The first part of the books edits and translates two Byzantine military treatises of the tenth century: the Praecepta Militaria of Nikephoros Phokas and that part of the Taktika of Nikephoros Ouranos that updates the Praecepta.

The second takes these treatises as the starting point for a wider consideration of Byzantine warfare in the later tenth and early eleventh centuries - a period marked by great reconquests in the Balkans, Anatolia and Syria under the soldier emperors Nikephoros Phokas (yes, the author of one of the treatises), John Tzimiskes, and Basil II "the Bulgar-Slayer". Citing many instances from Byzantine and Arab chronicles of Byzantine commanders following the precepts of the treatises, and stressing that both Nikephoroses were veteran commanders who knew very well what they were writing of, McGeer argues that the treatises are eminently practical texts reflecting what was actually done rather than armchair theorizing.

Highly interesting - I wish my edition of the ca AD 600 Strategicon came with this sort of commentary - and an obvious recommendation to anyone interested in the subject. My only complaint concerns the faintly bizarre circumstance that the Arab chronicles are quoted in French translation - a language of which my command is limited to put it mildly.

An inexpensive Soft cover version ( )