The Grand Old Duke of York: A British Military Reformer
The grand old Duke of York He had ten thousand men He marched them up to the top of the hill And he marched them…
Military Reforms of King Henry The Eighth – He Built Up A Modern Fighting Force In Medieval England
When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, he inherited a nation that was not strong in war. England’s recent wars had mostly been…
The Jokyu Rebellion: How Japan’s Imperial Family Failed to Retake Control of Their Nation
When a rebellion breaks out in an empire, it is usually against the emperor. During the Jokyu Rebellion of 1221, the Japanese Imperial family rebelled…
The Battle of Imjin River And The Last Stand Of The Glorious Glosters
When talking about success in war we usually focus on victories. But there are times when a successful retreat can be as great a challenge…
Nine Factors That Caused The First Crusade To Happen
On the surface, the First Crusade looks like something with a simple cause – the hatred of one religious group for another. In reality, the…
The Longbow: Its Rise and Dominance – It Totally Changed Medieval Warfare
The growing effectiveness of metal armor created a challenge for medieval soldiers. While the elite of knights and men-at-arms were now well protected, the majority…
Seven Types of Medieval Armor – From Quilted Cloth to Full Steel Plate
More than any other artifact of war, armor dominates visual images of medieval Europe. From the chainmail carefully stitched onto each warrior in the Bayeux…
Napoleon Bonaparte Managed His Vast Armies With Communication, Delegation, And An Emphasis On Honor
The wars fought by Napoleon Bonaparte were like nothing that had ever come before. His armies were vast in scale and constant in their activity,…
How Artillery Evolved During The Brutal And Merciless 100 Years War
The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) saw the first appearances of gunpowder artillery in English and French warfare. These fearsome weapons, which had been largely unused…
Powerful Orders Of Medieval Knights And What Made Each One Distinct
Combining knightly warfare and a monastic lifestyle, the knightly crusading orders were one of the strongest institutions of medieval Europe. Through them, men sought a…
Military Leaders Whose Commands Got Their Own Men Decimated
Death is, sadly, an essential part of war. Unnecessary death is not, yet it remains a constant. Even the most capable commanders sometimes give orders…
How Was an Army Supplied in the 100 Years War
Far from home and at constant threat of attack, the armies of the Hundred Years War between England and France were reliant on supply lines…