Вооруженные силы Византии в начале XIV в. (принципы комплектования и боевое применение на примере битвы при Апросе)

Abstract

The article gives a clear account of the problem of evolution of the military organization of late Byzantium. Using as a research basis the analysis of the Byzantium battlearray in fight at Aprose – the central battle of the military conflict with a Catalan army, the author considers that reorganization of imperial armed forces resulted in transformation into an army of mercenaries. Thus, in the beginning of XIV century 2/3 of the Byzantium army consisted of contingents of mercenaries.