Most studies of medieval warfare in the late 14th and 15th centuries concentrate on the Hundred Years' War between England and France and the Wars of the Roses. But meanwhile, on the Iberian peninsula, the foundations of Spain's military 'Golden Age' were being laid as the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon under the Trastamara dynasty grew in power, ambition and success. Featuring spectacular full-colour artwork, and rare manuscript illustrations, this book depicts the fighting men whose skill and tactical flexibility made Spain into a world power at the close of the Middle Ages, carving out empires from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean.

Introduction/ Iberian rivalries: Pedro the Cruel and Enrique II; John of Gaunt's invasion; the regency of Ferdinand I and Catherine; Granada and the Moors/ Iberian armies of the 14th-15th centuries: strategy; economy; city-states; castles, ports, and arsenals/ Tactics: infantry, cavalry, and artillery; naval warfare and logistics - Weaponry/ Alfonso V and the conquest of Naples: war with Genoa; sea combat and amphibious assaults; Milan, Sforza, and the Condottierri; tactics; artillery/ Ferdinand II and Isabella: conquests of Granada and the Caribbean/ Invasion of Italy: Gonzalo de Cordoba; a new standing army; tercio tactics; siege tactics/ Legacy: Spain and global empire/ Plate commentaries /Index

Dr. John Pohl has conducted numerous archaeological excavations and surveys in Mexico and Central America as well as the Catalan region of southern France. Dr. Pohl is noted for bringing the ancient past to life using a wide variety of innovative skills and techniques ranging from museum exhibitions for Princeton University, the Getty, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to film productions for the History Channel, the Discovery Channel, the BBC and Dreamworks. In addition to his work in education through public media, he currently serves as Adjunct Full Professor in the Department of Art History at UCLA.
Gerry Embleton has been a leading illustrator and researcher of historical costume since the 1970s, and has illustrated and written Osprey titles on a wide range of subjects for more than 20 years. He is an internationally respected authority on 15th and 18th century costumes in particular.