INTERVIEW Scholar traces medieval origins of civil-military relations
Nam Bo-ram, senior researcher at Institute for Military History / Courtesy of Nam
A seasoned military expert has published a book that examines the medieval origins of military professionalism and also explores the historical development of civil-military relations from the standpoint of military history.
Titled "War and Society in the Middle Ages: The Origin of Civil-Military Relations and Military Professionalism," the book was published by the Institute for Military History, an organization under the authority of the Ministry of National Defense, responsible for investigation, collection and compilation of defense history, military history and war history.
Author Nam Bo-ram, a senior researcher at the military history institute, said that this book is intended to explore how historical events from the medieval era serve as historical foundations of today's civil-military relations and and the concept of military professionalism.
"The way medieval empires and kingdoms used military force for survival and prosperity, shaping military effectiveness and social values, closely mirrors how today's government and military work to strengthen national defense and establish themselves as a military for the people," Nam told The Korea Times during a recent phone interview.
The cover image of the book / Courtesy of Institute for Military History
The book primarily covers historical events from the eighth century, when the Carolingian Empire was established in Western Europe, to the 13th century, when the kingdoms of France and Germany began to recognize their unique identities.
Among the historical events discussed are the relationships between monarchs and vassals, the military utility of cavalry, oaths of allegiance, infantry spear techniques, the knightly class and chivalry and monetary relations and mercenaries.
The book also features vivid depiction of various medieval battles, including the Battle of Riade (933), the Battle of Lechfeld (955), the Humiliation of Canossa (1077), the Saxon revolt (1077-1088), the Battle of Bouvines (1214), Italian Campaign by Frederick I (1154-1176), the Battle of Legnano (1176), the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297), the Battle of Courtrai (1302) and the Battle of Morgarten (1315).
The author expressed his hope that the medieval events covered in this book will significantly enhance readers' comprehension of the origins of key military concepts, such as the principles of military force, the laws of war, nobilesse oblige and the military staff system.
"The book traces the origins of what we now call 'military professionalism' back to the knightly class and chivalry of the medieval era. I hope that as readers delve into the medieval wars and battles discussed in the book, they will also find the exploration of the medieval roots of core values like loyalty, honor and fidelity — fundamental to modern military professionalism — both refreshing and captivating," Nam said.
The Institute for Military History explained the book will be available both online and offline through the National Assembly Library and the National Library of Korea.
The author's previous publications include "The Battle of Hyunri-Hangye" (2009), "Theory of War and Military Doctrine" (2011), "U.S. Army MHD Report Series 1-10" (2014), "War and Fashion: Generals Dressed by Chanel" (2019) and "NATO Response Forces: History, Issues, and Challenges" (2021).