Thu, 05 Feb 2004 09:21:04 -0600
Subject: [SCA-AS] History of Espionage and Warfare---selected sites
Hallo everyone! Since last week's Links list was a little girly, I thought I
should now introduce some testosterone into the proceedings. So with no
further ado I present to you 17 links on Espionage and Warfare---Selected
Sites. I hope you are able to enjoy them and will pass them along wherever
they will find in interested audience.
Pax,
Aoife
Factmonster: Espionage History
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/society/A0858032.html
(Site Excerpt) The importance of espionage in military affairs has been
recognized since the beginning of recorded history. The Egyptians had a
well-developed secret service, and spying and subversion are mentioned in
the Iliad and in the Bible. The ancient Chinese treatise (c.500 B.C.) on the
art of war (see Sun Tzu) devotes much attention to deception and
intelligence gathering, arguing that all war is based on deception. In the
Middle Ages, political espionage became important. Joan of Arc was betrayed
by Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvais, a spy in the pay of the English, and
Sir Francis Walsingham developed an efficient political spy system for Elizabeth I.
Spy Museum in Washinton DC
http://www.spymuseum.org/siteintro.asp
Worth looking at the cute intro clip, but go to
http://www.spymuseum.org/index_exhibits.asp if you lack flash or wish to opt
out.
(Site Excerpt) The Secret History of History
Travel back through the centuries to trace the earliest moments of the
second oldest profession. Uncover the stories of famous men and women,
considered above suspicion, and doubly effective as spies. Be surprised by
spymasters from Moses to Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth I to George Washington,
Cardinal Richelieu to Joseph Stalin--all relied on intelligence to be
effective leaders.
Reader's Companion to Military History: Espionage
http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/mil/html/ml_017100_espionage.htm
(Site Excerpt) Espionage, usually defined as the illegal acquisition of
information about an individual, group, or organization, has been called the
second oldest profession. There are two types of espionage: The first is
human intelligence, which involves sending spies into a group or country or
suborning individuals working for a target group or nation. A second,
long-established type of espionage, cryptology, involves intercepting coded
or ciphered messages and decoding them.Perhaps the oldest example of human
intelligence operations, allegedly based on God's advice, was Moses'
decision to send secret agents "to spy out the land of Canaan." Cryptology
also proved useful before the modern era-the deciphering of several messages
in 1628 allowed France's Cardinal Richelieu to prevent the English navy from
coming to the aid of the Huguenot bastion of La Rochelle.
Sun Tzu's Art of War (Chapter 13 is on espionage)
http://www.edepot.com/taowar.html
(Site Excerpt) A major military operation is a severe drain on the nation,
and may be kept up for years in the struggle for one day's victory. So to
fail to know the conditions of opponents because of reluctance to give
rewards for intelligence is extremely inhumane, uncharacteristic of a true
military leader, uncharacteristic of an assistant of the government,
uncharacteristic of a victorious chief. So what enables an intelligent
government and a wise military leadership to overcome others and achieve
extraordinary accomplishments is foreknowledge.
Sir Francis WALSINGHAM, Knight (Elizabeth I's spymaster)
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/FrancisWalsingham.htm
(Site Excerpt) He practiced most of the arts that human ingenuity has
devised in order to gain political information. Knowledge is never too dear,
was his favorite maxim, and he devoted his private fortune to maintaining
his system of espionage in fullest efficiency.
Espionage and Intelligence from the Wars of the Roses to the Reformation
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/PDFs/arthurson.pdf
(Site Excerpt---Acrobat Reader required) In the period between the Wars of
the Rsoes and the Reformation spies were used in foreign and military
affairs and for reasons of domestic security.* Contrary to expectations,
spies are not difficult to locate or document.
Ransoming of English Prisoners by St. Margaret Mary of Scotland
http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/sources/margaret.htm
(Site Excerpt) Chapter 3, Section 25: But who can tell the number of English
of all ranks, carried captive from their own land by violence of war and
reduced to slavery, whom she restored to liberty by paying their ransom?
Spies were employed by her to go secretly through all the provinces of
Scotland and ascertain what captives were oppressed with the most cruel
bondage, ....
The Battle of Stamford Bridge (1066) and the life of Haraldr Sigur?arson,
according to Theodoricus Monachus
http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/sources/theodoricus.htm
(Site Excerpt) When Haraldr arrived in England together with the
aforementioned Tostig, they made the territory of Northumbria subject to
their rule. King Harold of England had at that time gone to Normandy;2 but
when he heard of the arrival of enemies, he made speedy return to England,
assembled a huge army and took the invaders unawares. When Harold drew
near, most of the Norwegian forces, laden with booty, made for their ships.
