The Northern Wars: War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe, 1558-1721

Modern Wars in Perspective

by Robert I. Frost

This book provides an accessible study of the neglected but highly important series of wars fought for control of the Baltic and Northeastern Europe during the period 1558-1721. It is the first comprehensive history which considers the revolution in military strategy which took place in the battlefields of Eastern Europe. Robert Frost examines the impact of war on the very different social and political systems of Sweden, Denmark, Poland-Lithuania and Russia and he explains why it was Russia that emerged victorious from these wars. Based on extensive primary and secondary research (including much material that is unfamiliar in English) this book makes an important contribution to the debate on military change and political development in early modern Europe.

Genres: History, European History, Nonfiction, War, Military History, Russia, 16th Century

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Robert Frost was educated at the universities of St Andrews, Cracow, and London. After teaching for eighteen years at King's College London, he moved in 2004 to the University of Aberdeen, where he currently holds the Burnett Fletcher Chair in History. He is interested in the history of eastern and northern Europe from the fourteenth to the nineteenth centuries. His principal research interests are in the history of Poland-Lithuania, and in the history of warfare in the early modern period.

Reviews

[Mieczyslaw Kasprzyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an amateur student of history (in particular Polish History) I thoroughly enjoyed this account of the chaotic years of the "Deluge". I loved Frost's argument that war in Northeastern Europe was, fundamentally, different and that historians are mistaken to see this part of Europe as being opposed to military change. In fact he argues that the combatants were quite aware of, and used, up-to-date military technology and tactics. He also looks at the way the three societies evolved in order to cope with military costing and organisation and asks the question why historians assume that it was inevitable that Russia would eventually succeed and that the Polish Commonwealth would fail because of some economic or military "predestination". The book isn't as dry as I'm painting it but it is wonderfully researched and paints a very clear picture of the history of this important, yet often ignored, part of Europe and period of history.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly dense and packed with insight and documentation. The author engages and wrestles several superficial narratives and assumptions to the ground in a convincing way.

BUT. It is well neigh impossible to read the book due to the total disregard for the poor reader who most likely does not have the same encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding as the author. The lack of organising theses, themes, introductions, structured narratives and summaries leaves a sense of frustration.

Even the most brilliant minds and treasure troves of academic acumen needs and deserves a competent editor with whom to impart the sparkling light on the unenlightened readership.

[Anton Tomsinov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of place and period that do not get as much attention by historians as they deserve. Analysis of reasons for rise and fall of Sweden and Poland-Lithuania is one of the best I've ever read. However, parts of this book on Russia suffer from shallow research.

[Michi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's no armchair read but it gives some fascinating information for people interested in the subject.

[Dropbear123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 (chosen by random selection from my unread pile)

Read as an amateur on the time period. The book covers the wars around the Baltic from the fall of the Livonian Order to the end of the Great Northern War between Peter the Great of Russia and Charles XII of Sweden. The main topics are the various campaigns and wars and how they were fought, the changes in all major aspects of the military (tactics, equipment, organisation etc) over the course of the period and how the relationships between state and military changed over time for the contenders (mainly Denmark, Sweden, Poland-Lithuania and Muscovy/Russia).

In terms and information and arguments the book seems pretty good to me, but I don't know a lot about the time period. The main reason I'm only giving it a 3/5 is that it is very heavy on the names of people (leaders, generals, political figures), places and also numbers - things like the percentages of foreign mercenaries in leadership positions or the demographic makeup of different militaries over time. So I found it rather hard to follow at times which limited how much I got out of the book.

[Jorgon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent analysis, but be warned: this is not an introductory history of the period. If you do not already know what the treaty of Stolbova was, or are unfamiliar with the convoluted claims of the Vasa family, this is not a book for you. Basic knowledge of general history of the states around the Baltic sea and its geography is required.

[Peter Podbielski · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the focus of the Northern wars is the 16th through the early 18th centuries, Robert Frost's description of the politics and culture of the day serves as an excellent primer to assess the mindsets of the same players in the 21st century.

[Nicholas Dolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and informative, if academic, history. A good overview of an interesting period in European history though, with the geopolitics between Sweden, Russia, Denmark, and Poland-Lithuania especially fascinating to me.

[John Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too focused on tactics. Not enough on politics/economics.

[Ratratrat · Rating 3 out of 5]

lo sto leggendo e devo dire che faccio fatica a seguirlo. So che sono argomenti poco conosciuti tipo le guerre di Livonia, ma è forse troppo approfondito,coi vari sistemi di servizio militare, servaggio, formazione delle truppe... mi confondo fra i vari Cristiano di Danimarca, quando parla di Sigismondo devo pensare se è l'imperatore ( no, quello qua non c'entra) quello Vasa di Svezia o quello di Polonia... per non parlare dei nomi dei luoghi, per fortuna in fondo ci sono i nomi in tutte le lingue, ma è un continuo Reval e meno male che so che é Tallinn, per non parlare del fiume di Riga che ogni volta lo trovo con un nome diverso e non ho deciso con quale memorizzarli ( alle elementari mi insegnarono Duna- tedesco- che nessuno usa più). Mi stanco facilmente..