausting the subject of war, but will offer an interdisciplinary forum for a selection of talks that touch upon some of the following aspects:
- Military campaigns, strategies and tactics
- Philosophy of Medieval war in Byzantium and the Mediterranean
- Psychological Warfare Techniques
- Combat arms (lances, swords, sabers, maces, hammers, knives, axes)
- Bows and crossbows
- Turkic bows
- Byzantine and Islamic great crossbows
- Military equipment (helmets, lamellar armors
- Warhorses and their equipment
- Mercenaries in armies
- Rus’ and Varangians
- Byzantine warriors
- Bulgarian warriors
- Arab warriors
- Crusader warriors
- Seljuk warriors
- Mongol warriors
- Mamluk warriors
- Man-powered mangonels
- Man-powered beam-sling mangonel
- Engines to shoot large arrows
- Ballistic machines
- Assault devices
- Stone-throwing counter-weight mangonel (or trebuchet)
- Mangonel balls
- Greek Fire projecting siphons
- Incendiary rockets
- Ceramic Grenades
- Hand cannons
- Early Cannons
- Siege Weapons
- Mobile sheds to protect men
- Byzantine Military Manuals
- Arab Military Manuals
- Latin Military Manuals
- Siege Illustrations in Manuscripts
- Arms in literature (epic poems and romances)
- Depictions of warriors, sieges and combats in art
- Illustrations of arms and combats in the Romance of Varqa ve Gülşah
- Military campaigns, strategies and tactics
- Philosophy of Medieval war in Byzantium and the Mediterranean
- Psychological Warfare Techniques
- Combat arms (lances, swords, sabers, maces, hammers, knives, axes)
- Bows and crossbows
- Turkic bows
- Byzantine and Islamic great crossbows
- Military equipment (helmets, lamellar armors
- Warhorses and their equipment
- Mercenaries in armies
- Rus’ and Varangians
- Byzantine warriors
- Bulgarian warriors
- Arab warriors
- Crusader warriors
- Seljuk warriors
- Mongol warriors
- Mamluk warriors
- Man-powered mangonels
- Man-powered beam-sling mangonel
- Engines to shoot large arrows
- Ballistic machines
- Assault devices
- Stone-throwing counter-weight mangonel (or trebuchet)
- Mangonel balls
- Greek Fire projecting siphons
- Incendiary rockets
- Ceramic Grenades
- Hand cannons
- Early Cannons
- Siege Weapons
- Mobile sheds to protect men
- Byzantine Military Manuals
- Arab Military Manuals
- Latin Military Manuals
- Siege Illustrations in Manuscripts
- Arms in literature (epic poems and romances)
- Depictions of warriors, sieges and combats in art
- Illustrations of arms and combats in the Romance of Varqa ve Gülşah