ELITE No 23 THE SAMURAI

Perhaps the greatest warriors in history, the Samurai were a product of a social system totally geared to war. The Samurai became expert in fighting both on horseback and on the ground. Their way of life was dictated by the code of Bushido or 'way of the warrior' and clad in their magnificent, multi-coloured armour they were perfectly suited to the violent clan and dynastic warfare that dominated medieval Japan as the most powerful families vied for supremacy. In this title Anthony J Bryant presents a fascinating overview of these truly élite warriors. Contents: Introduction · Chronology · Origins and Rise of the Warrior Class · The Genpei War (1180-85) · The Kamakura Bakufu and Regency · War of the Northern and Southern Courts · The Muromachi Period · Warfare in Muromachi and Momoyama Japan · Sengoku Japan · Hashiba Hideyoshi · The Return of the Shogun · Arms and Armour: Heian and Kamakura Japan · Arms and Armour: Muromachi and Momoyama Japan * Colour plates by Angus McBride.