Sylloge Tacticorum

Sylloge Tacticorum is thought to have been written in the middle of the tenth century,[1] and is a work on the making of order and organization of military forces (i.e. tactics) and ways to outwit and overcome opponents in the field of battle (i.e. through the use of stratagems).[2][3][4]

It contained a description of tactics which would later serve as an influence on the tactical system described in Praecepta Militaria by Nikephoros II Phokas.[5]

The word sylloge means, a gathering of information on something.[6]

Details

Heavy infantry men should have quadrilateral shields narrowing towards the bottom, prescribing the kataphraktoi shield. [7]

It also provides instruction on religious rituals to be done prior to battle, and prayers to be recited upon victory.[8]

References

  1. ↑ E McGeer - Infantry versus Cavalry : The Byzantine Response (p.136 footnote 6) Revue des études byzantines, Volume 46, 1988. pp. 135-145. doi : 10.3406/rebyz.1988.2225 [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  2. ↑ AP Kazhdan - The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  3. ↑ Oxford Dictionaries - stratagem Oxford University Press [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  4. ↑ Oxford Dictionaries - tactics Oxford University Press [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  5. ↑ E Luttwak (Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies) - The Grand Strategy of the Byzantine Empire - p.312 Harvard University Press, 1 Nov 2009 Armenian Research Center collection ISBN 0674035194 [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  6. ↑ Merriam-Webster - sylloge [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  7. ↑ R D'Amato (external professor to the Athens University School of Philosophy and Material Culture c.2012) - Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen, 925-1025: The Tághmata and Imperial Guard (p.60) Osprey Publishing, 24 Jul 2012 ISBN 1849088500 (Illustrated by G Rava) [Retrieved 2015-04-02]
  8. ↑ M White (Lecturer in Slavonic Studies at the University of Nottingham) - Military Saints in Byzantium and Rus, 900-1200 (p.57) Cambridge University Press, 21 Feb 2013 ISBN 0521195640 [Retrieved 2015-04-02]