Queen Victoria famously presided over an empire upon which the sun never set. Extending, defending and policing Britain’s global territories required the British Army to fight a bewildering array of foes, in equally varied terrain and climates. From the subarctic mountains of Canada to the Sahara Desert and the South African veldt, from the jungles of West Africa and central India to China, the British forces flew the flag. The task was only made possible by the recruitment of troops from throughout the colonies, some of which then served far from home (such as the Australians used in the...

Gabriele Esposito presents a detailed overview of the history, organization, equipment and tactics of the military forces deployed by Achaemenid Persia during the period 550-330 BC. The Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great was one of the major military powers of Antiquity, conquering vast territories that straddled three continents. Its large and varied population supplied a dazzling array of troop types, producing a versatile war machine that campaigned from India to Egypt. These were the armies that drank rivers dry as they invaded Greece and, at the Empire’s zenith, defeated the...

Tales of legendary Viking armies have stood the test of time, still capturing the imagination of historians today and giving a glimpse into the ferocity and tactical proficiency with which these warriors fought over 1000 years ago. In this book, Gabriele Esposito examines a period of 273 years and gives an overview of the histories of the different factions and incarnations of the Vikings, as well as their most famous campaigns and battles. Furthermore, their weapons, armour and clothing are brought to life through over 120 colour photographs of replica equipment in use by reenactment groups...