The Killing Ground
A Biography of Thermopylae
Published on 1. February 2024
Book
Hardback
304 pages
978-1-4728-5866-5 (ISBN)
Description
An exploration into why and how Thermopylae is one of the most blood-soaked patches of ground in history - and what its past can tell us about our future.
'Brilliantly demonstrated.' - Tom Holland
Since the dawn of the Classical Era up to World War II, thousands have lost their lives fighting over the pass at Thermopylae. Historians Cole and Livingston provide an exciting account of each of the 27 battles and holding actions that took place. The epic events of 480 BC when 300 Spartans attempted to hold the pass has been immortalised in poetry, art, literature and film. But no history has ever detailed the other events from the very first battle through to the battles fought by Romans, Byzantines, Huns and Ottomans during the early and late medieval periods and finally the two desperate struggles against German occupying forces during World War II. The Killing Ground details the background and history of each conflict, the personalities and decision making of the commanders, the arms and tactics of the troops, and how each battle played out.
Cole and Livingston have surveyed the ground to provide a boots-on understanding of each battle. Their command of multiple ancient and medieval languages means they have provided their own translations of much of the source material, ensuring new insights into each battle. This uncompromising scholarship is woven together into a compelling and unforgettable history that grips the reader from start to finish.
'Brilliantly demonstrated.' - Tom Holland
Since the dawn of the Classical Era up to World War II, thousands have lost their lives fighting over the pass at Thermopylae. Historians Cole and Livingston provide an exciting account of each of the 27 battles and holding actions that took place. The epic events of 480 BC when 300 Spartans attempted to hold the pass has been immortalised in poetry, art, literature and film. But no history has ever detailed the other events from the very first battle through to the battles fought by Romans, Byzantines, Huns and Ottomans during the early and late medieval periods and finally the two desperate struggles against German occupying forces during World War II. The Killing Ground details the background and history of each conflict, the personalities and decision making of the commanders, the arms and tactics of the troops, and how each battle played out.
Cole and Livingston have surveyed the ground to provide a boots-on understanding of each battle. Their command of multiple ancient and medieval languages means they have provided their own translations of much of the source material, ensuring new insights into each battle. This uncompromising scholarship is woven together into a compelling and unforgettable history that grips the reader from start to finish.
Reviews / Votes
Highly recommended. * Adrian Goldsworthy * A timely look at the history of war, geography, and myth-making, told through the fascinating story of one of the world's most recurrent battlefields. * Douglas Boin * A survey spanning millennia of a pass that, as the authors have brilliantly demonstrated, is as well fitted to host battles as any corner of the globe. * Tom Holland * In The Killing Ground Myke Cole and Michael Livingstone combine their proven talents as military historians to examine why the long, narrow stretch of land called Thermopylae in Greece was the site of twenty-seven battles that occurred there over 2,500 years. Their myth busting account of the legendary battle of 480 BC is a tour de force! * Lindsay Powell, author of 'Augustus at War: The Struggle for the Pax Augusta' * The ancient Spartans really were one of a kind. As was - and is - the battleground (intellectual as well as topographical) of Thermopylae - as Cole and Livingston have so valiantly demonstrated. * History Today * Although not the final word on the most famous battle of Thermopylae, this book provides almost the only word on many of the other actions fought there and should provide any reader, academic or generalist, much to ponder. * History of War *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
8 Maps
Dimensions
Height: 239 mm
Width: 165 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
559 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4728-5866-5 (9781472858665)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2024
1st Edition
Osprey Publishing
€21.49
Available for download
E-Book
02/2024
1st Edition
Osprey Publishing
€21.49
Available for download
Persons
Myke Cole has held positions with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Office of Naval Intelligence. He is currently a fire/rescue responder. He has published extensively in military history and is also a popular fantasy novelist with several imprints. He lives in Hudson Valley.
