The Army of the Manchu Empire

First of all, thanks for all your messages of support in response to my previous post about goings on at the Burrow. They mean a great deal.

On to business, I would until now, and quite wrongly, have associated the author Michael Fredholm von Essen more with European and Scandinavian history than what is covered in this book. The Army of the Manchu Empire. The Conquest Army and the Imperial Army of Qing China, 1600–1727 is No.116 in Helion’s splendid and ever expanding Century of the Soldier series.

The author takes us on a journey through the history and campaigns of the Manchu in what may well be one of the first such accounts written in English. He focuses on the rise of the Qing, their armies, tactics and integrated military system and its development throughout the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

After an introduction to the Manchu Empire, there follow detailed chapters on the organisation of the army, uniforms, weapons, flags, standards, bravery awards and command, training, strategy and tactics. There is also a particularly interesting chapter on the uniforms and weapons of the reserves, militia and local forces. The battles and campaigns are not overlooked, and these are all described clearly, against the Ming, the Russians and the Mongols. I have an interest in the Russian expansion to the east in this period and the conflicts that were sparked off with the Chinese, and found this section really useful in adding to my admittedly limited understanding of events.

The book is full of contemporary black and white images depicting the Manchu soldiers. Some of these are from a later period but remain perfectly acceptable as they are illustrative of what troops wore in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries because much of their dress remained unchanged. There are also a good number of photos of surviving weapons, armour and clothing, and then of course there are the central colour plates. First are eight colour illustrations by Giorgio Albertini. These are simply wonderful. There follow six pages of eighteenth century colour paintings showing yet more types of soldiers, in action or on parade. Finally there are six pages of very colourful Chinese banners.

An unusual subject but one presented in an entertainingly well written and scholarly manner. I certainly enjoyed the book and am happy to give it a place in my library.

ISBN 978-1-804513-47-7 Soft covers. 252 pages.