The Killing Ground: A Biography of Thermopylae

by Myke Cole, Michael Livingston

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472858641
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	02/01/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	304,072
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

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.
Following a long career in the military, intelligence, and law enforcement, Myke Cole is a fire/rescue responder in NY's Hudson Valley. He is a freelance historian and writer, and has published ten novels with publishers including Penguin Random House and Macmillan in addition to his history books for Osprey. Myke's short work has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, The Daily Beast, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, McSweeney's, and Slate. He's starred on TV shows on CBS and Discovery, and has featured on NPR.
Dr Michael Livingston teaches the military and cultural history of the Middle Ages at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. He recently co-authored the textbook reader Medieval Warfare, and future works include books on the battles of Hastings and Shrewsbury. These add to previous books The Battle of Crécy: A Casebook, winner of the 2017 Distinguished Book Award from the Society for Military History, Never Greater Slaughter: Brunanburh and the Birth of England (Osprey, 2021), and Crécy: Battle of Five Kings (Osprey, 2021). He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

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'

“A fascinating history … In The Killing Ground, Cole and Livingston have given us a vigorous and engaging reexamination of “the most blood-soaked ground in the world” that will thrill ancient- and military-history fans alike.” —The Washington Independent Review of Books

“There is plenty of myth busting and very colorful stories of individual heroism and horrible planning. These parts are all wonderful…. a very good book and should be appealing to anyone interested in the subject matter… A great military history read.” —History Nerds United

““The Killing Ground” is a magnificent and meticulous account of the military history of a storied piece of ground.” —Ricochet

“The book focuses on how Thermopylae constrained battles and those who fought them. Along the way, a number of myths are debunked. Well-handled, but military history enthusiasts will probably be drawn to it the most.” —Library Journal

“For those interested in the geography of warfare, this serves as an excellent case study. Those liking a more general history will also find this a good read.” —Medievalists.net

“The book is engaging and easy to follow, with thorough explanations of the troops, weapons, tactics and commanders who have moved and fought over Thermopylae over many centuries.” —Military Heritage Magazine

“Well laid out... Nicely done.” —HMGS

From the Publisher

12/22/2023

As far as historians can tell from the admittedly incomplete records, 16 battles and 11 other military actions took place around the mountain pass at Thermopylae in central Greece. More blood may have been shed there than at any other site in history. The area's first undated battle is mostly known only from a reference in Herodotus. The second, in 480 BCE, inspired the movie 300, which is about 300 Spartans who fought for three days to stop a Persian army of 120,000 to 300,000 people from crossing to attack the states of the Hellenic League. The last was in 1941: ANZAC forces against Germans. Defense expert Cole (Sixteenth Watch) and medieval historian Livingston (Origins of the Wheel of Time) analyze these engagements in great detail, sorting out what can be verified from the inexactness of ancient accounts and prejudices. Romans wrote about the Gauls, whereas the Gauls wrote not at all, so the accounts of Gallic wars are all told by their enemies. VERDICT The book focuses on how Thermopylae constrained battles and those who fought them. Along the way, a number of myths are debunked. Well-handled, but military history enthusiasts will probably be drawn to it the most.—David Keymer

Library Journal