The remainder, though few, with steadfast courage prepared for battle. 'But
what can a few brave men do against so many thousands.'
The 1165 Levy for the Army of Wales
By Paul Latimer
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/latimer1.htm
(Site Excerpt) The Pipe Rolls allow us to reach an imperfect estimate, in
financial terms, of the resources raised for, and devoted to, the campaign.
Identifying as campaign expenditure monies allowed against the sheriffs'
farms or against other debts on the rolls is a problem. There were expenses
associated with the movement of the king and his retinue, whether he was on
campaign or not. Where 25s. was allowed against the farm of the borough of
Gloucestershire pro corredio Regis portando ad Wirecestriam et ad
Salopesberiam in 1164-65, it would be wrong to treat it as extraordinary
expenditure, even though it was clearly associated with the king's presence
on the Welsh border.
Warfare in the History of William the Marshal
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/marshal.htm
(Site Excerpt--leads to more links on the subject) William the Marshal, earl
of Pembroke, was one of the most noteworthy knights of the Middle Ages.
After almost being killed by King Stephen when he was a child, William grew
up to be a prominent tournament competitor, and then a soldier, serving in
several campaigns. After the death of King John in 1216, William fulfilled
the task of regent for the young Henry III, and led English forces to
victory at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217
Letter from the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, with news of the defeat of
the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk, 22nd July, 1298
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/falkirk.htm
(Site Excerpt) "To his dear friends, the Mayor and the Barons of London,
Walter, by the grace of God, Bishop of Chester (1), greeting and true
friendship. Because we well know that you willingly will hear good tidings
of our Lord the King and of his affairs in Scotland, we give you to
understand that on the Monday next before the Feast of Saint James (July
25th), there came tidings unto the Lord the King where he was staying, six
leagues beyond Edeneburg, that the Scots were approaching directly towards
him. As soon as he had heard this, he moved with his host towards the parts
where the Scots were; and on the morrow the King arrived in good time, and
found his enemies prepared to give battle.
Medieval London's Military History
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/medievallondon.htm
A list of links to articles
Battles and Campaigns from The Chronicle of Adam of Usk
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/usk.htm
(Site Excerpt)
In the same year the king passed into Scotland with a great and glorious
host to tame the fierceness of the Scots. But they, fleeing to places of
refuge, laid waste and stripped their fields and houses and farms, lest they
should profit our king; and, lurking in thickets and in hiding places of
secret caves and woods, they withdrew before the king's face. Yet did they
often issue forth from these lairs, and in lonely deserts and by-paths they
slew and took prisoners very many of our men, doing us more harm than we did
to them.
Medieval Military History in the British Isles
http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/~ccandy/his/medmil.html
A List of links to articles and sites.
The Towton Mass Grave Project
http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/archsci/depart/report97/towton.htm
(Site Excerpt) In August 1996, workmen disturbed a portion of a mass-burial
pit during building work at the location of the Towton battlefield (near
Tadcaster, North Yorkshire). At the request of North Yorkshire County
Council Heritage Unit, a team of osteoarchaeologists and archaeologists from
the Department of Archaeological Sciences and members of the West Yorkshire
Archaeology Service recovered the mostly complete remains of 43 individuals
from the interment which measured 6m x 2m and was only 50 cm in depth. These
tightly-packed individuals were recovered through the application of
three-dimensional recording of the deposit and its contents, scaled
photographs, and in situ sketch drawings. The original appearance of the
deposit and associated entangled arms and legs with discrete individuals has
been recreated using computer-assisted design software.
Secrets of the Norman Invasion by Nick Austin
http://www.secretsofthenormaninvasion.com/
(Site Excerpt) Over the last six years I have tried to read everything
important associated with Norman landings and the battle and have spent many
months carrying out detailed searches of the documents contemporary with the
battle. I have become increasingly alarmed at the discrepancies between the
texts and the lie of the land where the landings were supposed to have taken
place. In this work I attempt to explain how all these discrepancies can be
reconciled only if the contextual references are applied to a landing site
different from Pevensey.
Edward III's Letter detailing his campaign in France, 1339
http://www.deremilitari.org/RESOURCES/SOURCES/avesbury.htm
(Site Excerpt) On Monday morning had we news that the said Lord Philip and
all his allies were scattered and withdrawn in great haste. And so would
our allies no longer afterwards abide. And touching what is further to be
done we shall take counsel with them at Antwerp on the morrow of St. Martin
[November 11]. And from thence afterwards [we will send news] speedily of
what may be meanwhile done. Given under our privy seal, at Brussels, the 1st
day of November.