Bread and Circuses

John Julius Norwich on Norman Sicily

John Julius Norwich, another contributor to the Art of War, has an article in today's FT on Norman Sicily:

[Palermo's] old Royal Palace still stands, containing the Palatine Chapel that Roger II built in the 1140s on the upper floor, and which, almost unbelievably, succeeds in translating the political achievement into visual terms.

Its form is that of a western basilica, with a central nave and two side aisles, separated by antique granite columns, all with richly gilded Corinthian capitals, drawing the eye along to the five steps that lead up to the choir. Western, too, though whispering of the south, are the richly ornamented pavements, with the golden and coloured mosaic inlays of the steps, balustrades and lower walls – to say nothing of that proudest of pulpits, studded with gold and malachite, flanked by a 15ft carved paschal candlestick in white marble. But if we look to the wall mosaics, with which the whole chapel glows gold, we come once again face to face with Byzantium. King Roger could afford the best and he got it. Here are works of which the finest church in Constantinople would have been proud.

Full article here.

Andrew Roberts and The Art of War

The Art of War: Great Commanders of the Ancient and Medieval Worlds 1600 BC - AD 1600 is out today.

Which was the most brilliant of Hannibal's three crushing defeats of Roman armies? What tactics did Julius Caesar employ to defeat Pompey at Pharsalus? How was Alexander the Great able to command sufficient loyalty from his troops to lead them across half of the Asian landmass in search of new territories to conquer? What qualities made Attila the Hun a strategist of genius? How did Henry V of England achieve victory at Agincourt for the loss of a few hundred of his men, when the mounted French knights suffered casualties in the thousands? The answers to these and a myriad other fascinating questions can be found in "A Genius for War", a sumptuous chronological survey of the 50 greatest commanders of the ancient and medieval worlds. Compiled by a distinguished team of historians (including such names as Robin Lane Fox, Tom Holland, John Julius Norwich, Jonathan Sumption and Felipe Fernandez-Armesto) working under the general editorship of the Andrew Roberts, "A Genius for War" is an authoritative and beautifully illustrated account of the lives and careers of the fifty greatest military commanders of the period, from Julius Caesar to Judas Maccabeus, from Belisarius to Bohemond, and from Trajan to Tamerlane. Every commander is profiled in a concise and informative 3000-word article which not only brings its subject vividly to life via a lively, fact-driven narrative, but also analyses and assesses his tactical and strategic gifts. Each biography is accompanied by a 'battle feature' or 'campaign feature' - embellished by a full-colour battle plan or campaign map - focusing on the commander's greatest battlefield achievement. As accessible and informative as it is rigorous and scholarly, "A Genius for War" is the perfect introduction to its subject for the layperson - but also a stimulating and thought-provoking read for those with greater knowledge of military history. With its companion volume "Born to Command", it forms an indispensable guide to the greatest generals the world has seen.

Ignore the big names. Much more importantly, there is a splendid article on Arminius and the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. Do buy the book. It is very good and if you get it through the link above, it is spectacularly discounted.

Here is the cover.