Dr Michael Livingston teaches the Middle Ages at The Citadel, South Carolina. In 2021 he published Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England (Osprey) to critical acclaim. He lives in Charleston.
Dr Michael Livingston teaches the Middle Ages at The Citadel, South Carolina. In 2021 he published Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England (Osprey) to critical acclaim. He lives in Charleston.
Content
Preface
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Introduction: The Killing Ground
1. The First Action: The First Battle of Thermopylae, Date Unknown
2. The Second Action: The Second Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC
3. The Third Action: Crossing, 355 BC
4. The Fourth Action: Holding, 352 BC
5. The Fifth Action: Seizure, 346 BC
6. The Sixth Action: The Third Battle of Thermopylae, 323 BC
7. The Seventh Action: Holding, 316 BC
8. The Eighth Action: The Fourth Battle of Thermopylae, 315 BC
9. The Ninth Action: The Fifth Battle of Thermopylae, 279 BC
10. The Tenth Action: Holding, 224 BC
11. The Eleventh Action: The Sixth Battle of Thermopylae, 207 BC
12. The Twelfth Action: The Seventh Battle of Thermopylae, 191 BC
13. The Thirteenth Action: Crossing, 146 BC
14. The Fourteenth Action: Holding, AD 251
15. The Fifteenth Action: The Eighth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 254
16. The Sixteenth Action: Crossing, AD 396
17. The Seventeenth Action: The Ninth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 447
18. The Eighteenth Action: The Tenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 517
19. The Nineteenth Action: The Eleventh Battle of Thermopylae, AD 539
20. The Twentieth Action: The Twelfth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 559
21. The Twenty-First Action: The Thirteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 997
22. The Twenty-Second Action: Crossing, AD 1203
23. The Twenty-Third Action: The Fourteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1204
24. The Twenty-Fourth Action: The Fifteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1822
25. The Twenty-Fifth Action: The Sixteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1941
26. The Twenty-Sixth Action: Sabotage, AD 1942
27. The Twenty-Seventh Action: Sabotage, AD 1943
Conclusion: A Cauldron of War
Notes
Index
List of Illustrations
List of Maps
Introduction: The Killing Ground
1. The First Action: The First Battle of Thermopylae, Date Unknown
2. The Second Action: The Second Battle of Thermopylae, 480 BC
3. The Third Action: Crossing, 355 BC
4. The Fourth Action: Holding, 352 BC
5. The Fifth Action: Seizure, 346 BC
6. The Sixth Action: The Third Battle of Thermopylae, 323 BC
7. The Seventh Action: Holding, 316 BC
8. The Eighth Action: The Fourth Battle of Thermopylae, 315 BC
9. The Ninth Action: The Fifth Battle of Thermopylae, 279 BC
10. The Tenth Action: Holding, 224 BC
11. The Eleventh Action: The Sixth Battle of Thermopylae, 207 BC
12. The Twelfth Action: The Seventh Battle of Thermopylae, 191 BC
13. The Thirteenth Action: Crossing, 146 BC
14. The Fourteenth Action: Holding, AD 251
15. The Fifteenth Action: The Eighth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 254
16. The Sixteenth Action: Crossing, AD 396
17. The Seventeenth Action: The Ninth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 447
18. The Eighteenth Action: The Tenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 517
19. The Nineteenth Action: The Eleventh Battle of Thermopylae, AD 539
20. The Twentieth Action: The Twelfth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 559
21. The Twenty-First Action: The Thirteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 997
22. The Twenty-Second Action: Crossing, AD 1203
23. The Twenty-Third Action: The Fourteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1204
24. The Twenty-Fourth Action: The Fifteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1822
25. The Twenty-Fifth Action: The Sixteenth Battle of Thermopylae, AD 1941
26. The Twenty-Sixth Action: Sabotage, AD 1942
27. The Twenty-Seventh Action: Sabotage, AD 1943
Conclusion: A Cauldron of War
Notes
Index