Category: Military
-
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
‘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 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
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
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.…
-
2602 No Man’s Land
No Man’s Land. Three of the most evocative words of The Great War. Never forgotten by combatants. A place of death, danger, wire, bullets, shells, poison gas, mud, rats, bodies, and fear. A place which was never safe. When going “over the top” the place where you were most likely to die, but being wounded…
-
2601 – Fort Ligonier and the Fall of Fort Duquesne
In May 1754. A young George Washington’s first combat experience occurred at the Battle of Jumonville Glen located in southwest Pennsylvania in the Ohio Valley, where he defeated a small group of French on a diplomatic mission to inform the British that they needed to leave the area; it was French territory and quickly became…
-
2510 The Battle of Marston Moor
On Sunday 22nd of August, 1642, Charles I of England unfurled his standard at Nottingham, it would signal the start of the English Civil war; a struggle which pitted regal power against Parliament. The war had ebbed and flowed for two years with varied success when in April of 1644 a Parliamentarian force laid siege…
-
2509 Operation Longcloth
‘By the end of March, the Japanese had conquered Malaya, the Netherlands East Indies, as well as many of the smaller islands around Papua New Guinea, leaving Allied forces in full retreat in the Philippines, New Guinea and Burma. Morale was rock bottom and the Japanese seemed invincible. By the end of May, the Japanese…
-
2508 William ‘Billy’ Bishop pt.2
‘On May 7, the Royal Flying Corps suffered one of their greatest losses when the great Albert Ball was shot down near Annoeullin, France. Ball had just scored his 44th victory and was pursuing another plane when he disappeared into a cloud. When he reappeared, his plane was falling from the sky and his propeller…