The story of Prince Rupert of the Rhine is the romantic and colourful story of an extraordinary military commander. His father was the Winter King of Bohemia, who had lost his kingdom at the beginning of the Thirty Years War; Rupert spent his early years as a prince without a home. It is said that by the age of eight he was already showing a remarkable understanding of techniques of warfare. At fourteen he had taken part in his first campaign, and at twenty-two he was commanding the King's cavalry in the Civil War. In this book, Frank Kitson provides an illuminating account of his exploits, from a military perspective. Kitson discusses Rupert's boyhood study of fortifications; the early campaigns; his military studies while in captivity; and he describes the Civil War in detail, analysing Rupert's strategies and battle procedures.
General Sir Frank Edward Kitson GBE, KCB, MC and Bar, DL was a British Army officer and writer on military subjects, notably low intensity operations. He rose to be Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces from 1982 to 1985 and was Aide-de-Camp General to Queen Elizabeth II from 1983 to 1985.