Early Modern | War History

The Civil War Photographer that Time Forgot: Alexander Gardner

When people remember famous Civil War photographers, they think of one name in particular; and “Alexander Gardner” is not it. However, a significant number of…

The Battle of Pliska – A Byzantine Military Disaster

Andrew Knighton

Though they clung to the name of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines never achieved the glory of their predecessors. Theirs was an empire in slow…

Sappers And Siege Engines – Ivan The Terrible Conquers The city Of Kazan

Jack Beckett

The army had been in place under the city walls for weeks. Ivan the Fourth, Tsar of all the Russians, accompanied his force in the…

A Bloody New Year – The Massive American Civil War Battle of Stones River

It was cold at the turning of the year in Murfreesboro, right in the middle of the state of Tennessee. The little town nestled under…

War Wagons: One of the Strangest Military Formations Ever Seen in Europe

Andrew Knighton

One of the strangest military formations ever seen in Europe, Hussite war wagons struck fear into their opponents during the early 15th century. Fighting under…

The Rules Of Chivalry Were So Important In Medieval Society, But Breaking The Rules Was Almost As Important

Andrew Knighton

In the Middle Ages, chivalry was more than just a name for polite behavior. It was a set of rules meant to limit the actions…

Steel, Gunpowder, And Careful Planning – The Conquistadors’ Defeat Of The Incas

Andrew Knighton

Francisco Pizarro’s conquest of the Incan empire is one of the most extraordinary achievements in military history. In the space of a single day in…

How Napoleon’s Empire Empowered European Jewish Communities

The beating of war drums has seldom been a good sign for Europe’s Jewish communities. Dispersed by the endless conquests of their homeland, they were…

Jan Žižka: The Blind and Undefeated General of the Hussite Wars

Few generals throughout history can say that they were undefeated over their career, fewer still can be credited with doing so with a mob of…

Statues, Uniforms, And The Legion Of Honor – How Napoleon Celebrated Battlefield Courage

Napoleon Bonaparte was an inspiring figure. His greatest opponent, the Duke of Wellington, said that the French Emperor inspired such confidence that his presence at…

Grand Goals – Napoleon Aimed For High Achievements In Egypt

The Egyptian campaign Napoleon led in 1798 was one of the greatest disasters of his career. After his fleet was destroyed by Nelson at the…

The last battle of the Vikings On The West Coast Of Scotland

Jack Beckett

It was the age of the Great Mongol Khans. It was the age of Byzantium, of the Holy Roman Empire. The wars of the Reconquista…