Category: Military

  • 2702 – Quintus Sertorius – Reluctant renegade, part 2

    2702 – Quintus Sertorius – Reluctant renegade, part 2

    Quintus Sertorius could lay claim to a position among the greatest generals of ancient times. A loyal Roman, who lost an eye defending the Roman frontier, fortune then pitted him against the Roman military machine and some of its premier commanders, including Pompey the Great.  Having chosen the wrong side of the first civil war,…

  • 2701 – Quintus Sertorius – Reluctant renegade

    2701 – Quintus Sertorius – Reluctant renegade

    Quintus Sertorius could lay claim to a position among the greatest generals of ancient times. A loyal Roman, who lost an eye defending the Roman frontier, fortune then pitted him against the Roman military machine and some of its premier commanders, including Pompey the Great.  Having chosen the wrong side of the first civil war,…

  • 2610 – John Paul Jones: The American War of Independence comes to Britain

    2610 – John Paul Jones: The American War of Independence comes to Britain

    Several American privateers sailed across the Atlantic to British waters, seeking prize money for any vessels they could capture. But Captain John Paul Jones of the US Navy was motivated by a belief in liberty, and was determined to raid the British coast in revenge for the British attacks. He is now remembered as the…

  • 2609 – The Battle of Glen Shiel

    2609 – The Battle of Glen Shiel

    This year marks the 300th anniversary of the Battle of Glen Shiel, Scotland’s ‘forgotten’ Jacobite uprising. The anniversary of the battle is June 10 and on Saturday June 8, clansmen, locals and a representative of the Spanish consul marked the date at the site of the battle. Glen Shiel is a unique battleground, one described…

  • 2608 Magic Weapons and Armour in the Middle Ages, part 2

    2608 Magic Weapons and Armour in the Middle Ages, part 2

    ‘Many ‘magical’ items belong to the stories of Arthur and his knights although their genesis is more complicated. Sir Percival had the shield of Joseph of Arimathea, Gawain had the shield of Judas Maccabeus, Galahad the Shield of king Evalach (which had a cross drawn on it by Joseph of Arimathea in his own blood).…

  • 2607 Magic Weapons and Armour in the Middle Ages

    2607 Magic Weapons and Armour in the Middle Ages

    ‘Magic weapons and armour are things we usually associate with the realms of myth or fantasy rather than history. And yet, in semi-historical and even historical sources throughout the medieval period we find accounts of magic weapons which bring down foes or inspire comrades, or of shields and armour which protect the wearer no matter…

  • The Spanish invasion and conquest of Mexico, 1519-1521 – part 2

    The Spanish invasion and conquest of Mexico, 1519-1521 – part 2

    ‘It is clear that Cortes was determined, resolute but ultimately, a gambler and risk taker. Thus far he had taken his small force of Castilians and with relative ease, had taken quasi-control of the most powerful empire in Central America. Soon, however, he made a gamble that risked all he had achieved. He had taken…

  • The Spanish invasion and conquest of Mexico, 1519-1521 – part 1

    The Spanish invasion and conquest of Mexico, 1519-1521 – part 1

    ‘The conquest of Mexico was a landmark in the history of the world, changing its course forever. A mere 600 adventurers, speculators and journeymen from a European nation that had only existed in its current form for a few decades, landed in an unknown land and proceeded to conquer a massive, ruthless and predatory empire…

  • 2604 – The Battle of Leuctra

    2604 – The Battle of Leuctra

    After the failed peace negotiations in 371, King Cleombrotus marched his army into Boeotia. He camped at the town of Leuctra and waited for the Boeotians to arrive. Accounts give the strength of Celombrotus’ army at 10,000 men with up to 2,000 Spartan hoplites, the remainder made up of hoplites from other Peloponnesian allies. Thebes…

  • 2603 – The Battle of Leuctra, Prelude

    2603 – The Battle of Leuctra, Prelude

    The battle of Leuctra, fought between the forces of Sparta and the Boeotian League led by Thebes, in early July 371 BC, altered forever the map of ancient Greek history. In a single afternoon, what the ancient Greeks of the early 4th century BC had come to understand as their world order was swept way.…